http://comicsworthreading.com/2011/01/17/archie-cancelling-betty/

So maybe Archie ISN'T cancelling Betty and Archie & Friends?  Confusing.

http://comicsworthreading.com/2011/01/18/archie-goes-same-day-for-digital-release-for-all-comics-beginning-in-april/

More speculation about Betty.

http://comicsworthreading.com/2011/01/18/archie-goes-same-day-for-digital-release-for-all-comics-beginning-in-april/

More speculation about Betty.

I'm kind of tired of everything going digital.  I mean if it helps Archie make money, great, but eventually I think there's going to be some kind of backlash against it.  And I mean that in general.  The recent wisdom seems to be phsyical media will disappear, but its going to get to a point where people don't want to live in their phones, laptops, and other portable digital devices.  Part of it I think is businesses salivating over the opportunity to completely get rid of thier overhead.  So you lead to a situation like what Netflix is doing now, really trying to get ahead of the curve, that is alienating their entire customer base. 

I'm glad though that the people running Archie have said in their press release they only want to use digital comics in a "supportive" role.  That at least sounds a bit less disconcerting than other companies who are pretty much "this is the future, deal with it."  Still prefer to read my stuff in print.  Glad other people can get their fix on their phone, but I don't think I will be changing anytime soon.

I'm a huge digital fan.  At this point, I prefer all my textbooks, novels, magazines, music and many games to be digital.  I still like comics and some video games as physical items though,

What excites me about digital comics is that it allows companies like Archie to get wider reach, sell more content, meet more market demand, and keep more great artists employed.

If a comic only sells 10,000 issues - it is in danger of getting cancelled.  If it can sell 8,000 print and 4,000 digital - then it may be saved.  At a time when traditional comics in print are seeing declines in readership, I support anything that gets more readers into the comics.  Many of these digital readers may read issues in digital and then treat themselves to nice printed volumes of material as well.  Many may download copies while on the go and in remote areas, but buy print editions when and where they can.  Even more important - international sales of digital editions could really bring total sales figures up!

Content still needs to be created - so this makes it a healthier industry formthose working in it as well.

There was a time when people collected comics.  Older issues would retain or even increase in value.  Now, old print editions are less than new ones.  Why is this a concern?  It is cheaper to buy old issues than new ones.  This is great for readers, but not great for the company.  To get modern content, we need a healthy modern economic engine generating revenue. If digital sales increase revenue and effectively subsidize my paper copies then I am all for them.

Also - the iPad is fantastic for reading comics.  As more people get these and the price drops, it's going to get more use.  People complain about the price, but think of it as buying a couple bookshelves.

My kids love that I can bring a few dozen comics with me whenever we are travelling too!

Why Archie needs to keep Archie & Friends.

See my "portfolio" argument above, but here are some specifics on Archie & Friends.

This title is the only title where the "cast" can act as an group.  This title allows us to not explore a single character, but expel the way the characters interact with each other.  In a time of shrinking page counts, this is the title where we can have the "off line" stories - Freshman Year, Chuck, Jughead & Betty.  Losing this title will lose an "engine of exploration" for new creative ideas.  Not having a fertile ground to try new ideas will cause the main titles to be less risk-taking an the line to be less fertile.