Digital comics are exploding onto the market right now. Already, there are thousands of digital comics to choose from across a number of services. Between ComiXology, Graphic.ly, and Marvel's Digital Comics Unlimited service, you're looking at somewhere between 200 and 300 new digital comics going up every week. There's a lot to sift through--some of it good, some of it bad--but ComicsAlliance is here every week to point out 5 digital comics you should check out:

1. Name: Thor

Creative Team: Walter Simonson

Platform: Marvel/ComiXology (iOS)

Price: $1.99 each (n/a on MDCU)

Format: #337-#348

Why: Marvel recently released a hardcover omnibus collection of Walter Simonson's run on The Mighty Thor, complete with recolored art courtesy of master colorist Steve Oliff. It's an incredible package--there's no doubt about that. But, it's also $125 and probably dangerously close to selling out. If you don't have that kind of cash, this might be a good short-term replacement. This'll get you knee-deep in some Beta Ray Bill and get you started on the Wild Hunt. Simonson's run is probably the highlight of Thor's history, and if the movie is half as good, I'll be very pleased. Simonson's art is perfectly suited to the action on the page, with just enough Kirby influence in it to be explosively dynamic.2. Name: The War at Ellsmere

Creative Team: Faith Erin Hicks

Platform: ComiXology (web, iOS, Android)

Price: $4.99

Format: Single volume, with a free 22-page preview

Why: Faith Erin Hicks is someone you should be paying attention to. Later this year, her First Second graphic novel, Friends With Boys, will be serialized later this year on First Second's To Be Continued... imprint. Right now, you can read her webcomic Superhero Girl for free. She's very talented, with a style that lends itself very well to stories about both teenagers and twentysomethings. She's got a great handle on facial expressions, and she draws clothes that people would actually wear. The War at Ellsmere is a great place to start, as its boarding school drama gives Hicks a chance to show off the strongest aspects of her writing and art.


3. Name: The Gift of the Magi

Creative Team: P. Craig Russell

Platform: Graphic.ly (web, iOS, Android)

Price: Free!

Format: Single volume

Why: You've almost definitely heard the story of The Gift of the Magi before. It's a classic story of love and irony by O. Henry. A good story is always worth reading, though, particularly when adapted by someone as talented as P. Craig Russell. Russell has had a long career filled with fantastic works, whether Killraven with Don McGregor or Sandman with Neil Gaiman. So, you've got a great artist and a good story at a great price: free. I don't think I'll have to pull your leg to get you to check this out.


4. Name: 52 Aftermath: Four Horsemen

Creative Team: Keith Giffen (writer), Pat Oliffe (pencils), John Stanisci (inks), Hi-Fi (colors)

Platform: DC Comics/Comixology (web, iOS, Android)

Price: $1.99 each (currently on sale for $0.99 each until approximately 04/30)

Format: Six issues

Why: Okay, hear me out: DC's post-event tie-ins have been overall miserable. That's fair, and I share your pain. Especially the ones that stack colons like cordwood: Final Crisis: Aftermath: That Comic You Didn't Read Because It Was Awful. My general rule is to not buy a comic if there's more than one colon or hypen in the title. It works out pretty well. All that aside: Four Horsemen was pretty cool. You don't need to know a lot about 52 going in, and the first issue will recap you pretty well. Oliffe's art is good (Bruce Wayne and Clark Kent look different!) and Giffen writing Batman is a delight. He's gruff, with these short, pointed sentences. It makes me wish Giffen had had more time with these characters. Keep an eye out for Snapper Carr, too, in the guest appearance of the decade.


5. Name: Parker: The Hunter

Creative Team: Darwyn Cooke

Platform: IDW (iOS)

Price: $7.99

Format: Graphic novel

Why: The Hunter has been praised to the heavens, and with good reason. Like The Gift of the Magi, The Hunter is a perfect storm of content and creator. Richard Stark's The Hunter is a classic crime novel, and probably one of the best revenge tales ever told. Darwyn Cooke is absurdly talented, and his take on Stark's tale is straight out of the swingin' sixties, with all of the stylish crime capers that brings to mind. Men brood and grimace, chumps get punched out, and Parker burns his way through the mob. You know how this story is going to end from the first page, but that doesn't matter. The trip is too good to miss out on.

If you're new to digital comics generally, here's a quick review of the basics:

WHAT ARE DIGITAL COMICS?!


There are a few things you need to know. You no longer need an iOS device (you know: iPad, iPod, iPhone), but you will need an internet connection, web browser, and, usually, Flash. Generally, you don't get to actually own your digital comics. You're paying to read them, and while this has been a fairly smooth process this far, that may rankle for some readers.

WHERE CAN I GET DIGITAL COMICS?!


There are a few different ways to get digital comics right now. Here's a selection of the methods, listed by company in alphabetical order, and the formats they support:

Archie Comics (iOS)

Boom! Studios (iOS [identical to the Boom! offerings on ComiXology and syncs with your ComiXology account])

Comics4Kids (iOS [ComiXology for all-ages comics]) ComiXology (iOS, Web, Android)

Dark Horse (iOS, Web)

DC Comics (iOS, Web [identical to the DC offerings on ComiXology and syncs with your ComiXology account])

DriveThru Comics (CBZ, PDF, ePUB, and more) Dynamite Entertainment (iOS)

Graphic.ly (iOS, Web, Android)

IDW Comics (iOS)

Image Comics (iOS [identical to the Image offerings on ComiXology and syncs with your ComiXology account])

iVerse's Comics+ (iOS)Marvel Comics on Chrome (Web)

Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited (Web)

My Digital Comics (PDF, CBZ, and more)

The Illustrated Section (PDF)

Viz Manga (iOS)

As more players debut, I'll update the list. If you're a digital comics distributor, or a publisher with a branded app drop me a line. I'll be happy to add you to the list.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ALL THOSE TYPES OF DIGITAL COMICS?!


Functionally, not a lot. Most of them allow for panel by panel reading (or a variation thereof) or page-based reading. The main differences are in selection. Frustratingly, certain comics are offered on several services, but released at different times. Marvel alone offers five choices. Most other publishers keep to one distribution method, and if they don't, they tend to keep their stuff mirrored across the various methods. If you want DC Comics, you're using ComiXology, for example, but Boom! Studios has comics on both. For Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited, you'll have to pay a subscription fee. It's essentially Netflix for comics, however, so that may be worth it for you.

Personally, I use a mix of all the services, which is far from an optimal configuration, but one that works well. Poke around and see which one you like the most.

HOW OFTEN DO DIGITAL COMICS COME OUT?!


Marvel has a weekly schedule, with an option for viewing the next month's releases. That's as close as you'll get to a release schedule. To see what's new on ComiXology, subscribe to this RSS feed. IDW generally releases books four weeks after they ship in print. ComiXology updates on Wednesdays, Graphic.ly updates throughout the week, and IDW's app updates on Tuesdays (with day-and-date books on Wednesday. I'll update with RSS feeds and landing pages that show new releases as they appear!

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