Digital Comics

Over the holidays we kept referring to that day in the late '90s when everyone got a modem* for Christmas, and the next day you could barely get AOL on dial-up because it was so busy as everyone tried out their new toy. That was what we predicted for Boxing Day as far as tablets go. And sure enough, ownership has doubled over the last month, to the tune of 1 in 3 Americans now owning some kind of tablet.

by Matt Demers

— [Yesterday's Apple announcement about a self-authoring tool to get books into the iBookstore sounded like a boon to comics creators and part of the whole DIY movement. However, as Matt Demers writes, it's not all as rosy as it looks.] —

In one of their much-hyped press events yesterday, Apple unveiled a new version of their iBooks with a specific focus on educational texts. When viewed on students' iPads, these once-boring textbooks would come alive with video, animations and graphics. There would also be the ability to annotate and create interactive glossaries, possibly bringing a bit of future flair to the medium.

Well now the circle is complete. Former DC online VP Ron Perazza has joined comiXology as Vice-President – General Manager of Publisher and Creator Services. At DC, Perazza was responsible for the ambitious Zuda imprint and behind many other forward-looking initiatives. Since leaving DC last year he's been a bit of a free agent, but presumably his non-compete is over, and comiXology is the perfect place for him and furthers their place as the driver of the digital comics era.

You wanted 99 cent comics? You got 'em. Digital comics, that is. In what's a first for the Transformer series, IDW is making one of it's premiere licensed comics available first as a digital-only 12-part series selling for 99¢ for an 8 page chapter. The chapters will be released every two weeks starting today.

Everyone is figuring out new ways to get their stuff out there. Halo-8 is a multimedia company that just funded the OCCUPY COMICS anthology via Kickstarter -- but it's being released a little differently. People who purchased the book via Kickstarter get a digital subscription until the printed version comes out. They're using a similar system for GODKILLER, a comic written by Halo-8 head Matt Pizzolo and illustrated by Anna Muckcracker Wieszczyk, previously known for LUCID (Archaia) and the OCCUPY COMICS promo image.

Viz Media is running a nice promotion: new users can download their free app for iPad, iPhone or iPod and, after registering for an account, download a free volume 1 manga of your choice.

Another cool free thing on the internet! A downloadable book collecting the best storyboard spots featured on the Adventure Time tumblr. SInce Adventure Time is just one big indie comic come to life, by presenting these comics like storyboards, now we've come full circle.

The acclaimed Portland-based Study Group 12 anthology is starting up a web comic portal for several of their contributors, with regular series & one-shots...

In related and interesting news, Dav Pilkey's two Super Diaper Baby spinoff graphic novels will get e-books on January 31 of this year, each with supplemental material for that e-book/DVD extra format. These have the potential to be among the biggest selling e-comics of the year -- or not since every kid has a print version. Worth keeping an eye on.

I look back and recall the interesting events of 2011. What's my choice for the biggest event of 2011? Read and find out!

Comics+ is giving away a copy of STAR TREK #1 in their app -- but only until 3 pm EST. Use code FMST01 in the app for the free book. STAR TREK #1 features the classic characters in the alternate timeline of the reboot, overseen by Robert Orci with writer Mike Johnson and artist Stephen Molnar. #1 reimagines the original pilot, “Where No Man Has Gone Before.”

It was the year of the gift tablet -- and while cluelessly materialistic kids may have been plunged into the slough of despond at not getting an iPhone under the tree -- some may have rejoiced over getting a Kindle; Some 4 million Kindles were sold in December.

It was the best holiday-ever for the Kindle family. In fact, customers purchased more than 1 million Kindle devices each week, with the Kindle Fire tablet leading the pack with most sales, followed by the Kindle Touch and the original Kindle ereader. Kindle devices were also the best-selling products on Amazon in the U.K., Denmark, Spain and Italy.

Christmas Day was, as we predicted, the biggest day ever for Kindle downloads, according to Amazon head Jeff Bezos -- unBoxing day as Torsten has dubbed it.