Why isn't the Free Comic Book Day DC special available digitally??

[MajorHoy]

It didnt seem to hinder anyone but DC to have the book out on Comixology at the same time as it was handed out at the store.

Oh, so Marvel and other comic book companies had their FCBD special issues available same-day digital?

(And did you try to contact DC directly with your problem?)

[Mat001]

If I remember correctly, Germany has a terrible habit of translating everything from English to German...while I can read it, it would be with difficulty and a dictionary.

The point is that it is starting to move out into the rest of the world. Even if it's slow. Either for their translation of American comics or just European comics in general.

By which most people's patience will have ended if they, like me, visit these quite spoiling forum boards. One might be able to avoid the actual book threads, but a week or two from now someone is bound to reference to it and go "Oh, didn't you know?"

That's why you avoid spoilers until it's released digitally or just suck it up and deal with spoilers.

Which is still part of my fundamental problem that the US are the only ones who do dedicated stores in a big way and apparently comicbook companies seem pretty keen on keeping these stores alive while, for some unknowable reason, not branching out and remind people elsewhere that comics are actually still around.

1. FCBD was created as a thank you to the fans who stuck it out after the comic crash of the mid 90's. As well as lure back any lapsed fans or entice new ones. Marvel, Sony, Fox, Disney and Paramount taken advantage of this by scheduling their films right around the time of FCBD. If they can get even one third of the audience that goes to see the films to go to the nearest store, it will have been worth it. This year, Marvel has printed an Avengers and a Spider-Man comic, since both are going to be in theaters this summer. Last year it was two Iron Man comics, one with Nova under the Marvel Adventures imprint and one with Thor as part of the main 616 continuity, since Thor's film had debuted.

2. The newsstand market kicked the comic book industry to the curb in 1998-99, because it was no longer profitable to keep them in places like Wal-Mart and in various grocery store chains. This was due to the fact that the industry wasn't going to charge $6.99 or more for your standard comic, in order to maintain its spot. That left the direct market as the only resource. In 2004, there was an effort on Marvel's part by putting out Ultimate Spider-Man, Spider-Girl and several Marvel Adventures titles on the store shelves of Target. Two years later, they were no longer being sold. In 2006, another attempt was made. DC, Marvel, Dark Horse and Bongo made an attempt by obtaining store shelf space in a number of grocery chains and in Walgreens, a pharmacy. Here in Omaha, two grocery store chains and two Walgreens within driving distance all had comics. As of last year, only one grocery store was carrying comics. Only carrying Green Lantern and Spider-Man. Toys R' Us, Barnes & Noble and Hastings still carry monthly comics in most cities. Boarders shut down, thus taking one of the only other book store chains known to have carried monthlies. Meanwhile, public libraries have increased their trade and OGN content over the last decade. Most libraries allow patrons to request new content to be added to their stock. I've done that several times for Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Booster Gold, the JLA, the JSA and the first two weekly series that DC has put out since 2006.

3. Social media has helped keep people aware of comic book stores. News media as well. Joe Quesada has appeared numerous times on "The Colbert Report" to talk comics. And since 2000, DC and Marvel have been in the press for upcoming work. Everything the launching of Ultimate Marvel in 2000 to the New 52 last September. And if the comic book stores can afford it, they buy commercial air time for their stores. The store that I mentioned with the celebrity guests have had TV spots for the last twelve years, especially before FCBD and on Black Friday. The one that had the charity drawing has had commercials since 2007. And that's just locally. I'm sure out in New York City, commercials for Mid Town Comics have aired regularly. And every year before FCBD, the local news covers it as part of the upcoming things to do for the weekend.

So for some of us digital releases the same day is the only option to appear up to speed on things in this age where that is pretty important.

And that's fine. But until all of the comic book companies are ready to put them online, you're just going to have wait.

[CagedLeo730]

A few of the FCBD books have been made available digitally on comixology. Dark Horse has also put their FCBD books on Darkhorse Digital.

[Judge-Dredd]

I hope they put it up digitally. I trekked into my nearest comic store for the first time in months, only to find they ran out of all FCBD books about 4 hours beforehand.

[Famousringo]

That's a little disappointing. My favourite thing about the relaunch was that digital customers were being treated as equal citizens to hardcopy readers. Guess we're still in second class, but at least the gap has narrowed rather a lot.

I can appreciate that publishers need to be careful not to piss off the old retailers, though. Especially if those retailers are being billed for the cost of printing.

[christinereed]

Last year, it seems like ComiXology had more FCBD issues that it did this year.

FCBD was a sucess for me. I got a free comic and some great issues out of the 3 for $2 box. And it was kinda nice reading print comics for a change.

I only went because my daughter wanted to go get some free comics.

[Noj]

Oh come on just because ONE comic, a FREE one at that didnt go digital the day it was released suddenly youre second class?

[suss2it]

Well, at least Marvel put up their FCBD stuff on Comixology.

[Sk8maven]

I couldn't even try to get to the local comics store. I'm in Winchester, Virginia, and Free Comic Book Day was the Saturday of Apple Blossom weekend - when the entire town is snarled up solid for hours on end while the Grand Feature Parade winds its way right through all the main streets. No sane person tries to go anywhere by car during that time.

Mostly I'd like to get a better look at the Circle of Eternity and see if I can put any more names to the members - I got one for sure (Susanoo-no-Mikoto, Japanese storm god), one for probable (Shango, Yoruba storm/lightning god), and made reasonable guesses at five others. Apparently one was not shown in the few pictures I've been able to access, as there are supposedly "eight" and I only saw seven.

[Tandaemonium]

I couldn't even try to get to the local comics store. I'm in Winchester, Virginia, and Free Comic Book Day was the Saturday of Apple Blossom weekend - when the entire town is snarled up solid for hours on end while the Grand Feature Parade winds its way right through all the main streets. No sane person tries to go anywhere by car during that time.

No offense, but wouldn't every sane person be trying to go anywhere else during any time like that?

[fishbonex]

If people are really upset over not getting a free giveaway meant to promote in-store visitors, the solution is to make an arrangement with an LCS to put them aside for you until you can get there.

[Mat001]

I hope they put it up digitally. I trekked into my nearest comic store for the first time in months, only to find they ran out of all FCBD books about 4 hours beforehand.

You need to get there early before the store opens, to get the best deals and to get the free material. I always go to the store that has "take ten of their own stock" first, arriving about a half hour before they open. That gives me enough time to make it across town to the others that I go to, since they open an hour later. You go at noon time or later, they'll be picked over.

I couldn't even try to get to the local comics store. I'm in Winchester, Virginia, and Free Comic Book Day was the Saturday of Apple Blossom weekend - when the entire town is snarled up solid for hours on end while the Grand Feature Parade winds its way right through all the main streets. No sane person tries to go anywhere by car during that time.

What's the next nearest town to have a comic book store? But as I said, in your case, you should go out early to avoid traffic and get a good spot.

[Sk8maven]

No offense, but wouldn't every sane person be trying to go anywhere else during any time like that?

Ya gotta get out of town BEFORE it goes crazy. That doesn't help when you're on the northwest side of town and the comics store is on the southeast side - and you don't know where to find one in any of the neighboring towns.

Bad, BAD planning.

[sberg1]

That's a little disappointing. My favourite thing about the relaunch was that digital customers were being treated as equal citizens to hardcopy readers. Guess we're still in second class, but at least the gap has narrowed rather a lot.

I can appreciate that publishers need to be careful not to piss off the old retailers, though. Especially if those retailers are being billed for the cost of printing.

FCBD is for comic store retailers. It is to promote purchases IN the comic store. Publishers continue the tradition in an effort to show the retailers that yes, they do actually care about the brick and mortar stores. It is NOT, in any way, supposed to make digital purchasers feel like they're being left out. It is for retailers to get boosts in their bottom lines so that they can actually remain open. There is nothing wrong about that.

The fact that the issue will eventually be available on digital should be good enough. This event isn't for the "fans," it's for the retailers. It's the comic book industries equivalent of black Friday.

[Judge-Dredd]

You need to get there early before the store opens, to get the best deals and to get the free material. I always go to the store that has "take ten of their own stock" first, arriving about a half hour before they open. That gives me enough time to make it across town to the others that I go to, since they open an hour later. You go at noon time or later, they'll be picked over.

Yeah I was lucky that I managed to have enough time to get in for 3PM, no chance of me waiting before it opens, and I won't have a free weekend morning for about 2 months.