Here’s something that’s been on my mind recently, in regards to “bundled” print and digital editions: I saw someone complain on Twitter yesterday about the fact that DC charges a dollar more for “digital combo pack” comics, while Marvel’s are free, which is true – but also somewhat misleading, at the same time. Because, after all, with the exception of Avengers vs. X-Men, Marvel’s $3.99 books – the only ones bundled with the free digital editions – contain 20 pages of story… which is the same pagecount as DC’s $2.99 books. So, if you’re buying a 20 page print comic from either Marvel or DC that contains a bundled digital edition, you’re going to be paying $3.99.
Sure, there are DC books that are $4.99 for print and digital bundles – Action Comics, Batman, Justice League and Detective Comics, I think? – but those books have 28 pages of story, which actually breaks down to being cheaper than the $3.99 price point on a price-per-page basis (Just over 17 cents a page against just over 19 cents).
I remember, somewhere in the depths of my memory, that Marvel announced that all of their $3.99 books were going to have digital download codes included at some point in the future. Has any such announcement been made about free download codes in all of the Marvel NOW! books? Some of those, after all, are $2.99, and that would significantly change the price point argument.
August 17th, 2012 at 9:30 am
The problem with the modern comics market that I’ve crashed up against recently is that I’m not getting $0.19 worth of enjoyment per page.
I’ve gone on hiatus from comics…not the first time that this has happened. I might glance at the occasional TPB and such and I’ll keep track of comics news just like I always have, but I’m not buying the monthly pamphlets for the time being.
…it makes me sad.
Sad Comics Fan
August 17th, 2012 at 10:09 am
The other big key for DC books (and Image, Dark Horse, etc.) is that their books drop by at least $1 a month after purchase. Marvel’s books don’t price drop to at least a year after publication. Most of the digital singles I buy a month later and I’m saving a lot of money. Mind you, I’m only buying one Marvel title right now.
Also, in regards to $2.99 books having digital copies at Marvel, originally sites announced all Marvel NOW! titles would have digital copies, but that hasn’t been backed up in the solicits. I have a feeling it’ll just stick to the $3.99 titles. Which I’m not buying anyway.
August 17th, 2012 at 1:23 pm
Another key thing in the mix is that you have the option to buy a Combo Pack for that $1 extra… Or you can save a buck and just buy the comic.
Marvel doesn’t offer that choice. It’s $3.99 or nothing.
August 19th, 2012 at 6:32 pm
Something else. A Marvel $3.99 comic is often more than 20 pages long.
August 20th, 2012 at 8:43 am
@Rich: No. they’re not. In fact, sometimes they’re only 19 pages. AvX is a very notable exception.