Longbox Digital Comics

[anarky]

Looks like this company, Longbox, is trying to set up the fabled "iTunes for comics."

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page ... e&id=21693

It could work. This could actually get me to change my plans if it's feasible, so as to not have to worry about the accounting on my end. There's not much info yet, though. They claim two publishers are onboard, but even their website has absolutely nothing (just a logo with a question mark).

[vynsane]

yeah, i saw that... the design of the reader or whatever looks a little... over-done, but the idea is sound. i've been DLing a few comics here and there and it doesn't compare to reading in-hand, but it could be the salvation of the independent/self-publishers out there, in light of diamond's threshold/benchmark increases.

[anarky]

I think it's going to be the only way to attract new readers, too. No one is going to "try out" a book that's 22 pages, part of a five-part story, and has a cost of $3.99.

I wish they had more info available. It seems odd that Top Cow and Boom! are onboard, but no one else, and there's no convenient "I'm a publisher; send me more information!" link anywhere. I'd assume they'd want as much support as possible, as early as possible. Maybe they don't have all the ducks quite as in a row as they want to make it appear...?

[vynsane]

the screenshot i saw had 'invincible' on it - so it's not just top cow, supposedly.

[anarky]

Hmmm... Could be Image as well, or it could be a generic shot they made. Of course, it's doubtful Kirkman would allow his work to be plastered all over the web to advertise this service if he wasn't onboard.

Good eye, Vincente.

[vynsane]

could've just been a mockup, though... but yeah - i doubt kirkman'd be too happy with that being passed around as a promotional item without at least his approval to use it AS a mockup.

[anarky]

So the Comic-Con panel will be... Thursday! The day I won't be there. Terrific. And no booth, either. Double terrific.

[anarky]

Looks like they didn't say much (a couple more tiny publishers on board), and they're still not clear if they're launching in September of October. The site is up (http://www.longboxdigital.com), but it's got a really mediocre setup on its one page and says nothing. They also don't appear to be promoting this anywhere but comicbookresources.com--even newsarama.com hasn't run so much as a press release.

I could be wrong, but it sounds like they don't know jackshit about this themselves. I'm smelling the aroma of clusterfuck here.

[anarky]

So, the release date keeps moving back, there's no word on the beta test, and I went searching for info. The only thing I could find that was recent was a blog post at the Chicago Sun-Times. It seems like it's still in production. Don't know how true it was, but one commenter said he'd been talking about this project for over two years with nothing to show for it.

I could be surprised, but I'm leaning toward the belief that the fabled iTunes For Comics this is not.

[vynsane]

there was an article about them at CBR after dragoncon, i think, where they had a panel. they're talking about a closed industry-professional beta coming soon. i meant to post the link, but apparently neglected to. i'll try to dig it up.

[anarky]

Yeah, but at the rate they're moving, and the minimal amount of publicity they're doing, the guy in charge should change his name to [the name of the dude who runs the other site.

[anarky]

Judging from comments on CBR today, they've not even started beta testing, as promised would happen about two months ago.

Marvel appears to have inked a deal to bring comics to the iPhone. And so I ask, since I don't know: anyone like reading comics on a phone? I could see an electronic reader, but not a phone. At the least, it seems like it would require heavy editing.

[anarky]

The site's active. I could've designed a better site with my meager talents. There's no info available if you don't actually download the software.

I'm going to go a bit farther than I did earlier and say that there's a 99.99999999999999999999% chance this isn't what people have been waiting for.

[Rollo Tomassi]

Maybe I'm an old fashioned fuddy duddy, but I like the idea of holding a comic in my hand and not looking at it on my screen.

[vynsane]

yeah, fuck these guys - they took too long to get their shit together to end up with an inferior product.