Marvel Comics is really pushing its online comic initiative.  Opening up the vaults is one way to get subscribers on board, but even better is giving away digital comics for free.  The company has announced readers can head over to the Marvel site and read the Deadpool Saga free of charge on the Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited site.

Learn how Wade got his healing ability and became the best mercenary in the Marvel U. Did he have any love interests? Of course he did, he’s Deadpool for crying out loud! But to find out who, and the answers to many other questions.

This is all part of the build up for the September release of the new Deadpool series written by Daniel Way and illustrated by Paco Medina.

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Marvel has announced you can read (but not download) the Big Hero 6 Digital Sketchbook for free from the company’s website.

The Big Hero 6 are back!  They’re Japan’s toughest heroes defending the honor of the Land of the Rising Sun against some of the worst villains the Marvel Universe has ever seen. Get ready as Hiro, Baymax, Honey Lemon, and Gogo Tomago defend their country and embark on a new adventure as this brand new exciting series unfolds.

Big Hero Six comes to print form in September.

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So Danny Ketch (the first Ghost Rider) is back and giving Johnny Blaze all kinds of trouble. Did I spoil that one for you? Sorry, but Ghost Rider #23 did hit the news stands last week, and we did talk about it in the Major Spoilers Podcast, so unless you are one of those that only get your comics once a month, you are probably privy to the info already.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Danny Ketch, Marvel comics is making the Ghost Rider Saga available for Digital Comics Unlimited subscribers.

Johnny Blaze is the Ghost Rider—so just why is his former ally and former Ghost Rider Danny Ketch on a quest to destroy him? GHOST RIDER #23 saw the return of Danny Ketch, the second man to bear the mantle of the Ghost Rider, and his startling return to the Marvel Universe has everyone wondering just what his true intentions are.

Subscribers to Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited can access the Ghost Rider Saga at the MDCU site.

via Marvel

For those of you who were wondering when Marvel would up its catalogue of titles offered through its online digital comics service, the answer is now. The company has added 500 new issues to the line that span the range from the 50s through the early 2000s.

Older issues will keep fans feeling nostalgic like Amazing Fantasy, Tales to Astonish, Tales of Suspense and Strange Tales, while those looking for more recent comics can read new digital comics of Young Avengers, New Avengers and much more. All of these and a ton more have been digitized for your reading pleasure.

The complete list can be found at the Marvel website.

If there were only some download option available, I’d jump on this subscription service in a moment, but always having to go “on-line” to read a comic is not my cup of tea. Also, my iPod Touch won’t work with Marvel DCU, which is a bummer - not Marvel’s fault of course, but something Apple could work on to make the experience work.

via Marvel Comics

Tokyopop and GoComics have announced an agreement where the two companies will work together to bring many o Tokyopop’s titles to mobile phones.

To kick off the event, GoComics will be branding the Tokyopop content under the GoComics Mobile Manga banner as well as a spin-off Tokyopop section.

“Our Mobile Manga is a great user experience and satisfies discriminating creators, editors and fans alike. A major reason for this is GoComics’ commitment to quality, simplicity, and an artistic adaptation that preserves the manga pacing while converting pages into a panel-by-panel format,” said TOKYOPOP Director of New Product Development Jeremy Ross. “We look forward to building on the success of our initial mobile manga anthology with GoComics’ “freedom of choice” offering — fans can now select their favorites from a wide catalog of titles.”

Movie more titles to the digital realm is a pretty wise move from my standpoint, however I have not been overly impresse with trying to read comics on my RAZR 2. On the other hand, with the fantastic multi-touch screen found on the iPod Touch (which I own) and the iPhone, reading mobile comics is so easy.

via GoComics and Tokyopop

Marvel today launched a new application for Facebook that links users directly to Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited.

With the new Digital Comics application, fans can peruse the entire Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited collection—currently numbering more than 3000 comics, read synopses of many of the titles, pick favorites and share thoughts about the books with all of their Facebook friends.

Well if you are going to monetize Facebook, Marvel looks like it has found a way to do it without causing users to rise up in frustration.

“Facebook is an extraordinary outlet to communicate with and entertain Marvel fans,” said John Dokes, Vice President, Online Operations and Marketing, Marvel Entertainment, Inc. “This clearly extends our Internet reach and familiarizes a new fan base with all of the cool things happening with Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited and Marvel.com.”

I went ahead and added the application to my Facebook page, and on the surface it is certainly a gateway to Marvel.com. And since this is a social networking thing, all my friends can now see I read Marvel titles, I can find others who share the same interest, or - if just by chance there is a cute girl that links into someone’s Marvel app - instant stalking!

If you have a Facebook account, you can install the app here.

via Marvel

Have you been to WOWIO.com?  The concept is you are able to download free books and comics that are tagged with advertising at the beginning and end of the piece.  I find it a fascinating concept that works, especially if you are trying to find free comics to read during your long day at the office.

Heroic Publishing has been placing their titles on the WOWIO.com website, including an all new Flare adventure.

This new six-page FLARE adventure, “Flare’s Lost Costume,” is by writer Wilson Hill and artist Duval Stowers, and is included as a surprise bonus extra in the electronic version of CHAMPIONS #24.

Are there any drawbacks? Well, you can only download three titles per day, and you are limited to the number of titles you can download each month, but so far, I’ve been pleased with my WOWIO.com experience.

via Heroic Publishing

IGN Entertainment and Top Cow have announced readers can now purchase download-to-own comic books via IGN’s Direct2Drive on-line service. The high resolution PDF file can be printed out, using your own paper and ink, or read on your computer. Top Cow plans to offer over 400 titles throughout the next year. Currently available are issues of Witchblade, The Darkness, Tomb Raider, and Rising Stars. Prices are not too bad, with most issues costing $1.99.

Is it worth it? I tested the service out earlier today.

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