Options for comics fans to read their comics have been limited over the years, but GlobalComix aims to change all that. With their comics reading app recently open for beta testing, we seem closer than ever to gaining a new option in the extremely limited field. Having had a chance to test drive the GlobalComix app, I can say we have a strong option that may become your next favorite place to read comics.
That starts with the library, which has been an issue with other digital comic reading apps in the past. Recently finalizing partnerships with Image Comics, BOOM! Studios, Humanoids, and a treasure trove of indie publishers, the app is stocked with options. It doesn’t feature Marvel Comics or DC Comics yet, but if there’s enough buy-in from users, it’s certainly a possibility.
As far as the app itself and its functionality, it has many of the features you have seen before and require in the modern age of reading comics on a phone or tablet. Given Comixology is leading in this area, there are certain expectations we all expect in an app to read comics, and GlobalComix covers nearly all of them while improving on things like search.
The GlobalComix home screen offers suggestions as well as the latest comics you’ve been reading at the top and any creators or publishers you follow.
Credit: GlobalComix
I tested the app on iOS using my phone, but it’s also available on iPad, Android phones, and tablets as well. First and foremost, how is the readability? A simple tap on the screen zooms in, and another tap zooms you out. Scrolling is as easy as swiping, and there’s a button to open up an “All Pages” view to quickly see four or more pages at once and the ability to scroll through an entire book. There isn’t a Guided View like Comixology has, but that’s likely related to patents. You can also toggle between single-page, double-page, vertical layout, and image sizing options. Vertical layout turns the comic into one continuous image for scalability vs. the standard scrolling left and right per page.
Folks who like organization have a handy “My Shelf” section where they have the ability to see their library, which comes with search and the ability to toggle using buttons to see what has been finished, what you’ve saved to read later, on hold, reading, and even dropped. There also appears to be plans for a “My Lists” feature, although that feature wasn’t implemented when I was testing.
If you’re an adventurer and like to discover new comics to read, GlobalComix offers plenty of previews with a robust search engine. Every comic appears to have at least a few pages to read for free, and once you hit the limit on preview pages, a prompt to pay monthly or yearly pops up. Users can follow publishers and publisher pages clearly list how many comics are available. An easy way to toggle their listings are available, be it name, popularity, or last updates, to name a few. There are also free comics to read, which you can easily toggle by clicking the “free” radio button on the availability tab under search.
In fact, you can select from which country the comic is from, the language, art style, time/era, theme, genre, publisher, and more. When you open a comic, tags like “sci-fi”, “free”, or “manga” are just a few easy-to-read details that help you know what kind of comic you’re in for.
The ability to discover new reads is incredibly powerful on the GlobalComix app.
Credit: GlobalComix
There’s also built-in interactivity, like commenting on comics, seeing other people’s comments, and replying to them. There’s clearly an ecosystem being built here to keep you discovering new things and interacting with others.
If you’re wondering about the price, GlobalComix uses a subscription system with a standard $9.99 monthly and $109.99 yearly in app. Subscription purchases via the web prices will remain at $7.99 per month and $89.99 per year. They offer over 40,000 comics with the promise of 25,000 more on the way, so if you’re an indie comics reader this may be a no-brainer app to try out.
Overall, I was impressed with GlobalComix and its new app. The search and ability to find new comics is incredibly well done, with many different ways to discover comics and an easy way to keep track of what you’ve read and what you want to read. While there isn’t a panel-to-panel way of reading comics–a favorite of many–GlobalComix does offer multiple ways to read and navigate. You’ll never feel lost, whether you’re trying to read comics or find comics.
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