iPad Superman Comics and Graphic Novel - Marvel Digital Comic Collection

When iPad comic apps were first launched there were protests that comics were dead. The opposite has happened with wider readership, exciting new comic writers and sensational new characters and interactive digital extras. Marvel comic collections have entered the virtual age, jsut like music has gone from the CD to iTunes for the youth of today.

The high resolution of the iPad 2 is a global sensation and comic readership has exploded with it. There has been a lot of buzz about comics lately. We first had the launch of the iPad from Apple and the new comic applications from Panelfly, IDW and comiXology optimized for the iPad screen size. They take full advantage of the vibrant iPad color interface bringing comic books to life. iPad looks to be a tablet style screen made for comic books and graphic novels.

The other buzz has been the sale of the first Superman and Batman comics for over $1,000,000 at separate auctions. All of a sudden people are very excited about comics again! Comics are being viewed as a collectible art form and as serious content for iPad. It seems like iPad Marvel comic collections seem a case of right time, right place, right now.

Fortune magazine’s senior writer Jon Fortt even sees comics as Apple’s next ‘IT’ market. He has sound reasons looking at Apple’s past strategies and Disney’s acquisition of Marvel. Fortt cites the Jobs and Disney link as the catalyst.

"When Jobs needed movies for iTunes, Apple (AAPL) got them from Disney. When he needed TV shows? Disney (which owns ABC) was among the first to sign up. Why all the Disney love? Remember, Steve Jobs was the CEO of Pixar, which had a very lucrative movie distribution deal with Disney. Things only got cozier in 2006, when Disney bought Pixar for $7.4 billion, turning Jobs into the Mouse House’s largest individual shareholder." 

If we go back to September last year Apple launched Tyrese Gibson’s Mayhem as the first digital book for sale on iTunes 9. So they are well into this game. Amazon’s Kindle and Sony’s E Reader do not have the vibrant colors and perfect magazine size screen that iPad delivers. This brings me back to the Batman Comic 1 and Superman Comic 1.

The opportunity to bring classic titles alive into the digital world is endless. The colors and interaction that is available with some of these iPad apps is simply eye-popping. Certainly grounds for iPads’s next ‘IT’ market with Apple at the forefront of innovation. Innovation of pop culture as they have done with iTunes and the iPhone apps.

This is by no means limited to America. The Japanese Manga book comics are wildly popular. I would suggest the iPad would totally enhance Manga. Should be an interesting ride.

Though many will disagree with me I tend to believe that iPad will see a lot of customers drawn to it because of Comic Books, Newspapers, Magazines and the Books. This will I believe introduce an enormous new crowd to comics and further collector attraction. In this material age, will it go unnoticed that there are million dollar comic art auctions?

The desirability to the pulp versions of vintage comic books suddenly becomes a factor. Recall how vinyl records have gotten a boost with iTunes and MP3 introducing music to totally new and unsuspecting audiences. Another thought is comic creators are able to limit production of print version and make them more collectibles. Think CD box sets and limited edition versions. The other is a percentage of iPad devotees are likely to back up with the print version as we have seen with digital books and music.

Another new audience is the old audience. Avid comic collectors that outgrew collecting print versions for whatever reason. Much like the CD library rebuilding phenomena iPad apps from Panelfly, IDW and comiXology (with more creators to come) play perfectly into this markets hand.

Think of the possibilities, video interaction, and alternative endings, subscriptions the list goes on. In the iBook format, with the ability to add video and audio commentary and music this can become a very powerful experience.

What will those first Batman and Superman comics look like on iPad? These are exciting times for young and old readers alike. The recent writers festival in Los Angeles featured the iPad, makes perfect sense in this medium. It will be interesting if comics and graphic novels become released exclusively to iPad with a focus on the technical aspects. The social network extension seems like a natural development.