​Everybody’s talking about and taking sides on digital comics. Some people are all for ditching the old routine of traveling to the comic shop every Wednesday or so for fragile print comics in favor of simply launching their favorite digital comic book app on their smart phones or tablets and downloading anything they want to read without ever having to get out of bed in the morning. Then there are those who refuse to give up on the classic way of reading comics, of holding something tangible in their hands, because digital comics just don’t have that intoxicating new comic book smell. Both camps’ opinions hold merit. There are a lot of pros and cons to digital comics.

First, let’s start with the pros, the biggest of which is most obvious: convenience. A few years ago, if you found yourself real excited about the new issue of Uncanny X-Men, you had to trek down to your local comic book store, preferably as soon after the issue’s release as possible, to avoid the possibility of it selling out. Now, readers still have that option, though comic shops are few and far between these days, but they also, thanks to the ever-expanding and breathtaking world of modern technology, can buy and read their comics on a number of devices through any number of apps created solely for the distribution of the medium. You can literally be anywhere at any time-at home soaking in the tub, at work pretending to be productive, or shuffling around the mall like an extra in a George A. Romero film while your significant other shops-and have your favorite titles at the tip of your fingertips.

The argument of convenience can also extend to the convenience of storage. I, myself, have a cabinet full of bagged and boarded comics. I have shelves filled with loose comics, stuff that has been released in the last few months that I’m still reading and re-reading. I have friends with rooms filled with nothing but boxes of comics. Then, I have this one friend with huge collections that put mine and my other friends’  to shame. The big difference between him and the rest of us is that his collection doesn’t take up any part of his house, just his iPad. For those who collect digital comics, there is no need to worry about finding space in their homes to store their books or spending hours and money on bagging and boarding them in order to properly preserve them and keep them safe should someone be that sort of collector.

Superficially, digital comics, in my opinion, just look better than print from an artistic standpoint. I believe there is no denying that the high-definition, crisp, clean look of a digital comics is superior to print. It’s like watching your favorite movie on an HD television. I’m not by any means saying that you can’t with print comics, but a reader can really appreciate a book’s art digitally. Also, there is also next to no chance for error in art with digital comics. Any regular reader of comics knows that there are times when you pick up an issue only to later find out that a panel or page has been effected by ink running or smudging. Digital comics, on the other hand, offer perfect artwork, free from visible errors.

Another big argument for digital comics is the potential for new fans. Older kids and teens are the main target markets that the comic book industry strives for. The fact of the matter is, however, the percentage of individuals in this group who read comic books is depressingly small. Today, people, especially kids and teens, are constantly on their smart phones and tablets. The potential for new readers who discover comics through digital comics apps that appear on these devices’ app stores is staggering.  However, publishers have been slow to catch up with technology.

In the past, most companies have had weak, almost non-existent business models for digital comics. There was no promotion for this new way of enjoying the medium, and many companies were too afraid of backlash from retailers, who may feel threatened by this innovation that would be another nail in their coffin, to actively expand digital comics. While it is true that Marvel, DC, and Image seem to be committed to this very idea, unfortunately, there is a long way to go before the entire industry fully embrace the idea of digital comics and take the sales of which seriously as opposed to how they are viewed now: an add-on to print sales. And in the meantime, the industry loses potential fans by the minute. The establishment of things like releasing digital editions of issues the same day as print editions (day-and-date as it is known), lower cost of digital than print, and digital exclusives by all publishers will not only promote the idea of digital comics as the present instead of the future of comics, but would tempt new readers into testing the waters of the medium, something that the comic book industry desperately needs (not to sound like a broken record…record…record).

Now, on to the cons.

Immediately, the problem a lot of fans have with digital comics concerns collecting, or the perceived lack of ability to do so. Opponents of digital comics have said that you can’t really collect them since all they are are files. They are not substantial physical things that can be held. It’s a real old school mentality that isn’t uncommon (go ask record collectors why they prefer LPs to buying their music off of iTunes), and it has merit. Whenever I get a new comic, one of the first things I do is smell the new, crisp pages (think new car smell), something you can’t do with digital comics. For some it’s just a matter of wanting to hold something instead glancing at it on a screen.

The idea of digital comics hindering collecting also extends to people’s’ concerns over the actually technology of it all. Some fear that a single error in coding, the crashing of servers, systems being hacked, or some such thing could potentially wipe out your entire collection of comics in the blink of an eye. However, to be fair, the same could be said for someone’s collection of print comics should there be a fire or flood.

Next, I’d like to address the cost of digital comics, which is a tricky subject. Most publishers set the price of the digital editions f their titles at the same price as the print editions. I have heard complaints about this. Some people cannot fathom why a digital comic isn’t cheaper than print because, logically, it should cost less to produce since there are no printing costs. However, the amount of work that goes into making a single issue-writing, penciling, inking, coloring, editing, etc.-more than warrants the price publishers put on their books. Ideally, people pay for quality, and, in this day and age, that means a 3 or 4 dollar comic book. Despite all that, though, some publishers are actually doing something to ease readers’ worries. For example, DC takes a dollar off the digital editions of their books once they become a month old. If cheaper comics are really important to you, then a business model such as this should be enough to at least give digital comics a chance.

In my opinion, these are the only 3 drawbacks of digital comics that deserve actual discussing. Any other concerns are merely individuals being unwilling to accept and embrace the future.

The future of comics is digital. No amount of debating can change that. It surely has slowed the process down, but it is only a minor delay in the inevitable. For those who have already accepted digital comics, or are at least testing the waters, please continue contributing to the future of this beloved medium. The truth is, without strong sales numbers, publishers will continue to put off the expansion of this technology that will eventually keep their businesses alive. For those who say they hate digital comics, who say they will never read a digital comic, please remember that it shouldn’t matter how you read your comic books. All that is important is that you ARE reading, and that quality storytelling is more important than anything, no matter how that story is told.​