Earlier today Marvel unveiled their Marvel Digital Comics Shop, the latest place where you can purchase your Marvel comics digitally on both your iOS and Android tablet. But wait, it gets better. Marvel also unveiled plans to make all their super hero comic books priced at $3.99 available for download digitally for free with the purchase of said comic. That means that every $3.99 Marvel comic book, starting in June, will include a code for free download using one of Marvel's various platforms.
Then, come June – all Marvel super hero comics priced at $3.99 at your local comic shop will include codes for free digital copies of those same issues on the Marvel Comics app for Apple iOS and Android devices, the Marvel Digital Comics Shop and the Comics by comiXology app and web store all at no extra cost! That’s right, the most-talked-about comics in the industry—including Avengers, Captain America, Invincible Iron Man, Mighty Thor,Amazing Spider-Man. Wolverine & The X-Men and more—will come packed with a code to ensure fans have the most critically acclaimed stories with them anytime, anywhere.
The fact that these books will be available for download for free with in-store purchase is a pretty big deal and makes Marvel appear to support local comic shops. So will this change digital comics? Well, it will certainly put an edge of DC Comics, who started their day and date digital initiative last September, but continue to charge an additional dollar for their digital comics -- even if you've already purchased the hard copy. What do you think about Marvel's new digital storefront? Do you think that by giving the digital comic away will make Marvel books appear more enticing to readers? Does this influence the way you view digital comic books?