Comics in the digital millenium has been a huge question mark in a lot of people’s books. Most people are wondering how, with the advent of intense new technology like the iPad, comic books will fit into the equation. Marvel has already been making a huge push into the digital medium through their site as well as the production of motion comics, and now with the launch of the iPad this weekend we’ll be getting a new entry into Marvel’s battle into the digital realm.
ComixOlogy, who have developed a comic reader for the iPhone already, have worked with Marvel to create a much more updated and exclusive digital comic provider for Marvel Comics native to the iPad, and it supposedly reads like an absolute charm. Working off the basic shopping premise present in the iPhone app, users will be able to browse through thousands of comic books to see covers and synopsis’ that would help to intrigue buyers. It also features many different ways to explore the world of comics, via characters of book titles – and it’s all right there in the initial menu! Upon purchasing, you have full control of the book. You can see the whole page at once, or in specific frames to scroll down, which helps to remove spoilers from the story caused by wandering eyes. Viewing modes are available no matter what way you hold your iPad, and the image never gets compromised due to excessive zooming in or out. According to the Sun Times, the app alone completely validates the existence of digital comics, and this is the best experience you can get in reading a comic aside from buying a physical copy – but hey, the offer to buy the book in print is right there.
The push into the digital medium is an interesting one, and to see Marvel at the forefront of it and really helping to push us in this direction is fascinating to watch. Having an easy to use app will be a big boon for Marvel and it’s cross into the digital medium. I feel like I’m a purist and would always want to buy my comics physically versus digitally, but at the same time this opens the door to thousands upon thousands of new readers. Being able to just grab your iPad and download all of Civil War in a matter of minutes to read is an amazing move in a new direction, and once new releases are available the day of, everything will change. The iPad, for all the naysaying people may do pre-launch, is an incredibly innovative new tool, so Marvel hopping in right at the launch is a very wise move on their part.
Who knows what other changes this will bring to the way we enjoy our comics.
(source)
