At Comic-Con, Marvel, DC Threatened By Cheaper, Multiplatform Digital Competition

This year's Comic-Con is a showcase for how the traditionally print medium is going digital -- and big dogs Marvel and DC are being threatened by scrappy, sensibly priced upstarts. While both the Marvel and DC iPad apps are gorgeous, the indie comic apps are cheaper, original and truly multiplatform.

Here are the competitors' advantages:

• Original voices: Despite the innovation, Marvel and DC are still tasked with toeing the company line. Companies like iVerse feature Marvel comics as well as indie voices. The first mobile digital-only comic hit? It probably won't be from Marvel or DC, as it has too much still invested in paper books.
• Multiplatform: As discussed earlier, DC Comics are available on the iPlatforms and the PlayStation Portable, but must be purchased separately. ComiXology takes the Amazon (AMZN) Kindle approach, making the purchases content readable not only on the iPlatforms, but on Google (GOOG) Android and others. Staying too loyal to one platform is a mistake, especially this early in the tablet race.
• Creating a community: The multiplatform Graphic.Ly actually creates a community facilitating discussion of comics, sharing of comics and, in the end, purchasing of comics. Marvel and DC have their own online forums, but they aren't connected to any of the apps.
• Cheaper or free content: Marvel and DC offer a handful of free content, but not as much as the upstarts appearing at Comic-Con this week. The free content is a golden opportunity for Marvel and DC to highlight up-and-coming artists for little overhead -- something the competitors are already doing.

Photo courtesy of riptheskull
Related:

• Holy Ripoff, Batman! DC Comics iPad, PlayStation Crossover Will Mae Readers Pay Twice (or Three Times)
• HULK SMASH! Marvel iPad App Strategy Works - and Encourages Real World Comic Sales