Acidick's Comic Book Blogs

So I just went out and bought up the All Hail Megatron: Vol. 1 TPB that I'd been looking for and set about reading it hungrily. I thought it was pretty good, being a Generation 1 fan, a lil slow in the build up but I really like how some of the story is put together. Lots of dead humans being exploded and flung all around, which is cool, I also like the dynamic between Starscream and Megatron.

I guess the problem I have is the same problem we all face as comic book fans in this era, do I go and shell out another 20 clams on the next Vol. 2 TPB or do I scour the net looking for the scanned alternative for free? I guess there's the ethical conundrum regarding the financial loss for the publisher, but if one is reading only for the story and not the collectibility, doesn't that kind of tinge the argument? I mean it's not like the TPB themselves are really that valuable, they usually retain their cover value forever far as I can tell. Maybe this way I can catch up, then start collecting the individual comics as they hit shelves, thus providing the publishing house with income they wouldn't have had otherwise.

I dunno, I guess I'm just trying to make it sound as though the artwork and story should be free, when really they are the main elements needed for me to actually fork out a couple bucks for a comic in the first place. Perhaps the fact that I'm a cheap has something to do with it... but the cold reality of me buying a twenty dollar comic book about 80's toys shines in the face of that speculation.