Apple iPad - the future of digital comics?

Rath99 wrote:I wonder how distribution will be handled? Will each publisher handle it on its own? Will it be done via iBook? Wonder how Diamond feels about this?

I don't see a complete transition over to ditigal comics. Think of how many people still by CD's when they can easily be downloaded. I do see digital comics growing and being a very usefull way to get comics out into the hands of the masses but there is no way it can replicate the feel of holding a comic in your hands.

Yeah I think there will always be a market for print comics but the shift to digital seems inevitable, and the iPad seems like a great tool for it. If they get the distribution right, I could see plenty of people deciding to read their individual comics digitally for a cheaper price. But there would still be plenty of people wanting print comics, especially trade paperbacks and hardcovers (individual floppies are what might take a big hit).

And yeah it'll be interesting to see how distribution will ultimately be handled. Marvel has already been pretty proactive in this with their Digital Comics Unlimited feature. I gotta imagine publishers are speaking to Apple and Diamond about the potential in all this. The most logical means of distribution in my mind would be to just add comics to the iBook store. We'll see I guess.

Also wanna point out that Steve Jobs is Disney's largest shareholder and is on Disney's Board of Directors. And I heard Disney apparently bought Marvel last year...

While I would love to have one of these, I'd never pay as much as they want for it.

Also, I like my comics in my hands. I think this'll be a great tool to get more people into comics, but no digital media could ever replace the fun of collecting comics for me.

vikoros wrote:While I would love to have one of these, I'd never pay as much as they want for it.

Also, I like my comics in my hands. I think this'll be a great tool to get more people into comics, but no digital media could ever replace the fun of collecting comics for me.

100% agree with you.

And thats the issue right there. Same reason hard copies of books will never leave is the same reason comics wont be obsolete. Mainly because books/comics are available when the power goes out or extended camping trips. I see the digital "revolution" helping people get caught up on comics, but people who read comics also collect them. There are not many "casual" comic book fans. I can see digital comics helping get more people involved with comics, but not many comic readers I dont think would make the switch... but who knows... it will be interesting over the next few years. Maybe digi comics could push the LCS out of business?

Nice piece of kit. But as with the iPod, I'll wait until it's in a 2nd, or 3rd generation for them to get all the quirks out.

iPad's iBookstore will have 'Comics and Graphic Novels' feature.

http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2010/03/apples-ibookstore-designates-comics-graphic-novels-as-top-tier-category/


It has begun...

I wonder how this will affect non-sanctioned downloadable comics. I assume that there will be a stronger push to stop such things. But considering how vast the network is and how many people are involved, I wonder how they can stem such a thing. Music is one thing, comics and such are another.

Dr. Wade Fucking McNasty wrote:I wonder how this will affect non-sanctioned downloadable comics. I assume that there will be a stronger push to stop such things. But considering how vast the network is and how many people are involved, I wonder how they can stem such a thing. Music is one thing, comics and such are another.

There's probably no way to stop pirating of anything: movies, music, and comics. It seems unpreventable. But I do think that if people are offered a viable and convenient avenue to download digital comics legally, a la iTunes or iBooks, then I think a lot of them would do it. Like iTunes didn't really stop piracy of music, but I do think it helped the music industry immensely by giving it a way to make money off of downloaded music. And the fact that its so convenient makes a lot of people actually prefer it.

If the iPad as an e-book reader and the iBookstore take off like the iPod and iTunes did, then I think this could be pretty damn big for the comic book industry. Honestly, if I could get an iPad with the ability to buy brand new digital comics on it every Wednesday, I'd probably get that shit tomorrow lol. I would likely still buy my favorite books in print (because ultimately its just better), but I would definitely buy cheaper digital versions of the books I'm just a casual fan of. If it would save money and save space, then I'm down for that.

iPad App for Marvel Comics!

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=25505

http://www.suntimes.com/technology/ihnatko/2134294,marvel-ipad-comixology-ihnatko-033110.article


This is pretty big news.

I wonder how much they'll charge for books.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/marvel-comics/id350027738?mt=8

Preview of the app: http://www.comicsalliance.com/2010/04/02/marvel-ipad-app-preview-video-boing-boing-slams-drm/

^Dude, that looks pretty awesome.


Marvel's official announcement.
http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=25521


So the price for individual comics will be $1.99. Sounds good to me.

Yeah... I'd pay that to try a new title. Not on a monthly basis though.

Tom wrote:Yeah... I'd pay that to try a new title. Not on a monthly basis though.

If/when they start releasing new comics on this every week, I wonder if they will offer subscriptions to particular books. It would be pretty awesome if you can subscribe to a book and get it the week it's actually released.

Bigtymin504 wrote:

Tom wrote:Yeah... I'd pay that to try a new title. Not on a monthly basis though.

If/when they start releasing new comics on this every week, I wonder if they will offer subscriptions to particular books. It would be pretty awesome if you can subscribe to a book and get it the week it's actually released.

It does have potential.

Check this out:
http://www.newsarama.com/php/multimedia/album.php?aid=34461

jaydee74 wrote:Check this out:
http://www.newsarama.com/php/multimedia/album.php?aid=34461

Yeah Jim Lee doing art, all with his fingers, on the iPad is so cool. This was the first piece he did:

Bigtymin504 wrote:

jaydee74 wrote:Check this out:
http://www.newsarama.com/php/multimedia/album.php?aid=34461

Yeah Jim Lee doing art, all with his fingers, on the iPad is so cool. This was the first piece he did:

My word, that man is talented.

Jim Lee is a fucking boss. I wonder what he can do with his feet?

Jim Lee: Is there anything that man can't do? I think not.

^ No joke.

http://www.newsarama.com/comics/the-Q-retailers-ipad-100408.html

Dr. Wade Fucking McNasty wrote:

Bigtymin504 wrote:

jaydee74 wrote:Check this out:
http://www.newsarama.com/php/multimedia/album.php?aid=34461

Yeah Jim Lee doing art, all with his fingers, on the iPad is so cool. This was the first piece he did:

My word, that man is talented.

Jim Lee is a fucking boss. I wonder what he can do with his feet?

^He did that with his feet.

Oh and apparently this artistic talent is genetic cuz he Tweeted this iPad art done by his 15 year-old daughter:

jaydee74 wrote:http://www.newsarama.com/comics/the-Q-retailers-ipad-100408.html

Interesting article. I don't know if its included in the Marvel App yet, but I had heard a rumor about a "Find Your Local Comics Shop" feature being included in it. I think that's a great idea.

IGN did a good article too: How the iPad Can Change the Comics Industry

^Great points on how the iPad could provide a great deal of accessibility and convenience for getting comics in the hands of casual readers and prospective new readers as a gateway.