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Printheads: The LongBox Digital Comics thread

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      CommentAuthorjoe.distort
    • CommentTimeJun 24th 2009 edited
     (6217.1)
    well, if its a choice between not existing or existing, then yes, obviously i want them around. but you know how i prefer physical media- i am concerned for books that ARE big enough to survive in print, but that this option may become so overwhelmingly popular that people just skip the whole "getting actual comic books printed" part of making comics.

    i also am well aware that my opinion on this is probably in the minority, especially on a site like this. i understand the economic reality for small publishers, i am more concerned with digital-only comics becoming the norm in a few years.

    edit: i hope im being clear: i am not opposed to digital comics, i think its great for this to prosper.
  2.  (6217.2)
    I had the pleasure of seeing the unveiling at Heroes Con and not only was the product itself impressive but, Rantz, you are truly the perfect spokesperson for your company. Professional, knowledgeable and obviously passionate about the entire subject.

    Something I'm really interested in with this is something that Rantz spoke briefly about at Heroes Con. The social and community aspect to Longbox. Not sure if it's planned for initial launch but being able to friend other Longbox users, recommend books and even buy your friends' books at a discounted rate (if I understood that properly) could be HUGE in growing the user base for this.
  3.  (6217.3)
    Yeah, not to keep bringing up Netflix but I use it a lot and it's great to be able to view my friends' queues and add movies based on what they have.

    Think about what kind of endorsements there would be if comic writers and artists got Longbox accounts and gave other users access to their lists..."What's this Mr. Stuffins thing that Matt Fraction is reading? Bought."
    • CommentAuthoricelandbob
    • CommentTimeJun 24th 2009
     (6217.4)
    Well as long as Avatar are considering signing up to this and if it works in Iceland, i would definitely give it a shot. While the guys at my shop are a good lot it takes AGES for avatar stuff to arrive (and they didn´t know that Absolution was coming out Though they said that they would look into it....). there has also been a worrying abscense of Scalped over the last couple of issues but they said that they have had shipping problems...
  5.  (6217.5)
    As opposed to those books going away entirely? Because I think we're reaching that point now.

    Warren, I realize that you aren’t an economist, but do mean right now because the global recession is hurting comics, or because the long downward sales trend is getting ready to nail the coffin shut?
  6.  (6217.6)
    @icelandbob - We're looking over all the digital options. While there is nothing I love more than a printed comic, I'm aware that Avatar needs to have digital options available for fans. Avatar won't be the first company to jump on any platform, but when we do, we'll make some noise. I know of at least one annoucement this Fall that will be BIG, certainly more to follow. It is very safe to say WC will be where we pimp any news.
  7.  (6217.7)
    @tcatsninfan Yes, like Celebrity playlists in iTunes! Great idea.
  8.  (6217.8)
    What do I want?

    I want to be able to read books the week of release. I am over 30 and I love my weekly comics, but I don't like storing them and can't afford to simply throw away and spend money again on the trade of everything I might wish to reread. So I keep them.

    In addition, I like having that time each week to unwind, yet I rather want to then have them collected in trade on my shelf.

    I am the exact audience here I think.

    I will happily pay .99 a title for a digital copy with a possible discount on the trade. In the end the cost might be comparable to the price I pay now for just the floppies. I can buy the great stuff as a book, and the rest will simply not take up physical space.

    I would however point out the standard DRM machine limit is 5, not 3. 3 runs a decent risk of IT-oriented people burning through very fast.
  9.  (6217.9)
    I am over 30 and I love my weekly comics, but I don't like storing them and can't afford to simply throw away and spend money again on the trade of everything I might wish to reread.

    Exactly the same story here. Buy piles of comics and filling longboxes was great when I lived with my parents in a giant house in the suburbs. Now I’m in a relatively small apartment in Manhattan, and dealing with single issues is a royal pain in the ass.

    I would however point out the standard DRM machine limit is…

    The DRM isn’t relevant. It will be so bad for PR that it will eventually be dumped. It’s not easy to market a product when almost everyone who writes about it will include caveats about the DRM system.
    • CommentAuthoricelandbob
    • CommentTimeJun 24th 2009
     (6217.10)
    @ William Christensen

    No probs. Am holding my breath till the fall (gnnnnn......)
    •  
      CommentAuthorRantz
    • CommentTimeJun 24th 2009
     (6217.11)
    The number of iterations (3) is tied to the initial launch on desktop systems. (Home system, office system, laptop) As new devices are added, we'll be increasing the number of iterations.
  12.  (6217.12)
    Rantz:

    Wait, is it a license for 3 at any given time, and not a machine copy limit?
  13.  (6217.13)
    but you know how i prefer physical media

    Me too. And people like, say, ME, will always be able to publish in physical media. But there won't be a third PHONOGRAM series without something like Longbox. And Gillen & McKelvie won't be the only ones in that boat.
    • CommentAuthorgzapata
    • CommentTimeJun 24th 2009
     (6217.14)
    People keep saying they don't want the printed form to die but remember that trade's and graphic novels are a printed form. One that has shown to be viable and isn't hurting companies as much as singles from what I've seen. If anything, going digital and allowing more people to come in would increase demand for THAT printed form.

    I was just watching some show on the history channel yesterday about comics and it brought up a good point. Comic book characters are probably more popular now than ever before yet are at their lowest sales as well. People want this but the single issues aren't bringing them in or interesting them
    •  
      CommentAuthorLokiZero
    • CommentTimeJun 24th 2009
     (6217.15)
    I was just thinking about something like this over the weekend.

    My line of thinking was using the subscription based model that porn sites use ( monthly fee = username & password ) and apply it to comics. I couldn't come up with a good reason why someone like Marvel or DC doesn't jump on that and start hosting their comics digitally, undercutting the torrent sites and generating some more revenue. I know I'd be all over it.

    Longbox sounds like a great idea, using the iTunes model instead of the porn site model.
  16.  (6217.16)
    Marvel already has a monthly digital subscription like you mention. Not sure how successful it is but I guess their degree of success on their own will determine whether or not they jump on board Longbox.
  17.  (6217.17)
    Marvel already has a monthly digital subscription like you mention


    Sorta.

    Marvel has a digital service where you can read archived books. I think there is currently a minimum 6 month lead time between a book hitting the stands, and 1+ years is more common.

    They also have a number of runs which stop dead in the middle of stories, and an uneven pattern in how they update older books.

    They will be using Spider-Woman to test using the service for week of release, but seem focused on making into a media product (with voice and maybe motion).

    It is in many ways a very different thing in a practical sense.
    •  
      CommentAuthorLokiZero
    • CommentTimeJun 24th 2009 edited
     (6217.18)
    The last time I looked at Marvel's digital comics offering, the system was just slow and horrible. It's been a few years, so I hope it's gotten better.

    Why not new comics? Why not just post a scan of the image in a full-size browser window, with next and back buttons? Choose which books you want to subscribe to every month, I get a login, and they get my money. Not sure why that's so hard.

    Longbox sounds like a much better system than that, I hope the big 2 jump on it.
  19.  (6217.19)
    Right now it is flat fee Loki, and a way for them to make money on their archives (and the work they put into processing books so they can be collected in trade if they are pre-digital).
  20.  (6217.20)
    About 5 years ago I approached a comic book publisher (someone known, and no I'm not telling whow) with a proposal not unlike Longbox, based on the experience I/we have with digital download stores for music. Sadly it didn't stick: Too risky, fear of the bricks and mortar income etc. (in hindsight, too fucking early) I'm really, really glad that Rantz has finally cracked it and is making serious headway with proper platform independent digital distribution model for comics.

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