For Amazon, another role: comic book publisher

Online retailer Amazon.com Inc. will start publishing more 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.

"Comics and graphic novels, especially in digital format, represent a unique area for innovation," said Jeff Belle, vice president of Amazon Publishing. "Our focus will be on adapting great books for this medium as a means of expanding the audience for our authors, pushing boundaries with new ideas that combine visual and narrative storytelling, and creating compelling new experiences for readers."

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

"We're working with an incredible, hand-picked team of comics professionals, writers, artists and translators, who have done an amazing job developing and expanding these inventive stories. I'm looking forward to the response from comics readers and fans," said Alex Carr, Jet City's senior editor.