Image Gets It Right

[John C]

I never thought I'd see those words in that particular order.  But you know all of that ranting everybody does that we shouldn't be licensing digital comics from a fickle server that doesn't do downloads?

It’s a digital sales model that has been adopted by every major U.S. comics publisher — and most e-book publishers as well — and was inspired by fears that piracy of digital copies could hurt not just digital but also print sales. It has also essentially prevented the comic book readership (or at least, the legal comic book readership) from truly owning any of the books they buy. At least until this morning, when comic book publisher Image Comics announced at its Image Expo convention that it will now sell all of its digital comics as downloadable via its website for both desktop and mobile users, making it the first major U.S. publisher to offer DRM-free digital versions of comics. Readers can even choose the file format they prefer: PDFs, EPUBs, CBRs or CBZs.

Who would've guessed that one!?

http://www.wired.com/underwire/2013/07/drm-free-comics-download-image/

Sigh.  Now I'm going to have to actually look at what Image sells.  It'd be wrong to not patronize the one company doing something pro-consumer.  And I don't mean talking down to them like they're children.  Kind of.

[Roygbiv666]

Cool.

"The Walking Dead" series is good, if you like horror. I hear good things about "Invincible", 'Mice Templar" and "morningglories", but haven't read them myself.

Oooh, they have "American Flagg" by Chaykin, not sure if it's available digitally.

[Yoc]

That is Great news!
And I also recommend Walking Dead and especially like Mice Templar.

Thanks for the update John.

[narfstar]

Some of the others originally allowed downloads. I had the option when I first started getting some books from Comixology. One of the advantages to digital marketing is the ability to give away the first issue and it does not cost you anything. I have bought a lot of comics because of that darn free first issue.

[John C]

One of the advantages to digital marketing is the ability to give away the first issue and it does not cost you anything.

There's a part of me hoping that business schools of the future study why, in a world where you have so many options for marketing a product, companies spent these years going for the shortest-term gain instead of hooking customers.

And yeah, I know it's been done before, but I think this is the first attempt at DRM-free and choice of format, plus it's being done with the hindsight of the others.  While it could just be a temporary run until someone has their first panic attack over "piracy," it sounds more like a way to distinguish the product in the market.

Hopefully.  It'll probably be based on how much money comes in, honestly.  If nobody buys any, then they won't keep it.

[narfstar]

Apparently people are buying from comixology and others. I know that I have from several.

[John C]

Sure, but Comixology's revenue doesn't mean there's no money in do-what-you-want downloads.  It might, but it might not, and it's the direction I'd much rather see.

My point (to the extent that's important) is that a lack of revenue for Image's plan will probably be taken as a sign that nobody cares about downloads and ownership and it'll go away.  If it makes a lot of money, Marvel and DC may rethink the "digital Diamond" approach.