'Nuff Said: American Graphic Media

A nice essay from PopMatters . Digital Comics and the Return of Disposability

Mark Waid has gotten a bit of criticism and praise for his advocacy for digital comics.  My mantra, as always, is that comics are the kaleidoscopic point.  A space where broader sociocultural trends come together. On the page the process is layered and intriguing.  The system around comic book publication also offer similar insights. Comic book are artifacts of modern urban industrial experience.  Thus, the turn toward digital in comics is merely a microcosm of the broader transformation from an urban industrial to suburban service economy. This presentation lays out Waid's argument for why digital comics make sense.  Moreover, he gives us some insights into the monetary impact of his efforts.  There is no question there will continue to be a turn toward digital publication. The question is who will benefit from that transformation.

ICv2 - 'AVX' Marketing Biggest Ever Is Avengers vs. X-Men "the" summer event for Marvel? Is this the response to the New 52 everyone is expecting? In truth, I don't think Marvel needs to respond to the New 52. They benefit through the pop cultural associative ether. Moreover, DC's efforts have not had the broad sales impact they hoped. While lapse fans have returned, long term growth comes from new (hopefully young) fans. Recent reports suggest the New 52 is not attracting fresh eyes. So, what exactly would Marvel be doing if it rushed to react? There is not a clear answer, so the question become what to do, if anything in response. To me, the answer is to do exactly what the are doing. Marvel is continuing down the path to develop stories and characters across multiple platforms and bring them to audiences utilizing Disney 's distribution channels. This was the pattern they had before the New 52 and it has not changed. We wonder if digital...

The direct market is going to disappear. The comic shop needs to find a new place in the digital world.

Advertising as we know it is rooted in the old model. The question facing comic creators is how we can create a new system that connects the artist directly to the audience.

The collective insight coming from the Comics and Digital Media Panel is that solving the riddle of getting creative content to the audience the central challenge for the future.

The possibility exists that the new digital production process will make the old and established printed product a high end item.

One important point coming from the panel--what is needed right now is a format that can run across multiple platforms. The programming platform that creates a unified experience for the reader will be a game changer for digital comic publishing.

Great line--> The only people who don't know comics are the people working at Marvel and DC. Darwyn Cooke

Considering the issues being discussed at the panel, I think Terry Moore is in a unique position, but he also represents a growing reality in the comic industry. Independent creators, like Moore, not related to established superhero comics are growing. Webcomics, graphic novels, and genre cross comic products abound. If those creators can gain a following, they have the opportunity to be successful. Moore's career demonstrates this process.

Terry Moore observes that college kids realize the value of creative work is tied to a physical presence. This is an important point. Moore is suggesting that an acknowledge quality creative work will be values, but the question is how does the creator monetize the creative work in order to create more and make a living.

The motion comic format offered up by Marvel isn't the future for digital comics. The digital future in comic publication will be about a new format/ form.

Digital media offers the chance for animation, director's cut from artists, links to back issues within the digital platform. The next generation of creators will make all digital comics and we don't know what this will look like.

Recently, the best selling comic book sold 71,000 copies, that is pathetic-->Jim Valentino

Terry Moore says he is doing so many conventions so he can connect to the audience. He believe if you are a creator who isn't doing this, you going to be left behind and out of date.

Great line--> Roll out Spider-Man for 10 cents and let the kids go crazy. Darwyn Cooke

Darwyn Cooke, Terry Moore, and Jim Valentino

Great insights from Mark Waid on the future of Daredevil and digital media's impact on modern comics industry.