As a side effect of Marvel’s new Digital Comics initiative, they have chosen not to renew the GIT Corp license to release DVD-ROM content, according to this article. My personal thoughts follow below. UPDATED: I added the forgotten link to the Iron Man collection.
I find this really disappointing. The digital comic format Marvel provides is not downloadable, less responsive than PDF, and does not include the original ads and the like. It’s also nice to have access to the library when I don’t have Internet access, such as when I’m on a plane. Finally, when I buy a DVD-ROM, I know that I’ll have access to all of those issues indefinitely. With this new, the cancellations of the Daredevil and Thor collections has followed (though the Civil War and House of M collections are still coming; the loss of license is effective January 1, 2008.) I really, really enjoy this format, but once existing stock is sold out, there won’t be more, so I suggest completing your collections ASAP. Tales of Wonder ships internationally and is taking preorders on the House of M and Civil War collections. You can also pick most of them up at the following Amazon.com links:
- Amazing Spider-Man Complete Collection: Includes everything up to the end of the “Road To Civil War” arc.
- 40 Years of Uncanny X-Men: Includes everything up to but not including the “House of M” crossover.
- Captain America: The Complete Collection: Includes everything from the Silver Age adventures in “Tales of Suspense” to the death of Steve Rogers in issue 25 from earlier this year.
- 40 Years of the Avengers: Includes everything from the first issue to “New Avengers #12.”
- Fantastic Four and the Silver Surfer: The Complete Collection: Includes all issues of “Fantastic Four” up to the end of the Civil War, and all issues of “Silver Surfer” in his self-titled series.
- The Incredible Hulk: Complete Collection: Includes everything up to issue 99 in the current numbering, which is part way through the “Planet Hulk” arc.
- Ghost Rider: The Complete Collection: Includes everything from the original Marvel Spotlight issues up to issue 4 of the current series.
- Ultimate X-Men: Complete Collection: Includes the first 70 issues of this title.
- The Invincible Iron Man: The Complete Collection: Includes everything from Tales of Suspense #39 to the issue immediately before the Civil War crossover.
I used the “feedback” link in the Newsarama article to tell Marvel what I thought of this decision. If you have strong opinions either way, please do the same.
Not downloadable…
Not downloadable? Until someone comes up with a convenient way to rip them, Marvel won’t get my money.
I can totally understand how what they’re doing is in their best interest. But, with certain video sites going under recently, and people losing any and all access to videos they had "purchased", it doesn’t make sense to give money to any company that does business like this.
I don’t mind if the comics are watermarked and copyright infringement could be traced back to my particular subscription – that’s fine. I just want to make sure that I have access to what I paid for, forever.
All this does is piss off / dissuade people like me, who would otherwise give them money. Real pirates will set up screen captures (there will always be the analog hole of the display – if nothing else) and continue on their merry way.
Thanks for the heads up
I had already bought several of these a few months ago.
Ordered the last 2 I wanted after reading your article.