Marvel $3.99 vs DC $3.99 vs Image $3.99

compsolut

Does anyone else have an issue with DC $3.99 titles not being worth $3.99 compared to the other publishers? I am a sucker and still get Batman, but other than that, I have thinned my DC herd. I feel like with Marvel having the digital codes in their $3.99 books it gives me a little extra incentive, and flexibility. Sure there are books I don't use the codes from, but there are a lot I do. When I pay $3.99 for an Image comic, I at least feel like more of my money is going to the creator team (not sure if that is the case or not), just like Fair Trade coffee or something. I don't know, maybe I am just a bit weird? Anyone else have thoughts on this topic?

hauberk

The only $3.99 DC book I've been buying has been Justice League and I've had no issue with the price there as I've been enjoying the book quite a bit. The digital codes Marvel offers are meaningless to me as I don't partake digitally and, in all honesty, it wouldn't balance out for the constant double shipping and danger of getting some Bendis on you that comes from the Marvel side of things. Image has been hit and miss. No issues with the price for Lazarus or Black Science. Some of the other books, the art hasn't been what I wanted for the price.

bralinator

The "free" digital code with Marvel is a nice bonus.

Evening639

The only books I feel are worth $3.99 anymore are indies. Quite a few of the titles I buy from indie publishers come with interviews with the creative teams, letters pages and other additional content that makes me feel better about spending that money. I'm not saying I agree with them costing that much. I'm just saying nothing else feels remotely worth it.
I would also go so far as to say that most of the indie books that cost less than $3.99 still are more worthy than their mainstream counterparts. I buy very little Marvel and DC anymore and the pricing is a huge part of that.

compsolut

@Evening639 I would agree with the Indie books being a better value, just from the overall quality standpoint. However I do like the writing of a fair number of Marvel books right now, and I feel like I can justify paying $3.99 in my head by the fact that I can get a digital version to take with me. Agreed that the $2.99 books are arguably the best out on the market as well.

bamfbamf

y would anyone pay 3.99 for a comic book.. when netflix only costs 8.99 a month??

just buy comics when it goes on sale on comixology for 99 cents

or get marvel unlimited for 9.99.a month

David_D

bamfbamf said:

y would anyone pay 3.99 for a comic book.. when netflix only costs 8.99 a month??

just buy comics when it goes on sale on comixology for 99 cents

or get marvel unlimited for 9.99.a month

One could also ask 'Why pay $15 to see a movie in the theater if Netflix only costs...'

I think it comes down to urgency, and whether you want the object, or just the content. If you want to read it when it comes out, you are stuck with that price. If you can time shift and wait for a DCBS box, then you pay less. If you time shift even further and wait for a Comixology price drop or sale, or for your Marvel books to be on MU, then you save even more. Or you can wait for a less expensive trade, or try to get a collection from the library.

But that is part of why they try to make events out of things-- to encourage urgency, and maybe get you to pay cover price. Like getting someone to go see it in the theater opening weekend.

For me, it is a mix. I love Marvel Unlimited, and now save a lot of reading for that. Most of my reading I time shift through DCBS to get that savings. Some of my Marvels I do digital code swaps on. And then there are two books, Saga and Walking Dead, I will go but at the shop the day they come out.

Like anything when it comes to price, it comes down to what feels worth paying to you, and how long you are up for waiting (or how flexible you are when it comes to platform.)

Chuck_Melville

David_D said:

bamfbamf said:

y would anyone pay 3.99 for a comic book.. when netflix only costs 8.99 a month??

just buy comics when it goes on sale on comixology for 99 cents

or get marvel unlimited for 9.99.a month

One could also ask 'Why pay $15 to see a movie in the theater if Netflix only costs...'

I think it comes down to urgency, and whether you want the object, or just the content. If you want to read it when it comes out, you are stuck with that price. If you can time shift and wait for a DCBS box, then you pay less. If you time shift even further and wait for a Comixology price drop or sale, or for your Marvel books to be on MU, then you save even more. Or you can wait for a less expensive trade, or try to get a collection from the library.

But that is part of why they try to make events out of things-- to encourage urgency, and maybe get you to pay cover price. Like getting someone to go see it in the theater opening weekend.

For me, it is a mix. I love Marvel Unlimited, and now save a lot of reading for that. Most of my reading I time shift through DCBS to get that savings. Some of my Marvels I do digital code swaps on. And then there are two books, Saga and Walking Dead, I will go but at the shop the day they come out.

Like anything when it comes to price, it comes down to what feels worth paying to you, and how long you are up for waiting (or how flexible you are when it comes to platform.)

There's also the fact that viewing a movie at the theater is more of an event. I like watching films at home on the DVD and widescreen TV, but I also enjoy just going out and sitting in the theater with a tub of popcorn and a big drink, and maybe hanging out with friends afterwards.

Comics have a similar thing -- I'd rather pay a little extra for a paper comic over the cheaper digital comic because I like holding the paper book in my hand -- it feels more real than the digital. I enjoy the tactile experience as much as the visual.

AxelBrass

David_D said:

I love Marvel Unlimited, and now save a lot of reading for that.

* 85 - 90% of my reading is now on Marvel Unlimited.
* I get trades of the popular / interesting Image stuff.
* I buy a few masterworks and back issues.
* DC = Zilch.

I probably read 50 comics a month on Marvel Unlimited. $0.20 per virtual floppy. It's a money thing AND a space thing. While I prefer printed books, I realized I only read them once unless it's something I'm collecting avidly. Saves me a ton of time filing books, saves me a ton of grief with my finances. I can read runs on books, crossovers with ease, etc, etc.

My only complaint is that the app is buggy and the webpage based version is completely useless, but for that price I make it work.

playdohsrepublic

AxelBrass said:

David_D said:

I love Marvel Unlimited, and now save a lot of reading for that.

* 85 - 90% of my reading is now on Marvel Unlimited.
* I get trades of the popular / interesting Image stuff.
* I buy a few masterworks and back issues.
* DC = Zilch.

I probably read 50 comics a month on Marvel Unlimited. $0.20 per virtual floppy. It's a money thing AND a space thing. While I prefer printed books, I realized I only read them once unless it's something I'm collecting avidly. Saves me a ton of time filing books, saves me a ton of grief with my finances. I can read runs on books, crossovers with ease, etc, etc.

My only complaint is that the app is buggy and the webpage based version is completely useless, but for that price I make it work.

So agree! The app is terrible (God forbid you want to zoom in on a two page spread!) but the price and extensiveness of the library are truly unbeatable. It's funny that I've never thought about reading in terms of time-shifting but @David_D hits the nail right on the head. There is a premium on urgency now which actually has, in a lot of ways, especially for digital readers, made comics cheaper than even 15 years ago because the publisher have a greater incentive than ever to get readers caught up and buying those current full price books.