Shazam! Comic Apps!: The Top Picks for Viewing Comics on the iPad

Apart from a handful of Archies at the supermarket checkout and a scattering of superhero comics in chain bookstores, comics have been hidden from public view for decades, tucked away in specialty shops that were invisible to all but a small cadre of hard-core fans. The iPad puts them back at people's fingertips, displayed in four-color glory and available via free apps that let people buy comics directly through the iTunes store--no drive to a seedy section of town required. In this article, the author reviews three comics apps that stand out as her top picks for the iPad. They are: (1) Comics by comiXology; (2) Comics+ by iVerse; and (3) Graphicly. All carry comics from multiple publishers, and together with their publisher-specific companion apps, they cover the lion's share of what's available digitally.