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[LOLtron]

Is Marvel Comics playing it too safe when it comes to day and date releases, and just who are they trying to target with their new digital comics?

The Marvel Comics App

The expansion of Marvel's digital day and date releases is fantastic news for fans of digital comic books and Marvel Comics. Marvel has already been releasing the full Ultimate line day and date, and with plans to expand to also rolling-out Spider-Man and X-Men titles Marvel has positioned itself to take a leap into the day and date pool.

Adding two of Marvel's most well recognized comic book character brands seems like a smart move since those character's titles touch so many readers and non-readers. If a non-comic-book reader thought about dabbling into comics and decided to do so by using their tablet (or other mobile device) or computer, they may be more enticed to read about a character they saw in a movie or TV show. Spider-Man, in particular, has a movie swinging into theaters next summer. The growing buzz will only add to the public recognition of the character, thus making the consumer more comfortable with the character's stories.

I get it. It makes sense, and I think it is a well thought out plan of attack. With that said...

Why doesn't Marvel want my money?

I am as excited as anyone to find out that my favorite superhero (Spider-Man) will soon be seen on my brand new iPad 2 (I'll get into why I purchased the tablet in a bit), but at the same time I realize that I will probably never buy a digital copy of Amazing Spider-Man. As a long time comic book reader I welcome the idea of having comics available in a digital form. However, I am not going to stop collecting my favorite titles in their physical paper form.

There is exactly where the heart of the problem lies for current comic book readers.

Many comic book readers have become collectors. If a reader has been purchasing a certain title for a number of years and storing them in their long boxes at home, they most likely will not stop collecting the paper form. This means they will be less likely to buy the issue twice (at full price...reduced prices are a slightly different story). For the large fan-base that already buys Amazing Spider-Man and X-Men titles at their shop (or has them delivered), the new Marvel day and date news is not only pointless but also quite frustrating.

The current reader is more likely to purchase a digital issue of a comic title that:

• They may not collect regularly.
• They may have heard about from a comic book review or friend.
• They may have thought to pick-up in paper form, but their comic shop sold out of due to their shop not being sure if the book would sell well.

(Often times, shops stock-up on big titles such as Spider-Man and X-Men. While these books certainly sell out of some conservative shops, and non-conservative shops, they are less likely to sell-out on a consistent basis.)

To be fair, Marvel did announce they will digitally release number 1's in the near future of most Marvel titles; however, it was unclear if they would continue to upload the following issues of these particular new titles.

It does seem as though if Marvel is trying to cater to potential new readers, rather than making current readers happy. The mentality seems to be that current readers will buy their products no matter what, so Marvel might as well focus on new clientele rather than improving retention rate and overall experience.

The Marvel App on the iPad

I love Marvel. They are the publisher I read the most, but DC has really beaten the spandex pants off Marvel when it comes to digital comic books. DC (starting in September) will be releasing all of their comic books day and date. Not only that, but a month after the comic book issue is available, DC will drop the digital price of the issue by $1.

What a rad idea.

I actually bought an iPad 2 just so that I could take advantage of DC's new day and date services. (For those who are not into the digital idea, please try some one's iPad and just look at how the color pops and never fades...plus it's a lot easier to hold an iPad than to carry around a bunch of comics in your book-bag.) I'm not a big DC guy (and I do not collect many DC titles), but by releasing all of their issues day and date, DC is starting to win me over.

By releasing every title digitally day and date, DC makes it easier for them to get my money and easier for someone to try a new title, pick-up a sold out book and switch from being a Marvel zombie to a DC supporter.

Marvel should think of my monthly comic book spend as a market. Both DC and Marvel want to grab the largest share of that market, and the company that makes it easier for me to spend my money gives themselves a greater chance to grab the largest share of that market. Of course quality of product will come into play, but the increased ability to get a DC comic book may lead some creators to jump Marvel's ship and head over to DC where their creations have the ability to get to more eyeballs.

Comixology DC Comics App

Marvel, don't tell me it isn't easy to release a new book digitally. DC is releasing 52 books day and date in September, so I have no reason to believe you cannot, as well. The one case Marvel can make is that they are trying to at least semi-support the comic shop industry. Shops sprouted-up to give comic fans more of a selection of things comic-related. If you liked Marvel, but wanted more, you would have to go to a retailer to buy more Marvel products. Jesus, after reading that last sentence I can't help but think of the extra work getting Marvel products could involve...leaving the house and moving. Who am I...Mr. Universe?

The future is digital. Just ask a drunk (or just annoying) Thomas Jane at the San Diego Comic Con "Digital Future" panel. Marvel needs to get with the times before time has passed them by. Or not...what do I know. I'm just a guy that bought an iPad just to read more DC comics.



For more comic related posts and reviews by Dom, head on over to 365DaysofComics.com!

Written or Contributed by: Dom G


http://173.199.169.70/index.php/features/miscellaneous-features/14899-marvels-day-and-date-dilemma.html/

[MrBlack]

While I agree that the future is digital, I am not pleased by either DC or Marvel's digital offerings. Day and date publication is a great start, but there is one glaring problem: You don't get anything for your money.

When I plop down (or rather, digitally transmit) my hard earned $2.99 to DC, or Marvel, or Comixology, I don't get a file in return that I can load up onto my computer, tablet, or phone. Instead, I get a license to read the selected comic online. Sure, I can access it from any web-capable device, but I can't read them if I'm offline. That's a major problem for me. I'd love to read comics on the Metro ride to work, but I can't get wifi in the train tunnels, and all that concrete does a fine job of blocking 3G signals. I'd also love to read a stack of comics on a plane, but although some airlines are introducing in-flight wifi, it's not the industry standard quite yet. Besides, it doesn't feel right to pay the same price for essentially nothing that I would pay for the glossy physical copy of the comic.

Just let me download the damn file. There are already weekly comic torrents, so it's not as if putting actual comic files out there is going to hurt the industry anymore than the internet already has.

[365Dom]

I didn't mention it in my post but you may want to check-out http://graphicly.com for your digital reading needs. I have an account with them. The site is well put together and easy to use. Just say'n...

[GOSD]

Not owning the file is a deal breaker for me.

I'm not a fan of renting my comic books.

[GHERU]

When I plop down (or rather, digitally transmit) my hard earned $2.99 to DC, or Marvel, or Comixology, I don't get a file in return that I can load up onto my computer, tablet, or phone. Instead, I get a license to read the selected comic online. Sure, I can access it from any web-capable device, but I can't read them if I'm offline.

yes you can
At least on my Ipad. When you purchase a comic on Comixology you can choose to read it online or hit the down arrow and have it downloaded to your device. That can take a minute or two (no more than loading the full comic to read online) but once you do that its on your tablet until you decide to erase it. And even then you can redownload it at any time

[GOSD]

I'm still not a fan, RU.

[GHERU]

The problem with digital, as I see it, is the price
not only does DC $1 off still exceed DCBS' or MOC's floppy discount, but we have been told for years that one of the main reasons for the high cost of comics was paper costs. There is no way that it should cost the same, or only $1 off, for a digital copy

[GHERU]

I'm still not a fan, RU.

Its not my favorite format either, and I completey understand people who don't want to go digital
but, I always like to hate something for an actual reason rather than made up / incorrect ones.

Unless that something is a dirty, no good, evil Dutchman

[LobsterJ]

i cant imagine ever buying one of these unless the price reflected the fact that marvel doesnt have to pay to print and ship the comics and neither diamond nor the LCS take a piece of the pie along the way.

[MrBlack]

yes you can
At least on my Ipad. When you purchase a comic on Comixology you can choose to read it online or hit the down arrow and have it downloaded to your device. That can take a minute or two (no more than loading the full comic to read online) but once you do that its on your tablet until you decide to erase it. And even then you can redownload it at any time

That looks to be the case on my phone, although it seems that the data is lost if I turn my phone off and back on again. I would still rather have the file.

[alaska1125]

I just got Superman: Red Son for three bucks. Haven't read it, heard good things about it, and could not pass it up at that price. I won't buy day/date at $2.99, but if these $0.99 deals keep happening, I'm sold.

[Potter Who]

The future is indeed digital, and I have no problem with reading rights vs. ownership or anything like that, but I do think that I'll wait until more tablet-friendly content is produced before even considering making a switch. I also feel like the digital comic book reading technology needs to improve a bit. Maybe if I had a large enough tablet to make it feel like I'm reading an oversized hardcover, but I'm not a fan of just zooming in on a panel at a time.

[Cat-Scratch]

While I agree that the future is digital, I am not pleased by either DC or Marvel's digital offerings. Day and date publication is a great start, but there is one glaring problem: You don't get anything for your money.

When I plop down (or rather, digitally transmit) my hard earned $2.99 to DC, or Marvel, or Comixology, I don't get a file in return that I can load up onto my computer, tablet, or phone. Instead, I get a license to read the selected comic online. Sure, I can access it from any web-capable device, but I can't read them if I'm offline. That's a major problem for me. I'd love to read comics on the Metro ride to work, but I can't get wifi in the train tunnels, and all that concrete does a fine job of blocking 3G signals. I'd also love to read a stack of comics on a plane, but although some airlines are introducing in-flight wifi, it's not the industry standard quite yet. Besides, it doesn't feel right to pay the same price for essentially nothing that I would pay for the glossy physical copy of the comic.

Just let me download the damn file. There are already weekly comic torrents, so it's not as if putting actual comic files out there is going to hurt the industry anymore than the internet already has.

That's the paradigm that media companies and software companies are trying their best to move too. It's a major cash mine for them. No one will own a thing but them.