The world of digital comics changed significantly today with the announcement by Graphicly founder Micah Baldwin that his company was leaving digital comics retailing and the comic app business behind to concentrate on offering its self-authoring and distribution services to aid publishers and creators in getting their titles in e-bookstores.

As of this week Graphicly is retiring its previously-released comics apps including its iPhone, iPad, and Android apps along with its Adobe AIR desktop app.  Customers who have purchased titles in the past will still be able to read the comics they have purchased, but they will not be able to purchase comic titles via the apps anymore.  Previously purchased titles can also be read via Graphicly’s Website and via the Graphicly Facebook app.

Graphicly’s departure leaves the dedicated app portion of the digital comics arena with just two remaining major players: comiXology and iVerse.  In January Graphicly announced its digital self-publishing tools for creators and publishers (see "Graphicly Launches Digital Self-Publishing").  With today’s announcement it is clear that Graphicly has now completely shifted its focus from selling comic content through its apps to providing services for publishers and creators.

What Graphicly’s decision to get out of digital comics retailing means for the iFanboy Website that the company acquired over two years ago (see "Graphic.ly Acquires iFanboy"), remains to be seen.