I just launched Apex Comics - a comics-focused CBZ/CBR reader for Android

Hey everyone,

I collect comics digitally. Over the years I've tried a lot of readers - most of them feel like "open a folder and swipe." Fine, but not how I think about a collection.

I've been building Apex Comics for a long time, and it just went live on Google Play. I'm an indie dev and a comic reader myself - I got tired of file browsers pretending to be libraries, and apps that either lock basics behind subscriptions or treat your collection like an afterthought.

So I built the reader I wanted on my shelf.

A library, not a file list

Apex is an Android reader built for comics - CBZ and CBR files. Point it at your folder once - series group naturally, progress stays honest, covers and issue details turn raw archives into a shelf you're proud to open. Searchable, organized, actually pleasant to browse. Offline-first. No forced cloud. No account required. Your files stay on your device.

v1 is comics-first. I'm deliberately focusing on the Western comic collector experience (Marvel, DC, indie shelves, etc.) before expanding. Manga and webtoons may come in future updates - each format deserves its own reading logic - but right now the priority is doing comics right.

Reading that respects the medium (free)

• Full-screen reader with horizontal, vertical, and dual-axis modes

• Ambient mode - soft background color pulled from the page art

• Deep zoom, smooth page turns, pull to jump to the next issue without breaking flow

• Progress saved locally, covers and metadata enrichment

Premium (optional - one lifetime unlock, no monthly fee)

The core reader stays free. Premium is for collectors who want the full ritual:

• Guided View - panel-by-panel reading on dense pages, in the order the artist intended

• X-Ray - who's on the page, powers, creators, backstory, without spoiling the rest of the universe

• Discovery - follow your series, browse this week and next from Marvel, DC, Image, Dark Horse, Boom!, IDW, and more; alerts when books you care about drop

• Premium Stats - activity heatmap, reading streaks, verified completions, top series, heroes, and publishers - all local and private, no ad dashboards

• Multiple libraries - Keep separate collections — manga, Marvel, backups — each with its own folder, sections, and sort. Switch instantly without rescanning.

• Ad-free reading

Launch Offer: To celebrate the v1 release and thank early adopters, the lifetime unlock is currently $9.99 (regular price $12.99).

One payment. Lifetime. No subscription eating into your pull list budget.

Why I'm posting

This is v1 on the store - comics only for now. I'm not pretending it's perfect - I'm here because I genuinely want your feedback from comic readers. Bugs, UX friction, missing features, "why did you do it this way?" - all welcome.

I also created a subreddit to keep the conversation in one place:

r/apexcomics - https://www.reddit.com/r/apexcomics/

Roadmap ideas, feature requests, show-and-tell of your setup - that's the home for it.

Try it

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.uppr.apexcomics

There's a fuller breakdown with screenshots, feature details, and pricing on the site: https://apex-comics.uppr.be/

If you test it, I'd love to hear:

• Does your library scan and organize the way you expect?

• How does the reader feel compared to what you use today?

• What's the one thing your current reader still doesn't do right?

Thanks for reading. Happy to answer anything in the comments.