Marvel, DC and Comixology: a guide to digital comics

WandaVisionthe first season is about to end, but Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Black Widow, Loki, Justice League, Suicide squad, Batman, GCPD, and Peacemaker are just around the corner – and that doesn’t count for other series outside the main Marvel and DC Universes, like MODOK, Titans, or Harley Quinn.

There are more TV series and superhero movies debuting in 2021 than ever before, and there may be some people who want to dive into the comics. WandaVision it took some people on the team to delve into the previous stories centered on Vision and Wanda Maximoff, for example. I started reading Kieron Gillen’s Eternals run before the Marvel Studios movie. Whatever the reason people may have for wanting to start reading comics, there are a few different ways to do it.

Comics can be an expensive hobby. New editions typically cost $ 3.99 each, and if someone is reading eight or nine different series at the same time, these fees may increase week after week. Do not think of this guide as a recommendation on the series to be explored further. If you’re looking for that, Susana Polo, the comic editor of our sister site, Polygon, makes a weekly list of books you are reading and recommends. (It is an essential part of my week and helps me to discover all the problems that I want to address or start a series that I may like.)

Instead, this is a guide to the different subscription methods available to people who want to consume a series of comics at once and do so economically. These are not the only options, but they are some of the easiest. There are three main comic book subscription services:

• Comixology Unlimited ($ 6 per month)
• Marvel Unlimited ($ 10 per month or $ 70 per year)
• DC Universe Infinite ($ 8 per month from $ 75 per year)

Comixology Unlimited

It’s really, same good time for people to start making comics because of the subscription models that exist. If you’re just getting started, I recommend Comixology Unlimited because it has the most diverse options, as well as many of the important things on the market. (Comixology is available as an add-on through your Amazon Prime account.) There are more than 25,000 comics available.

There are opportunities to read fantastic series from publishers like Vertigo (Sex offenders, sweet tooth, the invisible) or Image Comics (The Fade Out, Blackbird, Fatale, and Blast off), alongside Marvel top (Captain America, Iron Man, Immortal Hulk, Hawkeye, etc.) and DC series (Batman, Teen Titans, Wonder Woman, Dark Justice League, etc.).

What I love most about Comixology Unlimited is being able to explore any type of book. I often click on a publisher, like Valiant or Dark Horse, and look for what is offered through unlimited subscription. At this point, if a business brochure is available (this is a term that refers to a series of single print editions, between four and 12 editions, but usually six) for someone to read. For example, if someone wanted to read Matt Fraction’s book Hawkeye, they can do this by reading different volumes that collect multiple single print editions. It’s the best way to find old jewelry that people may not have heard of before, especially if they’re new to the comics.

One drawback of Comixology Unlimited is that Marvel and DC Comics’ offerings may seem less than ideal for dedicated fans. When I was trying to read a series of previous editions of WandaVision, specifically (and after I saw a post on Tumblr about an old Incredible Hulk 80’s bow I wanted to check out), I realized that I still had to buy a lot of them. Although there was a lot that I could read for free – everyone House of M is part of Unlimited, for example – to read the entire story, I would have to use Marvel Unlimited.

Marvel Unlimited

Marvel Unlimited has more than 27,000 digital comics for people to read. You can download up to 12 comics to load at any time, and the Marvel team (along with recommendation algorithms) will curate a series of books that come up when looking for something to read. It’s a great app to dive into classic tales and some of the best displays of popular characters like Iron Man and Captain America. There is also the Star Wars universe for people to explore.

The biggest disadvantage affects new individual problems. Currently, new problems in arcs in progress, such as The Amazing Spiderman or The Eternals to be uploaded to Marvel Unlimited three months after they are released. Then, approximately after the first three editions of a current run are available, they will start appearing in Marvel Unlimited. That’s not good news for anyone trying to keep up with a series of Marvel titles. (These editions can also be purchased at Comixology for $ 3.99 or $ 3.39 with the Comixology Unlimited discount.)

I would say that Marvel Unlimited is the best for those who really want to dive deep into reading almost all of the comics that Marvel has released over the years. If your goal is to go through all the various Spider-Man comics that have been released since 1962, Marvel Unlimited is your best bet for the cheapest price.

DC Universe Infinite

The same is especially true for DC Universe Infinite. This used to be DC Universe, a service that had some comics, but also some TV shows (Harley Quinn, Teen Titans) and some older DC films. When HBO Max was launched, TV shows and movies were transferred to WarnerMedia’s streaming platform, and DC Universe was relaunched as a comic-only platform called DC Universe Infinite.

In an effort to make DC Universe Infinite look a little special, DC Comics has done some new things. The company has pledged to retake the titles of the catalog of “Vertigo, Black Label and Milestone comic book prints” Polygon. There will also be exclusive DC Comics titles that will live exclusively in DC Universe Infinite. The platform currently offers more than 24,000 comics. Like Marvel Unlimited, new releases are not available immediately. They will arrive at DC Universe Infinite six months after launch.

Again, both Marvel Unlimited and DC Universe Unlimited are great for people who want to read as much of the old comics featuring their favorite superheroes for a cheap monthly price. They are not great for anyone who just wants to read the latest stuff. Your best bet is to use a digital retailer – or support your local comic book store, if you prefer physical prints.

What seems totally unavoidable is that both Marvel Unlimited and DC Universe Unlimited will be offered in a package with Disney Plus and HBO Max, respectively. Entertainment conglomerates that own all these properties want people to stay in their worlds – hence all the new movies and TV shows on streaming services. When that happens, it will be much easier for people to watch an episode of something like Loki and immerse yourself in the character’s story.