Author Topic: comiXology  (Read 366 times)

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Mac

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comiXology
« on: September 15, 2011, 06:55:00 am »
comiXology - digital app

I couldn't think a better place than here. Digtal books are subject unto themselves, but this thread is really about comics and making them available. Beyond that, I am so green, but hoping this helps folks out with those new newfangled dee-vices.

Quote
Being a bookworm doesn’t mean you stick to the classics. Comic books are as popular as ever, and many readers prefer their stories told one colored panel at a time. Today's smartphones are equipped with display screens just as advanced as the phone itself. High pixel density and vibrant colors provide a visually rich viewing experience, and that's a lot of horsepower to waste on printed words alone. This ability to deliver sharp, crisp images in a mobile form factor is a marriage made in heaven for comic book geeks. That's why publishers including DC and Marvel have launched mobile sites and create content specifically for handheld devices.

ComiXology's Comics application works very much like the Kindle app we just discussed. Users can shop around 8,000 of titles from virtually every comic book publisher, with more than 300 being free to download. And once they make their purchase, the title can be read on any Apple or Android device [source: comiXology].

Purists may scoff at the idea of reading a comic book on a 3.5-inch (8.9-centimeter) display (which is the average screen size for a smartphone), but going mobile has its advantages. Storage, for starters, is a big draw for digital subscribers. Collectors couldn't exactly carry an issue around in their pocket until now. And the free app features what they call Guided View technology, which helps guide the reader to the next frame so each panel can be displayed individually.


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Chiprocks1

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Re: comiXology
« Reply #1 on: September 15, 2011, 07:27:08 am »
I have been meaning to start a thread on this but it just always slipped my mind. Thanks for getting this one started. Personally, I do think it's cool to be able to read a comic book on a huge monitor, late at night and not have to turn on the lights to do so. The only thing I object to about this new way of getting comics is the price. I absolutely disagree with the idea of making this the same price as a real comic book that you can hold in your hands. The price of those books is based on the creative talent: Writer, Penciler, Inker, Colorist and Letterer, not to mention that they need to pay for printing, shipping, etc... So I get that the price has grown to a whopping $3-5 per issue.

But where do they justify that price point for Digital Comics? Not worth it. If it were at least half off, than I think I'd be okay with. But the biggest factor going against Digital is there is no secondary market. It's kind of hard to sell this if your book increased in value, which makes having the real thing in your hands more of a sound investment. Besides, I just like turning the pages, turning the book sideways or whatever to look at the art. The feel of it, etc...
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Mac

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Re: comiXology
« Reply #2 on: September 15, 2011, 07:40:13 am »

But where do they justify that price point for Digital Comics? Not worth it. If it were at least half off, than I think I'd be okay with. But the biggest factor going against Digital is there is no secondary market. It's kind of hard to sell this if your book increased in value, which makes having the real thing in your hands more of a sound investment. Besides, I just like turning the pages, turning the book sideways or whatever to look at the art. The feel of it, etc...

I don't think a company ever thinks about promoting a secondary market. In fact, quite the opposite. They will discourage it and make it harder if they can. They do not have the consumer mentality, and in some cases over the years that has really hurt the company. I remember studio's (like Disney) and directors (like Spielberg) say their works will never be put into a product you can hold in hand and own. That's just not right. But then along comes consumer's with this power to purchase, promote, tell others and now it's a whole new story for these greedy bastiges.

We can only hope the rules of economics will kick in and things will balance out.
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Chiprocks1

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Re: comiXology
« Reply #3 on: September 15, 2011, 07:51:54 am »
But with comic books, it's entirely different than say DVD's. Comic books in the secondary market actually fuels the industry. It gets people buying multiple copies with the idea that one day it will be worth more, one that they can sell and one that they can keep for themselves. With this mindset of the fans out there, the industry is actually making more money up front. And no one is going to buy multiple copies of a Digital format. And I won't even bring up the idea of buying multiple copies of a DVD in the hopes of it increasing in value, which is funny if you think about it.

Comic books as a whole is definitely geared toward reselling down the road and it's imperative that the industry continues to promote the idea that what they are buying now will be worth more in the future. Any other industry and product I can see them discouraging that idea. But for comics, just the opposite.
« Last Edit: September 15, 2011, 07:54:22 am by ChipRawks »
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Mac

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Re: comiXology
« Reply #4 on: September 15, 2011, 08:41:52 am »
I'm hearing comic's are kind of like art (and unlike CD's & DVD's). They have the potential to increase in value for various reasons. But the main reason for the increased value is the comic community and not the creator/author of the comic. I'm not understanding how the company will benefit by the reselling. Once that product is printed, distributed and sold, the company has squeezed what money they can from the process. I can kind of understand a company promoting their product because 'it will increase in value' but that's marketing. I would think popularity will help future work from the company, maintain their product and more so see growth. But again, once a product is created and bought, the owner doesn't benefit from that product any longer.

So the basic model is the same as other industries, but yea, a comic product has the advantage of becoming sought after and increasing in value.




Hell, I don't know. It's just my opinion and what I've observed with products in general.
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Chiprocks1

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Re: comiXology
« Reply #5 on: September 15, 2011, 08:52:43 am »
It's true that the company in which said comic book has sold in the secondary market no longer has their hands on it nor would benefit financially from it. But they have ways around that now. Namely Trade Paperbacks. When a story or an Artist with name recognition goes "out of print", they just repackage a select run and then sell it again, usually at an increase markup due to paper quality, etc...

And then if the book/series is really popular they will keep repackaging it over and over. The crown jewel in these types of runs ends with the Absolute Editions, which basically is an oversized Trade Paperback in Hardcover/Coffee Table Book format ranging in price of anywhere from $60-$80. Sometimes more.

I actually go for these Coffee Table Books now as I rather skip the whole waiting each month for a book that may or may not come out due to an artist falling behind schedule.
« Last Edit: September 15, 2011, 08:54:38 am by ChipRawks »
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Re: comiXology
« Reply #6 on: September 15, 2011, 08:57:37 am »
I had no idea. But it makes total sense.
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Chiprocks1

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Re: comiXology
« Reply #7 on: September 15, 2011, 09:04:54 am »
Yeah, it's turned into a pretty big money maker. It's kind of taking on the same mentality of the original comic books if you are able to score a First Print of those Absolute Editions. I was talking to a friend yesterday about this and he has a few copies of the Danger Girl Absolute Editions that are now fetching upwards of $300 and a few times nearing that of $1K on some occasions for those desperate to get and buy one.
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Michael Scott To Meredith: "You've slept with so many men, your starting to look like one. BOOM! Roasted! Go here.

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Re: comiXology
« Reply #8 on: September 15, 2011, 09:11:58 am »
I would think that's still a hit and miss proposition. The same could be said for books. You don't know if becomes a collector edition or not. I'm glad I'm no longer collecting. That's too much hope required.
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Chiprocks1

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Re: comiXology
« Reply #9 on: September 15, 2011, 09:13:12 am »
I would think that's still a hit and miss proposition.

Very true.
Chip's Rockin' Art
Michael Scott To Meredith: "You've slept with so many men, your starting to look like one. BOOM! Roasted! Go here.

 

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