Digital Justice
An interesting post justifying one comic fan’s downloading of digital comics can be read by clicking here.
And yet another compelling argument (this time promoting an iTunes-like program for selling and distributing digital comics) can be read here.
Add your opinion about the rise of downloadable comics below…
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The poster’s defense doesn’t hold a lot of water for me. I don’t think that many people buy comics after they’ve read the free versions online. I think a lot of them CLAIM to do so (yes, holding the book in your hands will always be better than reading off a screen), but I think most comic shops would refute those claims. Retail numbers are indeed sliding.
That’s not to say that comic book sales weren’t sliding before. Comics sales have often ebbed and flowed. If nothing else, the current D/L boom is promoting the comics and their creators can reach a new and more widely varied audience. Unfortunately, it’s happening at a time when bandwidth is increasing and the tools of the pirate are getting more efficient every day. The only answer is for the industry to embrace cheap, legal downloads.
It’s really not too different from what has happened to the music industry. They refused to offer reasonable download services, so Napster showed up. They continued to refuse, instead beheading Napster, and seven more heads popped out of Napster’s bloody stump. The music industry is f***ed and they know it. Retail isn’t what it used to be for anyone – least of all the music, video, and book industries.
I’ve read that the big comics publishers have been asked about offering download services, but most have brushed off the idea. I’m afraid if they don’t come around pretty soon, their boat will sink right alongside the music industry’s creaky galleon.