Comics: pbook or ebook versions?

jocampo · 05-09-2011, 08:47 AM

I was visiting B&N this weekend as I usually do, and saw a lot of new and nice comics on sale, paper version of course.

The pbook versions were amazingly nice, reminded me my young days when I collected up to 1000 comics, until mom finally tossed them to trash by mistake, hahahaha...

If you have collected or have comics, do you prefer the electronic versions?

ardeegee · 05-09-2011, 12:05 PM

I collected comics as a early teen in the early 1980s and stopped when the comic prices kept going up but my allowance didn't. It wasn't until after I got my first e-ink reader that I started reading again, catching up with titles I used to read, plus more titles, plus manga. I'm ebook only for economic reasons-- the archive of CBRs I've accumulated would likely cost tens of thousands of dollars if I bought print copies of all of them. But if I had an unlimited budget, I'd want print copies of the color comics, but would be fine with remaining ebook only with black and white ones.

RainingLemur · 05-09-2011, 12:12 PM

I like a mixture of both. For some of my favorite series, I get them in both. Otherwise, I'll just do price-hunting and get some in e-form and some in p-form depending on which deal is better.

RVS78 · 05-10-2011, 02:02 PM

I used to collect P-comics back in high school (early to mid 1990s). Shelf space became an issue as well as the price (it became a very expensive hobby), so I let my brother have what he wanted then sold the rest. These days I just snag the occasional TPB (in print). Since the tablet purchase I've been getting into digital comics. I actually skipped on Free Comic Book Day this year - I'm more selective on what makes it on the shelf, this goes for books too. I'm also starting to play catch-up on some titles in cbr/cbz format.

__________
Smashword books | Amazon US | Amazon UK
Blog

Anthem · 05-10-2011, 05:01 PM

When it comes to comic books, I collect printed material exclusively. The electronic versions just aren't ready for me yet. But they are getting there, they are getting there.

Barty · 05-10-2011, 08:38 PM

You need a large color tablet to enjoy e comics. Also, they are priced too high right now, and the selection is haphazard. It seems the publishers are still in experimental mode when it comes to e comics.

WillysJeepMan · 05-10-2011, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jocampo

I was visiting B&N this weekend as I usually do, and saw a lot of new and nice comics on sale, paper version of course.

The pbook versions were amazingly nice, reminded me my young days when I collected up to 1000 comics, until mom finally tossed them to trash by mistake, hahahaha...

If you have collected or have comics, do you prefer the electronic versions?

I think it was part of the job description for moms to toss out their son's comic book collections.

Now that I'm older, I prefer the electronic versions. I like to keep things simple. I'm not a fan of having stacks of milk crates or boxes filled with physical comics.

I now buy comic sets stored on DVDs. I especially pick up sets of comics that I couldn't get when I was a kid (couldn't afford it). For the price of a single vintage issue I can get the entire series in cbz/cbr format.

Swiping through the pages of "Famous Monsters of Filmland" may not be the same as flipping a page, but Forrey's corny puns are just as... corny.

covingtoncat73 · 05-10-2011, 09:05 PM

I saw this thread as I was looking at prices for Elfquest comics and I found out that the Pinis have them all to look at online! You can't save them or anything but you can look at them on the website.

http://www.elfquest.com/gallery/OnlineComics3.html

That being said and to stay on topic, put me down as pBooks for comics. I am currently collecting Bill Willingham's Fables graphic novels and Joe Hill's Locke & Key in pBook format. I have Gaiman's Sandman in pBook. I am considering replacing my original quest Elfquest comics because a goodly proportion have been lost or fallen apart but it would sure be expensive!

Solitaire1 · 05-11-2011, 11:02 AM

When it comes to comics and manga, I'm currently staying with the printed version. As another poster has mentioned, the main issues for me is cost. Right now I doubt I could afford an ereader with a color screen that is large enough and with a high enough resolution to display them well.

pagansoul · 05-11-2011, 11:27 AM

I had a pbook/TBP collection in the thousands. I stopped collecting 15 years ago and got rid of more than half. I have about 10 boxes and 2 shelves in my library left. I have a large collection on CDs such as Archie/Betty & Veronica/Jughead, Star Trek, M.A.D., Silver Surfer, X-Men, Fantastic Four, and countless Public Domain comics. I don't even touch the comics anymore only the CBR/CBZ/PDF versions. They all live on my 64GB iPad along with several magazines. I also donated my National Geographic collection (35 years worth) and got the DVD set. Whenever I can find a magazine I like that offers a CD of their back issues I get it. I have Rollingstone, Southwest Art, iCreate, Tatoo, Home & Garden...and several others.

Ea · 05-11-2011, 02:33 PM

With an iPad, comic books are working much better than I expected*, and I'm quite happy with using it for reading comics. Might still want to purchase a paper version of the few special ones though.

* the screen is almost half the size of standard sized European comic books but even at 60% the original size it's looks good and text is easy to read.

jocampo · 05-11-2011, 05:05 PM

Interesting comments.

I wonder how the electronic versions can replace the "collectible" feature of the pbook ones. You are not able sell your ebook Mangas on ebay, are you?

... and some really old comics, in good conditions, sells for thousands ...

Joonbug1 · 05-11-2011, 05:26 PM

Scott McCloud predicted comic books would suffer from digital piracy and the internet, and funny enough, Alan Moore called him "full of bullocks" for his prediction back in the nineties... Guess the comics legend Mr. Moore was actually wrong about this one.
I also never thought we'd see the day where reading digital versions of comic books would even be a viable option, let alone the whole issue with piracy of books in general.
I wonder what else will come in the future?

ardeegee · 05-11-2011, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joonbug1

Scott McCloud predicted comic books would suffer from digital piracy and the internet, and funny enough, Alan Moore called him "full of bullocks" for his prediction back in the nineties... Guess the comics legend Mr. Moore was actually wrong about this one.

Depends on what you mean by "suffer." Comics are able to be exposed much more deeply to a much wider audience than they ever could be when available only in paper version-- anyone so inclined can read the most expensive back issues of virtually any comic that a decade ago would have been accessible only to the very wealthy. Want a copy of the first appearance of Superman? No problem. Spiderman? Easy. Want to read the first 200 issues of the X-Men? You don't have to spend thousands of dollars and who knows how much time tracking down 40-year old stacks of pulp paper-- you need only know how to google the term "revised chronological x-men."

Piracy has done more to help comics than they have ever have before-- the deep OOP back catalog has been rescued from obscurity.

Joonbug1 · 05-11-2011, 06:52 PM

Well, to be fair, Scott McCloud also said he felt that people would want to transition to read comics more and more digitally compared to in paper form, whether by piracy or legit sales. Moore said he thought it was bullocks that people would ever want to read digitally when they have the option of a paper comic which is how they've always been in up to that time.

I agree that having more options is always a plus, as a reader.

05-09-2011, 08:47 AM	#1
jocampo Layback feline Posts: 3,034 Karma: 6980745 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: USA Device: Oasis 2nd gen, Sony DPTS1, iPad Pro 10.5"	Comics: pbook or ebook versions? I was visiting B&N this weekend as I usually do, and saw a lot of new and nice comics on sale, paper version of course. The pbook versions were amazingly nice, reminded me my young days when I collected up to 1000 comics, until mom finally tossed them to trash by mistake, hahahaha... If you have collected or have comics, do you prefer the electronic versions?

05-10-2011, 09:05 PM	#8
covingtoncat73 Wizard Posts: 2,745 Karma: 83407757 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Lenovo Duet Chromebook, Moto e	I saw this thread as I was looking at prices for Elfquest comics and I found out that the Pinis have them all to look at online! You can't save them or anything but you can look at them on the website. http://www.elfquest.com/gallery/OnlineComics3.html That being said and to stay on topic, put me down as pBooks for comics. I am currently collecting Bill Willingham's Fables graphic novels and Joe Hill's Locke & Key in pBook format. I have Gaiman's Sandman in pBook. I am considering replacing my original quest Elfquest comics because a goodly proportion have been lost or fallen apart but it would sure be expensive! Last edited by covingtoncat73; 05-10-2011 at 09:09 PM.

05-11-2011, 11:27 AM	#10
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	I had a pbook/TBP collection in the thousands. I stopped collecting 15 years ago and got rid of more than half. I have about 10 boxes and 2 shelves in my library left. I have a large collection on CDs such as Archie/Betty & Veronica/Jughead, Star Trek, M.A.D., Silver Surfer, X-Men, Fantastic Four, and countless Public Domain comics. I don't even touch the comics anymore only the CBR/CBZ/PDF versions. They all live on my 64GB iPad along with several magazines. I also donated my National Geographic collection (35 years worth) and got the DVD set. Whenever I can find a magazine I like that offers a CD of their back issues I get it. I have Rollingstone, Southwest Art, iCreate, Tatoo, Home & Garden...and several others. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by pagansoul; 05-11-2011 at 11:42 AM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
pbook vs. ebook(s)	twowheels	General Discussions	20	12-17-2010 01:48 AM
Pbook + Ebook bundles	Fat Abe	Amazon Kindle	5	04-06-2010 03:40 AM
NYT-article: costs pBook vs eBook	SpecialEd	General Discussions	6	04-03-2010 02:14 PM
eBook vs pBook	jgsmith	News	3	02-01-2010 01:05 PM
if i convert a pbook to an ebook my self.	modsoul	Workshop	3	11-23-2007 02:12 PM

05-09-2011, 12:05 PM	#2
ardeegee Maratus speciosus butt Posts: 3,292 Karma: 1162698 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: PRS-350	I collected comics as a early teen in the early 1980s and stopped when the comic prices kept going up but my allowance didn't. It wasn't until after I got my first e-ink reader that I started reading again, catching up with titles I used to read, plus more titles, plus manga. I'm ebook only for economic reasons-- the archive of CBRs I've accumulated would likely cost tens of thousands of dollars if I bought print copies of all of them. But if I had an unlimited budget, I'd want print copies of the color comics, but would be fine with remaining ebook only with black and white ones.

05-09-2011, 12:12 PM	#3
RainingLemur Spork Connoisseur Posts: 2,355 Karma: 16780603 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Nook Color	I like a mixture of both. For some of my favorite series, I get them in both. Otherwise, I'll just do price-hunting and get some in e-form and some in p-form depending on which deal is better.

05-10-2011, 02:02 PM	#4
RVS78 Letter Puncher Posts: 26 Karma: 500430 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Swallowed by another earth Device: android tablets	I used to collect P-comics back in high school (early to mid 1990s). Shelf space became an issue as well as the price (it became a very expensive hobby), so I let my brother have what he wanted then sold the rest. These days I just snag the occasional TPB (in print). Since the tablet purchase I've been getting into digital comics. I actually skipped on Free Comic Book Day this year - I'm more selective on what makes it on the shelf, this goes for books too. I'm also starting to play catch-up on some titles in cbr/cbz format. __________ Smashword books \| Amazon US \| Amazon UK Blog

05-10-2011, 05:01 PM	#5
Anthem Guru Posts: 704 Karma: 1622328 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: USA Device: Kindle Oasis, OnePlus Nord	When it comes to comic books, I collect printed material exclusively. The electronic versions just aren't ready for me yet. But they are getting there, they are getting there.

05-10-2011, 08:38 PM	#6
Barty doofus Posts: 2,523 Karma: 13088847 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kindle Voyage	You need a large color tablet to enjoy e comics. Also, they are priced too high right now, and the selection is haphazard. It seems the publishers are still in experimental mode when it comes to e comics.

05-11-2011, 11:02 AM	#9
Solitaire1 Samurai Lizard Posts: 14,259 Karma: 66698846 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: NookColor	When it comes to comics and manga, I'm currently staying with the printed version. As another poster has mentioned, the main issues for me is cost. Right now I doubt I could afford an ereader with a color screen that is large enough and with a high enough resolution to display them well.

05-11-2011, 02:33 PM	#11
Ea Wizard Posts: 3,490 Karma: 5239563 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Denmark Device: Kindle 3\|iPad air\|iPhone 4S	With an iPad, comic books are working much better than I expected, and I'm quite happy with using it for reading comics. Might still want to purchase a paper version of the few special ones though. the screen is almost half the size of standard sized European comic books but even at 60% the original size it's looks good and text is easy to read.

05-11-2011, 05:05 PM	#12
jocampo Layback feline Posts: 3,034 Karma: 6980745 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: USA Device: Oasis 2nd gen, Sony DPTS1, iPad Pro 10.5"	Interesting comments. I wonder how the electronic versions can replace the "collectible" feature of the pbook ones. You are not able sell your ebook Mangas on ebay, are you? ... and some really old comics, in good conditions, sells for thousands ...

05-11-2011, 05:26 PM	#13
Joonbug1 Groupie Posts: 185 Karma: 409000 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: none	Scott McCloud predicted comic books would suffer from digital piracy and the internet, and funny enough, Alan Moore called him "full of bullocks" for his prediction back in the nineties... Guess the comics legend Mr. Moore was actually wrong about this one. I also never thought we'd see the day where reading digital versions of comic books would even be a viable option, let alone the whole issue with piracy of books in general. I wonder what else will come in the future?

05-11-2011, 06:52 PM	#15
Joonbug1 Groupie Posts: 185 Karma: 409000 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: none	Well, to be fair, Scott McCloud also said he felt that people would want to transition to read comics more and more digitally compared to in paper form, whether by piracy or legit sales. Moore said he thought it was bullocks that people would ever want to read digitally when they have the option of a paper comic which is how they've always been in up to that time. I agree that having more options is always a plus, as a reader.

Advert

Advert