I love Comicbooks and graphic novels. I'll assume if you are on this site and or reading this article so do you. Otherwise, you are just a sadist, I suppose.
Like many I was excited about DC's NEW 52. Being a gamer and having a PS3, I would see "store" ads about "download a copy now". Normally, if I want to get a comic I'll go to a near by shop, or browse the local book store for older comics to see if there is something I liked. But I was intrigued.
I thought "hmm digital download". I could do this and see if I like it. If I do I can buy more and decide if I want print or not. Makes sense right?
So I go to DC Comics' site and then to Comixology for the download. It was fast and easy. I loved the presentation and the fact that I could see it on my computer bigger than in print. I loved the start of the NEW 52 also. I eventually downloaded a few more as the new issues came out. But all of a sudden I realized a
big problem. I didn't really OWN them. Yes I can view them anytime I wanted, on any compatible device...but that's it. (as far as I know and I've checked..a little bit). I'm pretty sure I can't print them out..or at least not like the actual comic, If I printed the pages it would be cheap and silly to do. I can't give it away or trade or sell it. I have basically paid for the right to view.
I don't know about you but I like to touch and feel my comics. I like to be able to sit down and open and turn the pages. Not trying to be weird but I think thats part of the enjoyment of comics. At least it is for me.
Don't get me wrong I love the digital version of the comics. It was easy and bright and bold and can't complain about that. But When I turn the computer off, it's gone. out of sight out of mind. I have not gone back and looked at any of the digital comics that I bought. I have however, looked at some Much older ones that are laying around the house. That to me is HUGE. I will NEVER be able to do that...clearly...with a digital comic. When I look at my phone or computer I don't think, "oh I think I look at my comics".
What happens if Comixology goes away? Or if technology changes and becomes incompatible? or a thousand other things that render me without access to my download. OR I just forget about it? I'm just out of luck I guess right?
Maybe I'm just a dinosaur. I grew up in a time without Google, where to do research you had to go to the library or to the actual source. It wasn't until college that there was such a thing as "webcrawler". The internet was "prodigy" and Netscape. Today kids and young adults have ONLY known downloads, ebooks, mp3s, streaming etc...In a way, perhaps like those who hold on to vinyl records, I feel sorry for kids and young folks that don't understand the concept of true ownership vs. digital ownership.
Just because I paid for it...doesn't mean I get to keep it, or do what I want with it. Downloading it certainly doesn't mean I create an attachment to it.
This isn't just comicbooks but Ebooks, games, and music, ...really anything that you "own" but can't share, or resell, or appreciate in ways that don't revolve around a "device".
Looking back Digital copies are easy...print copies are special.
I prefer print...SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL COMIC SHOP