JerkBurger » Comic Books

Awww Chit! DC Comics Has Gone Digital!

K.W. — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 20:50:19 +0000

I'm pretty sure know these guys.

Previous posts of mine seem to be hitting pretty hard on the mark, and that makes me happy for different reasons. One reason being that it sounds like I know what I’m talking about (Suck on that, Guidance Counselor Gary!), and the other reason having to do with the fact that the comic book industry is about to be get MORE awesome.

Excitement is a’brewin’ in my soul, because according to ComicsAlliance (and the app store on my iPhone), DC Comics have officially gone digital. DC will be distributing digital comics through the iPad, iPhone, iTouch and even the Playstation Network. They are also partnering with Comixology, where they’ll put in a DC Comics storefront along with their own DC Comics app. If you love comic books, then this should be some damn exciting news for you. Alan Moore probably isn’t that excited about it, though.

Apparently, each individual issue’s price will range from 99¢ to $2.99 and that DC will be compensating creators for digital sales in a way that reflects their royalties for printed issues. Also, DC has announced plans for a retailer affiliate program through Comixology that invests a portion of digital revenue into organizations supporting comic book retailers. So that certainly makes DC look good as far as mirroring the concerns of comic book retailers over the impact of digital comic sales on printed issues.

Plus, DC is going to make sure to quench your comic thirst. With the initial release already offering previously released issues from DC Comics, their Vertigo, Wildstorm, and Zuda imprints, like “All-Star Superman,” “Batman: Hush,” and “Fables,” you should be overwhelmed to know that over 100 comics from DC’s library will be added to the digital library every month. And they’re already starting off with a bang by offering “Justice League: Generation Lost #1″ as a digital download, which is supposed to hit comic book shop shelves today.

There’s more: There are free comics for the launch, too! There’s a bunch of “Batman: Black & White” stories (including the excellent story, “Batman Black & White: A Black and White World” by Neil Gaiman), the first installment of “Bayou,” Zuda’s first webcomic series, and you even get a 10 page preview of “Superman” #700.

Tell me that this shit doesn't look incredible.

Wow. Comic books will never be looked at the same way again (literally). It’ll be interesting to see how the competition heats up between Marvel and DC, seeing as how Marvel has a jump on the digital game.

Shout out your excitement (or despair) in the comments.

Panelfly Shaping Up To Possibly Give iPad A Definitive Purpose

K.W. — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 23:11:19 +0000

Is looking good, no?

Even though my previous post was comic-related, I carry no shame in posting more about the comic universe. So take a hike if you’re snooty enough to think that two comic posts in a row is unprofessional! (Please ignore that kind of speak, my pretties, and read on.) Just go read something about unicorns farting rainbows on other sites! See if I care! (Listen. I do care. The investigation of whoever this angry alter ego is and where he came from is underway. Read on, loyal Jerkburglers!*)

Anyhow, not long ago, Panelfly released their widely popular comic book app for the iPhone, which allows users to download and store digital versions of comic books on their phones. I have the app on my iPhone and I happen to think that it’s excellent and extremely easy to use. They have a huge selection of quality comics to choose from, especially since they have partnered with Marvel Comics. The only problem is that as of right now, I’m reading comics on a damn phone screen that’s the size of my palm. Sure, you’re able to focus solely on one frame from each page at a time if you wish (a magnificent way to prevent yourself from spoiling the plot by seeing subsequent frames in your peripheral vision, which happens to me far too often when reading comics in print), but it causes the comic to lose the property that would make it a book. And that lost property is a clear, full page view.

That’s where the iPad comes in. Personally, I haven’t really thought much about the iPad and I’ve never used one. I actually thought it looked stupid when I first saw it in television ads. All I know is that it’s garnered a lot of negative press and naysayers ever since its debut, so I’ve stayed and have just stuck with my iPhone. But Panelfly is currently developing an optimized version of the comic book app for iPads, and with the iPad’s significantly larger screen, Panelfly may revolutionize the way comic books are distributed and how the iPad is perceived. And if the comic book industry successfully merges its business model completely with the digital world for easier distribution, it’s in this humble Jerk’s opinion that other forms of printed media would soon follow.

Dass uh lotta cuh-micks.

Look, I’m not saying that printed comic books would completely be eradicated from the market. And I’m certainly not saying that I want this to happen. I’m merely going on speculation. But let’s face it, mass producing comic books in color print HAS to be costly, especially when you take into account the multitude of varying color inks used in the prints. Not to mention, the amount of printing paper used in the comic book world is surely an expensive commodity. So, if the comic book world completely aligns itself with the digital market, they’d be saving tons of money by eliminating the production of physical copies. And literary publishers are already feeling the pressure to shift their business models to the digital world since the creation of Kindle and similar digital readers. So hypothetically, if the comic book industry halts all physical releases and produces solely for digital mediums and is successful in doing so (success being measured in dollars and cents, of course), one can be sure that other printed media will take notice.

And from the previews I’ve seen, comic books on the iPad look damn fantastic. I’m usually not one to gush about technological goodies, but I would be lying if I said that I couldn’t see myself reading comics, books, magazines or even journal articles in the near future.

Panelfly should be releasing their app for the iPad sometime this summer. Head over to Panelfly’s website if you’re hankerin’ for more information on their goods.

*I’m merely toying with the notion of nicknaming you readers (all three of you) as this term. If you have any suggestions as far as nicknames go post ‘em below.

Comic Creators Collaborate for Unofficial “Dexter vs. Jason vs. Hack/Slash” Comic Mashup

K.W. — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 21:09:35 +0000

I Guess That Most Nightmares Are Typically Spawned In Dark, Creepy Woodland Areas

The guys over at ComicsAlliance (one of my favorite blogs), came across this awesome one page comic mashup featuring killer extraordinaire characters Dexter (from Showtime’s Dexter television series), Jason (from Friday the 13th fame) and Cassie and Vlad (from Tim Seeley’s Hack/Slash comic series). With writer Scott Allie, artist Tim Seeley, colorist Dave Stewart and letterer Nate Piekos combining their talents, its only obvious that they would have concocted a concept that’s this kooky and fun.

Unfortunately, all signs point to this project being nothing more than a fun foray in collaborating with one another. For starters, mixing these intellectual properties would probably result in the loss of valuable time what with all of the litigation everyone would have to wade through just to start work on the official project. Plus this group of guys probably have personal projects that take up the majority of their time anyhow. But it’s always fun to dream the impossible.

And if you’ve got that cheddah, pick up a copy of Scott Allie’s “Solomon Kane: Death’s Black Riders #4″ and Tim Seeley’s “Hack/Slash: My First Maniac #1″ which both were released yesterday on June 9.

Such Murderous Fun!

The Walking Dead To Be Adapted For AMC

K.W. — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 21:29:21 +0000

The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman

According to The Hollywood Reporter, AMC has picked up Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead (the popular zombie-apocalypse graphic novel series) for six episodes. On an even more exciting note, the project will be written and directed by Frank Darabont (script-writer and director of the classic film, The Shawshank Redemption). The series’ premiere is set for October 2010.

Though this is great news for fans of the horror/zombie genre as it will potentially push the genre into an even more mainstream market, I am skeptical of the series’ potential success. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy zombie mutilation as much as the next guy, but I wonder how accurate the adaption will be. The comic book series is filled to the brim with extreme gore and violence (I.E. Brutal decapitations, hatchets to the skull, limb dismemberment). So, I’m talking about the kind of gore and violence that cable television might have a problem portraying. But, if there were any network to make The Walking Dead a successful television venture it would be AMC. With successful, provocative AMC shows like Mad Men and Breaking Bad already pushing the envelope of what television has to offer, it certainly gives viewers more incentive to tune in.

Gorillaz and Alan Moore Are Set To Collaborate

K.W. — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:56:44 +0000

Gorillaz' frontman, 2-D, apparently can see the slice of pizza that I'm holding.

Did you ever wonder, “Hey, why don’t Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett of Gorillaz explore gnostic themes?” Definitely a potent question that I’ve never thought to ask, myself. Well, now they are more than likely to touch on gnostic ideas and explore some aspect of humanity that plagues us all now that Alan Moore is on board to help with Gorillaz’ new opera project. According to NME.com, Moore, writer of such brilliant graphic novels (Watchmen, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, From Hell – all of which were turned into shitty, bombastic Hollywood films), will work on the yet-to-be-titled opera’s libretto.

With Albarn having written 70 new songs for the project, it is looking to be more ambitious than Albarn and Hewlett’s 2008 release, Monkey: Journey to the West, as the new opera will appear in both film and stage upon completion. Moore seems rather excited by the project, which in turn excites me. He said “We’ve hopefully got Gorillaz on board [to appear in a forthcoming issue of Dodgem Logic].”

I'm very excited to get my hands on a copy of this, if I can.

Dodgem Logic is Alan Moore’s new underground magazine which contains artwork from Kevin O’Neill (the artist for The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen) and even some writing of Graham Linehan (writer/director/creator of The IT Crowd and Father Ted) just to name a couple. The zine is said to be part entertainment, part grassroots activism/advice on all sorts of subjects from guerilla gardening to making your own clothes, living on no cash, steampunk guides to rebuilding collapsed civilization, and basically anything that comes out of the mind of the Bearded Wonder, of whom they call Alan Moore.

Moore’s daughter, Leah Moore, and her husband, John Reppion, (both top-notch comic book/script writers, themselves) announce over on their blog Moore & Reppion that the zine should be expected out sometime this month.

The Gorillaz/Moore opera collaboration is more than likely not due out until sometime next year.

Marvel Comics Partners With Panelfly To Distribute Comics on iPhone

K.W. — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:34:05 +0000

Worst Blog Rant Ever!

Love comic books, but hate all of that tedious labor it requires to turn the pages? And don’t you wish that comic books’ pesky, easy to read print was a lot smaller and digitized? Well, Panelfly is here to help by partnering with Marvel Comics to help slowly and methodically eliminate the existence of printed copies of comics by offering an application available for download on the iPhone.

The application to download is free, but each issue will cost you $0.99 to download into the Panelfly reader. The current Marvel issues set up on Panelfly are the original Spider-Man series, X-Men, X23, Age Apocalypse and Iron Man. And if the Marvel issues aren’t enough to float your boat or find your lost remote, then Panelfly offers lots of different comic publishers like Blurred Books, Dare Comics and NBM Publishing, along with others.

I know that this should be seen as good news, because it opens the door to more comic book readers, but with practically everything that’s tangible in our world being summed up into an iPhone app, I am slowly becoming jaded on what can actually be seen as a legitimate advancement of technology when it could possibly just be a cheap ploy to merge anything and everything into the Apple universe (I say this semi-hypocritically as I type this on an Apple computer).

So call me a print purist, party pooper, prissy pussy, lame asshole, or whatever you wish. I will always enjoy a printed copy of a work. And with all of the new advances in technology merging the printed word into expensive, electronic luxury devices such as Kindle, it surprises me how many people wish to spend hundreds of extra dollars to read the same words on a digital screen that you would be able to in an inexpensive printed book. I suppose it’s just become a part of our culture to be driven to buy expensive, technological goodies in order define ourselves and give us some semblance of status in society.

So exalt me, o’ blog of mine! Take my opinion and deliver it to the masses!

Jerkburger Blog: But, no one reads me.
Me: Oh. Well…At least I have the smug, self-satisfaction of expressing my ideas!
Jerkburger Blog: But crazy, homeless men on street corners can express ideas.
Me: Yes, but I can put my ideas on the Internet!
Jerkburger Blog: What makes the concept different other than the medium of expression?
Me: Well…the Internet let’s ANYONE share their…yeah, you’re right.

Jerkburger Blog: 1 Jerkburger Blog Writer: 0

JerkBurger » Comic Books

Awww Chit! DC Comics Has Gone Digital!

Related Posts:

Panelfly Shaping Up To Possibly Give iPad A Definitive Purpose

*I’m merely toying with the notion of nicknaming you readers (all three of you) as this term. If you have any suggestions as far as nicknames go post ‘em below.

Related Posts:

Comic Creators Collaborate for Unofficial “Dexter vs. Jason vs. Hack/Slash” Comic Mashup

Related Posts:

The Walking Dead To Be Adapted For AMC

Related Posts:

Gorillaz and Alan Moore Are Set To Collaborate

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Marvel Comics Partners With Panelfly To Distribute Comics on iPhone

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