Would you buy comics online using a method similar to iTunes?

[outlander78]

This has been debated more than once. I'm just looking for a percentage for those interested. For the sake of easy numbers, lets pretend that the comics were sold for 40% to 50% of their current cover price (as the dealer and Diamond costs would be eliminated).

So ... "Would you buy comics online using a method similar to iTunes?"

[davids]

Damn kids always begging, "Daddy were hungry, daddy why caint we have shoes, daddy what are inoculations. Damn kids had to cut back on my comics!

[Crinos]

This has been debated more than once. I'm just looking for a percentage for those interested. For the sake of easy numbers, lets pretend that the comics were sold for 40% to 50% of their current cover price (as the dealer and Diamond costs would be eliminated).

So ... "Would you buy comics online using a method similar to iTunes?"

In this order: Fuck. and Yes.

[une]

I would do it in a hearbeat.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

No...I know call me crazy and why wouldn't I take a 50% discount. But I love walkin in a comic book shop and lookin thru everything. Having the books in my hands....being able to decide which ones get my attention or not.

I'm just old school I suppose.

[Paradox]

outlander78 reasks:

This has been debated more than once.

And my answer is always the same. I'm not paying for online comics, period. I want something tangible and portable for my money.

[Corsair]

And my answer is always the same. I'm not paying for online comics, period. I want something tangible and portable for my money.
Agreed.

A 40-50% discount wouldn't be much of an incentive. I'm already getting 35% (or more) off the comics I buy, and I'll gladly pay the extra couple of nickels an issue for something I can hold in my hands.

One other factor...have you seen what Marvel's idea of a digital comic book looks like? Fuzzy images of low res scans presented in a clunky browser framework with limited viewing options. The folks in charge of putting these things online are evidently still getting the hang of these new-fangled computer thingies. I'd hate to see the mess they'd make if they were putting more than a handful of issues online.

[Charles RB]

Yes, assuming it wasn't crap like Marvel's current digital comic set up.

[outlander78]

Agreed.

A 40-50% discount wouldn't be much of an incentive. I'm already getting 35% (or more) off the comics I buy, and I'll gladly pay the extra couple of nickels an issue for something I can hold in my hands.

One other factor...have you seen what Marvel's idea of a digital comic book looks like? Fuzzy images of low res scans presented in a clunky browser framework with limited viewing options. The folks in charge of putting these things online are evidently still getting the hang of these new-fangled computer thingies. I'd hate to see the mess they'd make if they were putting more than a handful of issues online.

Good point - I should have put in more detail. In my opinion, iTunes purchases are high quality and highly portable. I should have put that in the poll's description. Crippled (e.g. online only) or poor quality would get a no from me, and hopefully everyone else.

[DonC]

I subscribed to CrossGen's Comics on the Web service, so I guess that would be a "yes."

Although, to be honest, I probably wouldn't have done that if it wasn't at a time I was able to stay up until 2AM playing online.

Now, downloadable (read: saveable) comics? Hell, yeah. I can just see my hard drive's available space going down to nothing.

[Dan Apodaca]

Yes, I'd do it.

But I'd also still buy comics, too, probably. I like going to the comic shop, and there are some really great comics out there which don't come from the big two, and probably wouldn't be offered online.

[Tadhg Adams]

I voted yes before I read the first post. I actually probably wouldn't at 50% off, or at least not a lot.

But while I'm not sure how much actual printing costs are, I sat down and figured that if a company were to digitally distribute the books themselves as opposed to using a 3rd party, they'd likely make the same amount of profit off a 1.00 e-comic as they would off of a 2.50-2.75 physical comic(The large companies at any rate). And at a pricepoint of a dollar an issue, I'd probably spend 20-25.00 a month just to keep up with what's going on in the various books that I don't currently read and I would continue to buy the physical trades that I'm already buying.

[Paradox]

outlander78 comes up a little short:

In my opinion, iTunes purchases are high quality and highly portable.

To make them portable, you need yet ANOTHER machine, and one that's dependent on battery power that you have to purchase. My eyes came free with the body and only require that I be conscious. Points still in actual comics' favor.

[Zissou]

There is no way that I would buy comics online, even if they were considerably cheaper. I am a collector, not just a reader. I like buying a book, reading it, bagging it, and filing it in its proper place in my collection. I enjoy certain aspects of collecting that wouldn't even exsist if I bought my comics online. For example, I like back issue hunting would no longer be part of collecting. I get a kick out of searching through bargain bins and boxes of old books looking for issue X of Batman, Flash or whatever. I also like the look of an entire run or arch lined up beside each other. And lastly, I like the smell of old books for the 60's or 70's. They smell great, my computer just can't compare to that. I'm not prepared to sacrifice these aspects of comic book collecting for the convience and price saving of digital comics.

[GremlinClr]

If they were in a non-proprietary format (say high res PDF) and I could save them to my hard drive AND they were 50% cheaper? Oh. Hell. Yea.

I just want to read the story and have the ability to reread it whenever I chose. If those two conditions were met I would have no problem never buying a new release paper comic again. Sucks to be my LCS but I'm thinking about my own financial well being here.

[Paradox]

GremlinClr carries his computer around with him everywhere:

I just want to read the story and have the ability to reread it whenever I chose.

Having them stuck on your hard drive kind of precludes the latter, doesn't it?

Or are you dragging your hard drive into the can and into bed with you?

[Johnny_Storm]

I'm not certain, I would need a device the size of a note book tablet, the kind the managers or drivers use at FedEX or UPS use. I haven't seen anything like that at my local electronics stores or anywhere outside of a business evnvironment, what would be the price range?

[Xiroteus]

Edit.........

[GremlinClr]

Having them stuck on your hard drive kind of precludes the latter, doesn't it?

Or are you dragging your hard drive into the can and into bed with you?

Well I don't know about you, but once I get a comic home that's where it stays. I can dig it out of a longbox or off my hard drive. And it's just as easy for me to read in front of the computer as anywhere else in the house so for me downloading versus paper wouldn't be that much difference. For you it might be.

[K'Nort]

I voted no simply because I don't like to read online. I still subscribe to a daily print newspaper. I still buy physical magazines. I will still buy comics. I don't care how lightweight and portable you make a laptop, curling up on the couch with a screen just isn't the same.

However, I think it's a viable idea. Because I recognize that most people are perfectly happy to get all their reading off a computer. It wouldn't get my money, but it would get a lot.

[Paradox]

GremlinClr notes the difference:

Well I don't know about you, but once I get a comic home that's where it stays. I can dig it out of a longbox or off my hard drive. And it's just as easy for me to read in front of the computer as anywhere else in the house so for me downloading versus paper wouldn't be that much difference. For you it might be.

Yeah, huge difference for me. I do MOST of my comic reading in bed, and a lot in the bathroom. And I've always got a few in my pack for traveling (I hate riding the bus without something to read or do).

[hondobrode]

I am SO torn on this, as is apparently fandom at large.

Part of me is definitely Old School and of course old habits die hard. I really like the feel, smell, security and portability (low tech) of comics.

and I HATE reading comics on screen. It seems so artificial and distant.

The price savings would be nice, tho, and having them all in one place would be cool.

I predict down the road BOTH formats will be offered, with the print format coming down in price thanks to subsidization from the e-versions. Print will also be rewarded with extras for the fanboys that the economy e-versions won't have, like limited edition or double covers, hologram covers, etc as well as other extras not included. Probably extra or exclusive covers on monthlies and some other extras, like sketches and interviews, for trade paperbacks.

Coke is sold in cans, different sizes of plastic bottles, collector glass bottles, fountain units, etc.

[Guts/Batman]

No...I know call me crazy and why wouldn't I take a 50% discount. But I love walkin in a comic book shop and lookin thru everything. Having the books in my hands....being able to decide which ones get my attention or not.

I'm just old school I suppose.

Nah.

I second this wholeheartedly.

Plus...crinkled/ripped page<<<<<<<<<<<memory wiping harddrive virus or "kid/spouse accidentally threw it in the trash"....

I suppose there are valid comparisons. But...I just don't wanna give up my comics.

[Paradox]

Ooo, I hadn't thought of that one, Guts. Good one.

Although I have had the physical near-equivelant due to fire and flood.