Marvel Updates Digital Comic Redemption
For the Marvel Blog True Believers who are most devoted to the comics from the House of Ideas, weekly releases aren’t just a nice thing to look forward to on Wednesdays, they’re practically a way of life… and a key part of that way of life is the digital copies that come with each issue! While Marvel Comics is continuing the practice of including a free digital download of each issue with purchase of a physical copy, the method of redeeming these copies has been updated.
Free Digital Comic
Previously, digital copies of a comic would be redeemed in this way: you would turn to the “digital redemption” page, peel off the sticker that revealed the redemption code beneath, then head over to Marvel.com/redeem to claim your digital copy.
The olde-fashioned redemption page. Photo Credit: Avery Kaplan.
This method also meant that creators could peel the stickers off several of their contributor copies, then posts the codes so that readers could redeem digital copies of their latest work on a first-come, first-serve basis. Not too bad!
Sorry, Marvel Blog True Believers – this code’s been claimed. Photo Credit: Avery Kaplan.
But as of three weeks ago, the method of redeeming your free digital comic has changed. Here’s how you redeem your copy now: rather than send the code to you directly to be entered, you instead must navigate yourself to Marvel.com/redeemhelp. Once there, you enter some brief information, including your email address and your name, and a photo of the cover of the comic.
The All-New, All-Different digital comic redemption page. Photo Credit: Avery Kaplan.
Do note that there is a narrow window between the release of the physical comic and the expiration date for the digital comic redemption! You’ll want to keep up on redeeming your digital copies moving forward.
Your fresh comics will be waiting in the Marvel app. Photo Credit: Marvel app.
Right after you enter these details, you’ll get an automated response. And then a few hours after you have entered the requisite information, you will get a reply that includes the code you’ll enter to redeem your digital comic. Once this has been completed, you can access that issue (and any other digital comic you may have redeemed) through the Marvel app.
Looking Back
This isn’t the first time that the digital comic redemption program has been updated by Marvel Comics. About five years ago, a program was piloted that saw physical copies of Marvel Comics including a code for a digital comic of another title – about five titles each month became the “freebie issues.” This was disappointing for those of us who rely on digital copies of the comics we’re currently reading… and furthermore, as a devoted Marvel reader, I had often already read the five preselected “freebie” issues.
Fortunately, this new method for 2022 may include an extra step, but it uses less paper and ensures that nobody can swipe your digital comic while they’re standing in the comic shop. ‘Nuff said!
Online Comic Redemption
I have tens of thousands of comics you can access beginning a few months after they have been released; I have a digital library full of comics you have purchased yourself. We are NOT the same. Photo Credit: Marvel.
The digital comics you can redeem when you buy physical copies of Marvel Comics are not to be confused with the comics you can read with a subscription to Marvel Unlimited.
Have you purchased any physical copies of comics lately? Did you get a chance to download your digital comic? We want to hear from you! Share your thoughts with us in comment section.
I think this is over, as the last two weeks new comics I have bought have codes in them and year long expiration dates. I didn’t find any news about it, tho.
Yeah, I agree. This is what my comics have looked like the past couple weeks: https://marvelblog.com/2022/01/21/marvel-comics-digital-redemption-updates-some-more/
This is beyond awful. I go to my comic book store every other week and spend $40-50. I collect a bunch of comics and enter the code for a digital copy to read on my iPad. Now, I have to fill out a form ASAP and wait. I don’t have a ton of time to spare and this simply isn’t feasible. Let me subscribe to Marvel, you ship the comics to my local shop and put a digital copy in my account. With all the technology in the world, this is a horrendous effort at enhancing the user experience. Hire some kids to do this for you. And I’m and old fart!
This is a slap in the face for those who pay $4-$10 per book for crapy print quality compared to the rest of the industry. Now we have to submit a picture of one book at a time with short timelines. No batching method means my monthly books could take quite a bit of time. NOPE. Time to cut WAY back on books from marvel.