Marvel Entertainment has decided that along with all of the paper comics – and online superhero resources – that there’s coin to be made from opening up its superhero back catalogue online, for the first time. And why not?
Marvel Comics is to open up its comic book vault with thousands of comics on offer for download for a monthly subscription. Early runs of Amazing Spider-Man, The X-Men, Incredible Hulk, Fantastic Four – along with mini-series and current comics – will be up for grabs for a subscription that starts at around £2.50 per month, if you sign up for a year, and £5 per month if you don't.
"We are truly excited to be able to present in one location such an expansive treasure trove of Marvel Comics’ favorites to a mass market audience. We wanted to make sure we presented a site that would set the standard in digital comics and offer readers an affordable way to experience our vast archive of content," said Dan Buckley, President, Marvel Publishing.
At launch, Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited will have 2,500 comic books online with at least 20 more being added weekly – these will be chosen by Marvel editors and reader demand. Some of the highlights are:
Unforgettable Classics
* The first 100 issues of Amazing Spider-Man
* The first 100 issues of The Fantastic Four
* The initial 66 issue run of Uncanny X-Men
* The first 50 issues of The Avengers
* The issues marking the first appearances of such Super Heroes as Spider-Man, The Fantastic Four, Captain America, The Incredible Hulk, Wolverine, Thor, Daredevil, and Silver Surfer
* The issues marking the first appearance of such renowned villains as Dr. Octopus, Sandman, Lizard, and Dr. Doom
* The issue that showcased the first appearance of Spider-Man’s black costume
Recent and Current Favorites
* Joss Whedon’s Astonishing X-Men
* Selected titles from the Ultimate line including: Ultimate Spider-Man, Ultimate X-Men, Ultimate Fantastic Four and The Ultimates
* The House of M
* Amazing Spider-Man
* New Avengers
* Young Avengers
* Runaways
Young Reader Series
* Marvel Adventures Spider-Man
* Spider-Girl
* Spider-Man & Power Pack
* Marvel Adventures Avengers
* Marvel Adventures Fantastic Four
* Franklin Richards: Son of a Genius
You can check out 250 free samples here.-Martin Lynch
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Earlier this year, an alarm clock that was as far from offensive as you could possibly get, landed in our office.
Voiced by Stephen Fry’s velvety tones as Jeeves the Butler, the Voco clock was filled with confidence boosting messages and was as posh and mellow an introduction to the harsh glare of morning sunlight as you could ask for. I reviewed it here.
Well, now there’s one for the ladies too. Voiced again by Mr. Fry , the new clock comes with many new reassuring messages designed to introduce ladies to a new day with a little smile. Here’s some samples:
“Good morning Madam. Your doctor has rung to warn you that you are not making sufficient use of your credit cards and that this may result in somatic distress. He said that there is only one proper prescription and that you would instinctively know what it is.”
It costs £40.-Martin Lynch
[Voco]
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There's few things more uncomfortable and embarrassing as a pair of feet that stink like old cheese and can kill a loved one at 20 paces.
Meet the Breeze Walk Shoes then, the "world’s only air-conditioned shoes" that promise to keep your dogs cool and stink-free. The marketing smells like this:
Normal shoes don’t allow the free flow of air throughout the inside of the shoe. Moisture and bacteria build up inside our shoes, causing athlete’s foot and making our shoes smell. These days are over with the Breeze Walk. With every step, you are circulating fresh air throughout the shoe and around your foot. The result is a shoe interior that won’t be a feeding ground for odor causing bacteria.
The patented aeration channels circulate air around your foot without impacting the stability or comfort of your walk. The result is an extra bit of wind in your step that will make you feel like you are walking on clouds. Circulating air throughout your shoe as you walk will provide an additional benefit that no other shoe is capable or: reducing athlete’s foot and foot odor.
At £25 – down from £75 – this smells a bit fishy but could actually just be a good, fragrant-free bargain. The science photo is after the jump.-Martin Lynch
[Red Ferret]
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I’ve yet to be bitten by the electronic book spiel and by the looks of it, the rest of humanity is hardly on fire to hop aboard on the e-reading train either.
That doesn’t stop some companies making some really interesting breakthroughs though in the e-reader market. This skinny 6.7in reader from Seiko Epson crams in a stunning 1600 x 1200 pixel resolution, which is a big deal for such a small display. The display itself measures just 3mm thick and a single battery has enough juice to display 1400 pages. Here’s some specs:
* Terminal measures 180x120mm (B6 size)
* Thickness: 3mm
* Weight: 57g
* Contrast ratio: 8:1
* Reflectivity: 43%
* Redrawing time: 0.7s
* Battery: one CR1220 button cell battery (1'400 screen redraws)
There’s no arrival date or potential price on this yet.-Martin Lynch
[Mobileread]
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Editor and Contributor | Martin Lynch
Contributor | Tamlin Magee
