Trev says: Recently DC comics announced that Zuda was going to disbanded as an imprint. I thought i’d share a few thoughts on the matter. As usual I make no guarantees of a conherent line of thought, rather these are musings on both the announcement and the responses to this announcement.

First of all here’s my reading of what this means. 1. The Zuda website is going to be shutdown and all content will be moved over to the iPhone/iPad comixology app. 2. This will merge the Zuda digital beachhead established with the rest of the DC line that is going to be made available through the same app. Since Zuda is no longer alone in it’s methodology the need for additional editorial and management staff that comes from having imprints is reduced saving DC money. The first chapters of the Zuda comics will be given away promoting the digital experience of comics on your iPhone with subsequent chapters requiring you to purchase them. This will get you used to buying online content.

Is this a good thing? Despite my love of free content I definitely think this is a fantastic move for DC.

Firstly the Zuda online tool itself always sucked. Everyone knew it, when you were zoomed into a panel touching the screen was just as likely to load the next page as move to the next panel. I read Zuda comics despite this hinderance purely because the content was so compelling. The comixology application seems far more intuitive,  DC is right to not only port the content to the new format but disband the old format. A users first experience of online comics will effect whether they choose to have a second experience so DC needs to only put their best foot forward.  The colours and line quality is also great on the iPad. These screens are all calibrated exactly the same and thus it helps designers make sure what they create EXACTLY what you see.

Will everyone who went to the free site buy the comics? No probably not, but that’s not an argument for keeping it free. DC are a business and to produce and co-ordinate the volume of content they create they can’t function like webcomics can, earning their income by the goodwill of that 2-10 of the audience that voluntarily supports them. This move will allow DC to actually make money off online comics and in the end that helps us all, they’ll promote online comics if they’ve got a financial incentive to do so.

I just want to take this opportunity to congratulate all the Zuda guys. Ron Perazza, their editor, and the creators themselves like Caanan Grall, Dave Gallagaher, Kevin Colden, Peter Timony,  Brock Heasley, James Fosdike, Niki Smith and all the rest of the talented folks.

Finally from my friends who ARE lucky enough to have an iPad i’ve been told High Moon is fantastic to test out how gorgeous comics can look on it.  David Gallaher and Steve Ellis, the creators of High Moon also have a second project on Comixology, Box 13 which friends have praised.

Also I haven’t been paid to pimp Comixology although if they want to send me money or tell me how to put Sawbones into the app I’m happy to accept.

This arc is drawn by the talented Andrew Fulton who is currently travelling with Jen across the grand old United States (actually about now he’ll be in Toronto for TCAF). Andrew’s comic Mumblier is sometimes NSFW, sometimes strange but always beautiful and delightful. Jen and I are huge fans of both his comic and his resplendant beard. Sadly he’s not such a great mario cart player but we still love him.

Today is free comic book day. It’s a day when you can pop into your local comic shop and get more than 40 books designed especially for the day FREE! But it’s more than that. It’s an opportunity to discover comics, find your local store. Engage with comics. For the industry it’s about getting new readers. Comic buying is steadily decreasing even though there has never been a better time for comics as far as the quality of the writing and art. So please give titles you’d not usually read a look, if you see a comic a friend’s kid might like pick it up for them, get them reading!

For my part I’ll be supporting FCBD by doing sketches at All Star Comics in Melbourne between 2-3pm along with 17 other great comic creators. Here is the full list. Hope to see you there.

Sawbones began 5 years ago as Sawyer and Bones appeared as background players of a bunnified version of Poe’s the Raven.

Recently I realised that that story wasn’t on the site and went looking for it. Turns out i don’t actually have a copy on any of my computers. Technology moves so fast i’ve been through 4 of them in that time. So I used my moderate google-fu skills and found it online. Apparently nothing dies on the interwebs.

Anyway reading through the story I was struck by two things.

1. Jen’s storytelling was just as delightful 5 years ago. Reading the story with so much water under the bridge was like reading it for the first time and I loved the turns of phrase and way she balanced the horror tone with the comedic twist.

2. There was no way I could bear putting that art up online now. I don’t know a single artist who doesn’t cringe at old work and i’m no different. So over the last few weeks I’ve redrawn the comic. Tightening it up a little and adding a little more mood. I’m sure in another 5 years I’ll hate this too but it’s a start.

I do however want to aknowledge how this started so as this story progesses there’ll be a link at the bottom of the comic where you can look at the original version.

I hope you enjoy this.