Marvel is Changing Their Digital Comic App, and Offering a Shorter Wait for New Releases

Marvel Unlimited has been the (legal) way to read older and new-ish Marvel comics online. However, come December it will be ending as come November 16th, the company known as Webtoon Entertainment is partnering with Marvel for the launch of the Marvel Comics App. Yes, it has a boring name, but within this news is something very interesting indeed. Marvel Unlimited had subscribers wait for comics to have been out for three months before they could be accessed on the site/app. The Marvel Comics App is different. As AIPT points out, "The service’s Ultimate tier will add new issues as soon as 30 days after their print release, considerably narrowing the gap between comic shops and Marvel’s subscription library." This could be good for readers, bad for shops, and a mixed bag for collectors.

Now, the Base Tier of this new app will cost $9.99 a month or $69.99 for the year, with the standard three-month waiting period to read Marvel's latest titles. If someone goes with the Utlimate Tier it is $12.49 a month or $99.99 annually. However, there is a, "Founding Member," promotion that makes the debut of an Ultimate annual plan just $59.99 (and your usual taxes, of course). Considering how a new comic from Marvel is anywhere from $3.99 (rarely) to $4.99 (usually) or even more (quite often with special issues) that ends up being an appealing deal for those who want to simply read comics and are okay with that being via a screen. Now, I like being able to physically hold my comics, magazines, books, and so forth. I also enjoy trading and sometimes selling comics; that is part of the hobby for me. Some folks might just want to occasionally check out a paperback collection from their library or subscribe to a service such as this, and that's fine! This shouldn't have too much of a drastic impact with regard to those who buy physical comics and the folks who prefer seeing them on a tablet/phone/whatever screen.

Everyone can (theoretically) be happy!

I do worry about this impacting stores negatively, but I think the crossover between those who would subscribe to this app and people who religiously go to the comic store for weekly releases is a small subsection. In other words, there most likely aren't that many people who will say, "I'm done with the comic shop; now I only gotta wait 30 days and I can read the hottest Marvel stuff!" The, "Physical," aspect of comics for those like to buy an object they can hold will remain an integral part of the process for many, and the people who just want to read some stories via their computer screen will have a shorter wait if they spend a bit more. It'll all be fine, right? Right?