ComiXology have today unveiled a revolutionary new service for their digital users – ComiXology Instant Checkout – the ability to purchase comics at the click of a button and have them synch through to their tablet or smartphone. This may seem awfully familiar to long term users of the Comics app, but for everyone else it is more similar to Amazon’s 1-click purchasing. Comics fans will be ‘delighted’ at this news as in effect it now brings back much of the functionality lost by the Comics app when it upgraded itself over the summer.

Full of this exciting new, ComiXology had this to say on the matter “This new ability to purchase with a single push of a button makes buying digital comics, graphic novels, and manga easier than ever before. Since being acquired by Amazon, comiXology has introduced a number of enhancements to our customers’ buying experience such as Pay with Amazon, which allows comiXology fans to pay using their Amazon credentials; the Download to App Button, which allows Kindle Fire, Android, iPhone and iPad users to download their newest purchases directly to the comiXology app; and improved search. ComiXology is very happy to add Instant Checkout to that list.”

ComiXology co-founder and CEO David Steinberger when on to sat “Instant Checkout is just the latest innovation in a line of updates we’ve made to comiXology that continues our tradition of having the best digital comics platform. We’ve been working closely with our colleagues at Amazon to even further improve upon the customer experience comiXology fans know and love. This range of releases over the last few months is just a taste of what’s to come.”

Pipedream Comics editor Alex Thomas had this to say on the matter “Although this is a welcome and timely addition to the ComiXology experience ahead of the Christmas rush, there is still a long way to go for the digital comics specialists to win back users who they alienated with the last update. Instant access is such a fundamental part of the ComiXology experience that I am glad to see they are working to resolve this and make reading comics the priority, not making fans feel like they are jumping through hoops just to get access to their latest books.”

They also gave us a nary guide on how to use it…

To use Instant Checkout, comiXology users must have a saved payment method linked to their account – either a credit card, Pay with Amazon credentials or PayPal. Once the payment info is saved, users will be able purchase any of comiXology’s over 50,000 comics, graphic novels & manga on comixology.com with a single push of a button.

For the mobile browser, after buying titles via Instant Checkout, pushing the “Read” button on the mobile web checkout screen will now take you to the comiXology app and prompt you to download your book right away from the product detail page. This update makes it easier for mobile web users to buy then read in the app.

Other recent enhancements  to the ComiXology service also include:

• Pay with Amazon:  Users can purchase comics on comiXology by using their Amazon credentials.
• Download to App Button: Once a transaction is complete hitting the “Download to App Button” on the mobile web checkout screen will take you to the comiXology app and your newly purchased titles will automatically begin downloading to your device.
• Improved Search: We’ve improved our search results for comixology.com to better help you find the comics you want to read.

ComiXology have also unveiled the return of their 12 Days of Christmas promotion for the third year running. Offering up a a sensational new comic from a surprise publisher every day, you can find out which comic is available each day via the Comixology home page. (It starts with the first issue of Scott Snyder and Sean Murphy’s excellent Wake from DC Comics/Vertigo

“It’s been an outstanding year for us at comiXology, and we want every comic fan to help us celebrate with our Third Annual 12 Days of Free Comics,” said comiXology co-founder and CEO David Steinberger. “It’s you, the comics fan, that push us every day to create an even brighter future for comics, graphic novels, and manga worldwide. These comics are for you!”

ComiXology’s Third Annual 12 Days of Free Comics will run from Thursday, December 11th until Monday, December 22nd with one new free comic available every day to download or to gift to anyone you choose via comixology.com