As the ramp up to a 2011 sure to be full of change for the comics business continues, Marvel Comics has announced that starting in February issues of their Ultimate Comics line key to the "Death of Spider-Man" event storyline will be available as a digital download the same day as they go on sale in comic shops.
Sold through Marvel's comiXology-powered App for devices like the iPad and iPhones, the issues mark the first event comics - a driving force in comics retail for the past decade - to be offered day-and-date online, though Marvel has been experimenting with high profile releases in this format including the recent "Invincible Iron Man" Annual and the "Ultimate Thor" mini series.
The issues of "Death of Spider-Man" will be sold online at the same price point the in store issues have: $3.99.
Earlier this month, writer Brian Michael Bendis spoke with CBR News about his plans for the series (which will be drawn by a host of "Ultimate Spider-Man" artists from the past including Mark Bagley) with writer Mark Millar. "Just recently, Mark Millar and I and Jeph Loeb all got back together for the first time in years. Jeph and I are still working together, obviously, on the 'Ultimate Spider-Man' cartoon, but we hadn't seen Mark in years. We all got together and had a very long retreat about what the Ultimate Universe means and what it should be now versus what it was then. What we came up with was a couple of stories that are very bold; as bold as anything we've ever done in the Ultimate Universe," Bendis said.
"You won't believe what we're about to do. I'm not even slightly hyping. Every day, both Mark and I keep waiting for them to call us and say, 'No! We decided you guys are nuts.' Instead they bring us, 'How about this for marketing? Or how about that for marketing?' So it's like, 'We're still going to do this? Awesome!'
For more information on the digital release, see Marvel's full press release below.
Official Press Release
Marvel is proud to announce that every issue of the hotly-anticipated DEATH OF SPIDER-MAN will be available day & date on the Marvel Comics app, available via iTunes for the iPad, iPhone & iPod touch. Superstar creators Brian Michael Bendis, Mark Millar, Leinil Yu and Mark Bagley bring you the most controversial comic book story of the century!
DEATH OF SPIDER-MAN launches in February, running through issues of both Ultimate Spider-Man and Ultimate Avengers vs New Ultimates and changing the way you see the Ultimate Universe...because there are no rules!
ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #153 [DoSM Prelude]
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Pencils by SARA PICHELLI & DAVID LAFUENTE
Cover by STEVE MCNIVEN
Rated T+ ...$3.99
On-Sale-2/2/11
ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #154 [DoSM Prelude]
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Pencils by SARA PICHELLI & DAVID LAFUENTE
Cover by ED MCGUINNESS
Rated T+ ...$3.99
On-Sale-2/23/11
ULTIMATE AVENGERS VS. NEW ULTIMATES #1 (of 6)
Written by MARK MILLAR
Pencils & Cover by LEINIL YU
Rated T+ ...$3.99
On-Sale-2/9/11