The Great Free Comics for New Readers Experiment

It’s no secret that comiXology offers some great FREE reads for comics fans of all types. With new titles added to the list every week alongside our other weekly releases; our FREE comic collection has come to include some great reads both classic and contemporary. Recently modern master comic scribe Greg Pak (Vision Machine, Planet Hulk, Incredible Hercules) set to out to conduct a little experiment through Google+ challenging New Readers to explore some of the great offerings out there in the world of sequential art storytelling. We think it’s great! Check out the experiment below and why not take part, or better yet introduce a new comic reader to some of the modern day classics available for FREE from comiXology? Just follow the steps in Greg Pak’s experiment and let us know what you think:

So who out there is interested in comics but doesn’t know where to start? Have an iPad or other iDevice? Ready to try a painless, potentially mind-blowing, and entirely FREE experiment with me?

1. Go to the App Store and download the Comixology app. Install, register, and open that sucker up.

2. Click on the “Browse” button in the upper right. Click on “Series,” then download the following FREE comics:

“Action Philosophers: Ayn Rand!” (+Fred Van Lente and Ryan Dunlavey)
“Atomic Robo” #1 (+Brian Clevinger and +Scott Wegener)
“Battlestar Galactica” #0 (yours truly and Nigel Raynor)
“Bayou” #1 (Jeremy Love)
“Bone” #1 (Jeff Smith)
“Ex-Machina” #1 (Brian K. Vaughan and Tony Harris)
“Fear Itself: The Worthy” #5 (yours truly and Lee Weeks)
“Mouse Guard” #1 (Scott Petersen)
“Planetary” #1 (+Warren Ellis and John Cassaday)
“Scott Pilgrim Vol 1″ (First chapter) (+Bryan Lee O’Malley)
“Vision Machine” #1-3 (me again and RB Silva)
“Walking Dead” #1 (Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore)
“Y The Last Man” #1 (Brian K Vaughan and Pia Guerra)

(The above is a list of modern classics (plus a few of my own comics which I’ve thrown in because I’m shameless like that). A pretty good variety of genres, all perfect starting points for their respective storylines.)

3. Click on the “Free” button on the navigation bar and download anything else that catches your fancy.

4. Read some stuff! Don’t worry about reading it all — just check out what looks like fun.

5. Then come back here (https://plus.google.com/118004481840782880691/posts/AZG6KpPjMB4) and tell us what you think!

A few questions for the conversation:

1. How was the reading experience? Did the storytelling make sense? How did reading the comic in digital form compare to reading a physical comic book?
2. Were you sucked in? Did you want to read the next issue in the series?
3. Are you now addicted? Will you read more comics? Did you pay money for anything on the Comixology app after trying out the free stuff?

Can’t wait to hear what you think!

As someone who’s always interested in roping new people into reading comics, I’ve loved +Joe Mulvey’s thought-provoking and hilarious “What do you REALLY know about comics?” interviews at http://joemulveyart.com/. The above experiment is directly inspired by Joe and his columns. Please reshare if you like the idea!

Don’t forget to follow Greg Pak’s experiment on Google+ and while you’re there feel free to add +ComiXology Comics to your circles as well. As the results pour in and more people read these awesome FREE comics be sure to check back for updates and more FREE goodies. Our library of free offerings is nearly up to 500 comic books and with comics from all your favorite publishers there is bound to be a book out there for everybody!

So Say We All: Free Comics for the week of February 23

Dynamite Entertainment’s comic foray into the world of Battlestar Galactica debuts on comiXology this week with an explosive untold tales series filling in the gap between the seasons of the popular television show. Old School Cylon Warriors return under the masterful eye of superstar comic scribe Greg Pak. Who in a rare outing from his work on Marvel hits like Planet Hulk and Chaos War delivers a stellar story accompanied by the art of Nigel Raynor, Michael Tuner and Steve McNiven.

Fans of original television show, the critically acclaimed Syfy re-boot and even the more recent Caprica spin-off will enjoy these first three issues introducing characters not seen since the first Syfy mini series. Read issue #0 for FREE then be sure to check out the rest of what’s been released from Volume #1 so far. With a few ”Dynamite cliffhangers” and some great pin-up cover art this is a series BSG fans won’t want to miss.

Taking a break from the Zombie fueled adrenaline pumping thriller The Walking Dead. This week Robert Kirkman amps up the world of paleolithic crime-fighting with an exclusive FREE sneak preview of Super Dinosaur #1 his new all-ages title from his signature sky bound imprint. Once again teaming up with Jason Howard Super Dinosaur looks to be one of the great off-beat hits of 2011 issue #1 is slated to debut on April 20th, but we’ve got a free 12 page preview available right now!

Also rounding out this week for FREE COMICS comes the classic first issue of the Vertigo comics series Unknown Solider. A special 20 page preview of Arcana’s new Paradox series as well as the debut issue of the all-new creator owned series form the guys at South Fellini. Check out D.O.G.S. of Mars it will knock your socks off right alongside all the rest of the great comics coming out this week!

True Grit: Mean Business read the dime novel for FREE!

Rooster Cogburn rides again, and while it’s anyone’s guess just how far the Coen Brothers recent box office hit will go this award season, comic fans can get a head start on the all the gunslinging suspense with a brand new comic adaptation True Grit: Mean Business.

Just in time for the new  film True Grit: Mean Business is a dime novel in comic book form. Adapted by indie comic sensation Christian Wildgoose this new take on the classic novel by Charles Portis makes for an enthralling read for fans of the western genre and comics alike.

When a small squad of U.S. Marshals  have to escort a caravan of prisoners across the rural american west they cross path’s with a young boy with despairing news. Setting off a chain of events that leads to a riveting trial and the perfect starting point for the film.

Read True Grit: Mean Business in the comiXology web store or download it directly from the app. Both of which feature the book for FREE!