You may have picked up on the fact that I love comics. I used to go to the comics shop every Wednesday and pick up a lengthy pull list, but comics can be a very expensive hobby. Most single issues these days are between $2.99 and $4.99 and can cost even more if they are a larger issue or a special. Even if you’re just following a character or two that can add up pretty quickly. So I thought I could give some tips for reading and purchasing comics for little or no cost. These are the methods I use to keep up with my favorite characters and titles. Nearly all of these options do require switching over to digital comics, but as much as I prefer having a physical book in my hand the trade off in value and convenience is worth it to me.
Okay, Let’s start with a pretty basic one. If you want to read great comics for free then just check out your local library. Last year I was able to read through the entirety of Scott Snyder’s Batman Run, Doctor Who’s current runs for the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th Doctor’s comics and check out several classic storylines and omnibuses from both Marvel and DC just by picking them up at the library. Obviously each library system will differ, but I was also able to request several books I wished to read through the library’s recommendation system online or borrow them from neighboring systems. Even if your library doesn’t have a large collection of physical graphic novels they may have access to digital services like Hoopla. Hoopla is an app that allows your to rent a certain number of books, audiobooks, comics, movies, or tv episodes for free every month with you library card. My library allows 6 rentals a month and has a wide variety of graphic novels available including Marvel, DC, Image, and even Doctor Who Comics and indie books. The best part about going through the library is that physical or digital it is completely free. Libraries may even have current issues of comics available for checkout, so if you want to get into comics the library is a great place to start.
Another basic potentially free option is just to borrow from a friend. If you know someone that is into comics, they probably have a few recommendations of their favorite series and a way to read them. On top of that, they would probably love to see what you think of the stories they love. Just make sure to handle their copies with care especially if they are letting you borrow from their prized bagged and boarded collection.
Collecting comics can be an expensive hobby, but you can read them on a budget if you know where to look.