So you want to read comic books from the Marvel Digital Comic Book service and you don’t have a device that supports flash. What are you going to do? VPN! There are a few good apps out there. One is realVNC; it’s mac and pc compatible, works locally and remotely. On a larger screened device it’s real nice. So you can have your cake and eat it too.
Posted by: comictalkcafe | August 10, 2010
Tips for reading comic book on VNC
Posted by: comictalkcafe | January 14, 2010
The end of floppies (for me)
I have been reading comic books for over twenty years now and I have seen some major changes in that time. None more far reaching the the new push to electronic media.
A few years ago we started to see a new kind of comic emerge, the web comic. The problem with web comics was that it was diferent from traditional comics and that the big two did not support it. Web Comics were the relm of the indee publishers and the solo acts. So for me I was not that interested. Now days we have seen a bit if a change, in the form of digital comics.
These are not to be confused with web comics as they tend to be the same format as the “real thing”, also at least Marvel has embraced this new type of comic. Most the other bigger comic companies have as well(DC being noticably absent) I have a viable way to consume these digital comcis. I can VPN from my phone to my CPU at home and read form Marvel’s service online.
Also I can use the two apps on my phone that serve as comic sellers and readers. Lastly tablets are onthe rise and I’m sure that I will find the right one for me. So with all of that in mind I am giving up printed comics. I will still get trade paperbacks and hard covers from time to time,
but most of my consumption will be digital from now on.
Posted in Comic Book, Editorial, Jon Towry
Posted by: comictalkcafe | January 11, 2010
What a tablet computer should be
This year could be the year of the tablet. So I wanted to layout what a comic book reader would be looking for in a tablet.
1. Screen size
This is a big one 10″ is I think, the sweet spot.
2. Software
The os has to be easy to use. I need to be able to use apps that helps me do what I want with the tablet. The web browser has to support flash so I can use my marvel online subscription. Some sort of iTunes for comics is a must as well.
3. Battery life
I need to not worry about pluging in untill the end of the day.
4. Connectivity
I want to have wifi and 3g so I can read and download comics on the fly.
5. HD size
I want to not have to worry about free space on my device. A 100gb to 200gb drive would work well.
Well there you have it this is what I want to see. What about you?
Posted in Comic Book, Editorial, Jon Towry
Posted by: comictalkcafe | November 23, 2009
Review: The Fantastic Four “Solve Everything.”
Solve Everything was a great start to Jonathan Hickman‘s run on FF. I loved the high concept of the story and the personal struggles between the family. We also get some great insight into the mind of Reed Richards. This story was all about him and how he struggles with burden of being different. Also having the greatest mind in the Marvel universe wanting to solve every problem. I won’t spoil it but the story gets into some great interventional craziness. Bottom line you like the great big Sci-fi of a classic FF story with a very personal Reed Richards side to it then pick it up.
Covers FF #570 to 572
Writer(s):
Jonathan Hickman
Penciller(s):
Dale Eaglesham
Inker(s):
Dale Eaglesham
Colorist(s):
Paul Mounts
Letterer(s):
Rus Wooton
Editor(s):
Tom Brevoort
Joe Quesada
Lauren Sankovitch
Cover Artist(s):
Alan Davis
Mark Farmer
Posted in Comic Book, Comics, Jon Towry, Reviews | Tags: fantasic four, Jonathan Hickman, Marvel Comics
Posted by: comictalkcafe | July 24, 2009
The Future of Comic Books
I’ve been reading comic books for over 18 years and I’ve seen allot of changes over that time. There are few things in the comics world that could be a game changer like digital comics.
Like iTunes and music, digital comics are a new way of interacting with the media and living with it.
I don’t buy music from Target, or Wal-Mart anymore, I get it from iTunes. Why? because it’s so easy.
I used to go to my local comic shop and get the weekly comics now I get them from a mail service. Why? it’s easier, and cheaper.
Now with digital comics it’s going to be even easier to get my books and cheaper. But there is problem, none of the books I read are digital. The big Two have not signed on with this idea yet. I’m not surprised however. Marvel is going a few steps closer with their online service and motion comics. DC is doing motion comics and they have some webcomics. Both have not really embraced the eventual destination of digital comics.
The upcoming Longbox app is going in the right direction. They are on the desktop and soon after will be on mobile devices. They working off of a iTunes like model, DRMs built in community, and so forth. Once I get my hands on the app I’ll give a full report.
Before I do that I wanted to voice my opinoin on what a digital comic service needs to be in order to succeed.
1) It needs to work cross platform and across all my devices.
this is key as I want to be able to read my comics at home on a big screen and on my iPhone.
2) Keep the prices low
I need to have a good reason to give up paper and the price is big. I had to cut my mail order in 1/2 this month and so going down to $.99 a book would keep me reading all books I fallow.
3) Be up to date with current issues
I don’t like to be behind the times, a week at most. Not 3 months like some of the titles on the Marvel digital comic service.
4) Marvel and DC need to support it.
No brainer here, most of my current books are from them. They get on board, it’s by by to paper comics.
I’d be ready to switch to digital right now if the above points would be reasonably met. Right now I’ll be looking at cutting back my paper dependency and looking to the future of digital comics with much anticipation.
Posted in Comic Book, Editorial, Jon Towry | Tags: DC, digital comics, marvel
