With the popularity of superhero films many people are interested in reading comic books.
It’s important to emphasize that the comic books that many of us have grown up with has changed content-wise and price-wise. Back then, the major comic book companies had to adhere to the Comic Book Code Authority and pretty much tailor their comics to the general public and make sure they are safe for children.
By the early 2000s, publishers bypassed the code, Marvel Comics abandoned it in 2001 and DC and Archie Comics abandoned it in 2011.
While there are safe comics that still exist, today’s comic books have sex, violence and are pretty much tailored to their adult demographic.
The price of comic books today are now $3.99 each and the incentive of purchasing a comic book from Marvel Comics, is that each comic comes with a digital code. For DC Comics, up until April 2017, several titles that were priced at $3.99 had digital codes and comics sold for $2.99 did not.
Recently, it was announced that DC Comics priced at $3.99 will no longer come with a digital code. While DC says free digital copies will continue to be included with physical versions of first issues, select event comics, annuals and some other special issues.
But for some people, digital comic books are much better for their lifestyle, considering they don’t have to purchase comic book boxes, boards and plastic covers and not take up space in their home. While there are some who feel that reading a comic book in the traditional paper-format is the best way to go.
But for this post, let’s take a look at digital copies of comic book.
The primary company known for cloud-based digital distribution of comics is ComiXology, which as of 2014, is a subsidiary of Amazon.com. And over two million comic books from different companies.
Marvel Comics and DC comics use ComiXology for digital distribution and have their own privately branded digital service.
Marvel Comics website is fantastic as it offers rewards for those who purchase their comic books, may it be printed or digital. You redeem your code and you can read your comic online or via an app.
It’s so easy to redeem a code. If anything that would be considered difficult is that certain stickers (to lift off to unveil the code) have a bit more glue than others and is not easy to lift off.
The caveat for those purchasing a print-based comic book, you only have a year to redeem your comics, so if you purchased a lot of comics through your local comic book store’s $1 bin, more than likely, those codes have expired.
And if you don’t want to buy the physical hardcopy, you can also purchase the comic books online and sometimes you can find sales being offered (especially through the ComiXology site).
But reading the comic is easy, you can read it as a two-pager, you can zoom in and out, browse through pages and more.
DC Comics works the same way. But unlike Marvel’s comic site, you get no reward points. And as mentioned previously, prior to May 2018, only a few comic books had digital codes. As of now, DC Comics changed their policy and they no longer offer courtesy digital codes like before. Which is a shame after being spoiled by it.
If anything, it’s because those digital codes opened my eyes to their site, that led me to make digital comic purchases.
But this happens with Blu-ray and DVD releases as well, not all titles have a digital code.
But to be perfectly honest, even with video releases, I’m more inclined to purchase an item if it does come with a digital code.
And while many people are moving towards digital distribution for books, movies, music and now comic books, you can’t help but enjoy the convenience.
While I am more of a person who believes in purchasing the hardcopy printed version, it is because of those complimentary digital codes that opened my eyes to digital distribution for comic books that I have become more accepting towards reading digital comic books.
So, if you are interested, definitely give ComiXology, Marvel Comics or DC Comics digital distribution a try. They also offer free comics each months, so you can test it out and see if reading comics digitally fits your lifestyle.
