Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Marvel archives going online

Marvel is archiving a HUGE number of its back issues and with a small fee, one can download all those comics and have them in presumably JPG or BMP format to be read over and over again!

That's awesome considering how impossible (or expensive!) some of the older issues are to come by, not counting reprints. I do prefer having a solid comic book to hold and read though! But as a true Marvel zombie, this really appeals to me!

Wizard Universe has this report:


MARVEL ARCHIVES GOING ONLINE
Thousands of back issues and decades of stories to be available through Marvel.com

By Brian Warmoth

Posted November 13, 2007 10:25 AM

Marvel Comics revealed today that it will open an online archive containing more than 2,500 of its back issues on Marvel.com. Famous first appearances and rare chase issues from Amazing Spider-Man and Uncanny X-Men will be among those released as high-resolution scans in the largest database of its kind assembled by a comics publisher.

“The library is huge and will never go out of style,” Marvel Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada told USA Today. “This is the legal way to do things.” Quesada has long been outspoken about both his affection for print publishing while alluding to Marvel’s need to look ahead toward digital publishing as well.

Marvel’s move comes as new way to capitalize off of its vast library of content and offer high-quality alternatives to rampant illegal scans flooding file sharing networks. The service, called Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited will charge $59.88 for one year’s worth of access to the database and monthly rates of $9.99.

For more information, read the USA Today story here: http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2007-11-12-comics-online-main_N.htm

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