Marvel, DC, and Comixology: A Guide to Digital Comics

WandaVisionseason one is almost coming to an end, but Falcon and the Winter Soldier Black Widow Loki Justice League Suicide Squad The batter GCPD, and Peacekeeper are just around the corner – and that’s not true of other series outside of the main Marvel and DC universes like MODOK, Titans, or Harley Quinn

There are more superhero TV shows and movies debuting in 2021 than ostensibly ever before, and some people may want to dive into comics. WandaVision has led a few staff members to delve into previous storylines of Vision and Wanda Maximoff, for example. I started reading Kieron Gillen’s Eternals run leading up to the Marvel Studios movie. Whatever reason people have for wanting to read comics, there are a few different ways to do that.

Comics can be a precious hobby. New releases typically cost $ 3.99 each, and if someone reads eight or nine different series at once, those costs can add up week after week. Do not take this guide as a recommendation for which series to research. If that’s what you’re looking for, Susana Polo, the comic editor on our sister site, Polygon, keeps a weekly overview of books she reads and recommends. (It’s an essential part of my week, and it helps me sort out single issues I want to tackle or start a series I enjoy.)

Instead, this is a guide to the different subscription methods available to people who want to consume a number of comics at once and do so in a cost-effective way. These aren’t the only options, but they are some of the easiest. There are three primary subscription services for comics:

• Comixology Unlimited ($ 6 per month)
• Marvel Unlimited ($ 10 a month or $ 70 a year)
• DC Universe Infinite ($ 8 a month or $ 75 a year)

Comixology Unlimited

It’s really one, really a good time for people to get started with comics because of the subscription models out there. If you’re just starting out, I recommend Comixology Unlimited as it has the most diverse options as well as plenty of the big mainstream stuff. (Comixology is available as an add-on through your Amazon Prime account.) Over 25,000 comics are available.

There are opportunities to read fantastic series from publishers such as Vertigo (Sex Criminals, Sweet Tooth, The Invisibles) or image strips (The Fade Out, Blackbird, Fatale, and Super awesome), in addition to the best Marvel (Captain America, Iron Man, Immortal Hulk, Hawkeye, etc.) and DC series (Batman, Teen Titans, Wonder Woman, Justice League Dark, etc.).

What I like most about Comixology Unlimited is that I can explore every type of book. I will often click on a publisher, such as Valiant or Dark Horse, and search what’s offered through the Unlimited plan. Currently, if there is a trade paperback available (this is a term referring to a number of single printed numbers, between four and twelve numbers, but usually six) that someone can read. For example, if someone wanted to read Matt Fraction’s Hawkeye, they can do this by reading different volumes that collect some separate printing problems. It’s the best way to find older gems that people may not have heard of, especially if they are new to comics.

One downside to Comixology Unlimited is that Marvel and DC Comics offerings may not feel ideal for devoted fans. When I tried to read some old songs WandaVision, specifically (and after I posted a Tumblr post about an old Incredible Hulk ’80s arc that I wanted to check out), I realized I still had to buy a ton of it. Although there was plenty I could read for free, all of them House of M is part of Unlimited, for example – to read all of its history I’d have to use Marvel Unlimited.

Marvel Unlimited

Marvel Unlimited has more than 27,000 digital comics that people can read. You can download up to 12 comics to have with you at any time, and the Marvel team (in addition to recommendation algorithms) will put together a series of books that pop up if you’re looking for something to read. It’s a great app for diving into classic stories, and some of the best runs for popular characters like Iron Man and Captain America. There is also the Star Wars universe for people to explore.

The biggest drawback concerns new single issues. Currently there are new problems in continuous arcs such as The great Spider Man or The Eternals three months after they first came out, are uploaded to Marvel Unlimited. So roughly after the first three songs of a current run are available, they will show up in Marvel Unlimited. That’s not great news for someone trying to keep up with some Marvel titles. (These songs can also be purchased on Comixology for $ 3.99 or $ 3.39 with the Comixology Unlimited discount.)

I would say Marvel Unlimited is best for anyone who really wants to dive deep into reading almost every comic that Marvel has released over the years. If your goal is to get through all the different Spider-Man comics released since 1962, Marvel Unlimited is the best choice at the cheapest price.

DC Universe Infinite

The same usually applies to DC Universe Infinite. This used to be DC Universe, a service with a number of comics but also a few TV programs (Harley Quinn, Teen Titans) and some older DC movies. When HBO Max launched, the TV shows and movies moved to the WarnerMedia streaming platform and DC Universe was relaunched as a comics-only platform called DC Universe Infinite.

In an effort to make DC Universe Infinite feel a bit special, DC Comics has done some new things. The company has committed to taking back catalog titles from “Vertigo, Black Label and Milestone comics imprints,” said PolygonThere will also be DC Comics exclusive titles that can be seen exclusively on DC Universe Infinite. The platform currently offers more than 24,000 comics. Like Marvel Unlimited, new releases are not immediately available. They will release DC Universe Infinite six months after their release.

Again, both Marvel Unlimited and DC Universe Unlimited are great for people who want to read as many previous comics featuring their favorite superheroes as possible for a cheap monthly price. They’re not great for someone who just wants to read the latest stuff. It’s best to use a digital store – or support your local comic book store if physical prints are more your thing.

What seems completely inevitable is that both Marvel Unlimited and DC Universe Unlimited are offered in a bundle with Disney Plus and HBO Max respectively. The entertainment conglomerates that own all of these properties want people to stay in their world – hence all the new movies and TV shows on streaming services. When that happens, it makes it much easier for people to watch an episode of something like that Loki and then delve into the character’s history.