As someone who has been a devoted user of ComicK for years, I was deeply saddened when the site suddenly went offline. Like many fans, I immediately sought out any official statement, user reports, news articles, and forum chatter to piece together what might have led to this decision. ComicK’s team has not yet publicly revealed a full, definitive reason for the shutdown. But based on everything I could gather, here are the most plausible causes and what the community is saying.
On or around September 16, 2025, the administrator posted on Discord that after much thought, they had made the difficult decision to close ComicK permanently.
The announcement made clear that personal manga/comic lists remain safe, and that a page will be created so users can export them.
Before its closure, ComicK had very large monthly traffic—reports cite around 125 million visits in August 2025.
The announcement did not specify a legal takedown order, lawsuit, or direct enforcement action from publishers. The statement was more vague, referring to "much thought" and deciding "to bring this site to a close".
From my research, including news sites, forums (Reddit, GameFAQs, etc.), and fan discussions, several theories are circulating. Some are more credible than others; none are yet proven.
| Hypothesis | Sources / Supporting Observations | Weakness or Uncertainty |
|---|---|---|
| Threat of Legal Action / DMCA Notices | Many articles and thinking suggest that ComicK may have shut down to avoid legal exposure: DMCA takedown notices, lawsuits from publishers, etc. In forums people note that hosting scanlations puts sites at risk. (Reddit) |
There is no direct evidence yet that a specific lawsuit or cease-and-desist order was the final cause. The announcement didn’t mention any. |
| Ad Network / Financial Pressure | Users have mentioned that ad networks often cut off sites that host copyrighted content; revenue from ads may be unreliable or blocked. Also, running such a site incurs costs: server costs, bandwidth, maintenance, hosting, sometimes staff or volunteers. | It’s not clear whether ComicK was losing money or simply decided it wasn’t worth the risk. Also, big traffic doesn’t always guarantee enough revenue, especially if ads are blocked or payment processors refuse. |
| Operational Burden / Burnout | On fan forums and in news commentary, some believe the administrator(s) simply got overwhelmed. Dealing with constant domain bans, server issues, security, updates combined with legal worries can be exhausting. User on Reddit pointed out that such sites require specialists for security, backups, layout, etc., which is a hidden labor and cost. |
This is plausible, but very hard to verify without speaking to the team. It might be part of the reason rather than the only reason. |
| Domain / Hosting / Infrastructure Issues | Similar sites often suffer from domain seizures or bans, hosting disagreements, or service providers refusing to cooperate because of intellectual property concerns. Fans speculated along those lines. | No public record has confirmed any domain seizure or that hosts pulled out. |
| Lack of Succession / Support Team | As you mentioned, there are mentions among fans that the core team may not have successors people who can maintain and operate the site long term, especially given the legal and technical pressures. Older volunteers are leaving, or people wanting to move on to other projects. (This fits with “burnout” but is more specific.) | Again speculative; no announcement has confirmed this. |
Putting the pieces together:
So while I cannot say for certain which reason tipped the balance, it's almost certainly a combination of all of the above: legal, financial, operational, and human.
Comickfan.com was born from a simple idea: the community should not disappear just because the original site went offline.
Our goal is not to replace the old ComicK, but to preserve the sense of belonging that it gave us. For many readers, ComicK was never just a reading platform—it was a way to discover new titles, organize personal lists, and connect with fellow fans across the globe. That spirit is what we aim to protect and carry forward here.
What makes Comickfan.com special is that it is fan-driven. This site exists because readers cared enough to rebuild it from scratch. That means it may look a little different, it may grow slowly, but every feature comes from love and commitment. It is built by fans, for fans.
Our mission is clear:
We invite you to treat Comickfan.com as your new hub. Share your lists, exchange recommendations, and help each other discover stories worth reading. The original ComicK gave us unforgettable years, and while we cannot recreate everything, we can ensure that its legacy continues in this new home.
This is not an ending. It is a continuation written by the very fans who loved ComicK most.
Welcome to Comickfan.com. Together, we will keep the story alive.
ComicK’s shutdown feels like another chapter in an ongoing pattern. Fans of manga and manhwa are increasingly seeing big aggregator or scanlation sites go dark: pumped up by huge traffic, but burdened by legal risk, infrastructure costs, and moral/legal ambiguity. Whatever ComicK’s official reason turns out to be, its closing reminds us that what fans often rely on as “easy access” may rest on fragile foundations.
If I could ask ComicK’s team, I hope for transparency. I hope we see more about which pressures (legal, financial, or otherwise) were decisive. In any case, I’m grateful for what ComicK provided during its run and sad that it’s ended.
