Courtesy of io9, we have this interesting tidbit of news. It seems that online ebook subscription service Scribd has struck a deal with comics publishers to essentially let them become “the Netflix for comics”. According to io9, publishers including Marvel, Arcana, Archie, Boom! Studios, Dynamite, Kingstone, Space Goat, Top Cow, Valiant, and of course IDW have signed up to the deal.
While it is unclear what of the various company’s entire publication histories will ultimately be available, it is reported that new books will be going up on the service roughly a month after their publication – not bad, for a monthly subscription, and we like the sound of the “binge” button (for when you discover a new title that you just have to read the next issue of, without exiting the reader). TFW member Thelonicon reports that presently some of the issues are in inconsistent places, and there are a few random omissions – hopefully hiccups that will be resolved as the service finds its feet.
ljacone
One of the first things I searched for upon starting my free trial of Scribd was IDW's Transformers series. I too was disappointed in the strange gaps in the various series which were up there (only two issues of Infiltration, one issue of Stormbringer, etc.) But I came back to it after a few days, and it seems that those might have been some early growing pains, because the coverage seems much more complete now. I read all 7 issues of Infiltration and loaded up Stormbringer last night. Escalation looks complete, and I think All Hail Megatron is as well.
Overall I like the reader and the service. The reader itself (I use the web based one on my HP TouchPad) is intuitive and easy. And the page is presented as a static image so you can zoom to whatever you want, not a "smart panel" system like I have seen on Marvel's online offering. Searching is a pain in the butt but if I know what I am looking for I can usually find it.
So far, I am on board if only to read these modern IDW GI Joe and TF comics (I read ARAH currently and have the full run of Regeneration One).
Sideswipe1954
Been trying it out. It has a glitch when it comes to working with the Kindle Fire. If I search via their app for books, I can see them, but it says 0 are available to use on my device, but if I go on my PC and add it to my library and open it there, I can then go back on my Kindle and continue to read what I chose. They said they need to trouble shoot the app, so once they get their ducks in a row on this, this might be real sweet for $9 a month
halfaway
this would be a great thing for me
keep'n an eye on this to see how it goes
DarkWarGrimlock
They have all of the volumes of the old ongoing including Chaos Theory. They have V1-5 of More than Meets the Eye (Just read V3!) and V1-2,4-6 of Robots in Disguise (Annoys me that they're missing V3 as that's the next I need to read). I think they might have all of Dark Cybertron as separate issues, but I'd need to check (Was mostly looking at stuff and I hadn't read and I just read this). They had the Dark Prelude collection of spotlights. Lots of miniseries are missing issues including Megatron: Origin, Bumblebee, and Ironhide.
The app works great on my iPad and it seems to let you download as much as you want. If they fill the gaps in things, I can easily see myself keeping the sub as there's plenty of non-Transformers stuff I want to read.
LegendAntihero
This is very cool. I'll still buy comics in print though
Omegatron
Thanks for the info. I think I'll wait till they have the aforementioned bugs worked out. I saw they also have a bunch of Marvel stuff, so that plus IDW might make it worth my while.
Novaburnhilde
Awesome.
I like the sound of that.
Autovolt 127
Netflix for books huh? That's neat.
Cattus Doctus
That's interesting. Scribd is filled to the brim with stolen content; I find it surprising that commercial publishers would be prepared to work with them.
DarkWarGrimlock
Using the search function leads to very confusing results. No idea how much of any given series they actually have. I'll probably do the trial and see what gaps from IDW's universe I can fill. I'm interested in some of the non-TF books on the service, so maybe I'll even stay a few months if everything else isn't plagued by all of these weird gaps. Marvel Unlimited used to be like that, too. They mostly fixed it, but I'm sure there are some holes in the more obscure stuff.
Thelonicon
I signed up for a random test to see what was there.
The Transformers collection of books spans most of IDW's run up to about several months ago (not surprising) although it is VERY poorly curated with a few odd gaps. (They have Stormbringer #3 but not the other issues.) They have More Than Meets the Eye up to #35, but are missing #34. Last Stand of the Wreckers is missing #3. Monstrosity is missing issue #5. Issue #35 of Robots in Disguise ended up lumped into the old ongoing when the name change. A collection of TMNT is lumped into TF Classics Volume 5. Etc…
In short, good luck finding what you want in its entirety and in an intelligent manner.
Hopefully they will get things cleaned up soon. As it is the price might be nice but the execution is currently lacking, and you are probably best off waiting a couple months for them to clear up some of these gaps and mess.
If anyone is interested in checking to see if a particular title is there, I can check for you later.
Thelonicon
IDW joins on in on a unlimited comic subscription service
Finally, A Real Netflix For Comic Books Is Here
Scribd has announced comics addition to their website and it include IDW Transformer comics. (I'm not sure which ones.)
https://www.scribd.com/comics#
Edit: Ninja'd by Slingshot. Mods please merge/delete.
Slingshot
Ebook Subscription Service Scribd Launches Comics Section, Including IDW Transformers
IDW comics, including Transformers comics produced by IDW, are now on the comic streaming service, "scribd".