Digital Storefronts for Comics Retailers
08.26.11
Okay, this is pretty comics-nerdy. My apologies. This is largely in response to Brian Hibbs' latest Tilting at Windmills column at CBR. What you need to know is this:
DC Comics and other comic book publishers sell digital comics through a service called Comixology. You can buy comics through their website or an app. And starting right about now, Comixology is offering physical comic book stores the opportunity to host Comixology storefronts through their websites.
So you could go to the Comixology website and buy your digital comics, or you could go to your retailer's website and buy your comics there. But Hibbs doesn't like Comixology's terms.
Wait. What?
The whole idea of retailer portals for digital comics baffles me. It's essentially charity, right? "Buy a digital comic today, and a portion of the purchase price will help to feed a struggling retailer in St. Louis!"
I mean, seriously, what's the difference between this and creating a Red Cross branded Comixology portal? What extra value do I get buying digital comics through a retailer site besides the retailer's good will?
Hibbs' argument seems to boil down to "I'm pleased that you're giving me free money, but I'm angered that you're not giving me more of it!"
I understand Hibbs' plight. I know that retailers have their backs up against a wall. But if I've decided to buy digital comics, I want as few entities in the transaction chain as possible. Every extra link in that chain means more people who are splitting up my money, and that means they'll need more of my money to go around.
Digital comics prices are already artificially inflated to avoid stepping on print sales. This is just giving publishers one more reason to keep those prices artificially high.
Digital comics need to be half the price they are right now, at least. $1.99 or $0.99. Retailer portals are a step backwards. Retailers quibbling over how much of my money they should get is... um...
...a step backwards with quibbling.