How Amazon could force comics to go digital

Glenn Hauman

Glenn is VP of Production at ComicMix. He has written Star Trek and X-Men stories and worked for DC Comics, Simon & Schuster, Random House, arrogant/MGMS and Apple Comics. He's also what happens when a Young Turk of publishing gets old.

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6 Responses

  1. Marc Alan Fishman says:

    I hardly think Amazon doing this would somehow force comics OUT of paper publishing though. And the kindle? COME ON. It's black and white. If comics take a bigger leap digitally, it'll be with the iPad, and color ebook readers. The kindle seems the least likely place for digital comics to end up. But then again, until a color kindle comes out, I still think printed comics are safe and sound. And there's no problem really in comics going digital. CDs are still on shelves. DVDs are still on shelves. … For now.

    • Glenn Hauman says:

      Force comics out of paper? Not for all. But consider:* how many comic stores are precarious enough that they can't handle another 15% drop in sales, particularly if they have to carry that inventory.* how many marginal comics are not going to be printed because orders simply aren't high enough to warrant a print run.Seriously– when was the last time you bought a music CD? A real, solid, shiny on one side CD?

  2. Larry Hancock says:

    Take a look at Cory Doctorow's comments on Boing Boing http://www.boingboing.net/2010/01/29/amazon-and-m…As he points out, material purchased in ebook form to be read on the kindle can ONLY be read on the Kindle. Once you sell your soul to Amazon, it is theirs for life, unless you want to abandon all of your past purchases, or want to have multiple ebook reading devices.

  3. Delmo Walters Jr. says:

    Why the big push for paperless comics? Is it because you guys have online comics? They'll have to pry comics from my cold, dead hands. The day I have to buy a $500 device to read new comics is the day I stop and concentrate solely on back issues.

    • Brandon Barrows says:

      Well said. I read comics here, and I love this site, but I pine for the paper copies IDW has recently been publishing. I specifically didn't read the newest Jon Sable story here so it would be fresh to me when it was published.Still waiting for Black Ice, guys. I'll even buy two copies of every issue to make it worth your while.