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One of my favorite things to do at conventions is to get one of my favorite creators to draw on a comic of theirs I own, whether it's an elaborate signature (like Chris Bachalo or Rob Liefeld's), a nice sketch (like some Dave Johnson ones I have), or getting them to go whole-hog on something in the inside cover or on top of the existing cover (Tom King, I'm looking at you). But what if you don't attend cons, the creator doesn't - or it's a digital comic, which is more and more of what I read?

Now, one publisher is offering a solution.

The upstart next-gen comics company DSTLRY is once again innovating in where fans and creators overlap by offering digital art commissions from its creators as 'Commissioned Digital Remarques' on digital versions of its comics. In short, you can pay fo your favorite artist to do a digital drawing for you on top of their DSTLRY comic just for you.

(It sure beats having them sign my tablet - which I did see happening for others at New York Comic Con last year.)

One of DSTLRY's creators, Becky Cloonan, was part of the pilot program for these before it was officially announced today, and did an original digital sketch on top of a The Big Burn #1 digital comic with Jae Lee cover art for a fan.

"Commissioned Digital Remarques is a game-changer!" says Cloonan, who co-creates the current DSTLY series Somna.  “I recently sold my first digital Remarque (on Jae Lee’s cover for The Big Burn #1 (one of my favs!) for $75 on the marketplace. It’s like the energy of a convention, but on our own time and with truly unlimited reach!"

Here's that example: on the left, The Big Burn #1 sketch cover by Jae Lee, then on the right the Commissioned Digitial Remarque version by Cloonan:

The original art market in comics is thriving, and DSTLRY's marketplace has built something with that in mind. With these Commissioned Digital Remarques, the creators themself have full control on pricing and availability, and receive royalties if and when these are resold by the original owner to others on DSTLRY's marketplace. 

"At DSTLRY, we’ve always put creators and fans first. Commissioned Digital Remarques take that commitment to the next level, allowing fans from anywhere in the world to experience the magic of comic conventions right at home," says DSTLRY CEO David Steinberger. "Simply log into https://dstlry.co/commissions, browse participating creators, and request your personalized digital signature, sketch, or both. Once completed, you'll receive a verified, one-of-a-kind piece from your favorite DSTLRY creator."

"What makes Commissioned Digital Remarques truly special is that creators are in complete control," added Chip Mosher, CCO and co-founder of DSTLRY. "From setting their own prices to managing timelines, creators call the shots, ensuring they’re fairly compensated for their work. It’s just another way DSTLRY is reimagining the creator-fan connection while putting creators first."

Yes, DSTLRY does print editions of their comics, but their digital editions are a step above the standard digital comic offering - giving the readers full ownership over it, and the ability to trade or re-sell it to others. Amazon doesn't let you do that with your digital books or comics, do they? And again, they built it so if and when a DSTLRY digital comic is re-sold, the original creators get royalties for their work because... well, they created the thing.

Get ready for what's next with our guide to upcoming comics, how to buy comics at a comic shop, and our guide to Free Comic Book Day 2025.