Some of you will remember my foray into the world of comics via Saga, the increasingly popular and wacky space opera series by Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples (which by the way was just release in a 1 volume, issues 1-18 omnibus edition). I immediately fell in love with the story, characters and artwork, but I bemoaned the necessity of buying issue after issue, especially as new issues have been dropping until a very recent hiatus. In the end, I have accumulated three trade paperbacks, each a collection of individual comic issues, as well as many individual digital issues, via the comiXology app on my Kindle Fire HD 7, a recent birthday gift (thanks, Mom).
After using the app for a few months now, I honestly can't say enough good things about it. If you are a fan of comic books or graphic novels, the app alone makes the Kindle seem worth it, but that's information best left to a forthcoming Kindle review. The app is pre-loaded on the new Kindle, but it's also available for download on other tablets and smart phones.
comiXology is essentially an e-reader app exclusive to comics and graphic novels. The digital library is staggering in its depth, and you have access to the very newest and very oldest comics. New issues of Saga automatically downloaded on my Kindle the same day they dropped in stores, making keeping up with a current book so much easier (and less intimidating). As I've been reading Jill Lepore's The Secret History of Wonder Woman, I've been able to find many of the issues she references (her research is meticulous) and read the Justice Society or Wonder Woman comics in conjunction with the book, which has really enhanced the experience. It's also the only way most of us will ever get our hands on those old, rare, and valuable issues, which have been lovingly digitized and restored for the app.
I started using the app by searching for Saga, which was easy enough because it's one of the most popular titles on the app. I then subscribed and inhaled each issue when it appeared in my library. A word of warning -- the app can get extremely addictive; Saga, for example, always ends on a bit of a cliff-hanger, so it would not be hard to indulge in the instant gratification of buying each subsequent issue, when it would be much cheaper to just buy a big edition.
The readability of the comiXology app is also worth noting. They refer to it as "Guided View Reading Technology," and it's ideal for anyone who isn't normally a comic reader, because it allows you to zoom into each panel, and then the reader naturally moves from text to text in the order it is intended to be read. It's not easy to explain so check out their web site to see a demonstration.
Finally, there is the browsing and discovery, which is almost as fun as reading an actual comic. As I mentioned, the library is extensive, and it's organized in a way that is very conducive to browsing, allowing you to filter by writer or artists, publisher, or genre. It will recommend comics to you based on what you've already read, and there are always free books available for preview. Since Saga wrapped up, I've gotten into Captain Marvel, which will mark the first time in history I actually read a comic book before seeing the movie, as well as Ms. Marvel, which I'm sure will turn into a movie franchise soon enough.