While old-time comic book shops are meccas of nostalgia for many, most diehard collectors are left
shuttling boxes and negotiating for storage space later in life. So, to avoid fostering subjects for
Hoarders, and in keeping with the times, comic book visionaries are bringing their favorite characters to iPad screens everywhere (for when they can’t make it
to Broadway).
Same Day Digital: Cultural icons like Batman and the Green Lantern are no strangers to multi-media adaptations, from print to radio and screens
small and
large. So, it’s only fitting that these heroes should be revived as digital comics. Enter DC Comics’ Same Day Digital, an initiative through which digital versions of comics are released simultaneously with print editions. Available for iOS devices, Android handsets, and PCs, the comics are initially priced the same as their printed counterparts ($2.99), but drop by $1.00 after four weeks. DC timed its digital launch with
The New 52, a reboot of 52 iconic characters with updated stories, costume redesigns and a series reset to issue #1.
Touch Sensitive: Best known for his
Acme Novelty Library series and graphic novel
Jimmy Corrigan, the Smartest Kid on Earth, Chris Ware’s latest work is
Touch Sensitive, a 99-cent comic available within the otherwise free
McSweeney's app. Available exclusively on the iPad, the 14 swipe-able pages of art and animation feature Ware's trademark social commentary, contemporary layout, and annular characters. Co-developed with
Spaces of Play, an independent game studio in Berlin, the comic has garnered
enthusiastic praise for its cinematic quality and ease of navigation. Already, many fans are demanding more editions of what is certainly a better use of the iPad than playing another round of
Angry Birds.
IDW for iBooks: Hundreds of literary classics are available on iBooks, but for those who prefer pictures with their stories, comics are making their foray into the Apple world as well. Digital comics leader
IDW Publishing, who also offers several
comic storefront apps, has debuted the largest collection of graphic novels available in the iBooks store to date. Titles include
Dead Space,
Dragon Age, and
G.I. Joe: Hearts & Minds, all of which utilize the new
fixed-layout ePub format, for a modest $6-$10 a pop. IDW is enjoying
early recognition for their efforts, and the company plans to release even more touchpad novels soon, much to the delight of fan-boys (and girls) everywhere.
