2. Introduction
Mobile technology and electronic formats have
had a huge impact on comics and graphic
novels.
These technologies have created a market for
digital comics.

3. Digital Comics
Digital comics are comics that are released
digitally and can be read on computers and
mobile devices. Digital comics can be obtained
directly from publishers, such as Marvel and
Dark Horse, through online stores such as
Amazon and Barnes & Noble, via mobile
applications, or through online subscription
services.

4. Digital Comics History
Digital comics are not new. In
1996, Marvel took their first step
into digital comics with
CyberComics, which were
Shockwave animated comics. In
2000, CyberComics became
DotComics, until it ceased
production in 2004.
In 2007, Marvel once again delved
into the digital realm with the Marvel
Digital Comics Unlimited Service.
This service is an online
subscription archive of Marvel
comics.
Marvel and other publishers have
also released collections of comics
on CDROM.

5. Digital Comics Milestones
1985- Witches & Stitches is published on CompuServe
1991- Where the Buffalo Roam is published on FTP and USENET
1996- Marvel CyberComics debut
2007- Marvel Unveils Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited
2008- IDW starts marketing to mobile devices, becoming the first publisher to
do so
April 2010- the Apple iPad is released and according to many, changes the
digital comics industry
2012- Marvel ReEvolution, augmented reality digital comics

6. A New Era
Now with mobile technology, digital
comics have finally come into their own.
iPads, iPhones, Android devices, and
tablets have made creating and
consuming digital content, including
comics, easier than ever before. In
2010, digital comic purchases increased
by 1,000%, while graphic novel
purchases decreased by 20%.
In March 2012, ComiXology, the leading
digital comics provider surpassed the 50
million download mark since its
inception in July 2009. ICv2 estimates
that in 2011, the digital comics market
totaled $25 million, more than triple the
2010 numbers.

7. Marvel ReEvolution

8. Marvel ReEvolution
Marvel’s new augmented reality app will allow readers to
scan print comics (using barcode readers) to unlock
digital features. The app will be available for Android and
iOS
Peter Phillips, senior VP of Marvel Digital media explains:
―Marvel AR is a perfect example of how digital innovation
not only gives added value to print comics, but also brings
a delivers an entirely new reading experience. Now fans
will have access to more behind-the-scenes material from
their favorite Marvel products than ever before—and it’s
all absolutely free.‖

9. Why Are People Reading
Digital Comics?
According to a study Other factors that have
conducted by Mia Wiesner of influenced the popularity of
the University of Applied digital comics are:
Sciences in Liepzig, some of
the reasons respondents gave • ease of obtaining back
for purchasing and reading issues or out of print issues
digital comics were:
• digital copies are less prone
to damage/loss
• availability/ unavailability of
print version (46.3%)
• portability of digital comics
(43.9%)
• digital comics don't require
shelf space (41.5%)
• affordability (39%)

10. Digital Comics Technology
Digital comics come in a variety of formats. The most
popular formats are .CBR, .CBZ, ePub, and PDF.
.CBR and .CBZ are comic book archives, which are
made up of a series of image files (usually .PNG or
.JPG). These files are archived into a single file.
Epub is an e-book format.
Aside from PDF formats (which can be read on most
computers), digital comics require special reader
software.

11. Mobile Apps
A Selection of Mobile Apps that can read comics archive files:
Comics by comiXology (iOS, Android, Web)
Comics4Kids by comiXology (iOS, Android, Web)
Comics+ by iVerse Media (iOS)
Comics+ Kids by iVerse Media (iOS)
Graphicly (iOS, Android, Web, Windows 7)
Cryptozoic Comics (iOS)
Panelfly (iOS, Android, Web)
Publishers such as Marvel, DC, IDW, and Dark Horse also have mobile apps available

12. ComiXology
ComiXology is the largest digital comics provider, with
over 16,000 titles from most of the major publishers for
sale.
ComiXology is the creator of the comics app for mobile
devices. The app uses ComiXology’s Guided View
Technology that mimics the natural eye movements one
would experience when reading a print comic.
In 2011, the Comics by ComiXology app became the
highest grossing iOS app ever.

13. The ComiXology web
storefront

14. ComiXology store on
iPad (via the Comics
app)

15. Devices that Support
Digital Comics
iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch
Android phones and tablets
Barnes & Noble Nook, Nook
Color, Nook Tablet
Amazon Kindle, Kindle Fire
Kobo Vox
Sony PSP
Blackberry

16. Click here for a video of the Kindle Fire ComiXology app in action
(comics portion of the video begins at 1:06)
Click here for a video of the Nook Tablet’s comics reader in action

17. Issues
The following section highlights some of the
pertinent issues surrounding digital comics and
includes quotations from those in the comics
industry expressing their views on the issues.

18. Pricing
Most digital comics are priced the same as print versions, which has caused
much debate and many to question whether 20 pages of digital content are
worth a $3.99 price tag.
DC, unlike most other publishers, drops the digital price by one dollar a month
after release. Publishers justify their pricing by stating that keeping digital the
same price as print helps to ensure that independent comic book shops are
not undercut.
In Mia Weisner's study, 35.8% of respondents stated they would pay up to 20%
of the print cover price for digital comics, while only 2.4% would pay up to
100% of the print cover price.
In June 2012, Marvel will start including digital download codes with all $3.99
superhero comics, allowing those that purchase print versions to also obtain a
digital copy for free.

19. Competition and Exclusive
Deals
Some comics publishers have created exclusive digital deals.
In October 2011, Amazon announced that they had reached a deal
with DC to exclusively sell 100 titles through the Kindle Fire tablet. In
response, Barnes & Noble pulled 100 DC graphic novels off their
shelves.
Earlier this year, Barnes & Noble announced an exclusive deal with
VIZ media to sell the company's digital manga titles on their Nook
devices.
Exclusive deals may be good for the publishers and the
distributors, but it also limits the audience to those who own a
specific device.

20. Impact on Print Comics
While digital comic sales continue to increase, print graphic novel sales are
decreasing. Some see digital comics as a very real threat to print comics. Others
envision a world where print and digital can happily coexist.
"There's a whole generation of ―[Comic shops] were
people, especially digital scared of selling comics
natives, who've grown up on paper—at least in the
around technology, that prefer form of trade-paperback
reading comics on iPads and collections, and now
other tablet devices. It's simple: they’re a huge part of our
print can't survive in an
business. Digital on the
economy where people don't
prefer it.‖ – David
surface does not scare us.
Lisa, Consultant for the NJ
It is something we have to
State Library and graphic novel adjust for and prepare
specialist. for.‖ – Chris Powell, Lone
Star Comics

21. Impact on Brick & Mortar
Stores
The popularity of digital comics has caused some debate on whether
digital comics and online digital retailers are a threat to traditional comic
book shops.
"We see digital as a separate product and market than
print, but obviously there is a fear out there that delivering
comics before brick & mortar retailers gives us an unfair
advantage. As people feel more comfortable that there
won’t be disruption in the print marketplace, I’m sure we’ll
see the time frame evolve. But I don’t think you will ever
see us releasing 12 hours before West Coast stores
open." - ComiXology CEO David Steinberger

22. Ownership
David Brothers states that Generally, digital comics operate in
"casual readers don't care much the same way as most e-
about ownership because books do in regards to ownership.
they don't know that it's an Users do not "own" the books as
issue. As soon as they would a print copy.
Instead, they license the content.
ComiXology or Graphic.ly This usually means that digital
goes away, goes down for comics cannot be
an extended period of shared, copied, or altered in any
time, or locks people out way. Many in the digital comics
of books they have community are calling for the
purchased, ownership is industry to become more open and
definitely going to be an fair to users in terms of ownership
issue". and to make users more aware of
what, exactly, they are purchasing
when they buy a digital comic book.

23. Piracy
Piracy was an issue before digital comics came into prominence, but the
digital era has certainly created an increase in illegal sharing of comics.
―Anybody that thinks piracy ―If illegal downloads are
doesn’t have an impact is happening, it means there’s
drinking the Kool-Aid. But an audience for your stuff.
there’s a pretty significant Lots of people would kill to
group of people that were have thousands of people
reading illegal content that if downloading their stuff for
they have a legal, safe, easy free.‖ – Scott Kurtz, Creator
way to buy they do so. Once of Player vs Player webcomic
you’re into the system and
can sync across
platforms, it’s not worth the
hassle to get illegal copies.‖ –
Flip Sablik, Top Cow Comics

24. Conclusion
As digital and mobile technology continues to
evolve and grow, so too will the implications
these technologies have for the comics industry.
What does the future hold for digital comics?
Only time will tell.

25. Discussion Questions
1. What is your experience with digital or mobile comics? Have you ever used a mobile comics
app? If not, would you? Why or why not?
2. Do you view digital comics as a benefit or detriment to the comics industry? Why? Do you
foresee digital replacing print in the future?
3. How can libraries take advantage of digital comics? Do you think subscription services are
worthwhile for libraries to purchase?
4. Do you agree with Flip Sablik’s view of digital comics piracy when he states ―Anybody that
thinks piracy doesn’t have an impact is drinking the Kool-Aid. But there’s a pretty significant
group of people that were reading illegal content that if they have a legal, safe, easy way to buy
they do so. Once you’re into the system and can sync across platforms, it’s not worth the hassle
to get illegal copies.‖ Do you think it’s true that giving people easier ways to read comics that
can sync across platforms will give people less of a motivation to download illegal copies?
5. How do you feel about the fact that digital comics purchased through ComiXology, for
example, are licensed and not outright owned? Do you think the current licensing model needs
to be reworked? What issues can you envision the current model might create?

26. References
Brothers, D. (2010). Digital December: Do you really own your digital comics?. Comics Alliance. Retrieved
from http://www.comicsalliance.com/2010/12/23/digital-december-ownership/
ICv2. (2012). ComiXology tops 50 million comics. ICv2.com. Retrieved from http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/22319.html
Lee, N. (2011). Digital comics come to life on tables. CNET. Retrieved from http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-31747_7-20049401-243.html
Marvel Comics. (2012). The Marvel ReEvolution is here. Marvel.com. Retrieved
from http://marvel.com/news/story/18265/the_marvel_reevolution_is_here
Moore, B. (2011). Interview: ComiXology CEO David Steinberg on digital comics, pricing & the new 52. Screenrant.com. Retrieved
from http://screenrant.com/comixology-ceo-david-steinberger-interview-benm-138650/
Reid, C. (2011). B&N pulls 100 DC graphic novels from shelved over Kindle Fire deal. PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved
from http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/digital/retailing/article/49008-b-n-pulls-100-dc-graphic-novels-from-shelves-over-
kindle-fire-deal.html
Snell, J. (2011). Comic-Con embraces the iPad era. Macworld.com. Retrieved
from http://www.macworld.com/article/1161382/comic_con_embraces_ipad_digital_comics.html
Staino. R. (2011). New York Comic Con: Librarians focus on better digital access, gaming. SchoolLibraryJournal.com. Retrieved
from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/slj/home/892425-312/new_york_comic_con_librarians.html.csp
Tyrell, G. (2011). Following up. Fleen.com. Retrieved from http://www.fleen.com/archives/2011/10/11/following-up-3/