CBR: NYCC: Kurtz Talks Digital vs. Print

[CBR News]

What was intended to be a debate between webcomics titan Scott Kurtz and legendary cartoonist Ted Rall about web versus print turned into a thoughtful discussion about the future of print media.


Full article here.

[Steve Broome]

There are a lot of interesting points here as it relates to the digital vs. print model. I'm getting ready to release an iPad app for my comics independently, so I would say that although it's a hindrance, app design for indies isn't impossible (obviously though you have to have some coding experience to go along with the writing/drawing stuff). There's also the workaround of either monetizing the web access directly or building a native app in HTML.

one huge concern I have as an indie creator is the approach these centralized comic apps seem to be taking that if it isn't selling over a certain amount it wont' be carried as part of their app. That is identical to what people threw a fit over Diamond doing to small press publishers, and it saddens me to see it already being repeated by digital distributors. It's amazing how much people talk about doing something "different" only to duplicate the pre-existing model.

[NeoStar9X]

I still feel day and date digital releases as they say are the key here. Once that takes place things will naturally take off. I'm glad DC is trying it to a degree but I hope more and more titles are needed. Hopefully when some of the lower price Android OS based tablets are released (significantly cheaper then the iPad by several hundred dollars) there will be Android OS apps and things will take off more.

[Zarathos81]

If I could be less interested in digital 'comics' I would be...but it just isn't possible.
The day real, monthly comics stop being published is the day I walk away from the industry and re-read the thousands of comics I now own.

[Spacedog2k5]

If I could be less interested in digital 'comics' I would be...but it just isn't possible.
The day real, monthly comics stop being published is the day I walk away from the industry and re-read the thousands of comics I now own.

Maybe I am in the minority, but I agree w/Zarathos81. It's the same reason I won't support the Kindle: I would much rather have a physical copy of a book in my hand than read it on a screen.

I spend 8 hrs/day, 5 days a week in front of a monitor. When all is said and done, at the end of the day, i don't want to have to sit in front of ANOTHER monitor/screen to be able to enjoy one of the few "indulges" I still have these days: comic books.

But, then again, I just use my cellphone for talking and txting when it's someone not using my provider. Hmm, I don't want a phone to play apps AND being an MP3 player? Wow, I must be from another planet!

[MNM]

Maybe I am in the minority, but I agree w/Zarathos81.

I agree with you both.

Digital comics are the Emperor's New clothes, and wont achieve what too many people in the industry think they will (ie more people reading). When I can no longer buy a proper comic to read in my hands rather than some electronic file, I shall simply stop reading them.

[Steve Broome]

I agree with you both.

Digital comics are the Emperor's New clothes, and wont achieve what too many people in the industry think they will (ie more people reading). When I can no longer buy a proper comic to read in my hands rather than some electronic file, I shall simply stop reading them.

What is this position based on? The "Emperor's new clothes" analogy is not a good one, since digital comics present the exact same content (and at times, extras) as print in a different format. There's nothing fraudulent about that.

If prices are driven too high in print comics b/c of the full color, odd-sized format, digital removes that. This leads to lower prices which could bring in those left out due to higher cover prices.

If people are not reading comics because they do not have a comic store near them and don't think about buying print comics online (or simply prefer e-readers) then digital could invite those left out by geography.

[ben12]

Unless digital comics can keep those damn kids off my lawn, what good are they?! I'm old!

[MNM]

What is this position based on? The "Emperor's new clothes" analogy is not a good one, since digital comics present the exact same content (and at times, extras) as print in a different format. There's nothing fraudulent about that.

I call it Emperor's New clothes for a simple reason. they are being dressed up as something that isnt there. Many, many people sit here and say how digital comics is the answer to comics prayers, how with comics being available on digital formts, many more people will now read them, despite the fact that being digital will not change the fundamental reason why comics dont sell well. Which is that people as a whole arent interested in reading them.

Gloss digital comics up all you want, they wont achieve their goal. If you want to argue semantics on the name I used, go ahead.

Millions of people go watch superhero films, they know comics exist, yet they dont bother to go find them. Why? because as I have said, the public as a whole isnt interested in reading them. Putting them out on formats that the ipad etc can read wont change that.

[Steve Broome]

I call it Emperor's New clothes for a simple reason. they are being dressed up as something that isnt there. Many, many people sit here and say how digital comics is the answer to comics prayers, how with comics being available on digital formts, many more people will now read them, despite the fact that being digital will not change the fundamental reason why comics dont sell well. Which is that people as a whole arent interested in reading them.

Gloss digital comics up all you want, they wont achieve their goal. If you want to argue semantics on the name I used, go ahead.

Millions of people go watch superhero films, they know comics exist, yet they dont bother to go find them. Why? because as I have said, the public as a whole isnt interested in reading them. Putting them out on formats that the ipad etc can read wont change that.

How can you make that claim when the experiment of selling comics digitally is so new? There's nothing inherently wrong with comics as a storytelling format, and the stigmas attached to reading comics will take time to get rid of.

Part of my research in developing the iPad app for my comic is to take it to people's relatives and friends so that I can get a gauge of how quickly different people can pick up the navigation of comics. One of the first thing I noticed is that if people are into the story, there's nothing that stops them from being interested in reading it. The second thing I notice is that people pretty much understand the great simplicity of comics, which is words and pictures.

I think you're slightly off about people having no interest in comics, the reality is that people have little access to them. When a movie is made based on a novel, people know to go to amazon or their local bookstores to get the novel if they're interested. Those bookstores then put a display with that novel in the front with pictures from the movies. Shopping is a habit, encouraged by marketing. Comics have neither public awareness or marketing money behind them. Comics are barely getting insertion in book stores, and where else do people THINK to get them? The reality is that people don't want to have to do research to find something, which is where digital steps in. Want the comic based on the movie you just saw? No hunting down a store 25 miles away. Use google or the search function in itunes. It's got great potential.

All that being said, if I'm wrong and comics are not something people are interested in, that would suck lol.