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iOS devices are great for using as e-readers, iPads in particular. Besides being great for reading books and novels, they’re also ideal for comic book reading. Whether you’ve been reading comics for decades, or just discovering the magic within for the first time, here’s a look at four of our favorite apps for enjoying some of the best comics and graphic novels out there.
Comics
From Comixology, Comics offers a huge wealth of comic books. With a 30,000+ library of books, it’s the comic equivalent of iTunes which is pretty awesome indeed. There’s something for everyone’s taste here, with Marvel and DC residing happily alongside Disney, The Walking Dead, Star Trek and even My Little Pony. It’s simple to browse around and a web-based interface ensures purchases can be read anywhere.
FREE!  + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2009-07-22 :: Category: Books Marvel Unlimited
For those keen to buy individual comic books, Marvel Comics has things covered. For others who signed up to a Marvel Unlimited subscription and had to be restricted to only browsing on a PC or Mac, this recent app is a huge help. It’s not the finest of apps to navigate (although it works much better on the iPad), but the sheer wealth of comic books that can be read while on the move and for a fairly low annual fee, it’s well worth a look. It’s kept me entertained on many a journey, as helped by the read offline feature.
FREE! + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2013-03-07 :: Category: Books Comics Unlimited
Offering a little bit of everything, amongst a subscription service and a way to check out freebies, Comics Unlimited is a jack of all trades. Archie, CSI, Transformers, Dragon Age and Grimm Fairy Tales all happily reside together on this service and flexible subscription options make it all the more appealing. It’s simple to browse too, with intuitive controls and an attractive layout.
FREE! + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2013-01-08 :: Category: Books VIZ Manga
We’ve focused a lot on Western comic books, but there are plenty of great apps for Manga fans too. VIZ Manga is one of the best, providing a similar experience to Comics but with a focus on Manga. Naruto, Bleack, Death Note, Dragon Ball and many more are available here, with monthly free previews ensuring it’s easy to find something new to entice one in.
FREE! iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Released: 2010-11-02 :: Category: Books
Posted by Andrew Stevens on April 9th, 2013
Last month, fans had the opportunity to gain access to over 700 free Marvel comics, for a limited time. Due to server issues, the promotion never had the chance to take off. It’s back, though! Fans can now sign up at Marvel.com until Midnight tonight to gain access to over 700 free comics to read on their computer or mobile device.
via: Comixology and Marvel Offer 700 Free Comics source: Marvel Promo
Posted by Rob LeFebvre on March 11th, 2013
Just yesterday, digital comics distributor and app developer, Comixology, announced a new initiative which would offer over 700 free comics, many of them first issues and Marvel Now! comics, via their iPad platform. We were excited to share the news with you this morning.
Once we started looking, though, at the Comixology site, we found out that the huge demand for the comics has caused some technical difficulties over on the server side of things. The Comixology CEO, David Steinberger, wrote on the site, “We expected a high degree of excitement for the Marvel initiative – and had believed ourselves prepared – but unfortunately we became overwhelmed by the immense response. We’re still struggling to keep our systems up.”
Seems like a lot of folks were trying to access the free comics, and weren’t able to get their stuff. Steinberger continued, “To that end, we’re pausing the Marvel Comics #1 promotion for the time being. For those of you that want to take advantage of the offer – you will get your comics! Until we are able to reinstate this program in our systems, please click here and fill out (a) simple form, so you can be informed as soon as there is an update.”
The link to the submission form is here, so head on over and add your email to the list. We’ll keep an eye out, as well, and let you know when we see that the system, and offer, is back online.
via: Kelly Sue source: Comixology Blog
 ComiXology announced today a free, new submission portal for comics self-publishers called comiXology Submit. The company, developer of one of the first and most successful comics reading/buying apps on the App store, hopes to help comic book creators make money from their self-published efforts via ComiXology’s digital platform, which is already used by the likes of Marvel and DC. ComiXology has nearly 30,000 comics and graphic novels to choose from, with over 900 of those available for free
The service will begin as an invite-only beta, and will allow creators a way to sell their stuff via the comiXology platform. There’ll be some sort of approval process, and once ready, comics will be uploaded to the comiXology portal, available on iPhone, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire, Windows 8 and the Web, with Guided View technology. This lets indie comics creators use the same panel to panel navigation system that the big guys use, and it will be applied to these self-published works entirely for free.
Initially starting out as invite-only/private beta, comiXology Submit will allow creators a free portal to easily access the comiXology platform. Submissions will go through an approval process and when approved comiXology will transform the uploaded work with their Guided View technology – for free. Then the work goes on sale worldwide with the creator and comiXology splitting the profits evenly.
 “…having a way to let self-publishers participate … is good for our customers, for comiXology and for comics,” said co-founder John D. Roberts in a press release. “Having the most diverse material possible serves comiXology’s mission. It’s great that we can now open our platform to self-publishers and deliver a whole new wave of creative works to our customers.”
CEO David Steinberger feels the same way, noting that the company has come a long way since it started in July of 2009 with just a “handful of comics,” he said. “We are happy today, with the announcement of comiXology Submit, that we now have a turnkey system to service this incredibly vital part of the marketplace. ComiXology Submit, helps keep the promise to our customers of having the best and most diverse comic books and graphic novels available worldwide.”
If you’re a comic book creator interested in self-publishing your work via the comiXology platform, head over to submit.comixology.com and add your contact information. The platform should become available to anyone in the near future who has one or more comics, graphic novels, a webcomic, and even short one-shot comics creators.
FREE! + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2009-07-22 :: Category: Books
 The hugely popular The Simpsons Bongo Comics have made their way to the iPhone and iPad, with an official app just released.
Simpsons Comics comes from the masters of all things iOS comic book related, ComiXology.
Much like ComiXology’s other apps, the initial download is free with new issues of The Simpsons based comics available, priced between $1.99 and $3.99. Recent and classic Bongo titles are included such as Simpsons Comics, Bart Simpson and Radioactive Man.
New Bongo comics will be available for purchase through the app within a month of their physical publication, with readers able to buy and download at least two digital releases a week, if they so wish.
Recommendations will also be available after finishing each comic book, so it’s an ideal way to steer new readers in the right direction for plenty of fun with Homer and the family.
Simpsons Comics is available now and it’s an Universal app.
FREE! + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2012-07-12 :: Category: Books
 In case you’ve been living under a rock, DC comic book character Green Lantern is hitting the silver screen starting on June 17th. For those looking to either brush up on their Green Lantern comics, or for those looking to get in to the vast array of Green Lantern material, DC and ComiXology have a new Green Lantern Comics app available. This free universal app comes with a variety of Green Lantern comics to download. There are a variety of both free and paid comics to download, with a section under the Featured tab of comics recommended for newbies to the series. There are 16 different Green Lantern series comics to download, amassing over 200 different issues to download. Hardcore fans can also search for issues by specific storyline arcs as well. ComiXology users can log in with their account to link these comics to their account, or new users can register for an account right from within the app, so purchases will be logged and permanently stored with the ability to redownload, even if previously free comics become paid comics. Registration is optional, however. The Green Lantern Comics app is available from the App Store now.
FREE! + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-06-08 :: Category: Books
 One of America’s classic pulp heroes from the 1930s is coming, again, to the silver screen in January of 2011. That’s right, in, like, a few weeks from today. In honor of and preparation for the film’s release, Dynamite Entertainment (publisher of the comic series, that’s plural) and comiXology (makers of an exceptionally good comic book reading app and subscription site) have come together to release an app centered around the Green Hornet’s fiction.
Those familiar with the comiXology site and application will certainly feel right at home with this little collection. The presentation, the reading software and the fluid navigation are all present except they’ve been done up in green and black in honor of the Green Hornet and his trusty sidekick, Kato.
Download the free app and you’ll get access to free samples and full issues (for purchase) across six different series. In total, 29 books are here for nerds new and old, while even the samples typically come in at about 10 pages in length. Fans of the old Green Hornet lore should know that these new runs by Dynamite rock in with new plots and a new rogues gallery.
And, yes, the Kevin Smith you see listed as an author on some of these titles is really that Kevin Smith. Clerks, Jay and Silent Bob, Zak and Miri. That guy. Bet you didn’t know he wrote comics. And, like that, it’s all coming together.
Sure, you could absolutely write this production off as nothing more than comiXology in green, but where’s the fun in that? The project serves as a great launching point for fans looking to dive deeper into the Green Hornet story than what will be offered in theaters later this month.
FREE! + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-01-05 :: Category: Books
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:: A GOOD START
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