Dynamic and stylish, comics are a fantastic way to enjoy a story, with the dialogue, narration, art style and perspective all playing a part in developing the world and its characters. Finding great comics used to mean trawling through the crowded shelves of a (sometimes gloomy and strangesmelling) shop, but the Comics app by ComiXology puts them all at your fingertips, wherever you are.The app features over 30,000 comics and graphic novels from publishers including Marvel, DC and Image (the people behind X-Men, Superman and Spawn, respectively). You'll also find a wealth of comics by smaller publishers, making it a great way to find new titles and fresh ideas.Best of all, ComiXology’s app works on all your Windows 8 devices, so you can start reading one on your PC, then finish it later on the train using your tablet. Let’s get started!
Get the app
Open the Windows Store and searching for ‘ComiXology’.A few apps will appear, but you want the first in the list – simply called ‘Comics’. Select it and click ‘Install’. The app and many of the comics are free, but there are also paid-for titles available, so you can choose to set up payment options. When the app has installed, a notification appears at the top right. Click to launch it.
Find free comics
The first time you open the app, you’ll see a notification asking if you want it to run in the background and place status notificationson your Lock Screen. Have a think and choose an option. You’re ready to choose somethingxp to read. There are lots of tempting new releases on the home screen, but let's start by selecting ‘Free comics’ and picking from the titles here.
Once you’ve read a comic, remember to rate it to help other app users decide whether to take the plunge .
Get a preview
You’ll only see six free comics listed at first, but there are dozens more – use the arrow button beside ‘Recommended freebies’ to see them. Once you see one that takes your fancy, click it and you’ll be taken to its product page, which shows you its credits, publication date, number of pages and more. There’s also a brief description, followed by a preview.
Make an account
Click the button labelled ‘Free’ to add the comic to your shopping cart, then click the cart icon at the top-right and select ‘Checkout’. You’ll now be prompted to create an account for the app, so enter your details. The email address you enter will be used to send you notifications when you buy and download new comics. When you’ve finished, click ‘Create’ and log in.
Enter card details (but don’t pay!)
Although you’ve chosen a free comic, you’ll still be taken to a billing page and asked to enter credit card information. Don’t worry, your card won’t be charged – this step just makes it easier if you want to splash some cash in the future. Enter your details and click ‘Proceed’. The transaction will be processed and you’ll see a page featuring all the comics you own. Click ‘Read’.
Turn the pages
Now the fun begins. You’ll see the cover of your comic with an arrow to the right, which you can click to turn the page. If you have a Windows 8 tablet, this would be a great time to start using it; holding the display in your hands and tapping the screen is much more like reading an actual comic book than clicking a mouse button.
Get dynamic
Double-click (or double-tap) the page you’re reading to enter Guided View. This is a brilliant feature exclusive to ComiXology’s app, which zooms in on sections of the comic in the same way your eyes would move if you were reading it on paper. It’s not available on every issue, but when it is, it’s a dramatic way to read a story.
Thanks to Comics by ComiXology, it’s never been easier to get a slice of the comic-book action.
Know your options
Right-click the black background and three icons will appear in the bottom right: ‘i’ for information, ‘?’ for help, and a book icon that reveals a storyboard at the top of the screen, enabling you to hop quickly between pages. What did Superman say on page four? Ah yes, the knife was Kryptonite! At the top left you’ll see an arrow that will take you back to the app’s home page.
Browse and discover
One of the best things about ComiXology’s app is how it simulates the experience of browsing through shelves of comics and flicking through the pages of whatever catches your eye. Choose a series and every book will appear on screen at once.If you enjoy one, it’s easy to go back and find the next in the series – and the next, and the next…
Fill your virtual shelves
Congratulations, you now know everything you need to download and enjoy world-class comics from some of the biggest (and smallest) publishers in the business. Many are free and even the paid-for ones rarely cost more than $10, so it’s an easy and affordable way to build up an impressive collection. And all without setting foot in a little shop smelling of musty carpet…
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