Why You Can Trust CNET Marvel comes to Comixology Unlimited, Kindle Unlimited, Prime Reading
The Marvel comics now available in these subscription services look like a good if limited selection.
Comics are expensive. Enough so that paying a flat fee for unlimited reading per month has a lot of appeal. As with streaming music and streaming video services, though, whether the fee is worth it depends on what's available in the library.
Prominent digital comics retailer Comixology sells Marvel and DC comics, aka the big two, alongside a range of others. But when Amazon-owned subscription service Comixology Unlimited launched in 2016 as a "Netflix for comics," it was without DC or Marvel books. (Marvel already had its own subscription service, Marvel Unlimited.)
Marvel and Amazon announced May 2 that some Marvel comics are now available through Comixology Unlimited, as well as the also Amazon-owned Kindle Unlimited and Prime Reading. Although Comixology Unlimited is still only available in the US, Kindle Unlimited and Prime Reading are available more broadly, including in the UK and Australia.
Comixology Unlimited usually only offers a few examples of a particular comic run, apparently aiming to encourage sampling rather than to act as a library. This approach seems to be continuing: The list of Marvel comics added is heavy on Vol. 1s and No. 1s. However, some of the titles included are recent, like the hotly anticipated (at least in my circles!) solo comic starring America Chavez, and from series associated with the MCU in movies and on Netflix like Guardians of the Galaxy and Iron Fist.
According to a news release, some of the titles now available in Comixology Unlimited are:
All-New Wolverine (2015-) #1-#10
Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 1.1: Learning To Crawl
Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 3: Spider-Verse
America (2017-) #1
Black Panther: Who Is The Black Panther?
Black Widow (2014-2015) #1-#12
Cable & Deadpool Vol. 1: If Looks Could Kill
Civil War
Elektra (2017-) #1
Fantastic Four Special 2005 #1
Gamora (2016-) #1-#3
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1: Cosmic Avengers
Guardians of the Galaxy: New Guard Vol. 1: Emperor Quill
Invincible Iron Man (2008-2012) #1-#12
Iron Fist (2017-) #1
Ms. Marvel Vol. 1: No Normal
Rocket Raccoon (2016-) #1-#2
Runaways Vol. 1: Pride and Joy
She-Hulk Vol. 3: Time Trials
Spider-Gwen Vol. 1: Greater Power
Star Wars Vol. 1: Skywalker Strikes
Star Wars: Darth Maul (2017-) #1
Star Wars: Darth Vader Vol. 1: Vader
X-23 (2010-2012) #1-#16
X-Men Prime (2017) #1
While Kindle Unlimited gets the following collections plus 20 others:
Astonishing X-Men Vol. 1: Gifted
Spider-Man Vol. 1: Brand New Day
New Avengers Vol. 1: Breakout
Deadpool Vol. 1: Secret Invasion
Star Wars Vol. 1: Skywalker Strikes
Thor by J. Michael Straczynski Vol. 1
Captain America: Winter Soldier Vol. 1
Hawkeye Vol. 1: My Life As A Weapon
Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat! Vol. 1: Hooked On A Feline
Ms. Marvel Vol. 1: No Normal
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1: Cosmic Avengers
Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 1: The Parker Luck
Immortal Iron Fist Vol. 1: The Last Iron Fist Story
Jessica Jones: Alias Vol. 1
Star Wars: Darth Vader Vol. 1: Vader
Black Panther: Who Is The Black Panther?
Daredevil by Mark Waid Vol. 1
Captain Marvel Vol. 1: Higher, Further, Faster, More
Legendary Star-Lord Vol. 1: Face It, I Rule
The Punisher Vol. 1: Black and White
Having read a fair number of the above, that's some good stuff. Or at least those are the first parts of some good stuff.
Comixology Unlimited currently costs $5.99 per month, US-only. Kindle Unlimited is $9.99 per month in the US, £7.99 per month in the UK and AU$13.99 per month in Australia. Prime Reading is available to Amazon Prime members; here's our guide to everything available in Amazon Prime.