Can Mobile Comics Help Save Print Editions?
Posted by meredith on 08-27-2009
Earlier this week in Ypulse Essentials we linked to a brief BBC News article on Stan Lee’s upcoming multi-platform project with Disney: an animated comic book series complete with motion graphics, voiceovers and music available for web and mobile. Color me intrigued, but what really caught my eye was Lee’s quote at the end of the piece, voicing his faith in print comics. From the article:
Lee said that, despite the multi-platform approach to his new project, he thought there was still a future for the traditional printed comic book.
He said: “There will always be comic books because it’s an inexpensive way to enjoy a colorful story and people have always liked that.”
Fair to say this is a very condensed version of Lee’s view on the subject, but it is interesting to note that the words “paper” or “print” don’t actually appear in his quote. And as the world of digital comics continues to grow and spawns innovations like motion comics, web series and enough mobile apps to merit an entire site devoted to helping readers find them all, it is interesting to wonder where the print editions and comic book shops that have traditionally stored them will fit in for the next generation of fans.
It was more than a decade ago that I went through my comic book phase (I was an avid Archie fan from fourth to sixth grade), but back then the act of collection played a key role in my experience. I wasn’t the type to keep my copies in mint condition, but there was something comforting about that aspect of ownership, seeing the cover art and numbered spines proudly displayed on my bookshelves. Not to mention the thrill of making the trip to a local comic book store where displays, fellow fans and the general atmosphere just made my fandom that much more more tangible.
When I look back and recall that adolescent dorky rush, I like to think that, as with young record collectors, the appeal of paper comics will be able to transcend nostalgia. But sentiment aside, I know that’s easier said than done. Along with all of the multimedia distractions out there competing for younger audiences’ attention , print comics are a business with a very low profit margin and distribution has continued to be a problem, especially for smaller publishers. That’s why I’m hoping to see these new and old media platforms work together to reinvigorate the latter, even if it’s just for a niche audience.
A few app developers have promised as much. For instance, a recent iPhone app offering from ComiXology, a subscription-maintenance site with a relationship to publishers and retailers, seems especially intent to drive traffic to local stores, expressing a hope to use the app to turn a new audience on to lesser known comics by offering cheap or free selections from 20 different publishers in one place and ultimately helping readers to find their local comic book shop. I can also see mobile promotions for superhero and graphic novel-inspired blockbuster films playing a role in these new models.
What do Ypulse readers think? Will mobile and digital comic technology pay off in the way that superhero film franchises have in the past? Or are print comics on their way to becoming collector’s items?
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Categorized under: Books & Print