The Forbidden Planet International Blog Log

Over on the 2000 AD forums artist PJ Holden has been discussing a subject which has a good chunk of the Twitterverse and blogosphere speculating away, the announcement of Apple’s next baby, a tablet computer, an arrival generating a fair bit of excited discussion among some (although some have argued that tablet type computers seem limited and pointless with cheap and powerful full laptops available or smaller portable devices too). PJ however, is looking at the new tech toy from the comics perspective: “If the Apple tablet does half of what people say it will – for example, if ALL it does is combine the App store ability to distribute/sell content along with a platform that allows you to read comic book content then almost overnight it will completely reinvent the comics industry – in a way that the iPhone has started to make headway in.” He then goes on to apply this more specifically to 2000 AD and argues that for the comic to work on it resizing would be needed, along with a much cheaper price for the digital as opposed to print version to make it worthwhile for purchasers to go virtual:

“Screen size. Largest anticipated screen size I’ve seen mentioned is around 10″ – this is just a little smaller than a US comic, and, combined with really hi resolution screen will keep US comics readable, 2000ad – not so much. We’ll either have to see chopped up art, some form of on screen loupe for reading content, or zoom in/zoom out reading – none of which are perfect, but, at with a bit of luck, the entire 2000AD back catalogue could be available on a single device”

(fabulous cover art to 2000 AD Prog 1669 – the brilliant Stickelback rendered by the equally brilliant D’Israeli)

I don’t completely agree with PJ – “almost overnight it will completely reinvent the comics industry ” stikes me as rather too bold a claim; we’ve had increasing numbers and varieties of digital comics for some time now and they most certainly have changed things and will continue to do so increasingly, but they haven’t reinvented the industry and certainly not overnight (even people who grab illegal free scanned digital versions on pirate sites hasn’t changed everything because a lot of those folks probably never buy paper comics anyway). But that said its not an area that can be ignored, of course and no publisher can afford not to be thinking of these potential new markets. But again I have to say I don’t see it reinventing the industry, rather supplementing and complimenting it. For starters there’s cost – even if publishers make comics available digitally fairly cheap the reader still has to purchase the actual tech, which isn’t exactly a few pounds like a comic its hundreds of pounds; its not an impulse buy for most folks/ Then there’s running costs of mobile broadband contracts; the Iphone has been very successfully marketed and these don’t seem to have been barriers to it, but then again, popular though it is, how many are there in use compared to the number of actual cell phone users? And is it really more comfortable and convenient to read a paper comic or a tablet on the move, in the park, on the train? No.

And heavy comics buyers, like heavy book buyers, want the physical object not only to read – reading being a tactile as well as cognitive experience – but for their shelves. Physical copies which can’t suddenly be removed from your device as has happened with some ebooks and music tracks for any number of reasons. The tablet will no doubt become an additional platform and outlet for comics as smart phones have – especially handy for small presses who struggle to get print copies of comics into stores or even through distributors and make little on them even if they do – but again I think the idea that they will reinvent the industry is over ambitious. Its unlikely anyone will be buying these devices just for reading (even devices which are made simply for that purpose, like ebook readers, are still expensive compared to a book), rather, like some gaming machines, they have them for other reasons and find the comics to be a fun and handy app to add to the device, which is great and does add more potential outlets for comics distribution but compared to the number of book and comics readers that’s still only a fraction. Perhaps when some of the tech that’s been discussed recently in science journals, with flexible, thin films carrying print and images -, effectively smart paper – is available and almost as cheap (and in the case of periodicals, disposable) then it will actually largely replaceactual  paper, at least for some titles (probably periodicals, journals, papers and weekly or monthly comics), but an expensive device isn’t going to do that.

Before anyone thinks I am tech-bashing I should point out I love my gadgets – I’ve been online since 1991 and had a computer since 1980. I have read books and comics on screen, from short strips to full graphic novels and digital proofs of entire novels (a handy way for a small press to show work for potential review without the costs of printing proofs and posting them out) and while I found it okay as an experience, I can’t say I particularly cared for it and it wouldn’t be my choice for more than a few short strips like some web serials or short prose stories – for anything more, give me Mr Gutenberg’s remarkable printing moveable type on that other wonderful technology that did really reinvent things, paper. My quibbles aside though, PJ still brings up some good points and its kicked off a discussion on the forums with more people expressing opinions pro and contrary and, as I said, while it may not reinvent the wheel it does add another spoke and anyone who read, writes, draws or publishes has to consider it.