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       #Post#: 1760--------------------------------------------------
       comiXology
       By: Mac Date: September 15, 2011, 8:55 am
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       comiXology
  HTML http://www.comixology.com/
       - digital app
       I couldn't think a better place than here. Digtal books are
       subject unto themselves, but this thread is really about comics
       and making them available. Beyond that, I am so green, but
       hoping this helps folks out with those new newfangled dee-vices.
       [quote]Being a bookworm doesn’t mean you stick to the classics.
       Comic books are as popular as ever, and many readers prefer
       their stories told one colored panel at a time. Today's
       smartphones are equipped with display screens just as advanced
       as the phone itself. High pixel density and vibrant colors
       provide a visually rich viewing experience, and that's a lot of
       horsepower to waste on printed words alone. This ability to
       deliver sharp, crisp images in a mobile form factor is a
       marriage made in heaven for comic book geeks. That's why
       publishers including DC and Marvel have launched mobile sites
       and create content specifically for handheld devices.
       ComiXology's Comics application works very much like the Kindle
       app we just discussed. Users can shop around 8,000 of titles
       from virtually every comic book publisher, with more than 300
       being free to download. And once they make their purchase, the
       title can be read on any Apple or Android device [source:
       comiXology].
       Purists may scoff at the idea of reading a comic book on a
       3.5-inch (8.9-centimeter) display (which is the average screen
       size for a smartphone), but going mobile has its advantages.
       Storage, for starters, is a big draw for digital subscribers.
       Collectors couldn't exactly carry an issue around in their
       pocket until now. And the free app features what they call
       Guided View technology, which helps guide the reader to the next
       frame so each panel can be displayed individually.
       [/quote]
       #Post#: 1767--------------------------------------------------
       Re: comiXology
       By: ChipRawks Date: September 15, 2011, 9:27 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       I have been meaning to start a thread on this but it just always
       slipped my mind. Thanks for getting this one started.
       Personally, I do think it's cool to be able to read a comic book
       on a huge monitor, late at night and not have to turn on the
       lights to do so. The only thing I object to about this new way
       of getting comics is the price. I absolutely disagree with the
       idea of making this the same price as a real comic book that you
       can hold in your hands. The price of those books is based on the
       creative talent: Writer, Penciler, Inker, Colorist and Letterer,
       not to mention that they need to pay for printing, shipping,
       etc... So I get that the price has grown to a whopping $3-5 per
       issue.
       But where do they justify that price point for Digital Comics?
       Not worth it. If it were at least half off, than I think I'd be
       okay with. But the biggest factor going against Digital is there
       is no secondary market. It's kind of hard to sell this if your
       book increased in value, which makes having the real thing in
       your hands more of a sound investment. Besides, I just like
       turning the pages, turning the book sideways or whatever to look
       at the art. The feel of it, etc...
       #Post#: 1769--------------------------------------------------
       Re: comiXology
       By: Mac Date: September 15, 2011, 9:40 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       [quote author=ChipRawks link=topic=332.msg1767#msg1767
       date=1316096828]
       But where do they justify that price point for Digital Comics?
       Not worth it. If it were at least half off, than I think I'd be
       okay with. But the biggest factor going against Digital is there
       is no secondary market. It's kind of hard to sell this if your
       book increased in value, which makes having the real thing in
       your hands more of a sound investment. Besides, I just like
       turning the pages, turning the book sideways or whatever to look
       at the art. The feel of it, etc...
       [/quote]
       I don't think a company ever thinks about promoting a secondary
       market. In fact, quite the opposite. They will discourage it and
       make it harder if they can. They do not have the consumer
       mentality, and in some cases over the years that has really hurt
       the company. I remember studio's (like Disney) and directors
       (like Spielberg) say their works will never be put into a
       product you can hold in hand and own. That's just not right. But
       then along comes consumer's with this power to purchase,
       promote, tell others and now it's a whole new story for these
       greedy bastiges.
       We can only hope the rules of economics will kick in and things
       will balance out.
       #Post#: 1771--------------------------------------------------
       Re: comiXology
       By: ChipRawks Date: September 15, 2011, 9:51 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       But with comic books, it's entirely different than say DVD's.
       Comic books in the secondary market actually fuels the industry.
       It gets people buying multiple copies with the idea that one day
       it will be worth more, one that they can sell and one that they
       can keep for themselves. With this mindset of the fans out
       there, the industry is actually making more money up front. And
       no one is going to buy multiple copies of a Digital format. And
       I won't even bring up the idea of buying multiple copies of a
       DVD in the hopes of it increasing in value, which is funny if
       you think about it.
       Comic books as a whole is definitely geared toward reselling
       down the road and it's imperative that the industry continues to
       promote the idea that what they are buying now will be worth
       more in the future. Any other industry and product I can see
       them discouraging that idea. But for comics, just the opposite.
       #Post#: 1772--------------------------------------------------
       Re: comiXology
       By: Mac Date: September 15, 2011, 10:41 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       I'm hearing comic's are kind of like art (and unlike CD's &
       DVD's). They have the potential to increase in value for various
       reasons. But the main reason for the increased value is the
       comic community and not the creator/author of the comic. I'm not
       understanding how the company will benefit by the reselling.
       Once that product is printed, distributed and sold, the company
       has squeezed what money they can from the process. I can kind of
       understand a company promoting their product because 'it will
       increase in value' but that's marketing. I would think
       popularity will help future work from the company, maintain
       their product and more so see growth. But again, once a product
       is created and bought, the owner doesn't benefit from that
       product any longer.
       So the basic model is the same as other industries, but yea, a
       comic product has the advantage of becoming sought after and
       increasing in value.
       Hell, I don't know. It's just my opinion and what I've observed
       with products in general.
       #Post#: 1773--------------------------------------------------
       Re: comiXology
       By: ChipRawks Date: September 15, 2011, 10:52 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       It's true that the company in which said comic book has sold in
       the secondary market no longer has their hands on it nor would
       benefit financially from it. But they have ways around that now.
       Namely Trade Paperbacks. When a story or an Artist with name
       recognition goes "out of print", they just repackage a select
       run and then sell it again, usually at an increase markup due to
       paper quality, etc...
       And then if the book/series is really popular they will keep
       repackaging it over and over. The crown jewel in these types of
       runs ends with the Absolute Editions, which basically is an
       oversized Trade Paperback in Hardcover/Coffee Table Book format
       ranging in price of anywhere from $60-$80. Sometimes more.
       I actually go for these Coffee Table Books now as I rather skip
       the whole waiting each month for a book that may or may not come
       out due to an artist falling behind schedule.
       #Post#: 1774--------------------------------------------------
       Re: comiXology
       By: Mac Date: September 15, 2011, 10:57 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       I had no idea. But it makes total sense.
       #Post#: 1775--------------------------------------------------
       Re: comiXology
       By: ChipRawks Date: September 15, 2011, 11:04 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Yeah, it's turned into a pretty big money maker. It's kind of
       taking on the same mentality of the original comic books if you
       are able to score a First Print of those Absolute Editions. I
       was talking to a friend yesterday about this and he has a few
       copies of the Danger Girl Absolute Editions that are now
       fetching upwards of $300 and a few times nearing that of $1K on
       some occasions for those desperate to get and buy one.
       #Post#: 1776--------------------------------------------------
       Re: comiXology
       By: Mac Date: September 15, 2011, 11:11 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       I would think that's still a hit and miss proposition. The same
       could be said for books. You don't know if becomes a collector
       edition or not. I'm glad I'm no longer collecting. That's too
       much hope required.
       #Post#: 1777--------------------------------------------------
       Re: comiXology
       By: ChipRawks Date: September 15, 2011, 11:13 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       [quote author=Mac link=topic=332.msg1776#msg1776
       date=1316103118]
       I would think that's still a hit and miss proposition.
       [/quote]
       Very true.
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