11°c A few clouds
18°c Sunny
The Canadian Press - ONLINE EDITION
Marvel, in nod to digital demand, releases more than 700 No. 1 issues digitally
This image provided by Marvel Entertainment shows the cover of the first issue of Uncanny Avengers. In comics, the first issue is where the story starts and the legend begins. Marvel Entertainment, home to the Fantastic Four, the X-Men and the Avengers, among others, is making more than 700 first issues available to digital readers starting Sunday, March 10, 2013, via its app and website. (AP Photo/Marvel Entertainment)
In comics, the first issue is where the story starts and the legend begins.
For readers, a print copy of issue one can be hard to find and expensive to buy. But those rules don't apply to tablets, laptops and smartphones both for comics fans and those curious about characters they may have seen in film or on television.
Part of that fascination with superheroes and their growing cachet in popular culture is why Marvel Entertainment, home to the Fantastic Four, the X-Men and the Avengers, among others, is making more than 700 first issues available to digital readers starting Sunday for free through the Marvel app and the company's website. After Tuesday, they'll be sold for $1.99 to $3.99 per issue.
The titles go from the 1960s Silver Age to contemporary issues with characters including Wasp, Mr. Fantastic, Power Man and Iron Fist, said David Gabriel, senior vice-president of sales.
"This is aimed at attracting fans from all walks of life — those who know our characters from the big screen, those who were readers but fell out of the habit and our long-term fans too," he said. "We believe that if we get those fans in the door, they'll stay and help grow this industry, with purchases both in comic stores and via digital comic outlets."
The publisher went through its catalogue of more than 13,000 titles that are already available digitally and plucked out the No. 1 issues with historic ones like "Amazing Spider-Man" by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko or the "Fantastic Four" by Lee and Jack Kirby as well as modern titles like "Civil War," Joss Whedon's "Astonishing X-Men" and characters and teams like the Uncanny Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy, too.
"We never want fans to feel like they need to have read it all. Of course we want them to want to check out those stories, but the beauty of these No. 1 issues is that each is an entry point," he said. "So with a character like Iron Man, you can choose if you want to start with the recent 'Iron Man' series from Kieron Gillen or go back a few years to when Matt Fraction launched 'Invincible Iron Man' or even before that."
___
Moore reported from Philadelphia. Follow him at www.twitter.com/mattmooreap.
___
Online: http://www.marvel.com
___
Marvel Entertainment is owned by The Walt Disney Co.
More Latest News
- Back to Top
- Return to Latest News
More Latest News
(1 of 37 articles for today)
Two in custody after death on Pauingassi First Nation
9:58 AMRCMP are investigating the homicide of an unidentified man on Pauingassi First Nation.
Two young people have been arrested but not ...
Poll
Most Popular Latest News
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- New owner for lumber stores
- 87-year-old woman tells jurors, 'Somebody had to stand up to' Donald Trump
- Peeping Tom portrayed as sexual deviant in court
- Famous city grocer loved job, customers
- Mother cries, yells as driver appears in court charged with killing boy on patio
- Report: Garcia apologizes for saying he'd serve Woods "fried chicken"
- Man agrees to 2-year prison term for vandalizing 1929 Picasso painting at Houston museum
- Anchors away! Golf adopts rule to outlaw putters anchored to the body
- 87-year-old woman tells jurors, 'Somebody had to stand up to' Donald Trump
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Woman killed in head-on crash in southwestern Manitoba
- Horrific crash kills minivan driver near Brandon
- Charleswood deaths being investigated as domestic incident
- Rainfall warning issued for southern Manitoba
- Crushing blow for amateur sport
- US woman credits 'mother's instincts' in chase of 4-year-old daughter's abductor
- Flood victim gets six years for shotgun threat, attack
- Seattle man dribbling soccer ball to Brazil killed by car on Oregon Coast
- 87-year-old woman tells jurors, 'Somebody had to stand up to' Donald Trump
- Driver crashes into tree near golf course
- Arrests made after raids on local head shops
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- News of city's $17-million winner leaks out on FB
- Passengers from diverted flight to leave Winnipeg Thursday night
- No threat from bag found at Winnipeg Square
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Susan Griffiths dies in Switzerland
- New owner for lumber stores
- Famous city grocer loved job, customers
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- Paying bills and consumer consumption hurting Canadians' ability to save: study
- MP Bruinooge says Bill 18 could infringe on religious freedoms
- Elijah Harper: The humble man who said no
- Two charged in golf course burglary
- Doc's memoir portrays ERs as frantic, funny, frightening ... but never dull
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- The 50th Super Bowl goes to the San Francisco Bay Area; 2017 title game to be in Houston
- New owner for lumber stores
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Marsh Madness: Photographers Fred Greenslade and Joe Bryksa capture spring migration's grandeur at Delta Marsh
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Famous city grocer loved job, customers
- Horrific crash kills minivan driver near Brandon
- Province removing red tape in alcohol sales
- Animals are animals, new ads say
- Skin picking gets status as distinct disorder, should help sufferers access help
- Crushing blow for amateur sport
- New owner for lumber stores
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Dogs can experience separation anxiety and depression just like humans
- Ontario steps in to help save ELA
- Saskatchewan professor wants to test the health benefits of nose-picking
- 'Revenge of the redheads': Ginger-haired Montrealers gather in celebration
- An uncommon phenomenon
- Passengers from diverted flight to leave Winnipeg Thursday night
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
- Retail sales in province see 2 per cent increase in February
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.