How many regular Marvel titles are $3.99 now?

[dragunzng]

if you can stand the interface, marvel has begun to digitize comics... although I'm too broke to subscribe at the moment, so I can't tell you what issues are available, and I've read a great deal of complaints about the program.

I do think though that it and TPBs will be the way comics will be published in the future.

I actually really like the idea of digitised comics, my problem is that I cant read them on a monitor. I wish they offered a subscription based service for the Kindle and the Sony e-reader.

 

[Ward Fowler]

I've actually read a couple of comics on my sony reader. Not a great experience. It's too small even in landscape mode and it's not in color, although it doesn't look bad in gray scale. I much prefer reading on my monitor instead. But digital comics take away from the visceral feel of reading comics. the texture of the pages and even the smell of the comic book are missing from the experience.

 

[Leroy]

The problem with digital comics is that it just isn't a hobby they way collecting a physical object is. Comics maybe obsolete and outdated but it's still a hobby compared to a hard drive full of downloads.

 

[JoeZhang]

I have a monitor that rotates to portrait - comics look great.

 

[Smiley]

$3.99 comics are just part of the downward spiral of the monthly. TemporalFlux stated the situation pretty aptly. Besides getting the stories sooner, I see no advantage to monthlies at this point. Trade paperbacks last longer, fit on the bookshelf, deliver a complete story, have no ads, and are cheaper. Sometimes, they even have bonuses like concept art or interviews. Monthlies have letter columns, but essentially the same content is on the message boards for anyone to see.

This is a dangerous road for the comics companies. With such high prices for the monthly books, it will be even harder to attract new readers or persuade old readers to try new books.

 

[Davros]

I was looking at an old X-Men cover from about issue 120 or so. It was priced at 35 cents.

 

[Dream]

They should follow the Japan's Manga style already. America comics would probably be way more sucessful if they were much cheaper and in black and white.

 

[Ben Sisko3]

I visited my local comics shop yesterday and spent $25.26. I bought Wildstorm's The X-Files #3 ($3.50), Star Trek Countdown #1 ($3.99), Superman/Batman Annual #3 ($3.99) and four regular DC titles for $2.99 apiece. I was going to buy the latest Mighty Avengers (the first issue in the Dark Reign storyline) but changed my mind when I saw that it was $3.99.

To be fair, Mighty Avengers #21 is extra-length by something like ten pages, which, IMO, makes it worth the extra dollar. And it's a damn good book.