Mego Book Now Available Digitally

[imp]

Well, I suppose Hell has finally frozen over.

I have always been vocally against a digital version of my book. The idea of people reading it on an iPad or other tablet kind of makes my skin crawl. However, folks have made it clear they would rather steal an illegal bootleg of my book rather than pay for an actual hardcover on the aftermarket. And while I don't make any money from either of those sources, I always hoped people would enjoy the material as it was intended: A tactile, full-color, oversized hardcover beast.

I recently learned that illegal copies of my book have been downloaded over 14,000 times… and that's just from one bit torrent site alone. While we can't do anything to stop thieves, we can at least offer a LEGAL VERSION, generated from my original source files. Here's the info from my publisher, for those interested in purchasing a legitimate digital copy of the book:

The ordering link for the Mego book is:

http://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=566

It's priced at $13.95. Feel free to spread that link around.

I'm also adding it to our app, which can be downloaded here:

App Store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id767332506?mt=8

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...hingcomicbooks

For those who have been turned off by the after-market prices the book typically realizes, I hope this comes as good news. I'll be curious to hear what folks think of the digital version of this book, as viewed on a tablet or other device.

- Benjamin

[Bronxboykev]

Ben

Just curious, the 14,000 illegal digital downloads, is that what prompted the digital book. And if so why not another printing???

[Bronxboykev]

Oh yea and I would def buy it thru the I tunes store. Just to have access at work or on the road. You never know when your going to need that reference

[Timothy2251]

Get paid at the end of the week and am going for the legal digital version!

[enyawd72]

Hopefully your legal version will recoup some of your losses.

[SentientApe]

The cover price of your book is (unless I am mistaken) $49.95. At that price, I would purchase a copy in a heartbeat, if my wife did not beat me to it.

I recently discovered she has been monitoring every single eBay auction for a copy to give me as a gift -- only just missing the one "reasonably overpriced" copy that recently sold. I have insisted in the strongest possible terms that she refuse to overpay, as I do not want the book so badly as to accept a markup of 250% to 500%. In fact, I would loathe any gift that involved such a foolish waste of money.

"Hey, I have this Mego book and need quick cash -- how much is it worth?" Answer: "I paid $125 for mine" Result: it gets posted on eBay with a starting bid of $125, and with a "Buy It Now" price of $250, accompanied with a "Don't Ever Trust Me" stigma on the seller.

Cover price? You betcha. I might even pick up a back-up copy.

Reasonable markup? Sure, if that's my only option.

Malicious scalper? Nope. There are far more valuable and useful outlets for my money.

[ubermanx]

Bought the digital copy. It will be an excellent companion to the print copy I picked up for cover price this year.

- Marty

[PNGwynne]

"Hey, I have this Mego book and need quick cash -- how much is it worth?" Answer: "I paid $125 for mine" Result: it gets posted on eBay with a starting bid of $125, and with a "Buy It Now" price of $250, accompanied with a "Don't Ever Trust Me" stigma on the seller.

Cover price? You betcha. I might even pick up a back-up copy.

Reasonable markup? Sure, if that's my only option.

Malicious scalper? Nope. There are far more valuable and useful outlets for my money.

Umm, so would you consider purchasing a digital copy instead?

[johnmiic]

If Woody, errrr, Benjamin Holcomb, had simply approved of a Digital Copy in the first place, maybe less that 14,000 illegal downloads would have happened...

[megoscott]

It looks pretty freakin great on iPad, Ben.

[palitoy]

Well done, I am an anti-tablet guy so I completely understood your original mantra but I think the market is too big to ignore/deprive. Rack Toys will be a digital download this Christmas as well.

[SentientApe]

Umm, so would you consider purchasing a digital copy instead?

I will probably do so by the end of the week. I agree that the digital copy is no substitute for a "hard copy" book; the ownership of a (legal!) digital copy would not replace the desire or search for the "real thing," but I could at least be able to read the content.

[imp]

Just curious, the 14,000 illegal digital downloads, is that what prompted the digital book. And if so why not another printing???

Yes, the illegal downloads is what prompted us to release the digital version. It's hard to say how many of those 14k downloads represent any potential sales. Probably very few. (Bearing in mind these are people who did not pay a penny, just shamelessly stole it.)

We really have no strong indications we could sell the requisite 3,000 hard copies of a second edition at cover price. But we can probably move a few digital copies at thirteen or fourteen bucks.

It looks pretty freakin great on iPad, Ben.

I'm very pleased to hear that, Scott. I value and trust your opinion, so it's a relief to hear that coming from you.

- Benjamin

[Bronxboykev]

It looks great on the I phone as welll

[megoscott]

Given what I know about most Mego collectors, very few of them are tech-savvy enough to run bit torrent. Ludites, nearly all of them.