Marvel Comics App Debuts on iPad

Nate the great · 04-02-2010, 11:43 AM

crossposted from The Digital Reader

There are 500 titles available, and they are priced at $1.99 each. From the press release:

Quote:

Marvel Entertainment is proud to announce the launch of the Marvel Comics App for iPad on the App Store. This landmark app launches with over 500 of Marvel’s greatest comic books, from classic stories to modern tales, featuring Iron Man, Captain America, Spider-Man, Hulk, Thor and more of the world’s most popular Super Heroes. The Marvel Comics App brings the world of Marvel to iPad owners with each comic presented at incredibly high resolution possible on iPad’s full color screen, a user-friendly search engine, innovative viewing options and more.

Xeni Jardin of BoingBoing was one of the select few to get an early iPad, and she took the time to post a video on YouTube:

Graham · 04-02-2010, 11:58 AM

What do other people think about this repackaging of existing content as an app?

I was impressed by this, but when I went to the Marvel site I found that you can already subscribe to and view this material in your browser, so it's already available for the iPad.

http://marvel.com/digitalcomics/titl...r-man.1963.229

I'm also not sure how readable this will be. Loading up one of the free samples on my monitor which has a greater vertical pixel count than the iPad, and is more like 13" diagonally for a comic page, compared to the iPad's 10", I found that the page was still a little small to read many of them comfortably.

EDIT: Ah... the Marvel comics require Flash to be read in the browser. Hence the iPad app. Still the question's still a relevant one.

Graham

Dulin's Books · 04-02-2010, 11:59 AM

It appears to be "just" the Digital Comics that are available from Marvel.com now. Perhaps this app is just a browser shortcut...

Dulin's Books · 04-02-2010, 12:02 PM

When I read the digital comics I almost always use the "Smart Panel" view which flows from panel to panel. The transistions are nice and its very readable on 15 inch laptop.

Graham · 04-02-2010, 12:14 PM

Ah, I see. I've found how the Smart Panel view works now. Yes, that helps. Very clever.

Graham

Crowl · 04-02-2010, 12:47 PM

An ipad version of the digital comics unlimited would be a much more welcome option, given the size of the marvel's back catalogue its ideally suited to more of a subscription model.

One possible plus point to this ipad version (actually an update to an existing iphone app) is that it might have more current comics because dcu lags behind the paper editions.

mrkarl · 04-02-2010, 02:27 PM

1.99 is too much for a digital comic.......

electrotype · 04-02-2010, 03:28 PM

Wow...

I'm curious to see how well the iPad will deal with PDF. If it's as nice as for those comics, I might buy one!

joblack · 04-02-2010, 03:53 PM

The display mirrors like hell.

No way I will spend one buck on that device ...

stustaff · 04-02-2010, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joblack

The display mirrors like hell.

No way I will spend one buck on that device ...

Im going to be controversial here!!!

I think your a liar!

I think if I walked up to you tomorrow and offered you a legit iPad for $1 you would buy it!

Graham · 04-02-2010, 04:17 PM

I finally got the bandwidth to watch the video clip. They're kidding right? Is there really no page button on this thing? The page view would be a bit too small on the screen for me, and in panel view my fingers would fall off after swiping my way through a whole comic that way!

Let's hope a thumb press in the bottom right corner would work as well...

pilotbob · 04-02-2010, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stustaff

Im going to be controversial here!!!

I think your a liar!

I think if I walked up to you tomorrow and offered you a legit iPad for $1 you would buy it!

I suspect you're right. Can I get in on that action.

BOb

mrkarl · 04-02-2010, 05:30 PM

It does look pretty responsive though, but I'll wait a few years until someone other than apple puts out something similar

pagansoul · 04-02-2010, 05:37 PM

MrCarl, Do you have any idea what the cost of a new comic book is today? The days are gone when you can get a Batman, Spiderman, whatever for 25cents. You even pay a buck at flea markets for a used edition in not the best condition.

joblack, don't read under the blazing sun, not even with an e-ink device. You and the device will live longer.

K-Thom · 04-02-2010, 08:51 PM

I discovered the iPhone Marvel App just yesterday, and I must say I love it how Marvel presents their comic books.

This zooming in and out really adds some cinematic touch (no pun intended) to splash pages where you first see part of the scene, read the text and then get a flawless zoom to the whole panel. Very nice, indeed.

This really adds a new dimension to reading comics, and it's been a first in about two years that I grabbed a Marvel comic book. And enjoyed reading it on an iPhone screen.

Nuff said.

Quote:

Let's hope a thumb press in the bottom right corner would work as well...

Not nuff said ... thumb press (thumb touch, that is) right or left does work, at least on the iPhone.

04-02-2010, 11:58 AM	#2
Graham Wizard Posts: 2,743 Karma: 32912427 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: North Yorkshire, UK Device: Kobo H20, Pixel 2, Samsung Chromebook Plus	What do other people think about this repackaging of existing content as an app? I was impressed by this, but when I went to the Marvel site I found that you can already subscribe to and view this material in your browser, so it's already available for the iPad. http://marvel.com/digitalcomics/titl...r-man.1963.229 I'm also not sure how readable this will be. Loading up one of the free samples on my monitor which has a greater vertical pixel count than the iPad, and is more like 13" diagonally for a comic page, compared to the iPad's 10", I found that the page was still a little small to read many of them comfortably. EDIT: Ah... the Marvel comics require Flash to be read in the browser. Hence the iPad app. Still the question's still a relevant one. Graham Last edited by Graham; 04-02-2010 at 12:01 PM. Reason: did some testing...

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04-02-2010, 11:59 AM	#3
Dulin's Books Wizard Posts: 2,806 Karma: 13500000 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Portland, OR Device: Boox PB360 etc etc etc	It appears to be "just" the Digital Comics that are available from Marvel.com now. Perhaps this app is just a browser shortcut...

04-02-2010, 12:02 PM	#4
Dulin's Books Wizard Posts: 2,806 Karma: 13500000 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Portland, OR Device: Boox PB360 etc etc etc	When I read the digital comics I almost always use the "Smart Panel" view which flows from panel to panel. The transistions are nice and its very readable on 15 inch laptop.

04-02-2010, 12:14 PM	#5
Graham Wizard Posts: 2,743 Karma: 32912427 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: North Yorkshire, UK Device: Kobo H20, Pixel 2, Samsung Chromebook Plus	Ah, I see. I've found how the Smart Panel view works now. Yes, that helps. Very clever. Graham

04-02-2010, 12:47 PM	#6
Crowl Wizard Posts: 1,340 Karma: 1160346 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Southport, GB Device: Kindle Voyage, PW Signature edition	An ipad version of the digital comics unlimited would be a much more welcome option, given the size of the marvel's back catalogue its ideally suited to more of a subscription model. One possible plus point to this ipad version (actually an update to an existing iphone app) is that it might have more current comics because dcu lags behind the paper editions.

04-02-2010, 02:27 PM	#7
mrkarl Connoisseur Posts: 74 Karma: 22 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: the great white north Device: aluratek libre pro	1.99 is too much for a digital comic.......

04-02-2010, 03:28 PM	#8
electrotype Enthusiast Posts: 46 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: none	Wow... I'm curious to see how well the iPad will deal with PDF. If it's as nice as for those comics, I might buy one!

04-02-2010, 03:53 PM	#9
joblack Wizard Posts: 1,745 Karma: 4382514 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Somewhere on earth Device: Onyx Boox Tab X	The display mirrors like hell. No way I will spend one buck on that device ...

04-02-2010, 04:17 PM	#11
Graham Wizard Posts: 2,743 Karma: 32912427 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: North Yorkshire, UK Device: Kobo H20, Pixel 2, Samsung Chromebook Plus	I finally got the bandwidth to watch the video clip. They're kidding right? Is there really no page button on this thing? The page view would be a bit too small on the screen for me, and in panel view my fingers would fall off after swiping my way through a whole comic that way! Let's hope a thumb press in the bottom right corner would work as well...

04-02-2010, 05:30 PM	#13
mrkarl Connoisseur Posts: 74 Karma: 22 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: the great white north Device: aluratek libre pro	It does look pretty responsive though, but I'll wait a few years until someone other than apple puts out something similar

04-02-2010, 05:37 PM	#14
pagansoul Fanatic Posts: 509 Karma: 1098204 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Earth Device: iPhone5, iPad Gen3, Kobo, Kindle Fire, Kobo Vox. Samsung Galaxy Tab 7	MrCarl, Do you have any idea what the cost of a new comic book is today? The days are gone when you can get a Batman, Spiderman, whatever for 25cents. You even pay a buck at flea markets for a used edition in not the best condition. joblack, don't read under the blazing sun, not even with an e-ink device. You and the device will live longer.

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