ComicSpace - Read Bulletin

Home / AshKenDo / Bulletins / Read Bulletin

Befriend AshKenDo

« Back

Posted by:

AshKenDo

Date:

August 14th, 2007 11:38 PM

Header:

Comic Book Downloads (.CBR files)

Bulletin:

I'm curious. How many of you have downloaded comics in comic book archive format? You know, .cbr or .cbz files. These are comic books that have been scanned to a digital format and made available online to download for your reading enjoyment. A quick search on your favorite bit torrent search engine will give you a virtual comic shop selection of books to peruse. All free for the taking. What mp3s were to the music industry, these cbr files are to the comic book industry...legal and moral issues included.

How do you comic book creators feel about having your comics distributed like this without your consent? At the San Diego ComicCon, Joe Quesada, in no uncertain terms, made it clear that he thought it was ripping off the industry when asked about the topic. On the other hand, Dan DiDio gave a relatively positive reply on the same question basically stating he saw it as promotion.

I admit that I download these files weekly. I have not, and never will, drop a title I buy to replace it with a download. On the other hand, I have started buying new titles based on downloads that I've read. I don't have the money to buy everything that comes out and reading comics that I'm on the fence on in this format give me a chance to try them out without a hit to my wallet; and possibly give that title a chance it would have never had otherwise to get added to my pull list.

What do you guys think?

« Back

Befriend AshKenDo