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Post by Andy Turnbull on Dec 19, 2007 18:31:19 GMT
See Also: Comixology: tmukhub.proboards.com/thread/8826/comixologyHumble Bundle: tmukhub.proboards.com/thread/7976/humble-bundle-comics
So we have 2000ad entering the fray for downloading comics and their download price is cheaper than the cost in the shops and a universally used format in pdf. Unlike other publishers such as Top Cow with their stupid pricing policy and Marvel's digital renting and the zudacomics flash nonsense they seem to have got the right idea. Most smartphones will play pdf's things like IPODS and Sony Reader and Amazon's own ereader thingy now being out there. What are people's thoughts on the subject, would you be willing to pay for digital downloads of comics in a serialised format (any publisher with any sense would no doubt have a printed version)? Do you think we may see print comics go back to an older model with a higher page count and back up features similar to the Spider Man Family title (albeit without reprints)? Thoughts, opinions? Andy |
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Post by The Doctor on Dec 19, 2007 19:30:02 GMT
Most times I prefer to have a printed product to read. However, in some cases I do like to try out comics online. If a publisher prices them reasonably with a user-friendly interface I'd give them a try. The 2000AD model looks very promising.
If digital comics take off, I hope it helps printed comics to raise their game a bit. Let's see thicker comics that offer better value for money and an end to ads breaking up a story, something Marvel are pretty bad at this time of year in particular.
I also daresay that if a significant proportion of revenue for comics comes via the digital versions it will force publishers to get product out on time much more often. I can't see readers used to online content putting up with delays the way a lot of print-based customers do. Indeed, I think a digital delivery format needs to indicate when the next issues of various titles are due to be available. Or your customers will get bored and go download a TV episode off iTunes or the like.
-Ralph
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Dave
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Post by Dave on Dec 19, 2007 19:45:55 GMT
Well I am now reading 2000AD again.
The clickwheel store thing took a while to sign up to - then after about five attempts I realised it was because I had to enter my DOB the American way. Also I'd prefer it if you could use debit cards, but basically... this is the way to do comic downloads. Decent price and a friendly format.
Marvel's online effort is so off-putting that I haven't even bothered with it whilst it's free - are they still doing the free thing at the mo? If they had it like this, I'd be all over it and I'd buy a lot more comics.
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Dec 19, 2007 19:47:06 GMT
Good point Ralph. If it helps them get back into the business of a timely release of their serialised product I'm all for it.
Andy
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Dec 19, 2007 20:04:02 GMT
Well I am now reading 2000AD again. The clickwheel store thing took a while to sign up to - then after about five attempts I realised it was because I had to enter my DOB the American way. Also I'd prefer it if you could use debit cards, but basically... this is the way to do comic downloads. Decent price and a friendly format. Marvel's online effort is so off-putting that I haven't even bothered with it whilst it's free - are they still doing the free thing at the mo? If they had it like this, I'd be all over it and I'd buy a lot more comics. They do still have free comics but sadly it's in that wanky embedded flash bollocks they've been using for some time. When will they realise I don't want a digital version of reading a comic with page turns. If you want to do something different think about the format you are using. GAH! If only Marvel had done it this way, I can see certain comics being a hit on the web. Pretty much anything Warren Ellis has done would likely be popular given his presence online and the fact that he is well known as being something of a futurist. Nextwave would have been an absolute smash. Andy |
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Post by Dave on Dec 19, 2007 21:42:27 GMT
Gah. Marvel's online thing gets worse, because now I find out (although it was announced a month ago) that the people who put together those fine DVD collections (in PDF format) have lost the license. After this month's House of M and Civil War collections there will be no new releases.  |
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Post by Andy Turnbull on May 13, 2011 1:58:32 GMT
Just splurged on the complete (so far) runs of Irredeemable and Incorruptible by Mark Waid. Both set in the same universe, where the Superman-like character called The Plutonian cracks and starts killing. In the other book a former supercillain called Max Damage sees this and it flips his world view and he resolves to become a hero.
Great stuff.
Andy
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Post by Dave on May 13, 2011 14:58:11 GMT
Sounds interesting. I see both have preview issues, so I will have a look. But first 'Lone Wolf and Cub'. Been meaning to try it for years and so I've just grabbed volume 1 from the Dark Horse app. From freebies and purchases I'd say the app has been designed with iPads rather than phones/pods as even in panel view the text is sometimes too small to read without pinch-zooming - but it's not a huge problem. One good thing though is that you can also read your purchases on PC via digital.darkhorse.com/ |
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Post by Dave on May 13, 2011 15:09:08 GMT
It's also worth remembering that PDF's can be read using iBooks. I often transfer comics from my Marvel DVD's to read. The watermark (only supposed to appear if you print a comic off) is not ideal but they load quickly and once you get reading/zoomed in on panels it's not as annoying as it could be. Also got the first Dredd collection but that's slower loading (I'm assuming it's the file size) and so it's not really suited for iBooks
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Post by Andy Turnbull on May 28, 2011 11:21:56 GMT
DC have just put the 1st twelve issues of Batman on their app for 1.19 a pop. That's the 1940's issues.
We are getting a lot of sales promotions by Marvel and DC on the apps at the moment, mileage varies depending on your tastes but bargains can be had.
Andy
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Oct 14, 2011 0:18:30 GMT
The advent of iOS5 has seen another development.
The newstand offering. Several magazines can be subscribed to individually through it and a couple of comics too through apps made by graphic.ly.
As much as I love Comixology I think this may be a big game changer. Indvidual apps for individual titles. I'm subbed for Irredeemable from Boom and The Savage Dragon. There's a few other titles there with more on the way.
Andy
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Post by The Doctor on Oct 22, 2011 10:19:17 GMT
Due to the double whammy of print comics having reached silly money and Royal Mail constantly losing comics I have ordered I have pretty much given up on print comics (other than the very good value for money Panini newsstand titles where I can get 3-4 US comics for less than the price of 1).
I can't as yet afford a fancy iPad type thing. Are there any reasonably priced online places where I can buy digital comics that can easily be read on a desktop machine? I want to be able to own the digital comics and be able to read them full size on the screen without squinting or excess scrolling.
Bear in mind I have literally no idea what an 'app' is.
-Ralph
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Post by Dave on Oct 23, 2011 13:19:13 GMT
Both www.comixology.com/digital/ and digital.darkhorse.com/ allow you to purchase and read online with your PC. They also have free issues so you can see if you're happy with how they work. I don't think you'd be interested in it but gb.zinio.com/ have Titan's Transformers Prime comic (and probably some other things) but as noted in the Prime comic thread, issues cost a bit more than if you purchased for iPad. |
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Oct 30, 2011 20:09:03 GMT
Strip Magazine is out via itunes ahead of it's print release (due to unforeseen circumstances).
A new anthology comic, wisely avoids any superheroes save for a comedy strip and goes for something a bit more all round. Steampunk, war, fantasy and a remastered version of Hookjaw. A couple of nice articles.
One to pick up i think.
Andy
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Post by The Doctor on Nov 1, 2011 18:52:33 GMT
I have been saving up pennies to acquire a shiny iPad 2 in January so I will hold off going digital until then so I have comics on one device. Other than Panini UK newsstand stuff, back issues of Marvel UK and the odd random thing I'm pretty much done with print comics. For printed stuff I'll get trades.
-Ralph
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Nov 2, 2011 0:40:31 GMT
Wooo!
Andy
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Post by The Doctor on Nov 2, 2011 18:42:14 GMT
When the time comes Andu will be deployed to ensure I buy the right version and know how to work it to get online. Such technical matters scare and confuse me and sales folk see me coming a mile off and rub their hands with glee.
Cannot wait.
-Ralph
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Post by legios on Nov 2, 2011 18:58:35 GMT
I may need to call you good folks in for some advice on a similar front at the beginning of the new year - I am seriously considering an iPad as a consumption device for digital comics and my expanding library of (legally obtained) .pdf books and may need some one to bounce thoughts off whilst pondering the purchase.
Karl
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Post by Philip Ayres on Nov 3, 2011 19:18:08 GMT
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Post by The Doctor on Nov 4, 2011 3:29:18 GMT
And thus the last barrier to me going digital (other than saving up pennies for suitable reading device) falls away.
-Ralph
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Nov 4, 2011 7:01:24 GMT
The only gripe I have with Marvel at the moment is day an date is 2.49 but they don't seem to be dropping the price to 1.99/1.49 after a few months which is a bit cheeky.
Andy
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Post by The Doctor on Nov 4, 2011 8:51:05 GMT
That is a tad, but compared to FP where comics are £3.10 I could cope. The cheapest I could find physical copies from an online retailer was £2.45 if pre-ordered 3 months in advance or £2.50 if bought at the time.
-Ralph
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Post by Philip Ayres on Nov 15, 2011 19:54:06 GMT
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Nov 17, 2011 1:29:48 GMT
Oooh tempted.
Jack Kirby's Silver Star - £5.00 on comiXology.
Absolutely bonkers. I do love the King.
Andy
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Nov 17, 2011 3:01:52 GMT
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Nov 20, 2011 17:47:07 GMT
Another comixology sale - this time on Teen Titans. A slew of Wolfman/Perez issues acquired.
Andy
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Nov 26, 2011 23:48:48 GMT
Black Friday sale weekend you can get DC's Blackest Night comics cheap or Marvel's Fantastic Four comics by Jonathan Hickman.
A tough call.
Hickman's FF is fantastic up there with Waid and Wieringo.
Also the Beano and Dandy now have apps available.
Andy
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Post by The Doctor on Nov 27, 2011 0:05:25 GMT
It surely can't be long now until publishers realise they have back catalogue stuff that wouldn't make money in collected editions but could fetch a few bob on digital. And at some point Marvel will realise they have a vast catalogue of Marvel UK stuff to shove up.
-Ralph
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Post by Jaymz on Nov 27, 2011 12:20:59 GMT
It surely can't be long now until publishers realise they have back catalogue stuff that wouldn't make money in collected editions but could fetch a few bob on digital. And at some point Marvel will realise they have a vast catalogue of Marvel UK stuff to shove up. Definitely, and while they're prepping them for digital, work out a print on demand scheme. It would save them money, make them money, make fans happy, make retailers happy, etc, etc. |
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Post by The Doctor on Nov 27, 2011 14:15:48 GMT
That would be a good idea, but I can't see the Big Two getting into print-on-demand as yet. I can see smaller companies giving it a go.
Oh, a question about comixology: if I buy comics from there on a desktop computer can I still access them from the same service on an Ipad? I don't want to start buying digital comics on the desktop then find I can't see them on a portable device.
-Ralph
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