Spider-Man - 45 cents each month?

[Geardaddy]

I've wondered about this for a while, and think in our modern world it may make some sense. Here me out.

When you ask many comic book readers (or former readers) why the don't but books, or don't buy more books, most times it comes down to money. Let's face it, comics are expensive. Especially if you read multiple titles a month, throw in a mini series or two, and the occasional one shot.

When the fans (or fanboys) squawk about the costs of comic books, the industry repsponds with rising costs of materials and distribution being the culprit to increased costs.

My long winded question is this: If companies like Marvel or DC offered an online subscription for say, 45 cents a title, would you buy them? Just thinking out loud here, but Marvel could give you a subscription username and password, and every month when a new issue drops on your subscribed tites, you go to the website log in and start reading. (This would also increase hits to their website, which also helps with revenue.) I'm thinking for the subscriber, they'd get an archive of the purchased titles so essentially they're their's for future reference. The cost per issue would be a fraction of what they are now, due to eliminating the costs of paper, distribution, etc.

The long time collector may come back with "I like to have an actual book in my hands...in my collection" to which I can't argue. But I'd think that for me, I'd use a digital option to try new titles, or get titles I'd normally not plunk the 2-3 bucks down to buy. I'd supliment my current traditional collecting practices, with that of a new inexpensive option to read even more titles that I otherwise may not be able to afford.

I really think that in our modern digital world, this is a natural transition for the comic book industry. Traditionalists my not accept it, but I know I'd be more inclined to purchase more titles if the costs were down.

[Cloudman]

I've wondered about this for a while, and think in our modern world it may make some sense. Here me out.

When you ask many comic book readers (or former readers) why the don't but books, or don't buy more books, most times it comes down to money. Let's face it, comics are expensive. Especially if you read multiple titles a month, throw in a mini series or two, and the occasional one shot.

When the fans (or fanboys) squawk about the costs of comic books, the industry repsponds with rising costs of materials and distribution being the culprit to increased costs.

My long winded question is this: If companies like Marvel or DC offered an online subscription for say, 45 cents a title, would you buy them? Just thinking out loud here, but Marvel could give you a subscription username and password, and every month when a new issue drops on your subscribed tites, you go to the website log in and start reading. (This would also increase hits to their website, which also helps with revenue.) I'm thinking for the subscriber, they'd get an archive of the purchased titles so essentially they're their's for future reference. The cost per issue would be a fraction of what they are now, due to eliminating the costs of paper, distribution, etc.

The long time collector may come back with "I like to have an actual book in my hands...in my collection" to which I can't argue. But I'd think that for me, I'd use a digital option to try new titles, or get titles I'd normally not plunk the 2-3 bucks down to buy. I'd supliment my current traditional collecting practices, with that of a new inexpensive option to read even more titles that I otherwise may not be able to afford.

I really think that in our modern digital world, this is a natural transition for the comic book industry. Traditionalists my not accept it, but I know I'd be more inclined to purchase more titles if the costs were down.

Give me a non-digital comic book for 45 cents and I'm a happy man.

But digital? No. I'd rather save the money.

[ShaggyB]

I've wondered about this for a while, and think in our modern world it may make some sense. Here me out.

When you ask many comic book readers (or former readers) why the don't but books, or don't buy more books, most times it comes down to money. Let's face it, comics are expensive. Especially if you read multiple titles a month, throw in a mini series or two, and the occasional one shot.

When the fans (or fanboys) squawk about the costs of comic books, the industry repsponds with rising costs of materials and distribution being the culprit to increased costs.

My long winded question is this: If companies like Marvel or DC offered an online subscription for say, 45 cents a title, would you buy them? Just thinking out loud here, but Marvel could give you a subscription username and password, and every month when a new issue drops on your subscribed tites, you go to the website log in and start reading. (This would also increase hits to their website, which also helps with revenue.) I'm thinking for the subscriber, they'd get an archive of the purchased titles so essentially they're their's for future reference. The cost per issue would be a fraction of what they are now, due to eliminating the costs of paper, distribution, etc.

The long time collector may come back with "I like to have an actual book in my hands...in my collection" to which I can't argue. But I'd think that for me, I'd use a digital option to try new titles, or get titles I'd normally not plunk the 2-3 bucks down to buy. I'd supliment my current traditional collecting practices, with that of a new inexpensive option to read even more titles that I otherwise may not be able to afford.

I really think that in our modern digital world, this is a natural transition for the comic book industry. Traditionalists my not accept it, but I know I'd be more inclined to purchase more titles if the costs were down.

no i would not.... I cant collect a pdf file or an image file. Its worth is zero. Online may be the way of the future... but if it comes to that or nothing i chose nothing. Its not a money issue for me. Having said that I dont have tons to invest in it either.... but I have what i have for books and I will continue to pay that way.... any other way and well... I guess i get an increase in my budget monthly....

[specops777]

he isn't talking about it from an investment standpoint. He basically is saying for those of us who just want to read them but don't want to collect them necessarily or sell them later, there would be a cheap option. its a great idea, as long as they would also continue to make physical books for the others.

[Mister Mets]

45 cents is probably too low for new comics.

But I suspect this will be the future of comics essentially, especially with improvements to Kindle.

[ShaggyB]

he isn't talking about it from an investment standpoint. He basically is saying for those of us who just want to read them but don't want to collect them necessarily or sell them later, there would be a cheap option. its a great idea, as long as they would also continue to make physical books for the others.

while i follow you.... No. Simply put with a system like that eventually the print would be phased out. Sadly its already begun. Spider-girl is a great example... to follow it online I would need to pay monthly/yearly.... or wait the delay for it to be in web of spider-man (2 months behind). So while i love Spider-girl and wish to read it on time.... I miss collecting it individually.... I will not support the system that is attempting to change how I currently get my comic reading enjoyment.

[whiteshark]

The online stories doesnt work to me.
The comics to me have to be in paper,to me to colect them.
If all comics were online i would just not collect them anymore,even if they were 45 cents.

Amazing Spider-Man still have a price of 2.99 which is good.
And with the prices of comics i just have to be more selective in what i read,in the past i would read most of the Marvel comics.
Now since there are more expensive i just have to be more selective and be sure just to buy comics that are really good.As Amazing Spider-Man,Daredevil,Captain America,New Avengers...

[jarvSthe1]

I would only do it if were the only way to access comic books.

I think there are different ways they can lower costs. They can stop hiring big names to do covers. They can use lower quality paper for the interior and exterior (Disney did that early this decade or late last decade and their comics were cheap compare to other companies) of their books. They can stop flooding the market with unecessary books. They can stop hiring big names who don't finish what they start.

[Geardaddy]

You guys make good points. Points I was fully aware were probably going to be made. What I like about them, is that it allows for an inepensive alternative to just not reading as many titles because of the costs involved. I'd much rather do a combo of the two (because like you guys, I'd much rather have physical copy of my favorite books). For me, I'd probably collect my favorite core titles in print, but supplement that with some books that I normally wouldn't read as a bonus.

I suppose this is sort of like the mp3 vs. CD argument. Many music buyers just prefer to have the physical CD in hand rather than just downloading the music into the itunes library even if buying the disc actually costs a little more.

[ShaggyB]

You guys make good points. Points I was fully aware were probably going to be made. What I like about them, is that it allows for an inepensive alternative to just not reading as many titles because of the costs involved. I'd much rather do a combo of the two (because like you guys, I'd much rather have physical copy of my favorite books). For me, I'd probably collect my favorite core titles in print, but supplement that with some books that I normally wouldn't read as a bonus.

I suppose this is sort of like the mp3 vs. CD argument. Many music buyers just prefer to have the physical CD in hand rather than just downloading the music into the itunes library even if buying the disc actually costs a little more.

I follow you but the line blurs on cds. Sure there are some who collect cds (artists or whatever) but its more an apples to oranges comparison. Id guess there are many more collectors of comics than of cds. likewise, the end goal is not exactly the same. Ipods take digital music so eventually a cd becomes a file. While im sure some read comics and then just lose interest and dont take care of them, burn the heretics, but many of them do.....

Speaking from experience, I have a few bands that i suppose one could say i collected.... i have all there cds and would always buy a new cd upon release.... but again even though i have those discs, i still have digital copies for ipod and car cd burning purposes. I cant say the same for comics. The point is not lost on me, but its not the same.

Furthermore, if the digital market grows and the disc based shrinks.... the ability to buy cds will go with it. Digital will be the new form of distribution.... Its only a matter of time.

The same will happen to comics, and i think, because of the fact that the record industry is not backing sales of comics.... it will happen sooner, if given the chance, than later... as purely a cost reduction on the creators side of things.

[The Shadow]

Give me a non-digital comic book for 45 cents and I'm a happy man.

But digital? No. I'd rather save the money.

Same here.

[Joe Acro]

I don't get nearly as much enjoyment out of reading digital comics, for a few reasons.

I wouldn't buy a digital comic, no matter the cost.

[CloneSaga]

I find it refreshing to be able to agree with much of what ShaggyB, Whiteshark and The Shadow says for once:-)

Digital comis is to me only good for
A) Previews
B) To have the images digitally available (not having to scan a comic) if one need a picture for some illustration
C) As a reading copy in case one is away from home and want to read a certain issue
D) As consolation copy if you cannot afford or have been lucky enough to find and purchase the real deal.

I have the 40 year of Spider-Man DVD, but that is still a physical item. I'm having a hard time imagining me buying a digital comic. OK, if Spider-Man had stopped being printed during Civil War, and the remaining issues were digtal only, I would in fact have purchased those. But I would have been mad about the format loss.

Digital comics is a good supplementary to paper comics, but I don't believe and certainly not hope that it will eliminate paper copies. Paper comics may become more expensive due to some flux to digital comics, but getting rid of the paper format I think will be the nail in the coffin for the comic industry.

Too many fans favor a copy in their hands.

[Grapeweasel]

I think the appeal of the extremely buggy MDCU is how cheap it it.

A buck and a quarter a week for 25 new comics, plus unlimited access to the vast library.

Compared to that, 45 cents a comic isn't cheap, even if it does give you better control over content and selection.

[YouthofToday]

I would be willing to spend up to $1 for a high quality scan that is released the same day as the print version. I wouldn't get all of comics this way, I'd want print versions of my favorites- ASM, Cap, NA, DA, SWarriors and a bunch of others. But the series I don't haven't the money for or ones I want to test out, I would definitely go the digital route.