Category Archives: Biting the Bullet

Biting the Bullet: Digital Comics are here from DC!

Biting the Bullet, , , , , , , ,

http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2010/06/23/for-immediate-release-dc-comics-launches-digital-publishing/

I have mentioned on the show many times that I am a fan of comics reaching out to a digital audience. I don’t feel we need to get so worried about this as a replacement for paper copies but as an opportunity to reach out to a new digital crowd.

Comics as a storytelling medium have much in common with today’s Video Game and digital media culture. Video game storytelling is becoming more and more complex and this is not longer restricted to role playing game. I think many video game fans that have never been exposed to comics are comic fans in the making. The type of serialized deliver they expect from the best in video game sequels is exactly the type of storytelling they will get in comics.

I don’t think this is the only crowd that will be attracted to digital comics for the first time but it is certainly an audience base that is much larger than even the top selling comics of today. I am hoping we see advertising initiatives to reach this audience base and draw them into the wonderful world’s that we have been loving for so long.

My big frustration with digital initiatives is the fear that it will hurt the comic retailer. The only way that will happen is if fans of the paper product prefer the digital. I just don’t see that being the case. As long as there are collector’s, there will still be a paper product. While I am an advocate of digital comics, it won’t be a replacement for my paper comics. I look at this the same way as I looked at the birth of the trade paperback. It’s just another avenue of content delivery to increase exposure. I firmly believe that digital deliver should target an new type of potential comic fan vs. the current audience.

BATWOMAN ONGOING!!! YAY!

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http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2010/04/14/its-official-batwoman-ongoing-series/

When the news that Greg Rucka was leaving DC was announced, I was very sad. Greg is an extemely talented writer and I will miss his take on the DCU characters. I was also very worried for Batwoman. This character has been very well developed and it would be a shame to have her moment lost. I am thrilled that J.H. Williams will be taking over the book with a cowriter.

Batwoman is a fresh and exciting character with her own spin on the Batman world. I couldn’t be happier that plans of an ongoing are still in place.

Paul Cornell on Action Comics and why this could be great.

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http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2010/04/12/paul-cornell-steps-in-as-new-action-comics-writer/

Paul Cornell on Action. Wow, I did not see that coming. I’ve mentioned on the show for quite some time that besides my love for comics, I am a huge Dr. Who fan. Paul is the creator of Bernice Summerfield who was first a companion to Dr. Who in the Virgin New Adventures novels. These books were just fantastic and gave fans Dr. Who that was compelling when there was no series to follow. Paul’s growth as a novelist throughout that series was so fun to follow. His work at Marvel has been pretty darn good, with Wisdom being a favorite of mine.

Now I get the chance to see him take on Superman.  He was one of a series of creative writers who pushed the envelope of Dr. Who in novels and I look forward to see him play around with Clark’s world. I think the key to his Dr. Who books was that he really understood the core values of the character. As comic fans, we want a writer who knows that is an important step to keeping us on board.   I really think this could wind up being a great run.

Batman and Robin cover process @ the Source

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http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2010/04/08/batman-redrawn-part-2-batman-and-robin-3-6/

http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2010/04/07/batman-redrawn-part-1-with-grant-morrison-and-frank-quitely/

I am not an artist but adore seeing to various stages at creating comic book art work. The amount of care and detail that goes into each step is amazing to me. The cover work of Batman and Robin has been showcased in a series of posts this week over at DC’s Source Blog. I am loving that they are doing this so wanted to draw your attention there.

The other cool part of this series is that it is Showcasing the inspiration from Batman’s past that these covers are drawing from. Just fantastic.

Batman and Robin Preview

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http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2010/04/06/batman-vs-robin-continues/

This is exactly what I think is so great about the Batman books at the moment. High adventure with deep mysteries at the core that have been built over time. Why is Batman the world’s greatest detective? His world needs him to be that way. His world has put him in a position where that skill set is needed. I love that. The road to RIP with filled with this and I am glad to see that all of that matters and is part of a carefully laid out plan. It makes me more excited and invested in my monthly reading. That is so satisfying.

Neal Adams on Batman!!!

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http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2010/04/02/its-official-neal-adams-on-batman-odyssey/

I grew up loving Neal Adams and can’t recommend enough the Batman Illustrated by Neal Adams 3 volume set. It features Neal Adams complete Batman work, including covers and special artifacts recolored and remastered. It is just a gorgeous collection.

I am so stoked to see him working on a 12 issue Batman series. This has been rumored and in the worked for some time but to have an official announcement has me really excited. July can’t come soon enough. If you are new to comics and have never seen this creator’s visual work, you are in for a treat. This takes me back to my childhood. Just awesome news!!!

J.T. Krul and Some Beautiful Green Arrow art.

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http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2010/03/18/after-the-fall-green-arrow-rises-again/

I’ve always been a Green Arrow fan. My exposure to him as a kid had been with the Justice League, but The Longbow Hunters by Mike Grell was my first real introduction to him as a solo character.

I like that, similar to Batman, he is self made. He trained to become this archer that can stand on his own with metahumans. A huge difference is his sense of politics in a world that clearly needs someone to be a different voice. He isn’t afraid to stand up for the little guy. I also like the sometimes emotion gets the better of him. He makes mistakes and he isn’t always right. Yet, he picks himself up and keeps trying. There is a humanity to him that I identify with.

Spoiler Alerts to Cry for Justice 7:

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