Posted by The Blogging Desk on Wed, Sep 22, 2010
Bare with us for a few moments. No, this topic has little to no bearing on IT support in Wayne, PA. But as an IT consultant, I'm pretty nerdy. Here goes;
Marvel’s Ira Rubenstein, Executive VP of the Global Digital Media Group:
Physical print books or digital there is no difference. I don’t think you can separate it. It’s all combined. Digital is like the newsstand, and it is offering discovery of content. Even the newsstand business is a business to make money. It’s all intertwined. We are thrilled it works on all levels.
Digital comics are the new newsstand, for now. I don't expect any of Marvel executives to say otherwise, at least not while retailers are still listening to his every word. The fact is that, and I have to think that Marvel knows this, millions of people have iPads right now. Millions of people that *don't* go into comic shops. The number 1 selling comic book last month sold under 100K copies.
If you go digital only and go $1.99, you're eliminating the need to go $3.99. You won't have any of the distribution costs: printing, shipping, etc. Of course, you still have the Apple Store 70/30, and whatever deal you have with the digital platform companies. Outside of retailer uproar, what is preventing any of the comic book publishers from going day and date digital?
Readers that would be upset can still go support their niche comic shop. Readers that would go digital only and no longer buy from their local shop are most likely already reading scans on their computers. They've left a long time ago.
On top of that, wouldn't you want to see some of the industries top talent make iPad specific comic books, like the Zuda Imprint?
