All Comic Subscription Services and Prices Explained

Since the advent of Netflix, subscription services have been all the rage. Every company from Amazon to NBC is trying to get a piece of that sweet streaming money. While most streaming services focus exclusively on TV and movies, a few have branched out into other forms of media. Sony and Microsoft each have a gaming streaming service for their respective platforms, and Crunchyroll is a service exclusively dedicated to anime. Kindle Unlimited and Audible offer books and audiobooks for low monthly prices. Some companies have even started to get into the exciting world of comic book streaming.

What is a comics streaming service? Much like their television and cinema counterparts, they offer access to a large library of media for a single monthly or annual price. The big difference, of course, is what they’re offering: comics. These services offer plenty of single issues, runs, and even omnibus volumes for diehard comic fans. But it can be difficult to know exactly what each service has to offer. Each has different prices, books on offer, and even reading options that every potential customer should know about. However, this guide focuses only on subscription services. While free apps like Libby or Hoopla have tons of material on offer, and IDW and WEBTOON may have snazzy apps, none of them are subscription services. Only platforms that offer a complete library for a single price will be considered.

DC Universe Infinite has everything from Aquaman to Zatanna

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The first of the Big Two, at least alphabetically, has a great streaming service. The platform initially launched in 2018 as DC Universe, offering a limited selection of comics, cartoons, movies, and original streaming shows. Eventually, however, most of the programming was integrated into HBOMax and that platform was relaunched as DC Universe Infinite. Now it focuses exclusively on DC’s massive comic library, offering books from its history.

The service highlights specific characters, events, and eras to attract new fans. That means it’s the perfect place to read Superman’s greatest hits in one sitting or start with the early days of the Teen Titans lineup. Plus, community members may even occasionally recommend specific books on the front page. Combined with author and character guides, this site is a great entry point for any reader.

This website has almost every DC comic a reader could want. If you sign up for the slightly more expensive “Ultra” for $119.99, you’ll even get new comics a month after they’re released. This service has a few big advantages. First, there’s an app and a website, so you can read DC comics on almost any device. Plus, all comics can be downloaded and read online. They even offer digital omnibus versions and volumes, making reading events or downloading specific issues easier to manage.

The big downside, of course, is that only DC’s library is offered. However, this includes the Vertigo imprint, DC Black Label, and more. This service is a must for every die-hard DC readerand the “Ultra” service is a great way to save money if you don’t want to buy physical copies.

Marvel Unlimited is perfect for any MCU fan who is interested in comics

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Marvel fans would love to get their hands on some hard-to-find classics that have been out of print for a long time, like Generation X, She-Hulk, and more.

Not to be outdone, Marvel has its own service called Marvel Unlimited. Surprisingly, the service has been around since 2007, although the modern version is much better. These days, the service is available exclusively on the iOS and Android app stores. Readers can browse the library online, but must use the app to read anything. However, this app includes pretty much everything Marvel has released, making it a really great investment for anyone looking to check out one of the publisher’s most popular heroes, like Spider-Man, the Avengers, or the X-Men.

Ironically, one of the biggest advantages of Marvel Unlimited is the app. While the lack of a web service is annoying, the app makes up for it with its exclusivity. It’s incredibly stable, loads quickly, and is easy to navigate. The app features “Event Reading Guides” that allow readers to read a storyline in order, even across multiple books. There are even character and author guides that can help absolute newbies get to know their favorite characters better. Or even introduce them to entirely new characters!

There are definitely downsides, though. The app is limited and requires a mobile device or tablet to access. There’s no way to download content for offline reading, and readers can only download individual issues, which is inconvenient. Plus, the app constantly tries to push “facsimile” or digitally enhanced versions of comics that often aren’t better versions.

Comixology Unlimited has books from every publisher imaginable

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​​​​​​​ComiXology is one of the oldest comic book websites around and has been doing a pretty good job since its launch in 2007. Admittedly, the site has fallen somewhat out of favor since being acquired by Amazon, but that’s a fact of life when billion-dollar companies are involved.

ComiXology has a library from a wide range of publishers, which makes it quite unique compared to the other major subscription services. While streaming is all about specificity, ComiXology offers breadth rather than depth. They even offer monthly library changes, meaning it’s a great way to stay up to date with current indie books. While this is definitely positive, it can also have a negative impact on the company.

There is a lot of great stuff on ComiXology, from DC and Marvel to Dark Horse and IDW. However, it doesn’t have everything. And what ComiXology has isn’t always what people want to read. The two big companies aren’t going to spend their biggest moneymakers on someone else.

The biggest downside, however, is that ComiXology isn’t primarily a subscription service. ComiXology Unlimited offers a modest collection of books for a low monthly price. However, the company is primarily focused on selling digital comics and providing a platform for digital collectors. Of course, for the right reader, this could be the right choice. Those looking for a great way to collect digital comics should look no further. The Unlimited subscription even offers discounts on select books, meaning this could be a great way to own things… digitally, at least.

Global Comix is ​​a niche option, but a useful option

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GlobalComix is The place to get indie comics on a subscription basis. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a great service. GlobalComix, like ComiXology, is not primarily a subscription service. Much like WEBTOON, it’s a creator-focused website that allows anyone to publish their original works. However, they also have a wide selection of indie books. Some books on the site are free, others are behind a paywall that must usually be overcome by paying for individual pages. The GlobalComix Gold subscription service gives readers access to everything.

The biggest advantage of GlobalComix Gold is that a portion of each reader’s payment goes directly to the creators, a fact the company proudly advertisesHowever, GlobalComix is ​​not the best seller otherwise. The catalog is modest, but the biggest names are things that you could theoretically get on a more established platform like ComiXology. In addition, much of what is there is self-published.

While this is great for true fans of the medium, it’s also difficult to recommend. There’s no quality control, meaning the site is inundated with unchecked amateur work that can be a bit of a pain. However, if you’re mostly interested in indie books and want to know that your money is going directly to the creators, this is a good service to try.

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  Wonder

  A multimedia powerhouse spanning comics, movies, television shows and more, Marvel captivates audiences with its iconic characters, exciting stories and diverse worlds. From the legendary Avengers to street-level heroes like Daredevil, Marvel’s universe is vast and ever-growing.

  First TV show

  the incredible hulk

  Pour

  Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Holland, Brie Larson

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  DCU

  Get ready for a brand new DC experience! The DC Universe (DCU) is coming soon, bringing together familiar comic book heroes in a connected storyline across films, television shows, animations, and even video games. It is an upcoming American media franchise and shared universe based on characters from DC Comics publications.

  Pour

  David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, Milly Alcock, Edi Gathegi, Nathan Fillion, Isabela Merced, Anthony Carrigan, Viola Davis, John Cena, Xolo Mariduena

  Where can you watch?

  Max

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