[...] their needs. Instead, it’s a panacea for retailers upset at a publisher who seems to be undercutting them by giving away digital copies of its Ultimates and Season One lines. The goal is to [...]

Yes, it’s a huge detriment no matter who maintains the app. The concern over spending money on something that could disappear in a puff of smoke tomorrow is the primary impediment to spending the cover price on a digital version. If the publishers want me to take that burden then I expect dramatically cheaper prices.

[...] “bonus” add-on, while perhaps making the book seem like a better value to customers and greatly annoying some retailers, has a gotcha attached, [...]

Just curious, does anyone care about this issue when it comes to Dark Horse’s app? You don’t own any files there either, really, but given that it’s Dark Horse’s app, not an app run through a third party, I’m guessing there’s less chance of you losing your entire collection.

You are welcome, of course, to call me out on this in 12 months when everyone is still exclusive and the digital market has gone all Heroes World on us. ;-)

Here’s hoping it happens.

I can see, intellectually, why a retailer would be upset at a promotion like Marvel’s being sprung on them and feeling powerless about it, but I think getting too upset about it wastes energy that can be used in better ways. Focus on making your customers want to shop with you instead of treating them like they HAVE to shop with you.

James, love the TV set comparison. I’d forgotten about that.

Now I’m picking up the #3s I want digitally, though some of those I will wait for price drop. So I’m with Augie in hoping for better deal, and am hoping Archie’s superhero digital deal will be interesting.

I’m not really understanding Mr. Hibbs stance. It seems to amount to how old movie studios directing that there be no TVs shown in movies because they thought they’d kill the movie industry.

People know they have a digital option already, preventing someone from just randomly buying what’s sure to be one of the bigger Marvel titles in years seems odd to me. He admits it in his column, but still odd to see a stance of I don’t want someone buying from someone other than me, but if you want to buy this (and didn’t order it ) you must buy it from someone else.

His choice as you say though. The free download actually makes it more likely for me to buy the single issue, download and give the comic away.

I wonder if it’s going to be available in bookstores? So many magazines in bags get ripped open at my bookstores.

I keep hearing conflicting things on the exclusives. Any idea if I’ll be able to download them on my IPad Kindle & Nook aps? I’ve heard it both ways.

My LCS owner is really upset about this digital comic and he has expressed his displeasure to Diamond. He choose not to order the Justice League duel package and wished he could have done the same with Avenging Spider-man.