Star Wars Hits ComiXology Today!

Marvel Comics did not waste any time making many of Dark Horse’s Star Wars comics available for purchase digitally on comiXology. Many Star Wars trades are available as of this morning. Of the trades available, I highly recommend Brian Wood’s Star Wars Vol. 1: In The Shadow of Yavin, The Star Wars (which presents Lucas’s original draft for Star Wars in comic book form), and Tag and Bink Were Here (a very funny take on the Star Wars universe). This is the first time Star Wars comics have appeared on comiXology, as Dark Horse has it own digital app separate from comiXology.

star wars debut

I’m sure I’m not the only one surprised by this move, as I was under the impression that the new movie coming out in December and the new comic debuting from Marvel this month would negate many of these books from continuity. I’m especially surprised that Marvel released Brian Wood’s Star Wars series, as it seems very similar to the Star Wars comic Jason Aaron is writing for Marvel this month. Surprised, but happy. That Brian Wood comic is excellent. I highly recommend buying it.

star wars digital

You can find all the Star Wars books released on comiXology today right here.

NYCC 2014 – Marvel Unlimited Plus Members Only Panel

If you love Marvel superheroes, and you read your comics on a tablet, you need to join Marvel Unlimited Plus. It is awesome.

When I was growing up, I would see ads for the Merry Marvel Marching Society, or M.M.M.S. for short, the Marvel fan club of the 1960s, in the pages of old comics. I was jealous that there wasn’t anything like that today. Marvel Unlimited Plus is today’s M.M.M.S.

mmms-badge

Marvel Unlimited is Marvel’s version of Netflix for comics. For a monthly or annual fee, you get unlimited access to digital Marvel comics from the start of the company to as recent as about 6 months ago. The catalog is updated every Monday, with newer comics and back issues alike.

Marvel Unlimited Plus adds another layer to the subscription. Each year, you receive a box of cool stuff, including an exclusive Marvel Legends action figure (this year’s figure is Rocket Raccoon), an exclusive variant covered comic, and a membership card. Throughout the year, Marvel will also mail out fun bits of swag like a fold-out Avengers anniversary poster.

muplus exclusives

But what really makes Marvel Unlimited Plus a must buy is access to the Marvel Unlimited Plus Members Only panel at conventions like NYCC, SE:NYC and SDCC. This year’s panel was insane. We saw an extended trailer for next year’s Avengers: Age of Ultron. When Agent M asked if there were any questions after the trailer, I raised my hand and said “Can we see it again?” And then he played it again. It rocked.

The panel also included exclusive preview art of upcoming books, and a star-studded line of panelists who were happy to take questions from the audience. On the way out, everyone was given a bag of exclusive swag that included another variant covered comic.

Ryan Stegman, Nick Spencer, Axel Alonso, Phil Noto, Gerry Duggan and Dan Slott

Ryan Stegman, Nick Spencer, Axel Alonso, Phil Noto, Gerry Duggan and Dan Slott take questions from the audience.

If you missed out the Marvel Unlimited Plus Panel at this year’s NYCC, do not miss it next year! This might have been my favorite panel of NYCC  2014!