Comixology Review: A Beginner’s Experience with the Best Comic Book App

So I’ve never been much of a comics guy. I always thought I was different from people who read them. I was a nerd, and I still am a nerd, but not the kind who reads comics. Well, after 10 years of being bombarded by comic book films, I have to say that I’m now a fan.

That said, I’d prefer to read the comic stories in novel format. I’m not big on the drawings, and I find the word bubbles a bit confusing and hard to follow. But if I want to enjoy the stories, I have to get on board. So I decided to try reading comics.

I started with an app called “icomix,” and for what it is, it works. But I wasn’t interested in spending hours searching for comics and loading things into the app. As far as apps go, it’s pretty simple to use. The main reason I moved on was the limited content.

So I canceled my HBO, Hulu, and a few other services that I seldom use, which freed up about $10 a month for my new comic book hobby.

I read up on Marvel Unlimited and Comixology. Since Comixology is part of my Amazon account and was super easy to set up, I tried that first. They offer a free month to check it out. Marvel also has a free trial, but it costs a bit more and only has Marvel comics.

One of my coworkers uses Comixology and told me a big plus is that they have other comic franchises including DC and some Japanese brands. I agree—I’m reading some manga there too! I’ve read and own quite a few manga comics before, but I never really read “regular” American comics, go figure. I do own some rare comics that I hope will someday allow me to retire. LOL. Probably not, though.

As far as apps go, I think the Comixology app is pretty straightforward. The comics are organized by series and have filters that make it easy to browse. The app even has a feature that lets you go panel by panel, which is really helpful if, like me, you’re unsure how to follow the windows. The images are clear and easy to read, and the app works well on my iPad and iPhone. That panel view is great on the iPhone because it makes the words big enough to read—any other view and you’ll strain your eyes.

One thing I noticed, probably due to the size of the downloads, is that it’s fairly slow to download. It’s also annoying that the downloads stop if the screen goes to sleep. When the iPad locks, the download pauses, and when you unlock it to read the comic again, it resets and starts over. That’s a frustrating flaw; you’d think the app would continue downloading even when the screen is off.

But aside from that, so far I think the app is pretty cool. Not all content is included—some require a separate purchase—but for someone like me who’s behind on comics, there’s plenty to keep me busy. For manga readers, you know that those books are way longer than regular comics. Between the manga series I want to read and my limited reading time, there’s more than enough content to enjoy.

I was thinking of trying the Marvel app for free before deciding, but I think I’m sold on Comixology. It’s cheaper, the app is better, and it offers a wider range of comics. So far, so good. Do you use a comic book reader? If so, which one and why?