Posted by on Apr 2, 2012 in Digital | 20 Comments

Welcome to the blog relaunch. Enjoy the show.

If you’re just joining us, as many of you are, I’m Mark Waid, a very lucky writer whose 25-year career has depended exclusively on print–specifically, on comic books and graphic novels in their familiar paper format. I’ve had some very good years and a few relatively lean ones. I’ve been around long enough to see the fortunes of the medium I’ve loved since I was three years old rise and fall repeatedly, but I always assumed that print would forever be my home.

Now I’m not so sure.

Right now, even as you read this, I’m working with some incredibly talented comics craftsmen to launch a digital comics website next month. It’ll be regularly updated with all-new content covering a variety of storytelling genres. But because I’m a big believer in sharing information, I’ve decided to go public with the construction process–meaning that, effective today, I’m turning this dormant “here’s everything I know about print comics” page into a full-blown Digital Comics Process Blog.

In the weeks to come, I’ll regularly update you with Everything I Know. I’ll explain why I originally got the bug to go digital several years ago and what about it appeals to me. I’ll introduce you to some of the webcomics creators I learned (and am still learning) from. You’ll read interviews with and guest columns by other artists and writers as we talk about what works, what doesn’t, and what ought to if we could just figure out how to implement it. Most of all, with glass-house transparency, I’ll show you my first baby steps in this new medium, and I’ll happily disclose what I’ve learned (and am still learning) about how to get the best out of it.

If I do this right, we should in a very short period of time become a good, solid resource for anyone out there who wants to know how to start doing digital comics–and for anyone experienced who cares to share his or her insights. Forums are already being set up here (if they’re not already), and I welcome your comments.

Tomorrow: Epiphany 2009.

20 Comments

  1. Richard Pachter
    April 2, 2012

    Wish you well, Mark.

    Would be interesting to also know your business model for this initiative.

    Good luck. Will be following with interest!

    Reply
  2. Tom Dell'Aringa
    April 2, 2012

    Looking forward to reading more about this process Mark. I’m really glad you decided to share.

    Reply
  3. Brian Saner Lamken
    April 2, 2012

    Hey, dude!
    I’m really looking forward to all this.
    “Luther” seriously impressed me in terms of how it pushed the boundaries of comics’ potential in a digital setting while remaining *comics* instead of becoming some hybrid bastardization — no audio, no limited animation — that as a McCloudian purist (less a convert/acolyte than someone whose innate, strongly held definition of the medium has been perfectly echoed by the guy) to me is no longer comics. I’ve been wanting to get a blogpost up on that sample strip; this announcement has redoubled my hopes that it’ll happen soon, like you need whatever meager traffic I’d bring.
    I wish you the best and can’t wait to virtually peer over your shoulders as this progresses.

    Reply
  4. Jeff Barbanell
    April 2, 2012

    Thanks for this, Mark.

    As a young fan in the 60s and 70s, I was encouraged to join and shape fandom by interacting with my creator idols as human beings.

    As a retailer in the 80s, I was charged with promoting the expansion of comics as a medium across diverse genres by steering distribution into new territory.

    As a parent in the 90s, I was forced to call narrative content and corporate motivation into question by developing healthy critical thinking in my children.

    As an educator in the 21st century, I am convinced that the salvation of our beloved medium as well as the narratives we hold dear depends on appealing to as wide an audience as possible. This project includes engaging students as early as possible in the language of sequential art across multiliteracy platforms. I am willing to join and contribute to any movement/enterprise that seeks to recapture the joy we found when we first discovered science fiction, mythology, fantasy, and later, crime and historical fiction.

    I am convinced that our medium was meant to deliver its content digitally as one of many multiliteracies. Something about our distribution model and demographics put us behind the eightball when other narratives moved full speed ahead.

    In more dramatic terms, we need to break the shackles of outmoded, fear-based models by embracing crowdsourcing and independent, entrepreneurial creation and distribution. For my part, I will focus on the youngest readers, motivating them to explore new worlds through text and pictures, in print and digitally, perhaps (in due time) holographically.

    Thanks again, Mark, for committing your time, energy, and comic collection to spearhead this vital forum.

    Agora v. Agoraphobia!

    Warm Regards, Jeff

    Reply
  5. Joe Cho
    April 2, 2012

    I just wanted to say I’m really looking forward to your new venture. I’ve been a fan of yours for a very long time! I’ve also been a fan of Yves Bigeral’s for a couple of years now when I first found his deviant art “Born Digital” page.

    I’ve experimented with digital comics, being inspired by Yves, but I have so many questions about it, and because this artform is still pretty new, I couldn’t find the answers I was looking for in terms of development, programming (I suck at adobe flash) and format.

    Now that you’ve entered the fray, I’m inspired all over again and can’t wait to see what you’ve got coming. I think what you’re doing is really important and I will be a regular visitor to your blog.

    Thanks Mark.

    Joe.

    Reply
  6. Simon DelMonte
    April 2, 2012

    Best of luck with this. I’ve followed your career from the very start, when you were an editor at Amazing Heroes, and every step of the way you have given it your all. I know you will do no less in this project. And I can’t wait to see what you and your collaborators come up with.

    Especially in PDF form.

    Reply
  7. Gordon Harries
    April 2, 2012

    Mark:

    Just another long time fan wishing you well on your digital adventure. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

    Gordon.

    Reply
  8. Scott Story
    April 2, 2012

    Mark, I look forward to seeing your ideas in action, and maybe implementing a few of them myself.

    Reply
  9. Don Garvey
    April 2, 2012

    This is fantastic news. I really believe that the rising tide will float all ships as respected and established creators join the indie digital comics “movement”. I believe it will help direct traditional comics readers toward this (currently) alternative form of the medium.

    The fact that you are so willing to share your experiences is further evidence of how this will ultimately benefit all of us who make digital comics.

    Reply
  10. joe lozanno
    April 2, 2012

    hello
    I am eager to hear from you.
    I listened to the adavance of this piece of good news in the ifanboy podcast, WORD BALLON-with John Siuntres.
    I have a lot of ideas, and no idea how to put them in practise.(every body can see this at tripletagalo@gmail.com)

    Good luck.I wish you the best.

    Reply
  11. Mark Wheatley
    April 2, 2012

    You’re doing great with it, Mark. As long as the reader controls the experience – it is still READING and not animation. Beyond that – it will always be about story.

    Reply
  12. Ari Abramovsky
    April 2, 2012

    Hi Mark I am a big fan and wanted to say thank you for signing my brothers copy of the irredeemable annual that we sent to you.

    I look forward to see what you create online at your site and hope you continue writing great comics

    Reply
  13. D. Eric Carpenter
    April 3, 2012

    As one of the few writers I’ll follow to any project, you’ve finally piqued my interest in digital comics.

    Don’t get me wrong: we have a highly tech-centric household. I’ve just had an issue with viewing standard print comics in an electronic format. So far I’ve only used digital comics to catch up on something I’ve missed and can’t locate physically.

    The fact that you’re looking to create comics that utilize the format instead of being constrained by it is a good sign.

    I’m looking forward to being won over.

    Reply
  14. Joe Simmons
    April 3, 2012

    If you need an all-ages artist, let me know. I’m a big fan of digital comics.

    Reply
  15. Jose Marzan Jr.
    April 4, 2012

    Hey Mark,

    Look forward to your posts! Hope to learn a few things along the way!

    Jose

    Reply
  16. Mike
    April 4, 2012

    I’ve been making strides to research the process and options for taking my webcomic project into an accessible form for phone and tablet apps. There doesn’t currently appear to be a lot of options or readily available information for independent/ small press digital comic creators.
    Your blog seems to be exactly what I’ve been looking for.
    I’m excited to follow your process.

    Thanks for doing this.

    Reply
  17. Russ Daff
    August 18, 2012

    Hi Mark

    Great job. The digital medium is here to stay and comics generally need to join the party. It’s a shame that the big companies have bulldozed their way in and it’s as hard as ever for indie producers.

    I’m an indie comic app developer and it’s really hard to get noticed along side the big boys who have a bottomless marketing budget.

    Please check out my comic app “Mini Myths”

    http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mini-myths-1-heroic-beginnings/id534983168?mt=8

    Keep up the good work

    Reply

Leave a Reply