PAPER vs
PIXEL – It’s what WIZARD
called their new 2 page article on the coming of virtual
comics (see Wizard #232 currently newest issue). I figured
I’d be reading something along the lines of what I’d written a few
months ago
here, (pros and cons of each platform). Nope, it was as
one sided as could possibly be, basically saying here’s the
10 reasons why Digital Comics are better than printed ones.
So I’ve got a counter point for you Wizard.
by John
Robinson
Graham Crackers Comics
Top 10
Reasons Printed Comics are better than digital comics.
1.
Experience the book as it was intended.
Comics were designed to be read in the format they’re
printed. They weren’t designed to be read on a 3 inch by 4
inch screen one panel at a time. It’s like watching a movie
on your spoon. Technology will probably get us to that
point some day while we can do this while eating our cereal,
but is it a better experience? Clearly not. A lot of time
and effort gets put into laying out a book and a page (or 2
page spread) – you don’t have to let your digital reader
decide how it should be viewed, that should be up to the
creator and yourself.
2.
Anytime,
Anywhere.
Your comics batteries don’t run out. As long as your
eyes are working you can still read your comic, be it a
bright day outside in the park (glare is not an issue), or
in the middle of a 12 hour flight to Europe. Walking
Dead vol. 13 is good to go and you don’t have to stress
about making sure you charged it before you left, or pissed
that it died on you half way through your reading.
3.
Cheaper
by the dozen.
Sure some virtual comics are
cheaper than some printed comics. That’s what happens when
you buy a virtual item (see Farmville,
funny I still like
eating real food better even if it costs more) – but just
about every comic store in America has 25 cent and 50 cent
bins, as well as dirt cheap comics to be found at a comic
convention. Virtual comics, not so much.
4.
Cosmic
Scale.
Comics are colored with
printing in mind. A colorist cannot know how you’ve
calibrated your monitor vs. your PSP vs. your Ipad vs. how
your wife’s monitor makes greens look funny. But they can
know how to calibrate their screens as close as possible to
match what the printed result will look like. When you
get a printed version of a book it’s how they all look. It
doesn’t vary from monitor to monitor or device to device.
5.
They
have some value.
Not
not every comic book appreciates in value, and some you can
only re-sell to your local store for a nickel or a dime, but
that’s 100% better than the complete inability for you to
resell any virtual comic you buy. And when that rare
lightning strikes and you ended up with a copy of TMNT #1,
it’s a great feeling that you’ll never get from a virtual
product.
6.
Surprise
it’s new Technology!
Technology has repeatedly made vast changes every 3 or 4
years and entire platforms are quickly abandoned to embrace
the ‘new’ (i.e. resell you everything again). With a
printed comic you don’t have to worry that the new iPad
HI-DEF Mark IV isn’t backward compatible with the $4,000 you
just blew building a virtual comic collection. You can
always buy it all again right? That’s what they’re hoping
anyway. I can still read my 1980’s comics, but my old 5/14
floppy discs? Nope, don’t have a reader for those anymore.
7.
You
can lend them to friends.
With
your virtual comic downloads you’re buying DRM product.
(Digital Rights Media). You’re allowed your copy, on your
device. That’s it. One of the biggest joys I get from
comics is turning others on to them, be it lending a comic
or TPB.
8.
When's
the first virtual comic convention?
Again,
reading comics is great but sharing the experience with
others simply adds to it. For everyone that touts how great
it is to never have to leave their home, they’re missing out
on the fun of talking at the local comic store with the
employees or other customers, actually
meeting their favorite creators at a convention (in person,
not on twitter), being a collectible item is what helped
stimulate the first comic conventions.
9.
Do
as you please with them
Want
to frame your favorite comic and put it on the wall, no
problem. Want to give out your extra comics on Halloween
and turn kids on to comics? No problem. I’ve used comics
to wrap birthday presents, donated my comics to shelters,
I’ve lifted images off my comics with silly putty and you
know why? It’s because they’re real and I OWN THEM. I
didn’t sign away my rights to save a dollar and buy a
virtual product.
10.
The THRILL of the HUNT!
Even
if my long sought after comic isn’t worth a substantial
amount of money there’s a lot to be said for the thrill of
the hunt. Took me years to find the first Sam & Max (fishwrap
productions) comic, and it’s a book I show off to other
collectors. While not valuable, it is scarce and a comic I
love. Not a whole lot of pride or joy in clicking download
to a virtual item that has virtually a limitless quantity
available.