PSP Digital Comics set to launch in US today

If you feel like geeking it up (or, as they say back east, "getting your geek on") there really is no better combination than gaming and comic books -- that's why we're stoked to hear that the PSP comic store is set to go live at 3:00 PM today. In addition, the European PlayStation blog states that the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa stores should become available at 5PM GMT, while the store in Ireland is being held up due to technical issues. The store boasts "hundreds of new and classic collections," including your favorites from Marvel, IDW, Titan, iVerse and 2000AD. Check out playstationcomics.com to give it a shot yourself -- but not before peeping the video after the break. See more video at our hub!

[Exbloder Posted Dec 16th 2009 3:00PM]

And when we took his mask off, we were all suprised that it was *battery
low, device shutting down now*

[howeyman Posted Dec 16th 2009 3:05PM]

Sony continues to excel in selling things that arn't video games for video game systems.

[NAME Posted Dec 16th 2009 3:05PM]

I would never ever read anything on a screen that is not E-inc... but then again how much text is there in a comic book compared to a novel...

I just prefer print.

[MathiasTCK Posted Dec 16th 2009 3:20PM]

@NAME You'd bring up e inc on a comic book thread? Wouldn't you miss the color?

[Acey Posted Dec 16th 2009 3:34PM]

@(Unverified)

coloured e-books?

[PITBULL831 Posted Dec 16th 2009 4:05PM]

@(Unverified) Wish they made one , but there isn't one out yet , wait tell 2011 or 2012 for something like that . tell then we have to get are comics the old way .

[Alan Strangis Posted Dec 16th 2009 4:46PM]

@NAME I have to say that comics actually look great on a 12" Lenovo X61 tablet with SuperBright screen. Had a chance to test some out last weekend. Just the right size.

I'm waiting for the convertible Acer 1820's to hit stores here. That way an 8+ hr battery life device will work as an e-reader and a decent 2nd computer capable of 1080p playback and about everything in between.

[pax copia Posted Dec 16th 2009 7:04PM]

You are reading engadget on what exactly?

[N900 Posted Dec 16th 2009 3:06PM]

How do I gave shot?

[Luke Posted Dec 16th 2009 3:07PM]

When they start selling games for this thing, it's really gonna take off.

[N900 Posted Dec 16th 2009 3:10PM]

I concur, gaming would be great on the PSP ;)

[Yoyodyne Posted Dec 16th 2009 3:59PM]

LOL, the PSP is around 55 million worldwide in sales.

The most successful non-Nintendo portable in history.

Troll failed...

[N900 Posted Dec 16th 2009 4:29PM]

*whoosh*

[MasterCKO Posted Dec 16th 2009 4:35PM]

@Yoyodyne Yeah, I don't get why people crap on the PSP. It's actually quite a successful device that's been pretty well liked by reviewers and gamers (well, up until the GO, that is).

[A1 Posted Dec 16th 2009 3:08PM]

So stoked on this, the three comics they gave out a while back gave a really good feel of how it works. At first i didn't think it was going to be good at all but the autoflow is absolutely fantastic and the fact you can listen to your music while reading them is a nice touch too.

Can see myself spending a lot of cash on comics. :D

[Noswal Posted Dec 16th 2009 3:10PM]

Engadget make it sound like it was for free. Then I watched the video and remembered it was Sony.

[pankomputerek Posted Dec 16th 2009 3:38PM]

@Noswal Well you can get them for free or you can pay... Remember that there is such thing as PirateBay and Comics are easy to copy cos they are outside psp system...(you need to run app to open them)

[Frankenstein Black Posted Dec 16th 2009 4:03PM]

@pankomputerek - PirateBay? Really? Maybe 2 month's ago ;^/. Just saying...

[N900 Posted Dec 16th 2009 4:31PM]

@Frankenstein Black TPB is pretty credible. I use it becuase I haven't got an invite from demonoid, I don't trust TorrentHound's search engine that much, and I don't upload a lot so I got kicked form IPTorrents. Plus, Mininova turned legal, so I have nowhere else to turn except TPB..that and NowTorrents.

[WeirdHero Posted Dec 16th 2009 3:13PM]

I love my shelf more than Sony's servers.

[darkwind72 Posted Dec 16th 2009 3:23PM]

Hey...just to get off topic for a second...I'm running windows and mac osX, and I'm running firefox, opera, safari, and IE6 on both browsers, and this site blows chunks! it hangs up on me for 30 seconds to a minute! I also know that I'm not the only person with problems with this site either, as I have seen comments that have been "deleted" after they've been posted! What's Engadget going to do to fix this problem?

[ArhcAngel Posted Dec 16th 2009 3:25PM]

@darkwind72

They are going to delete your comment and act like nothing is wrong.

[darkwind72 Posted Dec 16th 2009 3:32PM]

@ArhcAngel ---Yeah...I know....but a guy has to try right? I take it you're having problems too?

[WEEEGEEEE Posted Dec 16th 2009 4:54PM]

@darkwind72 meh its all fine on chromium, the browser not the OS.. and the iphone

[Lectronsect Posted Dec 16th 2009 3:23PM]

Ones and Zeros are not collectable! Music, comics, books, whatever!!!!

[BMills Posted Dec 16th 2009 3:24PM]

I would argue that there ARE games on PSP....there just isn't a suitable way to control them correctly....

(Dual Analogs anyone?)

Comics on PSP is a cool idea though, but I'm not going to trade in my Comics Reader Mobi app for my iPhone anytime soon....

[Elric Posted Dec 16th 2009 4:06PM]

@BMills re: Dual analog
Right, because it's impossible to design a good game without dual analog control and there were no good games prior to dual analog controllers being a standard on game devices.

The PSP has a LOT of really excellent portable games (GTA Series, Syphon Filter Series, LBP, God of War, Patapon Series, Loco Roco Series, Final Fantasy Series, Many of the PS1 classics, etc). The dual analog thing is a tiresome strawman anti-Sony fanboys drag out every time a debate regarding the PSP comes up.

[WEEEGEEEE Posted Dec 16th 2009 4:59PM]

@Elric but god of war controls better on 1 analog stick, and the only thing a second analog stick will do is release the flood gates for several crappy fps's to appear on the psp. Plus mario 64 felt fine without a second analog stick. hell the ds doesn't even have an analog stick.

[SmoothC911 Posted Dec 16th 2009 3:29PM]

Actually I have really looked forward to this; I had thought of renewing my subscription to a couple of comics (Thor anyone?). I liked the free Star Trek comic a lot & think I'll give this a shot. It certainly makes getting the comics easier for me & a lot more convenient! :)

[pankomputerek Posted Dec 16th 2009 3:29PM]

Can't find my PSP arrrrgggg.....

[pankomputerek Posted Dec 16th 2009 3:32PM]

I like the Sony waves... they are cool.

[Diraan Posted Dec 16th 2009 3:34PM]

Once again Sony has forgotten about Canada

[pankomputerek Posted Dec 16th 2009 3:36PM]

Right found my PSP There are free Comics too which is cool most of them cost £1.50 well not sure if I would spend so much on a comic if there are better things...

[Jaylittles531 Posted Dec 16th 2009 3:39PM]

I have been waiting for something like this to come to the iPhone and iPod Touch....

[Ralph23 Posted Dec 16th 2009 3:44PM]

Ever see the move Big with Tom Hanks? They came up with this idea in the '90s.

[Yoshi1080 Posted Dec 16th 2009 3:49PM]

Unfortunately, I didn't find any Graphic Novels (please don't start a debate over this expression) at all. There is no category and a quick search for Art Spiegelman didn't get any results. I like Disney, but the usual superhero comics aren't really my thing.

Plus, I would like to get a reader for Mac and PC! PSP-only is kinda lame, even Amazon is more open towards other platforms.

[8aetroya8 Posted Dec 16th 2009 5:07PM]

I hope i find something interesting to download... i am more into Manga so i don't know what i'll find.

PSPGO is excellent, it's proving to be a money pit for me. Right now i have Resident Evil 1, 2 and 3, Silent Hill, Silent Hill Origins, Oddworld Abe's Exodus, the 4 new pinball heroes tables, Castlevania Symphony of the Night, Crash Warped, Silent Hill movie, Misery, original Planet of the Apes, War of the Gargantuas, and various other movies, music, LBP PSP, Priny can i really be the hero? all on my internal memory, music too. With room left to spare for some nice comic content.

How is PSPGO not awesome? When i buy the micro 16GB card it will only be more insane. Then only bad thing i can say about PSPGO is the lame wireless B WiFi.

[8aetroya8 Posted Dec 16th 2009 5:35PM]

sorry for double, but i just checked the PSN, it's all up there with a new Digital Comics section. The closes to Manga is the Astro Boy stuff, so i tried out the free starter Astro Boy movie adaptation... pretty sweet.

If they offer up Manga i could get into this. I would be all over full Manga of Battle Angel Alite etc. I haven't followed what the newer Manga is doing, but it must be awesome.

I'm going to try out Durham Red i guess.

[Wesscoast Posted Dec 16th 2009 5:45PM]

Konnichiwa CoverFlow......

[rotarydialz Posted Dec 16th 2009 5:47PM]

Nice of them to borrow Coverflow. They should charge 5¢ per copy since they are saving so much on publishing. If they get greedy they will encourage piracy. Manga is so much fresher than what Marvel and DC have to offer.

[8aetroya8 Posted Dec 16th 2009 6:03PM]

In Japan they probably have all the Manga, but it's so much more comprehensive, or larger. They will probably charge $10 or more per Manga volume if they do offer it via US PSN.

I just bought the first Durham Red to check it out downloading now.

[Pito289 Posted Dec 19th 2009 5:36AM]

pfft, I don't know, I think on Nook or something like that would be better for comics, screen seems a bit too small for comics...