reading comics

Scanned comics are usually saved in the .cbr format, which is essentially an .rar archive (akin to a zip file).

The Evince document reader which is installed by default with Ubuntu, can read these .cbr files, but only in conjunction with the 'unrar' program, which is not installed by default with Ubuntu.

To make matters just a tad more difficult, you won't find 'unrar' by searching in Synaptic or Add/remove programs. Instead you have to use a command line:

sudo apt-get install unrar

Once that's installed, all those .cbr files will open in Evince. You'll also see icons showing the front cover of each comic in Nautilus.

Some recommended settings for Evince (under 'View' in the top menu):
* check 'Best fit';
* uncheck 'Continuous';
* F11 to toggle full screen view

By the way, if you're not treating scans as 'samples' and then buying the comics you like, you're doing the wrong thing. You're effectively killing the comics industry.