Can I Read Comics Online?
Hey there silver Fam! This week I wanted to answer a question that pops up now and then. If you’re asking this question, you might be new to the comics hobby or maybe you have a kid or family member who likes comics and are trying to get them a way to read. Online comics are also a great solution if you live in an area without a local comic shop and have a hard time having books shipped to your address. For some of us with a lot of time spent in the comics sphere, this might seem obvious, but this is a question that gets asked. Not everyone knows where to look or where to start.
So to answer the question – yes, with some exceptions. We’ll get into that as well as some additional context on platforms and why online comics could be a good fit for you.
Are Comics Available Online?
Yes! There are a ton of comics you can read online! Some are free, some with a subscription, and some you need to buy individually. This includes comics from the major publishers, books from a lot of independent publishers, as well as books from individual creators. Comics online, let’s list out a few of our favorite sites to read comics on.
This is the site for your indie darlings. A lot of the comics on this site are made by one or two individual creators. These books are free to read and are usually updated weekly. The quality can be hit or miss depending on the title but the same can be said for comics platforms. The lack of project editors just means that the lack of polish can be more apparent at times. If you’re looking for something unique and never done before, this is a great place to look.
Comixology is a digital comics shop that sells books from all the major publishers as well as a lot of independent publishers. It also has a line of independent creator-owned projects published as Comixology Originals. Many of these books can all be read with a Comixology Unlimited subscription, while the rest of the shop catalog requires the digital copies to be purchased individually. That being said, they regularly run sales or even offer comics for free. Offerings include floppies, trades, and collected editions, as well as curated bundles.
- DC & Marvel
If you or the person you’re shopping for are diehard fans of DC or Marvel, and that’s all you’re looking for, both publishers have their own online comic services: DC Universe Infinite, and Marvel Unlimited. Both sites offer a large collection of comics from their respective publishers as part of a monthly subscription. If all you need is The Bat or Cap, these sites could be your solution.
Why Would I Need Digital Comics?
Well, we all need comics, that’s a universal truth. Some of us are lucky enough to live close to an FLCS (Friendly Local Comic Shop), are in good enough health to get there, and are lucky enough to find what we want in stock. If any one of those criteria is not met, online comics try to remedy that. While you can order some trades or collections online and have them delivered, that’s still reliant on that book being in print and carried by a store that can afford the overhead of shipping. If you recently moved to a rural area, had an accident, or are into something niche, you may be able to scratch that same itch by collecting digital comics
Another fact of the matter is that anyone can make a digital comic and post it online. As mentioned earlier in the segment on Webtoons. There are some unique stories that you will not find anywhere else. The digitization of comics has democratized publication as it has with so many other forms of media.
Why Aren’t All Comics Available Online?
If it does so much to meet the reader where they are, it would make sense for all comics to be published online, right? Unfortunately, it doesn’t make the most business sense in every situation. As with anything, there is a cost involved. It could be the monetary cost for scanning and formatting, server upkeep, publishing dues, or even just time invested. To get that cost back, the comic needs to sell enough to cover that cost on top of the costs that are already incurred in making a book.
With how many books are available online, that is sometimes not the case, especially for small independent publishers. There are so many options presented to readers, that they can’t possibly look at or purchase every book. Small publishers also do not receive the same priority for marketing or placement, so they are effectively hidden from the reader. If a book can’t be seen by the reader, it can’t be purchased, and therefore can’t cover the cost of making the digital copy.
Are Silverline Comics Online?
Unfortunately, we do not currently offer a catalog of comics for online reading. It is something that gets brought up with some frequency in our internal conversations. At the moment, we feel like we need more growth to justify that cost. In the meantime, our comics can be bought online and shipped to your address. Our Kickstarters do also offer PDF copies. If you are in a situation where you rely on digital comics for your reading pleasure, check out our next Kickstarter and select the PDF reward tier. You will receive a digital copy to download and read on any device.
If you want more digital copies of our comics, let us know! Post in the comments or message us on social media and we’ll keep that in mind the next time it comes up. At current, you can still support us by backing or sharing Kickstarters to help us reach the growth we need to make it worthwhile!
Who Are Silverline Comics
A bunch of nerds trying to give you some dope reads and take you on fun adventures through comics. If you want to catch up on what we have going on, follow our socials. If you want to hang out with us, check out our live shows on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday.
Make Mine Silverline!