Digital Comics

[thechrishaley]

That spoiler made me LOLFRIRL, Luke.

[deebeemonster]

I honestly don't know why there isn't a device specifically built to purchase and read comics that isn't $500 dollars.

[Koltreg]

BRB making new comics that you can read for super cheap.

Edit: There, there are webcomics that are worth trying. There are also indie digital comics. Support these people who can do what they want.

[Nerd is the Word]

I am all for digital comics.

Here in the UK comic shops are even more of a rarity than in the states. If you don't live near a city or a large town your best bet is the Panini Comics reprints available in local WHSmiths stores (they are like newsagents and book stores rolled into one). Sadly the Panini reprints are usually 2-3 years behind. Going digital just makes comics more readily available. There are also British comics but I don't really read them because 2000AD/Judge Dredd has never really appealed to me and the Beno and Dandy can fuck right off! As for CLiNT! well nobody I know buys it! I bought the first issue then got very annoyed with it very quickly because it is mostly rubbish filler.

When I got my iPad a year ago the first thing I did was grab the Marvel and DC apps and I have fallen in love with them. They are easy enough to use and even though I have had some issues with bugs and errors they are great apps and the comics on offer look amazing on my iPad screen. Also I have a large comics collection which drives my fiancé mad with the long boxes I have. Going digital means less physical space is taken up by my hobby. I can still enjoy them paper vs a screen isn't an issue for me. As long as it is in my hand I am happy. I can understand not enjoying reading a comic on a desktop screen because I like to sit back an relax while I read my comics. Sitting upright at a desk doesn't work for me, although I do find myself reading the odd comic on the web version of the DC comics store from time to time.

As for the argument that you don't really "own" the digital comics that doesn't really wash for me. I have re-downloaded all my digital comics several times over by now there is no limit. Also if you are worried that you want your own copy outside of the comics apps it is easy enough to take a screenshot of each page you read (press the home button and the sleep/wake button together) bam! Saved to your iPad/iPhone's photo library which can be backed up on your computer.

I am going all digital with DC come September and I can not wait because for me it means I can read the comics I want, when I want, where I want and most importantly it is a little cheaper for me! Because my local comic shop does a straight conversion so a $3.99 comic equals £3.99 for me. Going digital with DC saves me 50p to £1.50 on each comic I buy, which means I can buy a lot more comics! I have also grabbed a lot of runs and back issues in the various sales on offer from all the digital comics stores. I am still on the fence with Marvel's digital offering though because they alter the prices to make a $3.99, £3.99 for a day or so then magically revert to iTunes pricing conversion also. They also say books will be day and date and several times they have been 1-2 days late which annoys me to no end. While DC have shown they can do day and date by testing it out properly with things like Justice League: Generation Lost.

I can understand people's reservations about digital but most of the time it just seems like old people complaining about not understanding technology to me.

[MoustachePants]

I'm going to start doing the month wait for the DCnU stuff that I want to read, but either am iffy on whether I think its going to be good, or just something I don't NEED to read in print. I have no problem with it as long as I can still get my hands on and nose near a few actual comics. Plus I like going to the store and meeting people and talking comics and stuff. I enjoy chatting online, but I like the personal experience.

Also someone should invent (or I should just not be lazy and make) a stand for my laptop so I can turn it sideways and read a comic in the same dimensions digitally as I do in print, without having to drop $500 to do so.