Digital comics, any alternative to Amazon? (sopuli.xyz)

submitted 3 months ago by nokturne213@sopuli.xyz to c/comicbooks@lemmy.world

12 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I live in rural NM, and getting physical comics is a trek. I used to use Comixology, but missed physical books so much I opened a comic and game shop in my small town. The comic side of things failed, my game sales were financing the comics. So after just over a year i cancelled my comic account to focus on the games.

Since then Amazon took over comixology and moved shopping for comics onto Amazon, which after three days of trying to find titles I have decided to explore other avenues.

I know when I was selling comic books marvel had their own app, do all of the publishers have those? Or is Amazon the only name in the game?

I am looking to catch up on Dynamite’s Red Sonya, Marvel’s Conan, Elfquest, anything X-Force, X-23, and probably Firefly. I have not read a comic since my last order came into the shop in January 2020. The news of the new X-23 series is what started to pull me back in again, I did manage to get a subscription to that on Amazon.

all 14 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old

[-] Entropy@lemmy.blahaj.zone 6 points 3 months ago

It's not strictly speaking legal, but there's an app called Mihon for Android that can scrape "read free online" sites and serve them to you in a neat little UI that lets you make categories and such. It's mostly focused on manga, but it has extensions for western comicbooks as well. I'm currently using it to read through the og Ultimate Spider-Man and Hellboy at the moment.

[-] jordanlund@lemmy.world 5 points 3 months ago

Outside of Comixology, there's Marvel Unlimited and DC Universe Infinite:

https://www.marvel.com/mu-24deadpool

https://www.dcuniverseinfinite.com

Obviously both limited to Marvel and DC respectively.

Those are the LEGITIMATE sources. There are other ILLEGITIMATE sources but a) We don't talk about Bruno and b) In my experience, they are full of spam, malware, and .ru domains that can't be trusted.

[-] arkholt@feddit.nl 2 points 3 months ago

These are the legitimate sources for the absolute most recent comics, but I do want to point out that there are a good number of slightly older comics on the Hoopla app, which you can access through your local library. If you want to catch up on some older stuff it's also an entirely legitimate way to do it.

[-] MajorHavoc@programming.dev 2 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Yeah. Both great options!

Marvel Unlimited is getting to be pretty fantastic. A few years ago there were big noticeable gaps in key series, and lots of mistakes in ordering of reading lists.

But recently I've been able to choose a character and binge read almost every issue of that character that was ever printed, in pretty close to publication order, with few gaps or misorderings.

DC Universe infinite was also pretty solid last time I tried it, and having streams of many of their animated films (which are each, on average, fantastic) was a very nice addition.

Edit: Anyone know of other comic publishers going this way? I would be happy to chuck some money at Dark Horse or DreamWave (RIP? Or are they back?) or others some months.

[-] jordanlund@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago

IDW had one at one point but it looks like it folded. :(

[-] nokturne213@sopuli.xyz 2 points 3 months ago

I thought idw went out of business. Or was that just their game division?

[-] jordanlund@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago

It's been a near thing, but the comics side is still hanging on.

[-] Deadlytosty@feddit.nl 4 points 3 months ago

I live in Europe, so my options are a little limited. But I am currently using the marvel app. You can get a subscription and read all that is available, which is a lot. Newer comics lack behind a bit, probably to drive paper sales.

I know there is a similar app for DC, but it is not available here. I read online people think it is lackluster, but again no handson experience. I believe darkhorse comics might have a platform as well.

For me I like to buy paper comics for all non-marvel comics. I do like that a lot more. It draws me in better, and allows me to support smaller shops like the one you had.

Hope you get back into reading. It is a wonderful world!

[-] darakan@lemm.ee 3 points 3 months ago

Global Comix

[-] MajorHavoc@programming.dev 2 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

I'm not a big fan of renting and not owning, but I feel like most of my Marvel Unlimited or DC Infinite subscription is going to the writers and artists to support their making more content. Feels like a Patreon situation, rather than rent seeking.

New content hits Marvel Unlimited so quickly, and there's so much backlog available, that I feel good about keeping the subscription around.

Plus Marvel has lately (and historically) given voices to the stories of folks who I don't think get enough empathy, so I feel good about that too.

I've been reveling in catching up on the House of X and Hellfire Gala and related books.

I'll pick up a bunch of my favorites in collected trade paperback later, too. So I'll still also get to own a copy.

[-] Merlin@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 3 months ago

I get some like image comics from google play books.

this post was submitted on 31 Jul 2024

12 points (100.0% liked)

Comic Books

1644 readers

27 users here now

A place to discuss comic books of all types, from old to new, Big 2 to indie, and everything in between.

Floppies, graphic novels, compilations, omnibusses (omnibusi?) are all fair game.

There is only one rule:*

Comic Books is a no judgement zone.

You can talk all you want about how Rob Liefeld is trash, Bob Kane is an asshole, or Frank Miller and Dave Sim’s politics have made them toxic, that’s all good.

If, however, another user is LEGITIMATELY a fan of something you don’t like, that does NOT make them a lesser person. Attack the art for being bad, not the person for being a fan of bad art.

* I lied. There are TWO rules... No piracy. Cover shots? That's good. Interior pages, in moderation? Sure. Full books? Links to pirate sites? That's how we get things shut down. :(

I'm not saying it's been a problem, because it hasn't been.

See our sister sites!

Marvel Studios! For all the latest on the Marvel Cinematic Universe!

https://lemmy.world/c/marvelstudios

For other cinematic content, hit up Movies! Aquaman is coming soon, followed by the big reboot!

https://lemmy.world/c/movies

And don't forget Movies and TV over at lemm.ee! A good place for discussing Marvel, DC and other film and television properties!

https://lemm.ee/c/moviesandtv

Want to talk BOOK books? See Books!

https://lemmy.world/c/books

Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay? Becoming Superman? John Carter and the Gods of Hollywood? That's the place!

founded 1 year ago

MODERATORS

jordanlund@lemmy.world