Comixology for Android: Daily App Pick

Posted By Cassandra Chin in App Picks, Books

BreakingModern — You’re stressed, running late and you stayed up way too long last night trying to finish that insanely awesome comic. If you don’t have time to hit up the local comic store to grab the next edition in the series just now, here’s an app that can help. It’s Comixology for Android.

Available now from Google Play, Comixology is a simple-to-use app with an extensive comics library offering access to some 50,000 comics and graphic novels. Check it out below.

Comixology for Android: A Closer Look

Comixology features same-day releases for many print editions, which makes it legitimately comparable to hitting up your typical comics store. Owning the physical copy of a comic is more ideal, sure, but an app like Comixology does get you exclusive titles that you won’t find anywhere else.

There’s a wide selection, too. The library lets you access everything from the ever-popular Marvel and DC superheroes and villains to comics from smaller publishers like Image and Indeez. You also can find foreign language titles and such traditional graphic novels as V For Vendetta or Watchmen.

It’s great to get such variety all in one place. DC- or Marvel-focused apps, after all, only have comic characters from their own brand, which is okay to a point. But Comixology offers the opportunity for avid readers to follow zombie slayers, anti-heroes, intergalactic battles or mutant love affairs cross-publisher and cross-genre.

Superhero Settings

I like the new setting in Comixology that allows you to customize the app by adding a password confirmation before purchase. It is adjustable. And it allows the app to request you input a password at specific times, like every 30 minutes or never.

The app itself automatically syncs across all platforms, making multi-use locations seamless. All the settings remain the same, too, because of its cloud-based platform. This is a nice touch.

Between the free comics (usually the first volume) and generous sales, the in-app purchasing cart is easy to access.

Adding comics to your cart is a breeze, too, though deleting is slightly more tedious. But overall, the features are well-implemented. The handy Wish List lets you add comics for later reading or purchase. The Comixology Guided View option lets the reader scan and zoom in and out of panels for art close-ups and easy navigation.

One Beefy Comics Library

The library has titles from Marvel, including the hit Avengers series as well as Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Wolverine and the ever-sarcastic troll Deadpool. DC Comics offers titles from the beloved Batman and Superman series, as well as Green Lantern, Watchmen and Sandman.

Image Comics leads with The Walking Dead, the epic love story Saga (one of my favorites right now) and Spawn. There are many, many others, of course. Find IDW’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles or Disney’s own comic renditions of Toy Story and The Lion King.

Fan favorites of other non-superhero comics are also available, such as Dilbert, The Simpsons, Adventure Time and Red Sonja.

If There’s a Catch …

In Comixology, comics and rapid releases abound. Unfortunately, the app doesn’t let you actually download the comic to your computer or mobile device. This is a catch.  Once you pay for a comic, you can only access it through Comixology or through the web interface. This can be troublesome, as Comixology hasn’t been without software glitches. Still, now that Comixology has been purchased by Amazon its software seems increasingly solid …

For BMod, I’m Cassandra Chin.

Have a great app you want to share? Email it to [email protected].

All Screenshots: Cassandra Chin