PatK

November 13, 2008 1:53 am

I know this may sound terrible, but I'm glad that piracy is becoming more of a focus point and problem for comics. The comics industry and it's customers are extremely resistant to evloving the format. Just look at what it took to get a better paper stock for issues.

I totally agree that digital comics is the future of the industry and similar to the music industry I think pracy may just push them in that direction. Unfortunately Marvel really needs to step it up. For example, the 6 month lagtime between the retail and digital release is rediculous. What's the point of reading issues six months after they've been out, when that is clearly trade territory?

Right now, Marvel Digital comics is set up to compete with the trade market rather than issues and if that scenario does not change it will totally fail! Give the convenience of letting  the customer purchase issues at home, as soon as wedenseday hits, and I bet you would see a HUGE shift toward digital distribution.

One of major advantages piracy has currently over the market, is the immediacy and availibility the content is made availible. A few clicks saves someone from leaving their home, managing their pull lists, or trying to track down a sold out issue. No worries of space concerns, misprints, or storage and packaging.

 

Hopefully Piracy will force The industry to think differently about how they publish their books. Currently Marvel's Digital Comic subscription service is a mess, and a SIX MONTH lag time between digital and retail and that needs to change. One of the main points of reading issues it to go through events and not know what is coming next, a six month lag time totally negates this.

So if you pirate comics, I don't care, but it may be what's changiang Marvels viewpoint from the idea that digital distribution would be nice to something they have to.

October 29, 2008 3:59 pm

My favorite DC fan film was the one of Arkham Asylum, the spanish one. The guy has fantastic special effects, music, and nailed the style of the book.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_v_XCMuufTQ

Anyway great post man! some of these are actually pretty decent

August 22, 2008 1:13 pm

Great article Ron!

 I think that not only does DC and Marvel have to try and market differently, but retailers really need to get their act together, and stop living in the past!

I'm a relatively new reader to comics and I can still remember the first time coming into a few lcs after reading Planet Hulk. First thoughts, honestly, was to get the hell out of there! Everything was a mess, and for a new reader walking into a comic store like the one I did, it made it feel as if it is a dying industry.

 Retailers need to understand that comics are becoming a competitive market and that they need to move inventory, reorganize, and make it easier for new readers. If I didn't have a friend who was a avid comic reader, I probably would have only read Planet Hulk, and shrugged everything else off to the side.

For me I'll stick to either ordering online or from amazon because unless theres a kid with a credit card, theres no way they'd pay retail for a book covered in ads for full price (and hell no to 3.99).

 

August 11, 2008 2:16 pm

Great Show!

I loved Final Crisis #3 last week, mainly for the same reasons as was mentioned on the podcast. I'm really dreading the whole deal about the art, the first two issues had absolutely fantastic art! While the third issue's art wasn't as good, I want to see Jones finish it out. I hope the new artist just does backup stories, as was mentioned on the podcast.

What cover did you guys think was better? The Supergirl one or the one with the crazy Wonder Woman thing going on?

By the way, great to hear an ad for Heavy Ink on here, I've been using them for quite a while, great store and saves me a ton of cash!

June 25, 2008 10:19 pm

AMAZING recommendations guys! I was thinking about picking up Akira, and now that I see they have a computer enhanced color version, I'm definitely going to try and see if I can get my hands on it.

 

I'll give Ghost in the Shell a 2nd shot, but I gotta tell ya I loved the movies and anime series WAY more than the manga, the Dark Horse uncensored pages for the first volume are really just fan service porn, that is used for a pretty lame joke later on. The uncensored pages ruined it for me meh...LOVE the films though!

 I gotta check out Monster as well I saw it mentionedin the Comics Foundry Magazine. I guess Masi Oka (from heroes) says its a must read for him.

June 25, 2008 9:41 pm

Really My favorite Series right now are published by Dark Horse:

 Berserk: The First Volume is outstanding extremely well done art and the story is a medevil tale somewhat inspired by the Evil Dead Films. Gutts, the protaginist is looking to revenge on the The Four Hands of Fate ( I think), and their leader. It's a great Manga, and also a Fantastic Anime!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=MUhL416sgu0 (decent trailer, the art looks great check it out, unfortunately theres some heavy metal in it)

 

Blade of the Immortal: Another one of My favorite Manga books, this is a eisner award winning series , I think for Best Foreign title or something. It's a typical Samurai type deal, with a very unique and sketchy art style, that makes the action sequences seem extremely fast paced and epic. This is actually being made into a anime this summer in Japan.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=nGbLhNF8PKU (Here's the promo trailer for the anime)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=dGPATbhAY2g (a great tribute trailer to the manga, they say a picture is worth a thousand words, and the art style will really blow you away)

June 10, 2008 2:54 am

I agree with NealAppeal, I love Pax Romana, but man it's been a slow had wait for each issue. I heard he's has two new borns on his hands, so its hard to blame him, but damn I'm dying for a new Pax issue.

Bah, anyway cannot wait to pick this book up on wedenseday, the premise, writing, and art all look and sound incredible. 

May 19, 2008 7:57 pm What issue does Huat start on? This one?

May 13, 2008 5:36 pm

To Stan Lee:

Is there one character from DC comics, that you particularly love, or that you think would have been a great fit in the marvel universe? 

Thanks! 

May 2, 2008 2:22 pm

I loved Marvel Ultimate alliance, I thought they did a great job. The downloadable characters definitely made the game though, Hulk Venom Magneto, Sabertooth, and Dr. Doom; the lineup was incredible!

My favorite character had to be the Hulk, I just started reading comics when I started playing and man I thought it was awesome they had the planet hulk outfit it was killer.

 My go to team almost every time was the Hulk, Thor, Sabertooth, and the human torch.

I love that game =P