Gamertell

Depending how you look at it, Marvel Comics Digital Comics is either the end of comic books as we know it or the beginning of a new era for the struggling comic book industry.

To combat the lost of mainstream sales in the direct market, Marvel Comics will now offer its complete lineup of heroes for online reading and download. For a monthly fee of $4.99 (billed as one payment of $59.88) or a general $9.99 per month fee, fans of such heroes as the X-Men, Spider-man, The Avengers and Captain America can now forgo heading to their local comic book store and instead view these and more including new titles from the comfort of their own home. Fans can also relive classic adventures, milestones and major events in the Marvel Universe.

While this might be the best way for the industry to survive for the short-term future, part of the real joy about comic books has always been the collectors’ market. Building your own collection until your basement and closets are to the breaking point has been a staple for the fan for years. With the digital age upon us now, it might be interesting how the most hardcore and loyal of comic book fans view Marvel’s step into new media. Whether it will be embraced or rejected by the most harden of fans and general public, we shall have to wait and see. 

One can not ignore that in recent years however, that comic book based properties have become an important fixture in both the movie and video game industries. Repeatedly shattering weekend box office records and a growing list comic book-based based properties including Iron Man, Watchmen, The Incredible Hulk and Batman: The Dark Knight all do to be released summer 2008 with video games to no doubt follow, the same growth can’t be said for comic books industry. Online shopping, large chain retailers and illegal downloads have forced a number of comic book stores to close their doors, there has been growing doubt as to what and if, the comic industry can survive into the next century.

For the film and gaming industry, which seems to have trouble finding original-proven materials to develop, comic books have been the go-to source for future film and game properties. A number of high-value franchises including Spider-man, X-Men, Batman and Superman all of which have a built in audience and fan following have been real eye-openers for those who doubted that the American public no longer cared for our classic heroes. Marvel Comic is now banking that they can grab this growing fan following of these film and cross them over into the digital age. Whether or not this will change the face of collecting, time will be the ultimate judge for the industry.

Read [Geek Alerts] Also Read [PC World] Site [Marvel Digital Comics]