Classic Comic Readers Club

[thunderbolt]

jeez, gone already?

[WheresRICHARD]

HTML Comics Down

Ah well, it appears that maybe the comic book publishers did not agree with the folks at htmlcomics.com that they were merely operating a legal library. As of today, the site seems to be down...which puts a wrench in the Classic Comics Reader program.... :(

[WheresRICHARD]

I really hope they relocate on a different server or something. They had almost every old comic book you could think of....including the DC / Marvel crossovers, the MARVEL TREASURY EDITIONS.....heck, even the old black-and-white Howard the Duck magazine. I was enjoying reading the very early SHAZAM titles. They had 300,000 comic books online. I guess I can understand why some company might complain, though, since they had almost the entire library of past Marvel and DC and Archie and Harvey Comics.

[WheresRICHARD]

I just found a message from the administrator of HTMLCOMICS.com, posted in December, which has me not so sure that they're gone for good. In it, he says "We have spoken with Marvel's legal department and other lead officers within their corporate structure. All is good. Our approach is not distribution, hence the reason we've been around for over a year, and will be around for a long time to come. Google is using our site as a reference of how to create an online library, and not violate copyright laws. " There was also a thread from 3 weeks ago when several contributors wondered if they had been taken offline, because they weren't able to get online.....but they were just uploading a bunch of new books. So it'll be interesting to see if they'll be back in the next day or 2.

[WheresRICHARD]

On the other hand, I did a WHOIS on htmlcomics.com and this came up;
IP Location: Tampa, United States
Website Status: inactive
Server Type: Microsoft-IIS/6.0
Alexa Trend/Rank: 1 Month: 102,800 3 Month: 128,631
Page Views per Visit: 1 Month: 14.1 3 Month: 15.5

Does this mean it's gone?

[boynightwing]

Hopefully he's just taken it down to put up new stuff. I'm glad I got to read Superman Red Son before it was gone. I was hoping to read Kick *** before I went to see it at the movies.

[B-Lister]

Morally I don't care, but legally, this isn't really kosher.

if you make available, for free, something that the copyright holder would charge money for, then you are stealing.

I don't read pirated comics. Not because I care if you do or not, but because I want to support the companies that own the characters I love, and want them to stay in business. I flat out refuse to read any online comics. (Aside from webcomics, which were always intended to be free)

I don't think I'm better because of it, I just think SOMEBODY needs to pay the bills so that new ones keep getting made.

Plus, I'm entirely against the concept of digital comics altogether (save for webcomics which are new content anyway).

[boynightwing]

Morally I don't care, but legally, this isn't really kosher.

if you make available, for free, something that the copyright holder would charge money for, then you are stealing.

I don't read pirated comics. Not because I care if you do or not, but because I want to support the companies that own the characters I love, and want them to stay in business. I flat out refuse to read any online comics. (Aside from webcomics, which were always intended to be free)

I don't think I'm better because of it, I just think SOMEBODY needs to pay the bills so that new ones keep getting made.

Plus, I'm entirely against the concept of digital comics altogether (save for webcomics which are new content anyway).

Can't argue with you there.

I take the same stance with pirated movies. Of course I work at a movie theater so I don't want to put myself out of a job.

I actually plan on buying some of the books I've read on that site in the past few days since I discovered it. I think its a good way to find stuff you might like then go back and purchase. I do that with music too. I don't download a lot of music. But if I hear something new on the radio, I'll download a few other tracks by that band and if I like what I hear, I'll buy the album.

[BOTZWANA]

Can't argue with you there.

I take the same stance with pirated movies. Of course I work at a movie theater so I don't want to put myself out of a job.

I actually plan on buying some of the books I've read on that site in the past few days since I discovered it. I think its a good way to find stuff you might like then go back and purchase. I do that with music too. I don't download a lot of music. But if I hear something new on the radio, I'll download a few other tracks by that band and if I like what I hear, I'll buy the album.

Maybe not in Mexico. Mexicans have to work 4 times longer just to own on DVD that Americans get for much less. THey jack up the cost here. So the pirate trade is MUCH more widespread. The police do nothing about it and even buy the clone DVD's.

[LadyZod]

On the other hand, I did a WHOIS on htmlcomics.com and this came up;
IP Location: Tampa, United States
Website Status: inactive
Server Type: Microsoft-IIS/6.0
Alexa Trend/Rank: 1 Month: 102,800 3 Month: 128,631
Page Views per Visit: 1 Month: 14.1 3 Month: 15.5

Does this mean it's gone?

Maybe they've used up all the bandwidth they were alloted by their hosting company for this month. It happens.

[EMCE Hammer]

Morally I don't care, but legally, this isn't really kosher.

if you make available, for free, something that the copyright holder would charge money for, then you are stealing.

How do you explain a brick and mortar library then? My son and I sign out comic trades all the time.

[The Toyroom]

I read what I wanna read....not interested in a book club

[filmation batman fan]

This is really too bad. I found this site this weekend and saved it and I was actually planning on starting to read comics online. And now the site is gone. That royally sucks. This site would have been good for reading old comics that I could not afford to buy. Just my luck!!
Jeers.

[thunderbolt]

looks like it was illegal

http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2010/05/publishers-get-together-to-beat-down-pirates/

[B-Lister]

How do you explain a brick and mortar library then? My son and I sign out comic trades all the time.

because the brick and mortar library pays a LOT for the books they bring in and make available. They are doing it by legal means.

when I read classic books, is when I can find them. I just recently added several great stories to my collection. You can read all about 'em at the Quick Fix, at Critical Mess.

I'm not judging you guys, anything that keeps people reading is a good thing in my opinion. I just don't partake. I prefer the old method. And really, the more people do digital, the more old books become available for ME. So it really isn't a BAD thing, just a thing I don't agree with, or partake in.