For Amazon, another role: Comic book publisher

Online retailer Amazon.com Inc. says it will soon start publishing original comics through its new imprint, Jet City Comics.

The name is a nod to Seattle's historical ties to the development of jets in aviation. It's also a sign of growing demand for more and more original comics and graphic novels that has seen established authors develop their own titles to slake fan demand.

Jet City issues will publish on Kindle as stand-alone comics, serialized comics released over multiple episodes, and bundled graphic novels, with print editions available at Amazon.com and other comic retailers.

The first issue of "Symposium," the first original Foreworld comic, was released Tuesday.

More titles are due in October, including George R.R. Martin's "Meathouse Man" and Hugh Howey's "Wool."

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