Marvel Releases 700 First Issue Comics for Free via Marvel Comics iOS App

MacRumors · Mar 11, 2013, 01:11 PM

As part of a South by Southwest promotion, Marvel has announced (via The New York Times) that it is giving away more than 700 of its No.1 issues through its Marvel Comics iOS app and web store.

Quote:

"This is the perfect way to show everyone how much we believe in our material by letting them try the first issues for free, because we're sure once they start, they won't stop," says Marvel SVP - Sales, Digital & Print David Gabriel. "Week in and week out we ask fans to come check out our new releases--both in print and digitally--with the promise that we'll bring them the best comics made by the best talent and managed by the best editorial team in the industry. Now, existing and news fans [alike] can discover the heroes they know and love and learn about new ones all at the same time."

The inaugural issue of each comic book line can be downloaded for free, a significant discount from the standard $1.99 to $3.99 price. Marvel is running the promotion in order to attract new readers, offering recent comics like Uncanny Avengers and All-New X-Men alongside classics like Amazing Spider-Man and Fantastic Four.

Marvel's sale began on Sunday night and will last through Tuesday at 11 p.m. Eastern time. The comics can be downloaded via the web or through the Marvel Comics app.

Article Link: Marvel Releases 700 First Issue Comics for Free via Marvel Comics iOS App

komodrone · Mar 11, 2013, 01:13 PM

Marvelous

tevion5 · Mar 11, 2013, 01:15 PM

Well there's clever marketing.

iPusch · Mar 11, 2013, 01:15 PM

Still not interested

nutmac · Mar 11, 2013, 01:16 PM

Both the website and iOS app are completely borked.

bushido · Mar 11, 2013, 01:20 PM

they r pulling an apple. server down

MrXiro · Mar 11, 2013, 01:20 PM

Meh.

I guess it's good to get new readers hooked... useless if you're already a fan and read most of these before.

kgallag1 · Mar 11, 2013, 01:37 PM

Kinda neat for someone like me. I've read a few comics here and there, but didn't get into them when I was younger. Often liked the stories, though, so having a bunch of intros could be fun.

Nermal · Mar 11, 2013, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nutmac

Both the website and iOS app are completely borked.

I tried to download some yesterday.

"Download error"
"Download error"
"Invalid username or password"
"Download error"

It looks like today isn't any better

Yvan256 · Mar 11, 2013, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bushido

They are pulling an Electronic Arts. Server down.

Fixed that for you.

rmwebs · Mar 11, 2013, 01:54 PM

Good for those who like Marvel comics I guess. Not a comic reader myself so have no idea how good they are.

Thank Disney for this one tho

tarasis · Mar 11, 2013, 02:15 PM

Cool you mentioned this but it is worth pointing out that they are struggling with requests ATM. The site and app have been largely unusable for the last 24 hours.

TsMkLg068426 · Mar 11, 2013, 02:21 PM

Tried to sign up and can nto connect to server

I thought the internet has improved?

SoldOnApple · Mar 11, 2013, 02:32 PM

Why not make all issue 1's free forever? If you like the first issue, then you'll buy the rest, surely.

needfx · Mar 11, 2013, 02:43 PM

Errors...Assemble!

ncaissie · Mar 11, 2013, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoldOnApple

Why not make all issue 1's free forever? If you like the first issue, then you'll buy the rest, surely.

That would make to much sense. Although Crack dealers know this business model. LOL

milo · Mar 11, 2013, 03:28 PM

So there are 700 comics available to download and the promotion expires tomorrow night? No wonder their servers are getting absolutely crushed.

fruitpunch.ben · Mar 11, 2013, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milo

So there are 700 comics available to download and the promotion expires tomorrow night? No wonder their servers are getting absolutely crushed.

Yep. I agree they should make them free in perpetuity. I managed to load the front page of their webstore today. once. But it's hopeless trying to get any further. Here's hoping they'll fix it by the time the sale runs out!

ghettochris · Mar 11, 2013, 04:36 PM

here's an idea, for both them and for apple's itunes TV shows, always have the first episode for free. Maybe even the first 10-15 minutes of any movie. For movies, you lose nothing by doing this, and for TV shows, I can just about guarantee you will get more people to buy the 2nd episodes and maybe get hooked on the show than you will lose a couple dollars from someone who was going to buy the whole show anyway. I know apple would love to do this, we just need to get the networks/studios to get their head out of their asses.

TL;DR-Season 1, episode 1 should always be free.

Hackfix21 · Mar 11, 2013, 07:30 PM

still not working.

thehustleman · Mar 11, 2013, 07:52 PM

And people wonder why piracy is so huge

fruitpunch.ben · Mar 11, 2013, 08:47 PM

I gather they've pulled the sale for now till they fix the server issues. The few times I can get onto the sale page, the comics are coming up @$1.99 or $3.99, not free.
Am downloading the app on my iPhone to see if that's any better

chadua · Mar 11, 2013, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fruitpunch.ben

I gather they've pulled the sale for now till they fix the server issues. The few times I can get onto the sale page, the comics are coming up @$1.99 or $3.99, not free.
Am downloading the app on my iPhone to see if that's any better

You are correct http://blog.comixology.com/2013/03/1...-from-the-ceo/

skottichan · Mar 11, 2013, 10:59 PM

It was crashing ComiXology as well (those of us who have our Marvel accounts synched). I tried to pick up Sif & Rescue #1's, it sees that I purchased them, but it will not let me download at all (I get download errors).

APlotdevice · Mar 12, 2013, 12:19 AM

I hope Marvel extends the deal to compensate for this prolonged **** up with their servers.

Mar 11, 2013, 01:20 PM	#7
MrXiro macrumors 68000 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Los Angeles	Meh. I guess it's good to get new readers hooked... useless if you're already a fan and read most of these before. __________________ Whole lotta Apples, very little $.
	0

Mar 11, 2013, 01:54 PM	#11
rmwebs macrumors 68030 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: North London, England	Good for those who like Marvel comics I guess. Not a comic reader myself so have no idea how good they are. Thank Disney for this one tho __________________ Walt Disney World Guide
	0

Mar 11, 2013, 02:21 PM	#13
TsMkLg068426 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Mar 2009	Tried to sign up and can nto connect to server I thought the internet has improved? __________________ 21.5" iMac, 2.7GHz, Intel Core i5, 4GB Memory, 1 TB HD, Mac OS X Lion 10.7.2; 32 GB iPod Touch iOS 5.0.1
	0

Mar 11, 2013, 08:47 PM	#22
fruitpunch.ben macrumors 6502 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Hamilton, Ontario	I gather they've pulled the sale for now till they fix the server issues. The few times I can get onto the sale page, the comics are coming up @$1.99 or $3.99, not free. Am downloading the app on my iPhone to see if that's any better __________________ 2009 iPhone 3G S⃣ 27" 2009 iMac i7 160 GB intel SSD 11" 2011 MacBook Air i7 1.8GHz, iPad 3rd Generation 64GB LTE iPhone 5 64GB Black
	0

Mar 11, 2013, 10:59 PM	#24
skottichan macrumors 6502 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Columbus, OH	It was crashing ComiXology as well (those of us who have our Marvel accounts synched). I tried to pick up Sif & Rescue #1's, it sees that I purchased them, but it will not let me download at all (I get download errors). __________________ "Did Jesus have a beard?" "Yes, her name was Mary Magdeline"
	0

Mar 11, 2013, 01:13 PM	#2
komodrone macrumors 6502 Join Date: Apr 2011	Marvelous
	5

Mar 11, 2013, 01:15 PM	#3
tevion5 macrumors regular Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Ireland	Well there's clever marketing.
	3

Mar 11, 2013, 01:15 PM	#4
iPusch macrumors 6502 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Manhattan, New York	Still not interested
	1

Mar 11, 2013, 01:16 PM	#5
nutmac macrumors 68000 Join Date: Mar 2004	Both the website and iOS app are completely borked.
	5

Mar 11, 2013, 01:20 PM	#6
bushido macrumors 68040 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Germany, Europe	they r pulling an apple. server down
	0

Mar 11, 2013, 01:37 PM	#8
kgallag1 macrumors member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Dorval, Quebec	Kinda neat for someone like me. I've read a few comics here and there, but didn't get into them when I was younger. Often liked the stories, though, so having a bunch of intros could be fun.
	1

Mar 11, 2013, 02:15 PM	#12
tarasis macrumors 6502 Join Date: Oct 2007	Cool you mentioned this but it is worth pointing out that they are struggling with requests ATM. The site and app have been largely unusable for the last 24 hours.
	0

Mar 11, 2013, 02:32 PM	#14
SoldOnApple macrumors member Join Date: Jul 2011	Why not make all issue 1's free forever? If you like the first issue, then you'll buy the rest, surely.
	3

Mar 11, 2013, 02:43 PM	#15
needfx macrumors 65816 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: macrumors apparently	Errors...Assemble!
	3

Mar 11, 2013, 03:28 PM	#17
milo macrumors 603 Join Date: Sep 2003	So there are 700 comics available to download and the promotion expires tomorrow night? No wonder their servers are getting absolutely crushed.
	0

Mar 11, 2013, 04:36 PM	#19
ghettochris macrumors 6502 Join Date: Feb 2008	here's an idea, for both them and for apple's itunes TV shows, always have the first episode for free. Maybe even the first 10-15 minutes of any movie. For movies, you lose nothing by doing this, and for TV shows, I can just about guarantee you will get more people to buy the 2nd episodes and maybe get hooked on the show than you will lose a couple dollars from someone who was going to buy the whole show anyway. I know apple would love to do this, we just need to get the networks/studios to get their head out of their asses. TL;DR-Season 1, episode 1 should always be free.
	1

Mar 11, 2013, 07:30 PM	#20
Hackfix21 macrumors member Join Date: Jun 2011	still not working.
	1

Mar 11, 2013, 07:52 PM	#21
thehustleman macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jan 2013	And people wonder why piracy is so huge
	0

Mar 12, 2013, 12:19 AM	#25
APlotdevice macrumors 68000 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Sin City USA	I hope Marvel extends the deal to compensate for this prolonged **** up with their servers. __________________ TV - iPod touch 4 - iPad 1 - Custom HTPC - Numerous Consoles There is something deeply wrong with a society more offended by breasts than by entrails.
	0

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