Forum for Geeks

With the latest big announcement last week from DC regarding their push into digital comics, I'm wondering if, how, or when I should take the plunge myself. I summed up my concerns in this blog post, and I'd be curious to know what others here think. I look forward to everyone's advice. Thanks!

http://tinyurl.com/2upe4u3

$2 per issue seems to have become the standard price among these apps. I'm not crazy about this price, certainly not for a single issue. The Comics by ComiXology app has had full trades on sale for a few dollars, why pay the same amount for a single issue.

I'd be more interested in an all you can eat subscription model like Marvel has on the PC. It's digital, so there's nothing physical to hold or own anyway, why pay such a high price for it.

Of course, I feel that way for any digital purchase. Subscription (like Netlflix) is the way to go.

Wait a minute, are you saying digital comics cost money?!?!?!

I am a HUGE fan of Marvel Digital Unlimited (The all you can eat plan). It's how I read most of my books.

I'll get an iPad or some other reader like that, when they have a screen as big as a regular comic page.

I still feel that $0.99 is the sweet spot for this model. People will spend $0.99 without even thinking. Digital distribution has the ability to attract the casual comic fan. These folks will be less concerned with day and date digital and some of the other things that the hard core's are concerned with. If they are interested in the casual fan then they need to work harder to promote it. Marvel and DC, or Disney and Warners more importantly should be trying to pimp out their books at every opportunity. These comic related movies make hundreds of millions of dollars world wide. The studios could give out coupons for free digital issues to peak interest and get people to purchase digitally. I realize that there is more money in the licensing than in the print but the print is what builds the interest in the characters and encourages development of these properties. If the monthly comic market goes away then the rest goes with it eventually.

As Ken mentioned I also don't have an issue with the Netflix model like Marvel DCU. The only negative that keeps me away is I see many books that have missing 3rd or 4th issues of a 4 or 6 issue mini series. Or they hold back key issues in an arc. That is irritating.

It's a complex question and gets down to who is the intended audience for this type of entertainment.

Another option I though would be cool would be digital vouchers inside of the digital comics.

Basically, you buy Watchmen digitally for $10(just an estimate) and you get a coupon for $7 off of the TPB.


It might be a bit of a hassle for LCSs to deal with the coupons, but it also send some new business their way.

I actually prefer reading comics on my iPad. The screen's a bit smaller, sure, but not enough to make that much of a difference. It's easier to read in bed, on the toilet, in the dark, on a horse, or any combination of those. Sometimes I like riding my horse to the bathroom in the dark. I don't like the subscription idea, because I'm still "collecting" the comics, just not in paper form. I also don't like the way that the comic apps on the iPad are doing it, where the comics you buy are tied into that app and device. That app ever stops being there, or your device dies and you can't afford another, you're up poo creek. I don't care if they need to figure out a way to put DRM on the files, but I want to own the files. And they need to stop charging stoopid prices for them, like Marvel & DC both did recently. $2 is probably the max for a single issue, $1.50 would be a happy medium, and, like Russ said, $.99 is prime time.