Equally desirable, digital
or otherwise

Unlike other media forms that have fallen prey to piracy, the age-old comic book is enjoying a firm (and profitable) alliance with the web.

As print heads more fluidly online, last month Marvel launched a site that allows fans to read their favorite comic. The site does not infringe on print sales since the online version comes available six months after its print predecessor.

Even when new copies appear on torrents, comic book owners say the web acts more like a sales tool than a competitor, Globe and Mail reports. There are simply too many comic books, they assert — and further, people will always prefer the print edition, given their collectible appeal.

And the trend works the other way, too. Online-only comics, like Penny Arcade and Achewood, now publish print editions that are flying off the shelves.