The Best Places to Read Digital Comics

There’s no better feeling than sitting down and reading a physical comic book; nothing compares. However, reading digital comics is also great. It’s convenient, doesn’t take up any physical space, and you can carry your entire library when you’re on the go. But where can you get them?

There are plenty of places where you can buy digital comics, some better than others, but it all depends on your preference. However, almost all of them cost money. There is one entirely free option, and we’ll get to that later. So, without further ado, here are the best places to read digital comics.

Best Places to Read Digital Comics

Prime Reading
Marvel Comics App
Marvel Unlimited/DC Universe Infinite
Libby

1. Prime Reading

This is something I wish I knew sooner. If you have an Amazon Prime account, there are various books and digital comics that are available to you at no extra charge. Just download the Kindle app on your phone or tablet, sign in, and you can browse Amazon’s catalog to see which are available for free (not free because you still need an Amazon Prime account, but you know what I mean).

You can only borrow 10 books at a time, but that shouldn’t be a huge deal. Just borrow a few, read them, return them, and go on to the next ones. Also, I’m not trying to rush your reading but __Amazon’s website __does state that it is a “revolving catalog”, so you might want to prioritize which digital comics or books you borrow and read first.

Although, there is one collection of books that will (probably) always be available on Prime Reading, and that’s Amazon Classics. These are classic stories such as Frankenstein, Romeo and Juliet, The Odyssey, and Pride and Prejudice. I know this is an article about digital comics, but it’s great that literature like this is available on Prime Reading.

2. Marvel Comics App

Since the publication of this article, the Marvel Comics App has officially shut down.

This might be a risky choice because I could potentially see this collapsing in the future (although truthfully I have been saying this for the past few years and they’re still kicking along). But the Marvel Comics App is a great choice when it comes to digital comics, and there are a few reasons why I believe that.

The first reason is because of its reading interface. If you want to read from page to page, you can do that. However, if you want to read from panel to panel, that’s also an option available. Sometimes, when reading a comic, you will accidentally spoil yourself by looking at upcoming panels. Reading from panel to panel ends that; it helps keep the suspense when reading an intriguing story.

The second (and main) reason why this app is great is because of all the discounts. Sales are going on all the time; as soon as one ends, another one begins. As I’m writing this, there are currently three different sales going on; all of them up to 65% off. You can easily find a volume for $3 or $4.

Another great thing about the app is that it lets you connect your account to Comixology, so the books you purchase on the Marvel app will also be available on Comixology. This is a useful feature if the app ever shuts down.

3. Marvel Unlimited/DC Universe Infinite

The reason why I believe the Marvel Comics App could be headed out the door in the future is because of services like these. Both Marvel and DC introduced a subscription service where members could read all of the digital comics their hearts desired. Let’s take a look at both services.

Marvel Unlimited

Marvel’s service has three subscription plans: monthly, annual, and annual plus. Monthly is $10/month, yearly is 69$, and annual plus is $99. The great thing about this service is that it includes newer series as well, so you can stay up to date with what’s going on in the Marvel Universe.

The website states that three months after new comics hit the shelves, they’ll be available on the service. So, it’s not instant, but that wait time isn’t the worst thing in the world. On top of that, the website also states that there are 30,000 comics available on the service.

DC Universe Infinite

On DC’s side, their monthly price is $8/month, and their annual price is $75. According to their website, they have over 24,000 comics available for their members, so there’s always something to read. Like Marvel, the DC service also has newer comics. Although, the website goes on to say that new comics are available on the service “six months after they hit stores”. Not as short as Marvel’s service, but it’s a huge upgrade from their previous 1-year wait.

If you constantly spend money buying a ton of new comics, or you just want to be able to read a ton of the classics, both of these services are great choices for reading digital comics.

4. Libby

The last choice is the best, and that’s because it’s free. Libby is an app that allows you to digitally connect to your local library. Sign in with your library card, and get access to your library’s digital catalog.

There is one noticeable drawback with Libby, however. Sometimes, you have to wait for a digital comic or book to become available for you to read it. I’m not sure how that works, considering that they’re digital. But maybe that’s beyond my tiny comprehension.

Once you borrow a book, you will have a limited amount of days to read it before having to return it, but they give you ample time. I’m not sure if it’s the same for every library, but my local library’s time is 21 days.

Depending on your library, you can have a stellar catalog of digital comics at your disposal.

While all of these services are great, nothing beats free. That’s why Libby is the best place to read digital comics.

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