The Marvel comic that sells more digitally than in print

Adam Tinworth
Adam Tinworth

Ms marvel fanfic fan

Here’s something else from outside the mainstream of publishing you might find interesting:

Ms Marvel recently went to its sixth printing, a rare accomplishment in comics today.

But chatting with Marvel executives at San Diego Comic Con I discovered more. That it sells more in digital than print, and that includes the first issue.

That’s a new Marvel comic selling more through their app than it is in print. What’s even more interesting is that the new Ms Marvel is a brand new superhero – something that’s been very hard to launch successfully in recent decades – and one whose real identity is a young Muslim American teenage girl.

It’s also a bloody good, entertaining read. (The curious who like themselves a bit of print can pre-order the first Ms. Marvel collection from Amazon.)

So, here’s a traditional media company, shifting to digital – and by all indications, gaining a whole new audience with it. (Comics are growing in popularity amongst the young again – and females for the first time in a very long time – rather than being the preserve of ageing male fans…)

More like this, please.

comicsculture changedigital transitionmarvel comics

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Adam is a lecturer, trainer and writer. He's been a blogger for over 20 years, and a journalist for more than 30. He lectures on audience strategy and engagement at City, University of London.

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