Never mind eBooks, here’s the eComics. I quite like comics, but can’t be bothered with weekly trips to keep up with the periodical nature. Plus I tend to read then be done with. The latest app store lovelyness is this comic book prequel to the new star trek movie. In four parts (59p) each it’s cheap and accessible. The artwork shines on the iPod screen, and the reader keeps it simple - I’m suddenly Reading a comic I would of overlooked had it been published in print.
Recently a comic book author posted on a friends flickr stream, I looked up his website, and then wanted to read his latest comic which had just launched. But accessing it proved to require me making a round trip to a specialist comic shop, and I frankly couldn’t be bothered. But were it on the App Store I would of downloaded it immediately.
Also I can’t help feeling there’s lots more that can be done to take graphic story telling beyond the current page flipping simulation, though the star trek example avoid attempting to just mimic real comic layouts.
How can time, location, movement, context, social networks affect the way the story is delivered or even alter the narrative to customise the experience. Can the holy grail of an interactive story come alive on these tiny screens. Sensing the readers context to subtly alter the experience, rather than just offering a standard decision tree.
