Assumedly based on the same initiative that brought you the free download code in this week’s Avenging Spider-Man, Marvel has announced that starting in January, they will begin putting free download codes in their Ultimate line.
Ultimate Spider-Man #1 starring Miles Morales netted Marvel the highest grossing digital comic of the year, so it only makes sense to expand upon their digital initiative in a logical fashion. January’s sixth issue of the series will find the issue polybagged with a download card inside, and in February the same goes for the rest of the Ultimate universe as each book embarks on brand new storylines starting at issue #7. David Gabriel, Marvel’s Senior Vice-President of sales, is quoted in the official press release as saying, “Looking at the tremendous response to our digital copy code offer with Avenging Spider-Man #1, it’s clear that this is something fans want to see more of and we’re delivering it on a scale never seen before, with no extra cost to retailers or fans–and historic benefits for our retail partners.”
However, it is slightly worth noting that Multiversity’s own Patrick Tobin wrote in his review of Avenging Spider-Man #1, “I tried to download the digital copy that came packaged with the issue (along with a collector’s edition sheet of blank yellow paper), but Marvel’s Chrome store rabbitpunched my web browser (via an infinite-redirect error) and no downloads were made.” So we, for one, are a tad bit skeptical on the download card initiative.
It’s easy to remain optimistic about the push, as it has so successfully worked out for the music and video medium. Offering a free digital copy to go with the print is arguably the best way to make everybody happy as opposed to charging extra for a digital copy. It would appear that, once a few kinks are worked out, Marvel is going to be pushing everyone in the right direction as the digital battle continues.
For the full press release as well as the covers to Ultimate X-Men and Ultimates #7, check after the cut.
Celebrate the New Year with the biggest change to world of digital comics in 2012! Beginning with January’s Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #6, all Ultimate Comics Universe titles will be polybagged with a code for a FREE digital copy on the Marvel Comics app for iOS and Android devices at no extra cost! In February, these codes (redeemable for the same print issue as purchased) expand to the rest of the Ultimate Comics Universe, as new arcs begin with Ultimate Comics X-Men #7 and Ultimate Comics Ultimates #7.
“The groundbreaking stories told each month in the Ultimate Comics Universe are some of the best comics being published today,” said David Gabriel, Senior Vice-President of Sales, Marvel Entertainment. “Looking at the tremendous response to our digital copy code offer with Avenging Spider-Man #1, it’s clear that this is something fans want to see more of and we’re delivering it on a scale never seen before, with no extra cost to retailers or fans–and historic benefits for our retail partners.”
The Ultimate Comics line made history in 2010 with the first line of comics to be offered digitally on the same day print editions hit stores, beginning with Ultimate Comics Thor #1. With its inception in 2000, the Ultimate Comics Universe reimagined the world’s most popular super heroes, including Spider-Man, Captain America, Iron Man, Wolverine and more, for a new generation. It continues to be one of the most acclaimed and best-selling comics initiatives of the last decade, with the 2011 introduction of an all-new Spider-Man heralded as one of the most important moves in pop culture history.
In 2012, no fan can miss Ultimate Comics Spider-Man, Ultimate Comics Ultimates and Ultimate Comics X-Men, as they begin red-hot new storylines and each issue includes a code for a FREE digital copy on the Marvel Comics app
Continued belowRetailers: Check The Diamond Retailer site for a detailed FAQ addressing any questions you might have about this new initiative, historic benefits to retailers and the Marvel Mailer for more information.
ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #6 WITH FREE CODE
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Art by CHRIS SAMNEE
Cover by KAARE ANDREWS
RATED T+ …$3.99
FOC–12/19/11, ON-SALE–1/16/2012
ULTIMATE COMICS X-MEN #7 WITH FREE CODE
Written by NICK SPENCER
Art by CARLO BARBERI
Cover by KAARE ANDREWS
RATED T+ …$3.99
ON-SALE IN FEBRUARY
ULTIMATE COMICS ULTIMATES #7 WITH FREE CODE
Written by JONATHAN HICKMAN
Art by ESAD RIBIC
Cover by KAARE ANDREWS
RATED T+ …$3.99
ON-SALE IN FEBRUARY
