For the uninitiated, the term “digital comic” might sound like someone simply scanned a paper copy of their favorite issues of Batman into their computer. The scope of the digital comic world is actually pretty wide, with artists and writers taking advantage of the medium to play around with what a comic can be, and how to distribute content.
Here’s an excellent debrief on the world of digital comics. Plus, check out these examples of digital comics that capitalize on the possibilities of the medium.
News Comics
Among the freedoms of publishing a digital comic is the ability to stretch what a comic can be. The team behind Symbolia, for example, use the medium to tell news stories with sound, links, animations, and interactive charts.
You can check out more about Symbolia here.
Self-Published
Digital comics also allow artists to self-publish and sell their own comics. Artist Dean Trippe’s Something Terrible is an autobiographical work about how his interest in Batman helped him cope with being the victim of rape at a young age.
You can read more about Trippe’s story here.
Free download of first issue
Not unlike the mobile game model known as “freemium,” publishers of digital comics will sometimes offer a first issue for free in the hopes that readers will be hooked enough to purchase subsequent issues.
The critically-acclaimed “Saga” series, for example, offers its first issue free for download here.
Subscription Series
There’s also the option of subscribing to a series, which is not unlike subscribing to a newspaper’s phone or tablet app. In addition to regularly receiving new issues, subscribers often have access to classic comics that have been uploaded by the publisher. Access to Marvel’s annual subscription costs $99.
You can check out more about Marvel Unlimited here.
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