Comments on: Marvel goes online

By: The New Medium « The Webcomic Overlook

The New Medium « The Webcomic Overlook — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 16:57:41 +0000

[...] What if, one day, all comics are going to be webcomics? Marvel seems to be taking tentative steps into the medium — though, last year, Marvel already made huge waves by putting their archived comics online. What’s the thinking here? [...]

By: Remedial Comics » Blog Archive » Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited

Remedial Comics » Blog Archive » Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 02:42:48 +0000

[...] i see people complaining about the price point, but y’know, five bucks a month is a lot easier on my budget than what i typically pay for the material i buy from Marvel, and it gives me access to books that i would like to read (but don’t because of budget constraints), AND (and this is a pretty strong motivator) it keeps my home office from piling up with stuff i’ll never read again. [...]

By: Bill Cunningham

Bill Cunningham — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 00:36:15 +0000

Ah – you mean release windows…and even those are shrinking considerably. If Mark Cuban has his way, elease windows will go away altogether. His movie BUBBLE was released day and date at theaters, on HD Net and on DVD.

Back to comics.

By: The Dane

The Dane — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 19:45:42 +0000

Bill I was referring to dvd release of movies vs. theatrical release.

By: Bill Cunningham

Bill Cunningham — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 18:40:15 +0000

“I don’t think it’s that bad* that users can’t read new issues immediately, as there’s already a similar existing model in the rental dvd market.”

uh, no.

As the former director of marketing for a dvd label, let me assure you that the day DVDs go onto shelves at the Blockbuster is the same day (every tuesday) they go on sale at a retail store.

There’s no reason why the same couldn’t be done at Marvel.com.

I would rather see more ads on the Marvel site and have access to cheaper comics (or free!) with additional content – forum boards, galleries, interviews, etc… then I’ll go buy the trade collection at my LCS.

By: The Dane

The Dane — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 15:17:41 +0000

I don’t think it’s that bad* that users can’t read new issues immediately, as there’s already a similar existing model in the rental dvd market. Marvel’s DCU is essentially Netflix for comics. Still, the price is a little high to attract me.

$5 a month or $40 a year and I’d consider it.

There’s a deficit with digital in that I can’t read it on the pot or in bed or on my lunch break at the local Fuji Grill. It would take a lower price tag for me to sacrifice convenience like that.

*note: of course being “not that bad” is not really the same as being “good” and/or “sensible” – I think that at their current price point, they’d need something like “Today’s Comics: Today!” to bring in subscribers. Maybe, I’m not sure how big a need the average reader has to remain on the edge of what’s going on. I know I’m perfectly content to wait for trade, and I’m not even the casual reader.

By: Alan Spinney

Alan Spinney — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 12:49:24 +0000

I can see this business model working if: you could pay the flat fee to read EVERYTHING, including this week’s comics in Flash online. Then you potentially begin to attract new readers, some of whom who might eventually want to purchase a trade at the bookstore. OR begin buying new floppy copies of a title at the local gaming and comic shop.

As it is so far, a person would just be subscribing to an online Marvel library of back issues.

Good start though.

By: JC Lebourdais

JC Lebourdais — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 11:00:31 +0000

“A kid will read the same comic over and over until it falls apart.”

Maybe they would if they were self contained stories. Not any more.

By: hectorlima.com :: FINALLY - Marvel goes online :: November :: 2007

hectorlima.com :: FINALLY - Marvel goes online :: November :: 2007 — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 10:50:20 +0000

[...] FINALLY – Marvel goes online THE BEAT » Blog Archive » Marvel goes online Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited will offer the archive in a high-resolution format on computer screens for $59.88 a year, or at a monthly rate of $9.99, at marvel.com. [...]

By: Torsten Adair

Torsten Adair — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 03:57:19 +0000

This is a good thing. How many issues lie forgotten in the archives?
My nephew (23) bought and read the recent Captain America DVD-ROM. All of it. I’m slowly perusing the MAD Magazine DVD. Yes, it’s awkward, but also very powerful. (partial word search, foldable foldins, super special extras… )
As for the cost of comics, I would like to see Marvel And DC follow the Japanese model. Print a black and white anthology every week. Collect it in trade in color later. Sell it for $5.

By: Sphinx Magoo

Sphinx Magoo — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 02:23:27 +0000

$10 bucks a month is still cheaper than the amount I pay per month for my subscription to play “City of Heroes”. And $60 a year is quite a bargain! $10 bucks a month is still less than I would pay if I got each title at Border’s or at my local shop.

Once they get their servers in order, I’m going to take a serious look…

By: Alan Coil

Alan Coil — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 02:07:47 +0000

Fanboy Menace said:
“Also, a truck magazine may cost 5 bucks or better, but you are looking at 5 times as much content or better and that being the sole periodical purchase for that person for the month.”
—–
A kid will read the same comic over and over until it falls apart.

We have no way of knowing how many magazines that guy bought every month. I only report what I actually saw that day.

By: M. Lusk

M. Lusk — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 01:09:30 +0000

The average joe’s perception is what matters, not the converted.
And the average joe thinks $3 for a comic book is highway robbery.

And no, comics have not always been 3 times as expensive as sodas. If anything, they were close to the same in price until the 1970’s, when comics began to increase dramatically in price.

Perceived value is everything.

Erik Grove: “I think if you really freak out about how expensive comics are, consider your alternatives and how old and cheap it makes you sound.”

My alternatives are trade paperback collections that are reasonably priced or how about a paperback novel that will give me 20 times the entertainment time for less than twice the price of a comic book?
I don’t think that makes me sound old; I think it makes me sound like someone who knows price-gouging when they see it.
As fewer and fewer people buught comics, publishers charged more and more for those comics. And those increases have not been consistent with the increase in printing costs.

Erik Grove: “I have a nephew and his toys cost me 3 or 4 times what a comic costs.”

Apples and oranges.
Unlike comics, toy sales haven’t dropped 70% in the last 20 years, so kids (and parents) must feel they’re getting their money’s worth.

Average parent’s reaction to expensive toy? They’re annoyed. But they usually buy the toy if it means something to their kid.
Same parent’s reaction to a comic’s $3 price tag? They’re incredulous. I’ve seen and heard it more times than i can count.

By: Fanboy Menace

Fanboy Menace — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 00:58:17 +0000

No. I remember when a comic and soda from the local convenience store were the same price. And just because so many other media are grossly overpriced doesn’t justify comics being the same. Also, a truck magazine may cost 5 bucks or better, but you are looking at 5 times as much content or better and that being the sole periodical purchase for that person for the month. If say, comics still had that range of publication and exposure it would probably go a long way toward driving down the price instead of a the premium prices we pay in today’s niche market.

And TEN DOLLARS a month just to BROWSE Marvel’s archive? In yet another clumsy Flash viewer?! HAHAHAHA!

By: Erik Grove

Erik Grove — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 00:16:34 +0000

This is CRAZY. This pricing is NOT too much. It costs less for unlimited comics than a trip to the movies. ONE trip. Video games cost $60+ and will not give as much entertainment bang for the buck. Three DVDs or THOUSANDS of available comics.

I think this is the equivalent of my parents constantly going on and on about how Coke used to be a nickel and gas used to sell for a whistle and a little Fred Astaire dance. $3 for 30+ minutes of entertainment that you keep is a BARGAIN. Compare it to renting a DVD or buying 1/7 of a DVD or getting three songs from iTunes. Comics are properly priced in comparison to competitive entertainment. People who want comics to sell for a dollar do the medium a disservice. I’m just saying a bottle of soda at my job is $1.35 from the vending machine. I bet comics have always been about 3 times as expensive as soda so I think if you really freak out about how expensive comics are, consider your alternatives and how old and cheap it makes you sound. I have a nephew and his toys cost me 3 or 4 times what a comic costs.