Shaunw1973

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The Problem with Digital Comics


As an iPhone user I have an interest in digital comics. Never as a replacement for paper media, I'm old school. I like my comics printed. While I've always called myself a comic book reader, rather than a collector, I do like to have a physical comic, and I do have a 'collection'.
 
 
 
I think there's a unique place for digital comics, but only if the companies involved get it right. The opportunity to buy comics on the move, while on holiday, away on business, and any number of situations where you were previously without a comic store is a good thing right?
 
Currently my iPhone is home to several comic related apps; Comixology which I use to preview up coming releases and build my pull lists, Collectorz Comic database for keeping track of what I own, and most relevant to this blog Comics by Comixology.
Comics is (in my opinion) the leading app for reading comics on the iPhone/iPad. It works great. Easy to use. I like it, as an app at least. 
 
The only thing that puts me off is pricing.

 
 
I started reading Astonishing X-Men through the Comics app. Bought a few issues, at £1.19 per issue. By the time I'd bought five the amount I'd spent had sunk it, so I decided to check out Amazon to see what the TPB for the first volume would cost. I could get a new copy for £6.18 with free shipping. 
 
The equivalent from Comics on iPhone would have cost me £7.14. So I'm only paying a pound more, but I'm not getting anything physical. There's no paper cost, no printing/manufacturing cost, no shipping cost, no storage cost. Surely it should be a lot cheaper?
 
If digital comics are to succeed we need to see a reduction in costs from the big publishers. Typically marvel issues costs £1.19, while
 
 
smaller publishers are as low as £0.59. Alternatively there may be other ways to make digital comics more appealing, such as;
 
  • Provide unique codes in printed editions that offer discounts on digital copies of the same book
  • Offer complete volumes (the equivalent of a digital TPB) at a lower cost
  • Sell vouchers/gift cards for digital comics (similar to iTunes cards) through local comic stores. This will also help comic retailers maintain their business
  • Tie in digital comics to online services such as Marvel Digital - who wants to pay twice, or three times if you buy printed copies??
 
Whether you're a fan or not, digital comics are here, and here to stay.  While I don't see them ever replacing printed media, I do think they can help the comic book industry grow, which is good for those of us that are already here. I just hope the publishers don't bite the hands that feed them by getting too greedy.    
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