2000 AD Online Forum

General Chat => Books & Comics => Topic started by: Emperor on 06 August, 2012, 03:56:23 AM

Title: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: Emperor on 06 August, 2012, 03:56:23 AM
David Lloyd is publishing (and Bambos Georgiou is editing) a weekly digital comic coming out... soon. It'll be 6 3-page stories and other arty goodness from an awful lot of talented folks:

Quote"Creators contributing are David Lloyd, Kyle Baker, Mark Wheatley, JC Vaughn, John McCrea, Phil Hester, David Hitchcock, Steve Bissette, Dan Christensen, Yishan Li, Algesiras, Alain Mauricet, Alexandre Tefenkgi, Billy Tucci, Mindy McPeak, Kathryn Layno, Kev Hopgood, Ferg Handley, Lew Stringer, David Leach, Carl Critchlow, Colleen Doran, Shaky Kane, Dave Hine, Hunt Emerson, Dylan Teague, Marc Hempel, Paul Maybury, Phil Elliott, Esteban Hernandez, Mychailo Kazybrid, Ben Dickson, Gavin Mitchell, Henry Flint and (believe it or not) many more...

Although those 3 pages are, apparently landscape, so that really counts as 6 conventional ones (I assume, as it is all digital, that the pages will all be landscape):

QuoteAces Weekly will be released as seven weekly issues which form a volume. Each issue will have at least three landscape pages from six contributors (18 pages per issue), plus extras such as artists sketches etc.

Then there'll be a break in publication before the next seven issue volume begins.

Readers subscribe to volumes which cost £6.99/$10 per seven issue volume.

Including at least one from these boards (as anyone following their blog will know).

http://downthetubescomics.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/david-lloyd-aces-weekly-digital-comic.html

More on this soon.
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: pauljholden on 06 August, 2012, 08:45:30 AM
QuoteAlthough those 3 pages are, apparently landscape, so that really counts as 6 conventional ones (I assume, as it is all digital, that the pages will all be landscape):

If they're going the DC model of digital comics then the landscape pages will actually be half size US comic sizes, so 3 landscape pages is equivalent to one and a half conventional pages.

-pj
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: maryanddavid on 06 August, 2012, 10:28:39 AM
Sounds great, Im not one for digital comics, but I think I will have to give that a go.
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: Professor Bear on 06 August, 2012, 11:08:00 AM
Quote from: pauljholden on 06 August, 2012, 08:45:30 AM
QuoteAlthough those 3 pages are, apparently landscape, so that really counts as 6 conventional ones (I assume, as it is all digital, that the pages will all be landscape):

If they're going the DC model of digital comics then the landscape pages will actually be half size US comic sizes, so 3 landscape pages is equivalent to one and a half conventional pages.

-pj

Emperor is only assuming the landscape format will be used, but I think the conventional US format is more likely given the proven talent involved and the inevitable print collection.  Playing devil's advocate for a moment, though, there isn't any reason* stories couldn't be presented in both/either formats given the delivery method.


* Apart from those readers who insist that US comics with some pages printed sideways are literally unreadable.
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: Emperor on 06 August, 2012, 03:46:25 PM
Quote from: Professah Byah on 06 August, 2012, 11:08:00 AM
Quote from: pauljholden on 06 August, 2012, 08:45:30 AM
QuoteAlthough those 3 pages are, apparently landscape, so that really counts as 6 conventional ones (I assume, as it is all digital, that the pages will all be landscape):

If they're going the DC model of digital comics then the landscape pages will actually be half size US comic sizes, so 3 landscape pages is equivalent to one and a half conventional pages.

-pj

Emperor is only assuming the landscape format will be used

No I'm not:

QuoteAces Weekly will be released as seven weekly issues which form a volume. Each issue will have at least three landscape pages from six contributors (18 pages per issue)

Matt is colouring David Hitchcock's Paradise Mechanism and has posted a couple of pages which make full use of being in landscape:

http://mygrimmbrother.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Paradise%20Mechanism

I suppose my point is that 3 pages for each story doesn't seem a lot for each instalment but they are fitting a lot in on those pages if those examples are anything to go buy - 6 or 7 panels to a page but some large ones there.
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: Zarjazzer on 06 August, 2012, 08:22:13 PM
i was re -reading bits of ye olde classic Nightraven. Have to give this a go.
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: gdwessel on 07 August, 2012, 11:09:43 PM
Yeah, I had an interesting experience regarding a strip due to be in ACES WEEKLY. I explained it here: http://gdwessel.wordpress.com/2012/07/28/these-and-thats/

Basically: similar title issue.

Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: Emperor on 08 August, 2012, 12:19:38 AM
Quote from: gdwessel on 07 August, 2012, 11:09:43 PM
Yeah, I had an interesting experience regarding a strip due to be in ACES WEEKLY. I explained it here: http://gdwessel.wordpress.com/2012/07/28/these-and-thats/

Basically: similar title issue.

I saw that during my research (helped me find the artist, after being lead astray by a Bleeding Cool typo), seems everything has been resolved satisfactorily, although it'll be interesting to compare the two.
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: gdwessel on 08 August, 2012, 12:21:25 AM
Quote from: Emperor on 08 August, 2012, 12:19:38 AM
Quote from: gdwessel on 07 August, 2012, 11:09:43 PM
Yeah, I had an interesting experience regarding a strip due to be in ACES WEEKLY. I explained it here: http://gdwessel.wordpress.com/2012/07/28/these-and-thats/

Basically: similar title issue.

I saw that during my research (helped me find the artist, after being lead astray by a Bleeding Cool typo), seems everything has been resolved satisfactorily, although it'll be interesting to compare the two.

Yeah I agree, and it was nice talking to both David and Yishan. Hey, who knows where this may lead!
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: The Prodigal on 21 September, 2012, 08:06:30 PM
I am really looking forward to the launch of this on 30th september. It will be my first foray into the world of digital. Go me.
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: CrazyFoxMachine on 22 September, 2012, 11:48:54 AM
Not entirely comfortable with digital only but I'm so incredibly on board it's ridiculous - !

Will probably end up printing each volume off and stapling it together. BECAUSE I'M THAT LEVEL OF OLD FASHIONED.
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: The Prodigal on 22 September, 2012, 01:17:23 PM
Quote from: CrazyFoxMachine on 22 September, 2012, 11:48:54 AM
Not entirely comfortable with digital only but I'm so incredibly on board it's ridiculous - !

Will probably end up printing each volume off and stapling it together. BECAUSE I'M THAT LEVEL OF OLD FASHIONED.

LOL. I'm with you mate.
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: The Prodigal on 01 October, 2012, 02:05:47 PM
Anyone bought in yet?
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: CrazyFoxMachine on 01 October, 2012, 02:24:51 PM
Just subscribed - will give it a ... flick through(?!) tonight - looks incredibly gorgeous I just want to sniff it.

...smells like laptop...
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: Spaceghost on 01 October, 2012, 03:50:16 PM
I've subscribed too.

First time I've ever bought an online comic (it'll be the first time I've actually read an online comic in a serious way) but the creators involved seem worth a punt.

£6.99 for a 3 month subscription is good value too. I'll have a read tonight and let people know what I think.
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: pauljholden on 01 October, 2012, 05:08:42 PM
It's a little unclear what you're getting for your money: a pdf ? a cbr ? a subscription to a website where you can only read it online? Can anyone say...?
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: BPP on 01 October, 2012, 05:51:08 PM
I get equally confused by Madefire.

I just want a damm book. I know this makes me old.
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: Jim_Campbell on 01 October, 2012, 05:53:05 PM
Quote from: BPP on 01 October, 2012, 05:51:08 PM
I get equally confused by Madefire.

Madefire give you a dedicated app for reading their stuff, which is created in a proprietary authoring tool for adding the motion and audio components.

Cheers

Jim
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: Spaceghost on 01 October, 2012, 06:31:42 PM
PJ - for your money, you get a password which lets you read the comic strips and access the extras.

It's only available to view online as far as I can tell from my brief mess about with it. Of the 3 that I've read so far, each story has 3 landscape style pages and will be continued weekly. I found myself just getting into a story just when it ended, which is a good sign I suppose as it means I wanted to read more.

Could do with a few more pages for each story perhaps. You can't complain for £1.75 a month for 72 pages of comics though.
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: Jimmy Baker's Assistant on 01 October, 2012, 07:50:46 PM
Quote from: BPP on 01 October, 2012, 05:51:08 PM
I just want a damm book. I know this makes me old.

I am in my late 30s and intensely dislike digital comics and books. Alas this means I will not be reading Aces Weekly online, although I would view a print version with interest.

Many older people seem to like their Kindles, so I am not convinced it is entirely a generational thing.
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: Daveycandlish on 01 October, 2012, 09:12:32 PM
I'm yet to find a comic that reads well on a first gen Kindle. Seriously considering an upgrade. And buying this Weekly to read on my laptop
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: Spaceghost on 02 October, 2012, 10:56:37 AM
Had a proper read last night and I enjoyed it. The fact that all the stories except one are restricted to three page episodes means that it'll take a while for the story to take shape, but they all have intruiging openings.

All the stories have potential, particularly David Lloyd and David Jackson's noiry, greywashed Valley of Shadows and John McCrea and Phil Hester's 'death planet' sci-fi thriller Progenitor.

Of the others, it's too early to tell where the stories will go, but there seems to be a good mix of styles and genres including Lew Stringer's Combat Colin which is a humour strip in the Whizzer and Chips vein.

Five of the six stories stick to the 3 landscape page format and are 'traditional' comics which would work equally well on paper. Mark Wheatley and JC Vaughn's Return of the Human is different. It's not a 'comic' in the usual sense in that it doesn't use sequential panels. It's a series of beautiful, pulp sci-fi paintings, presented as historical documents or museum exhibitions, while a built in text box fills in the story of a man who fought off an alien invasion.

It's an unusual approach and the only one of the stories which takes advantage of the digital medium. I'd like to see more of this innovation in the future as the format is tailor made for it.

At just over 40p per weekly issue I'd say it's definitely worth a punt and I'm looking forward to next week's already.
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: IndigoPrime on 02 October, 2012, 11:14:21 AM
Quote from: pauljholden on 01 October, 2012, 05:08:42 PM
It's a little unclear what you're getting for your money: a pdf ? a cbr ? a subscription to a website where you can only read it online? Can anyone say...?
In my case, a nice note that after 24 hours, my account still hasn't been activated. I realise this is an indie, but that's a shitty system. The comics had better be bloody good after this first impression.

EDIT: Never mind. Looks like PayPal screwed up. Great.

EDIT: Actually, Aces Weekly have also screwed up, in terms of how the site works. So it has my email but no payment, because payment didn't go through due to PayPal being rubbish. Now I can't login, because the sub failed, but I also cannot subscribe, because the email's already in use. Oh well. I've plenty of comics to read already.
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: CrazyFoxMachine on 02 October, 2012, 12:53:01 PM
Haven't any troubles with my subscription or log-in but they've been saying that people have -

I agree it's a lot of bang for your buck but the three-page thing doesn't work so well when the majority are clearly the beginning of long tales. Per'aps the best thing would've been to give us "double" in the first issue as the prog does sometimes with the beginnings of big stories. Just hard to get your teeth in when it's the comics equivalent of:

"One bright sunny day in my youth, I encountered a curious ruined house. I'd never seen it before and stood for a while transfixed by it. I resolved my ner- CONTINUED NEXT WEEK"

Although the only story I found myself actively not wanting to pursue was "Return of the Human" which wasn't really a comic but a series of dated-looking digital paintings with harshly-contrasting text-boxes laid across the top. Looks more like the accompanying web-based story for a 1998 concept album by a space rock band.

Paradise Mechanism has a wonderful atmosphere with beautiful muted colours from the inspiring Soffe. Despite myself I kept wishing for a physical version that I could get into. Like a boat.

Hester & McCrea's "Progenitor" is a close second - Matthew Wilson's colouring is beautiful and fleshes out McCrea's art beautifully. The first and final pages (so that's 1 and 3)  are brilliantly iconic.

Lew Stringer's Combat Colin, being the only complete story in the issue, was therefore the most rewarding. Brilliantly old-hat, quite chucklesome. Chortleworthy. Titterfull.

"Shoot For the Moon" LOOKS beautiful, is clearly quite French and will therefore end up being brilliant. Suffered the most from the "cut-off" three page syndrome I think. But I'm looking forward to seeing where this goes.

"Valley of the Shadows" is so David Lloyd it hurts. Beautifully laid-out wonderfully drawn and intriguing. Another story that'll inevitably get much more readable but until then I'll just go to the extras section and marvel at Mr Lloyd's wondrous art.
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: Spaceghost on 02 October, 2012, 01:51:57 PM
Quote from: CrazyFoxMachine on 02 October, 2012, 12:53:01 PM
Although the only story I found myself actively not wanting to pursue was "Return of the Human" which wasn't really a comic but a series of dated-looking digital paintings with harshly-contrasting text-boxes laid across the top. Looks more like the accompanying web-based story for a 1998 concept album by a space rock band.

And there we see the beauty of the anthology once again 'cos I liked this. Compared to the other stories, we get a big chunk of pulp sci-fi goodness to sink our teeth into.

The style of the art reminded me of a series of 'Amazing Fantasy' covers with a story bolted on, which sounds like a criticism but isn't.

PS - I liked the brief sliver of Shoot For The Moon, especially the 'MOT*!' sound effect for a punch.



*'Mot' is a slang word for lady parts round here.
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: Patrick on 03 October, 2012, 09:31:47 PM
Lloyd's strip is gorgeous (and speaking as a lettering nerd, lovely lettering), and the rest all have good art, but a lot of the writing seems to be going-through-the-genre-motions, if you know what I mean. We'll see how the stories develop.
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: Zarjazzer on 03 October, 2012, 10:17:55 PM
Good stuff especially Progenitor nice sci fi story [spoiler]with a saurian beastie/dinosaur![/spoiler]. Three pages is a bit of a strange one story wise but I hope it does well. A brave,new venture.

The Paradise Mechanism was also thrilling- bloody hell I want to see more of that.
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: IndigoPrime on 04 October, 2012, 12:52:00 AM
Finally got a sub. Apparently, emailing them when everything goes horribly wrong is the best course of action. Looking forward to reading at the weekend...
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: CrazyFoxMachine on 07 October, 2012, 12:23:25 PM
Second issue out today - http://www.acesweekly.co.uk/issue2

it's a stonker, with an interesting complete story by Estéban Hernandez :D
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: IndigoPrime on 07 October, 2012, 06:14:49 PM
Good to know it's a stonker. To be very honest, I didn't think much of the first issue. Everything felt insanely abbreviated, like newspaper comics. Hoping I'll be more engaged over the coming weeks.
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: Daveycandlish on 14 October, 2012, 09:55:46 PM
Issue three has been unlocked and is the best so far;

well of course it is - it has Thrud The Barbarian by Carl Critchlow in it!

Shoot for the Moon is still slow going and I really can't get into Return of the Human, but the Davids Lloyd and Hitchcock are storming through their strips - great stuff (and I should mention Matt Soffe's colour work on Paradise Mechanism - he's one of our own - as it's perfect for the story)

Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: maryanddavid on 14 October, 2012, 11:45:23 PM
Id love to get this but Im still hesitant, is there a way of printing it like Lulu or Is there plans to collect this as a TB?

David
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: Professor Bear on 15 October, 2012, 12:43:56 AM
Quote from: Jim_Campbell on 01 October, 2012, 05:53:05 PM
Quote from: BPP on 01 October, 2012, 05:51:08 PM
I get equally confused by Madefire.

Madefire give you a dedicated app for reading their stuff

Ugh.  Count me out.

Although I should point out - as I often do - that scanners usually find a way around proprietary formats one way or another and put stuff up for free.  They were even sharing motion comics on Youtube last time I checked.
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: pauljholden on 15 October, 2012, 09:04:43 AM
Madefire can only work with their proprietary app because the comics are motion comics and, imho, won't actually make any sense in a non-moving format (case in point: some of the lettering 'appears' one bubble at a time - forcing you to read them in the correct order - but when they're all on screen they're displayed in, what you'd normally consider, the wrong order...)

-pj
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: mygrimmbrother on 15 October, 2012, 11:10:33 AM
Thanks for the kind words on the colouring chaps. My first tentative foray into the world of professional comics... pretty nerve-wracking!  :)
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: Professor Bear on 15 October, 2012, 02:14:10 PM
Quote from: pauljholden on 15 October, 2012, 09:04:43 AM
Madefire can only work with their proprietary app because the comics are motion comics and, imho, won't actually make any sense in a non-moving format (case in point: some of the lettering 'appears' one bubble at a time - forcing you to read them in the correct order - but when they're all on screen they're displayed in, what you'd normally consider, the wrong order...)

-pj

Not an issue if someone makes a video clip of the comics, surely?
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: Jim_Campbell on 15 October, 2012, 02:25:11 PM
Quote from: Professah Byah on 15 October, 2012, 02:14:10 PM
Not an issue if someone makes a video clip of the comics, surely?

Except that the video will be continuous playback; the Madefire stuff is a combination of rolling animation and user-triggered events. Usually, the playback will pause after what you might consider a 'frame' until the user taps, at which point a new frame will animate into the 'page' and the balloons/FX will load in time with the action and in the correct reading order.

Cheers

Jim
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: Bolt-01 on 15 October, 2012, 02:31:08 PM
Seriously thinking of jumping into this- BUT.

When subbed up do you get emailed a link each week to the new content? Or do you have to go and find it?
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: Spaceghost on 15 October, 2012, 02:44:14 PM
Quote from: Bolt-01 on 15 October, 2012, 02:31:08 PM
Seriously thinking of jumping into this- BUT.

When subbed up do you get emailed a link each week to the new content? Or do you have to go and find it?

It's just one website where each new issue 'unlocks' on a Sunday. Once they're unlocked, you can read them any time.

At the moment you can't read all the episodes of each individual story in one easy chunk, but I hope they do that once all 7 weeks of volume 1 is unlocked.
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: CrazyFoxMachine on 15 October, 2012, 02:46:15 PM
Quote from: Lee Bates on 15 October, 2012, 02:44:14 PM
At the moment you can't read all the episodes of each individual story in one easy chunk, but I hope they do that once all 7 weeks of volume 1 is unlocked.

I hope they do this too -
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: Bolt-01 on 15 October, 2012, 03:16:25 PM
Okay, I'll take a punt on this. Not sure how much I'll get out of it though...
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: CrazyFoxMachine on 23 October, 2012, 06:35:44 PM
Bumping Aces again - as Lucy Stone & Rory Walker's Chloroforms in issue 4 (this Sunday) was particularly bloody good. I've ... sort of given up on Return of the Human but the rest remain strong. This is still absurdly consistent. Very strong comic.

...still want a physical copy I can lick though.
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: IndigoPrime on 23 October, 2012, 08:52:43 PM
Horses for courses, I'd say. I'm frustrated by the brevity and also the format in general. The comics look... OK on the new iPad, but the UI around them is awful. As for the strips in general, I've enjoyed the one-off comedy strips (Combat Colin and Thrud in particular), but there's nothing else here that's making me think I'll stick around for volume 2. That said, I'd argue without question that for the money it's still worth a comic fan taking a punt on volume 1 in case they happen to like it as much as CrazyFoxMachine!
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: Daveycandlish on 28 October, 2012, 06:22:54 PM
Just read issue 5 and I'm afraid Return of the Human has lost my interest completely but the David Lloyd story has really grabbed me - can't wait for next week!
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: CrazyFoxMachine on 03 December, 2012, 06:26:01 PM
Second volume launched today and it's a cracker - Henry Flint's Catalyst Island has to be seen to be believed - !

(http://sphotos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/132638_470371323013465_1334533783_o.jpg)

(http://sphotos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/320585_480537655330165_1336196113_n.jpg)

(http://sphotos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/44920_479913898725874_1781116560_n.jpg)
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: IndigoPrime on 03 December, 2012, 08:02:51 PM
Hmm. I completely forgot about this after issue three, which shows how much it grabbed me. I guess I'll check out volume two, though, since I imagine my money's gone by now.
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: Cactus on 04 December, 2012, 11:38:35 AM
I subbed last week so was able to read the whole of volume 1 in a single day, and I really enjoyed it. Return of the Human gripped me a lot more than I thought it would. I wouldn't mind seeing more of Lance McCoy and his world, and I'm very keen to read more of Progenitor.

There is a facility now to read all episodes of a series. In the bottom left of the screen you can select which episode to jump to.

I've just read the first issue of volume 2 and it's a good mix. I think Legion Zero and Catalyst Island will be the ones to watch, and I hope Santa Claus vs the Nazis lives up to the promise of its title. The two cat-related strips are intriguing and The Kept Woman already feels like a sinister J-horror film. I'm not sure if I like that, but unsettling is clearly the intended effect so it's doing its job well. Only three pages was frustrating though.
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: Cactus on 02 April, 2013, 10:36:37 PM
I found this in my inbox and thought it might be of interest.

QuotePlease tell anyone you know who'd like to join this club of ours that if they begin an ongoing subscription BEFORE 8th April, they can obtain the just-completed Volume Three and the soon-to-arrive Volume Four for the price of just one volume!  That's up to 420 pages from some of the finest talent from around the globe for just $9.99, £6.99 or 7.99 Euros - a bargain in anybody's book!

Aces Weekly is much more of a mixed bag than 2000ad, but 3 out of 6 are usually a hit for me so I'll continue subbing.
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: Bolt-01 on 02 July, 2013, 03:02:47 PM
Out of curiosity, how many here are still reading ACES? There is a new strip starting soon that I've done the letters for, in case anyone was interested...

Aces Weekly (http://www.acesweekly.co.uk)
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: CrazyFoxMachine on 04 July, 2013, 03:22:11 AM
I'm still readin' - well done Bolt can't wait to see that :D
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: The Prodigal on 09 July, 2013, 09:17:22 AM
Guys I am considering my first digital experience. Any recommendations or otherwise on Aces?
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: Bolt-01 on 09 July, 2013, 09:29:52 AM
Aces is pretty good- it's a mixed bag quality wise, as there is a relaxed editorial attitude in my opinion. So far there has always been something about each weeks strips I've really liked, but also there are plenty of things that niggle the funt out of me.

Cost wise it is a 6.99 (gbp) paypal swipe every couple of months. Not a massive cost, especially once you realise how many pages of content you get for it.

I tihnk you can sign up just for a single volume initally and test the waters. The problem with that is that this feels much more like the 90's 'Toxic' than 2000 AD. My personal fave strip they have run is the serial 'Santa Claus Vs the Nazis'- that is a cracking strip.
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: The Prodigal on 09 July, 2013, 10:44:54 AM
Quote from: Bolt-01 on 09 July, 2013, 09:29:52 AM
Aces is pretty good- it's a mixed bag quality wise, as there is a relaxed editorial attitude in my opinion. So far there has always been something about each weeks strips I've really liked, but also there are plenty of things that niggle the funt out of me.

Cost wise it is a 6.99 (gbp) paypal swipe every couple of months. Not a massive cost, especially once you realise how many pages of content you get for it.

I tihnk you can sign up just for a single volume initally and test the waters. The problem with that is that this feels much more like the 90's 'Toxic' than 2000 AD. My personal fave strip they have run is the serial 'Santa Claus Vs the Nazis'- that is a cracking strip.

Thanks Bolt. I appreciate the advice.
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: CrazyFoxMachine on 09 July, 2013, 03:24:03 PM
Yeah I agree 100 percent with Bolt. There is some real good stuff in there but some really foul stuff as well - currently reading a story that has worst lettering I've ever seen (Comic Sans MS and all) but Santa Claus v The Nazis is brilliant as are a lot of the "one shots". Nice to see Gavin Mitchell (who won the Tharg portfolio thought bubble awards thing in 2011) doing brilliantly.
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: Bolt-01 on 13 September, 2013, 12:13:43 PM
Today I've begun catching up with my sub for ACES, and to my surprise there are quite a few familiar names in there: Chris Geary (FQ, Zarjaz) and a real surprise for me; Manoel Magalhaes (He drew a strip for me in FQ07, WAAY back in the day) with a cracking little SF strip.

Also back is Santa Claus Vs the Nazis. A brilliant little strip by Ben Dickson and Gavin Mitchell. Highly recommended.
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: CrazyFoxMachine on 03 November, 2013, 10:26:56 PM
*ahem* ... I'm currently now colouring Santa Claus vs the Nazis - taking over from the brilliant Miroslav Mrva. NO PRESSURE.

My stuff starts in Vol 7 Issue 4 this week - ! :S
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: maryanddavid on 03 November, 2013, 10:30:20 PM
Go CFM! Well done, I just wish they could do a print version.
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: CrazyFoxMachine on 03 November, 2013, 10:32:19 PM
There will be a print version of SCvN .... just not immediately ;)
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: CrazyFoxMachine on 05 November, 2013, 06:41:27 PM
Here's a sample of m'colouring in it just put up by the author - !

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/1375748_10151693369795741_328203880_n.jpg)
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: Bubba Zebill on 05 November, 2013, 07:20:23 PM
I like Ace's
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: Ghastly McNasty on 20 January, 2014, 01:39:38 PM
I subscribed to Aces Weekly because I wanted to read System Shock by Wessel & Ford. My following comments are in no way related to their story. In fact the quality of ALL stories inside is pretty damn high.

I don't like the setup. For starters the website is a bit crap, it doesn't feel modern to me, but that's a minor aside from the perspective of a web site builder.

My main grudge is that the whole reading process feels far too disjointed. Each story is split in to weekly installments which are far too small to get your teeth into. At the moment their are 6 stories running. Each story has 3 'Aces Weekly' sized pages, some of which have very few panels on indeed. The stories are so painfully and slowly drip fed it just doesn't work for me.

The second issue that you have to 'browse' out of each weekly installment, click a link, read a bit more, come out again, click a link, read a bit more. It's clunky. It needs to be a better reading experience. Therefore, I'm out.

Anyone else share my woes?
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: Professor Bear on 20 January, 2014, 02:13:16 PM
18 pages of comics content a week doesn't sound like very much.  Are "Aces Weekly sized pages" the same as webbies (landscape format), by any chance?  Would that would mean 9 pages of UK/Eurocomic format strips?
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: Ghastly McNasty on 20 January, 2014, 02:55:29 PM
Yes, they are landscape. Not sure about the comparison with other formats.

Also, no slide function on iPad for page turns. It's little things like this that make a big difference.
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: Bolt-01 on 18 December, 2018, 03:20:56 PM
Necroposting here, but it's worth it.

Over on ACES weekly (https://www.acesweekly.co.uk/) the second serial for British superspy Velicity Jones has begun.

(https://i0.wp.com/downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/AW37-Godcutter.png?w=928&ssl=1)

Written by Lee Robson and drawn by Bryan Coyle this is a cracking little spy adventure and IMO one of the strongest strips to run in ACES for a while.

Bit of blurb:
Set in the 1960s, "The Godcutter Affair", follows the events of "The Devil's Breath" (as seen in Volume 29). The international arms dealer Mael Riqueti has taken possession of the mythical weapon known as The Godcutter and is set to ascend to the head of the secret society known as The Brotherhood of The Blade – an organisation that counts some of the most powerful people on the planet amongst its ranks. Whoever possesses The Godcutter rules the world...

With the clock ticking, it falls to Britain's greatest secret agent, Velicity Jones, to stop Riqueti from plunging the world into chaos. However, the Brotherhood has acolytes in intelligence agencies across the world, and they know all about Velicity's mission...


Worth pointing out that I lettered it, but don't let that put you off.

ACES weekly is still only £6.99 which works out to a whole pound a week for the seven week run.
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: Dandontdare on 18 December, 2018, 04:04:43 PM
Is this still a digital-only motion comic?
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: Bolt-01 on 18 December, 2018, 04:15:58 PM
Yeah, the basic set up is the same as it's always been and tbh a lot of the gripes that Ghastly has at the top of the page still stand.

I really like the concept and what it tries to be- but there are niggles with the delivery that nark...
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: Dandontdare on 18 December, 2018, 04:23:44 PM
Shame - the content sounds good but I don't like digital much at the best of times, and wouldn't touch a motion-comic with a barge-pole. Either print a comic or make a cartoon, dudes!
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: Bolt-01 on 18 December, 2018, 04:33:27 PM
Ah, DDD- it's not often they get anything with actual motion in it. The closest I recall  was a strip where the pages acted like layers- so they were largely unchanged but they could have a stomm load of dialogue from a couple of talking heads before revealing an action panel.

But with all that- if digital isn't your thing- then this won't be the product to turn you.
Title: Re: Aces Weekly from David Lloyd
Post by: Bolt-01 on 27 August, 2019, 10:56:42 AM
little necro-post here to let folk know that ACES weekly has a new serial starting this week...

If you head over to ACES Weekly (https://www.acesweekly.co.uk/) at the moment they have just launched vol 41 (really, has it been that many?) which contains the first week of the third adventure for Britich spy Vwlicity Jones by writer Lee Robson and artist Bryan Coyle  (both of whom are old friends of FQP)

This is Velicity's third outing for ACES, she was also in The Devil's Breath, available in Aces Weekly issue 29 and The Godcutter Affair, available in issue 37.

You can read the first episode of The Silent Forest exclusively in Aces Weekly volume 41, which launched on August 26th, and each subsequent episode will arrive on the screen of your choosing every following Monday for the next seven weeks. A subscription to Aces Weekly will cost you £6.99 - or £1 a week, if you prefer! Back issues are available.