So, ComiXology has put up its prices.
Not a complete shock, I think most of us were expecting this – ComiXology UK had been cheaper and subsidised. Now, it seems they want to make up the losses made. The prices are now 1:1 Pound to the dollar.
That means, for example, DC Comics Strange Adventures #1 is $4.99 digitally from the DC Comics web store. On ComiXology UK/Amazon it is £4.99. The current exchange rate means that $4.99 is £3.82
Needless to say, there are a lot of upset people.
The obvious way to solve comics piracy is to charge £5 an issue for digital issues, OBVIOUSLY.
— Tom Ward (@highbrowtrash) March 8, 2020
So now that Comixology has killed their UK and European market, I think it's time we all looked to an independent company who don't try to screw their consumers.
— HAYTCH (@HugoBoylan) March 7, 2020
Everyone check out @Comichaus.
A 66% price increase by @comiXology here in the UK is worrying ( and infuriating since I read my comics digitally these days ) https://t.co/0w1JRiKLP1
— Christian Ward (@cjwardart) March 8, 2020
The Comixology price hike makes my head hurt.
— Corey B (#iamwriting) (@CoreyBrotherson) March 8, 2020
Consumers get less for their money.
Small press (hi!) gets squeezed out even more.
Readers who can't get to a LCS now will reduce their haul.
Industry shrinks and suffers.
Masterful strategy. pic.twitter.com/TkpIi9Yot4
Alasdair Stuart has already written an interesting article about it.
Written fast, written angry but it got it out of my head. Me at @FoxSpiritBooks on the @comiXology price hike. https://t.co/1io5hGzEHM
— Alasdair Stuart (@AlasdairStuart) March 7, 2020
It does seem that it is the US print comics that are affected by this price change. ComiXology Originals, Euro Comics and Manga don’t seem to be affected.
So there's been a lot of discussion of ComiXology sudden UK price increase.
— Joe Glass 🇪🇺 Kindness Punk 💓 (@JosephGlass) March 8, 2020
One thing, slightly biased I know, I want to make clear – this has only affected US print comics on the platform.
ComiXology Originals, and I believe manga titles, have not changed.
Is this going to lead to an increase in pirated comics? I think we all agree that this helps no-one.
I’ve reached out to ComiXology to see what their side of the story is.
What Other Options Are There?
This is the difficult part. ComiXology/Amazon have a near-monopoly on digital comics.
There are other options being banded around though.
Direct From Publishers/Creators
You can get digital comics from DriveThruComics – various publishers. Or there are the likes of Fair Spark Books or 2000 AD where you can get digital comics directly.
Independent creators also have their own stores – Gum Road, Big Cartel etc.
ComicHaus
An excellent subscription service that supports independent creators.
Marvel Unlimited
Subscription-based digital comics, not day-and-date though.
Other Publisher Apps
Dark Horse Comics have their own app – Dark Horse Digital. This features Dark Horse and Dynamite Digital Comics.
Get a US ComiXology account.
Possible, with a VPN and a US account. The general consensus seems to be against this though.
As this situation develops, I will try to promote more independent digital comics, outside of the mainstream. I’m sure there is more to come from this.
