DC Comics iPhone/iPad App is Awesome (If It Will Stop Crashing)

So speaking of super heros… this morning DC Comics finally released an iPhone/iPad comic reader app. Following in the footsteps of Marvel, it’s built by Comixology, and so basically works exactly the same way.

I had a grand plan to give it a test run and let you guys know what I think – but unfortunately it crashes every time I try to use it. My understanding is that this is a known problem on old iPhones and should be fixed soon. I was, however, at least able to get a look at the basic interface even if it wouldn’t run long enough for me to actually download a comic. You can see from the side-by-side comparison here that it looks pretty much just like the Marvel app.

I recently had the chance to play with the Marvel app on an iPad, and I have to say – it’s pretty amazing. Though I don’t have one myself and didn’t have plans to get one anytime soon, I can definitely see the merits of using the device to read comics. For me, the experience is just as good as reading one in print – which definitely cannot be said for reading on the iPhone. The frame-by-frame way of reading due to the small screen (pictured right) just does not work for me.

Just as the Marvel app has some free comics (go download the first issue of Runaways if you’ve never read it!), the DC app has a few freebies as well: Batman Black & White, Origin of Batman & Origin of Superman, and the first issue of Bayou.

I’ve always kind of been a DC girl over Marvel if I had to choose, and so I’m pretty excited about this – especially since it also includes the Vertigo imprint, which means Sandman and Fables among others. Of course, they’ll have to get it working first for me to really be on board – or I should get an iPad. Maybe some day…