Supermallet

Have you tried ComicZeal? That's my preferred comic book reader.

slop101

What do you guys say to comic creators, like John Byrne, who say their stuff is made to be read in print, not digital? I mean, you wouldn't watch a Kubrick movie in something other than his preferred ratio, so why not hold comics to the same standard?

VHS?

I have a Galaxy Tab 3 (8")
That's an issue I think about as well. Can an app function as though I am reading from panel to panel as I would in a book. That's the feature I am looking for. That feature so far has only been seen by me through that PCB INFEX.
I would love to have this as a new standard.
http://www.deviantart.com/art/Injust...de-1-425311366

joltman

I think you're confusing issues. I wouldn't equate the aspect ratio to the format. I think it would be more like if Kubrick said he only wanted his movies to be watched on a theater screen, but you wanted to watch it on a 19" TV.

fujishig

Do you have a link to his argument?

Considering comics are printed on different kinds of paper and different sizes all the time, with different coloring and reproduction methods, and that the original runs of some of his most well-remembered issues are on degrading paper with basic coloring, I'm not sure what he's talking about. Is it the feel of the paper?

I can understand creators having problems with not getting paid for the digital rights the way they do for reprints, though. I can also understand the tactile feel of the comic and having a different reading experience if you read it as it comes out monthly, but then you'd have to throw collections/omnibus/hardcovers out as well, unless the comic was originally published in that format.

slop101

It was just a comment on twitter, something along the lines of his books were created with the intention to be read in print, not digitally on a screen. But then he's a cranky old luddite, but then it is literally creator's intent, so...

madcougar

I'd say "fuck off John Byrne. You're getting paid either way. And Next Men suck."

slop101

Aw, man, I really liked Next Men. It started off slow, but a little less than half way, it got really good and I was heartbroken when it ended - his "2112" quasi-sequel was a much more interesting read after finishing the series.

Why So Blu?

haha, I concur.

hanshotfirst1138

How exactly do digital comics play on things like iPads? They're almost illegible on iPhones, and it seems to me like the Kindle would still be a little small. I'm sure that digital distribution allows for much better mass distribution.

Why So Blu?

I read all of my comics on my desktop monitor or laptop. I own a first gen Kindle and it's not compatible with digital comics. I don't own any of them fancy personal devices.

The Antipodean

I prefer physical but I do read some comics on my ipad. What I find frustrating is the increasing use of pointless double-page spreads (mostly in comics by Bendis) which look pretty crap on my reader. It works great otherwise, but double page spreads I either have to turn and resize page or scroll across it.

Trevor

I hated the idea of digital comics up until fairly recently. Loved the feel of holding a book and the physical collection aspects; reading on a small phone screen is just silly; and sitting is the new smoking so reading on a computer is out.

But then I got an iPad and sampled some of the hundreds of freebies on Comixology and Dark Horse. The screen size is close enough to actual comic page size for me; though I really do enjoy their guided view system where it shows you the full page then zooms into each panel in succession. The image quality is amazing, and being able to carry hundreds of books around in my however many ounce device is the icing on the cake.

If I had unlimited wealth and space I'd probably stick with physical, but neither of those things will happen. Digital is cheaper and takes up no space.

fujishig

The real problem with the ipad size comes when there are double page spreads, but other than that the size is not really an issue.

rocket1312

I'm a huge fan of John Byrne's work, but he's pretty much the crankiest old man in the industry this side of Alan Moore. I don't want to outright dismiss his opinion, but I fail to see how there's much difference between reading on an (appropriately sized) screen and reading a physical copy, and I work in the book printing/binding industry so I don't make that statement lightly.

Just last week I picked up a used Nook HD+. It's a 9" tablet, so it's slightly smaller than the real thing, but I'm enjoying reading comics on it quite a bit. As others have mentioned, the only real issue is on double page spreads.

Supermallet

ComicZeal is an app, not a device. Search for it in the Play Store.

The ratio remains the same on digital comics as they do in print. There's windowboxing on the sides of my reader. As joltman pointed out, that's not the same thing as the medium. The fact is that with digital I can read any comic that's been scanned in quality that doesn't degrade over time and if scanned well will look just as good as the print version. The only thing you get with print that you don't get with digital is the tactile feel of paper, but I don't see how that is at all necessary to enjoy Byrne's work (or anyone's). I think the dude's just afraid of change. Obviously he wrote his comics for print, print was the only way comics existed for all of the 20th century. Making them digital now doesn't invalidate them.


Given how close in size a 9.7" or 10" tablet is to the size of a regular comic, and the general quality of digital comics, I'd say it's more akin to Kubrick demanding that all of his films be seen in movie theaters, and I want to watch it on a 120" screen with an excellent DLP projector running off of the best Blu-ray copy out there.

Mok

They look perfect on my iPad mini almost feels like I'm holding a comic.

VHS?

No, I know that. Just when I went to their site it appeared to only be available for iPad. I didnt think to check the Google Play for I since it didnt say anything on the site.

Supermallet

Oh, nevermind then. Sorry.

VHS?

Oh, no worries.
I have tried a few comics on my tablet but thinking I would probably feel better about digital on a larger screen. This 8" tablet is kinda small. Maybe I could buy one of those cheap China tablets with a larger screen.

Mike86

I'm a trade guy personally. For me physical media will always win out over digital media. I like trades more just because they're more convenient to read and are generally in order so I don't have to sift through what issue of what title I need to read to complete an arc. I buy single issues on occasion but not very often.

madcougar

I bought the first volume, which I think included the first 12 issues. It was okay, but no great shakes.

slop101

Yeah, I agree. But that first volume was all groundwork, and it started to get better, and then great, after that.

VHS?

So I'm sitting here last Wednesday and look at my pile of unread comics.
This is going to happen all over again. Where do I put them. How many boxes will cluster up my garage.
I'm starting to think digital is the way to go. I love physical copies. There's something about holding the comic in your hand and flipping through it's pages. The smell of paper and it's printed ink.

On the other hand I can store comics on sd cards, thumb drives, and what room is that taking. I can fit it all in my pocket on-the-go. I can zoom in and look at the artwork if I choose. No worries of bending pages, creasing as I flip through. My OCD will be no more when it comes to reading comic books!

I think I'm going to give it a go at least for a month or so and see if anything inside tells me it sucks and go back to physical.

Xiroteus

That's one of the reasons I like digital. I'm really picky about condition and the only real place I could read paper comics is on a flat surface looking down. With a computer or tablet it's much more comfortable and easy to read.