User blog comment:Johnfallenwriter/DIGITAL COMICS: A New Way to Read Comics/@comment-247569-20120417131125

One reason why digital comics is priced the same as print editions (at least at first anyway) is the cost of converting them to a format readable on tablets. Also, I believe comics publishers have to pay a license for using the software format their digital comics are published in. You could argue why doesn't DC or Marvel develop their own app. Truth is they're not in the business of making apps, they're in the business of making comics. Somebody else developed their store app.