Comixology and DC Comics have released a limited edition treasure that displays all that can be right and good about digital comics.

The Planetary Digital Omnibus collects all 633 pages of issues #1-27 (plus an 8-page intro story) of Warren Ellis and John Cassaday’s stories of Elijah Snow, Jakita Wagner and Drummer — the Archeologists of the Unknown. They are tasked with tracking down evidence of super-human activity, paranormal secrets and histories — including incursions from other universes, an island of dying monsters and the fate of a long-dead old friend.

The price in the US is only $24.99; less than a buck an issue! This is a series I never got around to reading, as it came out during a time that I was buying almost no comics at all. Since my “Digital Comeback” as a fan, I’ve heard a lot about Planetary — and now I’m having a great time enjoying it at an irresistible price. I didn’t pick it up at $1.99/issue, but this bundle price got me to commit so I could have the whole thing.

There are a lot of classic runs and story arcs I did buy piecemeal in hardcopy that I’d love to have as a complete digital “reading copy” today — if I could buy it at a reasonable price. It is great to sit down and just read through an entire run, and digital release makes this practical. Trades and hardcovers are OK for short runs, but they’re expensive and can’t really handle a long run like Planetary.

If DC wants to build new readers and get old fans to turn loose of cash for digital as well as hardcopy this is a great way to do it.

(So how about a Captain Carrot and the Zoo Crew Omnibus, DC?)

If DC really wants to kick over the New 52, and get people to try all the titles, why not do an advance bundle deal — 52 #1 issues for $52, delivered as they release, if you commit in advance for all of them. Bundle buyers would get a bonus book now containing a short intro to all the titles and a page or two about how the new DC Universe was conceived and planned. Then, as the titles release, they would appear in your DC Comics app, ready for download.

At $2.99 to $3.99 an issue, I’m going to be forced to cherry-pick through the new 52, whereas what DC really wants to do is get old and new readers to plunge in, trying every new title so they can get hooked on things they might not have seen otherwise. There is no better time to do that than right now when the lure of 52 #1 issues is the strongest.

C’mon, DC. Fortune favors the bold! Let’s have a 52 Pick-Up special as a limited-time offer before JLA #1 goes on sale!