Free Digital Avenging Spider-Man


Marvel.com sent me this press release. It seems they’re competiting with DC by offering a free digital version of the book. DC charged the customer an extra dollar. Thoughts?The two covers are variants for the book.

Marvel is making digital comics history once more, and proudly announcing that AVENGING SPIDER-MAN #1, from the superstar creative team of Zeb Wells and Joe Madureira, will be polybagged with a code for a free digital copy of this issue on the Marvel Comics app for free. That’s right: for no additional charge to the retailers or consumers, Marvel is making sure that everyone who purchases AVENGING SPIDER-MAN #1 (any cover, including variants) at their local comic shop can get a free digital copy of the issue on the Marvel Comics app. This is the first time that any major comic publisher has offered a free digital copy of a comic with the purchase of the physical copy without any additional cost. This digital copy of AVENGING SPIDER-MAN #1 will be accessible via both the Marvel Comics app and the Marvel Chrome store.Marvel has worked with some of the top retailers in the nation to ensure this historic new initiative benefits your local shops in major ways, including:“We’ve included our retail partners in crafting this program, and worked with ComicsPRO in determining what would make this program the most beneficial to consumers and retailers and I think we’ve come up with something that is not only unique and exciting, but a program that addresses most of the concerns retailers have had with previous digital programs. With the earliest initial orders already over 100,0
00 units, AVENGING SPIDER-MAN #1 is set to be one of the biggest new releases of the fall and demand can only increase with these free digital codes,” said David Gabriel, Marvel SVP of Sales. “Our goal here is to give consumers the extra added value that they have come to expect for their entertainment dollar as well as the very best in comics entertainment that they have come to expect from Marvel! And that’s not all, for the first time, customers will be able to qualify their retailers for rewards by redeeming the digital codes! We’re also developing a program designed to drive digital customers into brick and mortar comic shops to help increase their business. Bringing the worlds of print and digital together in this way gives the customer a great value and one we’re sure will result in even greater sales for retailers.”• The largest digital revenue share with retailers from any major comic company• 
Ads in each digital issue of AVENGING SPIDER-MAN #1 directing fans to check out subsequent issues at their local comic shop• Driving digital comics customers to their local comic store through targeted communications based on customers’ state & retailer name• Development of a system to reward retailers for future digital purchases made by their customers

• Providing retailers with information about customers who sign up for redemption and the rate of redemption


This November, no fan can miss the release of AVENGING SPIDER-MAN #1, available in stores with free digital copy and on the Marvel Comics app.oviding retailers with information about customers who sign up for redemption and the rate of redemption

Retailers: Check The Diamond Retailer site for a detailed FAQ addressing any questions you might have about this new initiative and the Marvel Mailer for more information.

AVENGING SPIDER-MAN #1 (SEP110536) 
Written by ZEB WELLS 
Art & Cover by JOE MADUREIRA 
Rated T+…$3.99 
FOC – 10/17/11, ON SALE – 11/9/11N

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15 Comments

  1. I prefer both of the variants to the regular cover. I never liked Joe Mad’s art.

  2. i am really looking forward to this series. I loved joe mad back in the day. I am also excited to read the issue digitally. The marvel digital app on my ipad is pretty cool. i dont buy digital comics, but i always get the free ones. I love their panel viewer. It really enhances the reading experience.

  3. I’m not digging that J. Scott Campbell cover. He’s done better. That’s all three of the Cliffhanger guys. Ramos was the best of the three in regards to scheduling. He’s really making Mad and JSC look bad there again. I’m not sure this digital inking process works for Mad much better than Ultimates 3… and we all know how much people liked that story. I know it’s not about the digital download stuff, but that’s not my thing.

    I think I’ll have to wait until it’s actually on the printed page to see how good it really looks.

  4. @11 They are doing it for only 1 comic, 1 time. I meant to say i wish it would be generalised.

  5. @10 Isn’t that exactly what Marvel are starting to do? And if it takes off, suspect DC will follow suit. So we could well be there within a year or so.

  6. I wish comic companies would do the same thing filmaker now do with DVD and blu ray: add a digital copy free of charge. That would make the people like me who want to possess the book physicaly but are tired to go through hundreds of comics (i got a real public library of spidey comics in my basement) to find one the ease of the new technology. It would be a win win situation. Beside, i could read confortably my comics at home AND check back issues on the go…

  7. I don’t know why anyone would buy a variant cover when Joe Mad is already doing cover.

  8. I actually see a positive to going Digital…

    You’d finally be able to say, “Suck it, Diamond”

  9. I am really looking forward to this. I have gone completely digital. No regrets.

    I’m also hoping this book is wildly successful, if it does sell over 100,000 units it might show Marvel that a Spider-man book with a fun creative team can rival the best selling DC 52. What’s Amazing on lately?

  10. @4 And it’s Zeb Wells, the mastermind behind Shed. He also did Carnage, which started good, but spurted out by the end…. I’ve had troubles reading most of his stuff, so well I’m glad by the free digital decision, I’m checking out.

  11. It’s still $3.99 for 22 pages and digital, Justice League has $3.99 for 24(ish) pages and rather pointless director cut extras and then the extra dollar for digital.

    We’ll see if the book keeps to 22 pages, with Joe Mad on art duties.

  12. Im excited for this title. Its win win for everybody. Zetas get more Spider goodness. deltas get a non slott 616 spidey title

  13. Good on Marvel. That extra dollar offer from DC was a strange one, it seemed like they’d want to do it this way to promote their new digital, rather than charging more. Obviously people had the option of just buying one or the other, so it wasn’t as if anyone was forced to do anything. So it wasn’t awful or anything, it was just… weird.

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