Whether I like it or not–there is no stopping digital comics from entering the online world. And I don’t blame the publisher’s who try. After all, it’s business.
I looked at the new Marvel Digital Comics this morning. I have always thought that Marvel has a better handle on the use of modern communication than DC. And this advancement proves just that. DC Comics will simply follow suit, because they have to.
The interface of the Digital Comics isn’t bad, but I still simply don’t enjoy reading a comic book that way–of course, there is a paradigm there. Now, if take it to the next level –they can add sound. One benefit that I do see is that I can have some access downrange. It may–in the end–get blocked because of band width, so I won’t make a subscription until I’m sure. But, the potential is there. It is an alternative to reading something current while I’m in the desert. I don’t even know that I’ll read it enough to pay for it, however.
I am a little fearful of the future of comic books, though. I fear that the industry will forget their core business. I understand the bottom line. I understand that they CEOs want to make money. There isn’t the Trillions out there in comic books–because of the market…it simply isn’t that big. But, it is still a market and a reliable one. To improve the market, they need to improve the availability of the comic books. The “out-of-the-way” comic book shops must move to more profitable locations. Comic Books need to be sold in different types of venues. The way to attract readers is not through changing the medium–but making the media more accessible.
Marvel needs to make doubly sure that they don’t forget their original market–or one day, they will simply just have characters in spandex, rather than superheroes. It is truly all about the comic books.