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Not wishing to put a downer on this, but frankly, until there's a universal platform for digital comics and these srts of issues get addressed, I don't see the digital age even getting started.

Sadly, I think I don't think that's true; most people won't care (or won't realise) that they don't own the stuff, as long as it works on their device of choice. Comics publishers WANT a mass market, and, mass markets, generally, are pretty thick.

Oh, I totally get that.

Mind you, I will say this: I've been privy to a few discussions about digital comics in the last few weeks, and where that point of actual ownership comes up, I notice that people generally aren't aware of it until they're told. When the ARE told, the majority of them don't like what they hear.

I think possibly that's an example of an issue that might prove to be quite a big one given time. Or, equally possibly, it won't.

Personally, I don't believe that the principle of paying money for something you don't get to physically own is going to go down well if it gets to be known that's how it works. A mass market may not understand the finer points of it all, but there's BOUND to be a sizeable element that'll grasp that. These things have a knack for getting out, if you take my meaning.

BUT - I'm by no means an expert on this stuff. I just see those points as concerns and potential obstacles. Maybe there's some clever business plan that I'm unaware of. I'll be interested to see how it all works out, that's for sure.

Yeah. In all honesty, I really CAN'T WAIT for this arm of the industry to get itself organised.

I've gone from being completely resistant to the idea of digital comics to actually thinking they hold some gnarly benefits. I like the idea of having a huge collection of comics that don't take up all my shelf space. And I REALLY like the idea of publishers opening up their vaults of older material and making them available to digital consumers.   

There's no reason why digital comics shouldn't work. But the obstacles that presently exist are really holding things back.

Personally, I think the way forward could be to completely dismiss the notion of iPads and tablets as platforms for comics. If we could have ONE established standard, ONE platform, and have that accessible to comics fans and cool kids who are into their gadgets alike, that would be a good start.

As I understand it, formatting comics for digital presentation is a costly business, and can be extra-costly depending on the final intended platform. I'm thinking that standardising the format for this presentation might make that part of the process a bit more bearable and cost effective.

Wow well the news that DC will be offering some content, or at least collections, exclusively via The Fire is interesting

And also something of a middle-finger to those of us hoping to embrace digital comics as a way to pick up and expand our collection of stuff.

I've been hearign some pretty disparaging stuff about the state of the digital download market for comics lately, and in my opinion, exclusive content is a massive error. As is the fact that we have digital comics providers that don't provide comics as downloads TO OWN.

Not wishing to put a downer on this, but frankly, until there's a universal platform for digital comics and these srts of issues get addressed, I don't see the digital age even getting started.

The art shop that used to be in Falkirk was like that, when I tried to buy non-repo blue pencils and Bristol board for drawing comics they just looked at me like I was an idiot, ended up getting then through in an art shop in Glasgow. Internet shopping has been a god send for art supplies.

I've had this sort of experience as well. Our sole local art shop prides itself on having 'the most comprehensive selection of art materials you could ever hope for'. However, in several years of casual shopping there, I've been told that:

there's no such thing as a brush pen,
non-photo blue lead hasn't been around since the '70s,
there are no drawing pens that go below a standard 0.5 nib weight,
and
lightboxes only come in A3 size.

So, basically, the staff there are completely clueless.

These days, unless I need something IMMEDIATELY, I'll always source the stuff I need online. Strangely enough, Ebay has usually been the most reliable place to buy things like red and blue pencil lead. Sometimes it takes a bit of hunting, but you can usually find what you need for a decent price.

Point of interest:

I recently had my first try at inking over pencils on quality tracing paper.

Now, I've used crappy discount-shop greaseproof paper to make inking fixes to stuff before, and found it pretty horrible. So if you're thinking about trying this, BEWARE of the quality of cheaper stuff. W H Smith sell rather pricey but SUPERB quality tracing paper with a nce, smooth finish.

It does indeed take a while longer than usual to dry, but there's a 'zing' to the blacks that is very appealing. You do have to be rather careful when inking large areas of black and core shadow, though. I'd recommend simply marking those arwas with an 'x' and filling them in with Photoshop if you can scan the work into your computer.

I'm due to start pencilling my graphic novel in December, and I'm SERIOUSLY thinking about doing all the inks this way. 

Because I'm REALLY on a roll with this one...

I caught somebody on Deviant Art commenting ona  piece of fan work with: 'if I don't tell this guy (as rudely as possible, naturally) that his writing stinks, he's never going to know he needs to improve, is he?'

I find that not only INCREDIBLY STUPID but also ASTOUNDINGLY OBNOXIOUS. I've never met an artist or writer yet who didn't take a great deal of interest in their own standard of craftsmanship.

The lame-brained justification these trollboys offer for their inability to practice good manners often amuses me. And makes me sad. Inside. For the human race.

Fuh.

I spent bits of the last day and a half arguing with some obnoxious knob online over his aggressive, unfriendly reaction to a fan comic somebody posted on Deviant Art.

Yeah. I should know better. But it's a long-standing bugbear among the online community that this fella is so frequently blunt and rude about stuff he sees and doesn't like. I noticed somebody posting a comment that said 'Why are you being so nasty about somebody's creative efforts?'

He responded by saying that he considered that post offensive to him personally. At that point, the red mist descended and I did the online equivalent of grabbing him by the ankles, holding him upside down and tanning his ass with an iron rod.

(Amazing what the shift key will do!)

Naturally, this led to an ongoing back-and-forth which sees me labelled as some horrible bastard for reminding him that he needs to USE HIS WORDS when he talks to people about their work, and please NOT be an ignorant little twat about it.

Dear lord. The stuff I've heard back. 'I'm only being honest'. 'He won't learn unless I tell him'. 'I see nothing of merit here.' This stuff REALLY annoys me. It's so lazy. I can't believe people are this stupid.  The part that took the biscuit was when he said to me, indignantly 'THIS IS AN ART COMMUNITY.'

Which means what, exactly?

Jeez. This stuff makes me despair for the human race.

Edit: I am also gonna have to get the Dredd vs Predator/Alien spin offs as I am huge fan of those franchises.

Two notes that may help you with this:

Aliens Vs Judge Dredd is STELLAR, STELLAR stuff! It's the most entertaining comics crossover story I've ever read, and it makes SUPERB use fo the Aliens. Whack it right to the top of your shopping list NAOW!

Predator Vs Dredd, I'm not so enthusiastic for. But it's worth a look just to see the two of them going toe-to-toe.

I'd like to see Nick Roche on Judge Dredd.

...

No, not like that.

Re-watched Steamboy the other day with my pal and his little lad, who enjoyed every minute of it.

I see a LOT of negative, super-nitpicky crap talked about this movie, but it's bloody brilliant!

Mruh.

Logged into my DA account today, and found that somebody has set up another page using MY pseudonym. Checking the page, it's completely empty so far, so it's hard to jusdge whether there's any monkey business going on, or whether this is  asimple blunder on somebody's part and they've scurried off to set up another page elsewhere.

But still.. who the hell wants to be ME? 

Going against the advice of a few chums who warned me off it, I started reading 'Punisher: War Journal' last night.

The series spins out of Marvel's Civil War storyline, and I have to say, it's absolutely great! There were a few blips in the storytelling I could have done without, where things aren't too clearly explained in the narrative. But those infrequent problems aside, this is gnarly stuff. Issue #4, which features a pub full of despondent super-villains, is especially great.

It is enough for me that Wheelie from Transformers is there. As well as the Evil Robot Us-es  from Bill And Ted's Bogus Journey.

And Zax from Benji, Zax and the Alien Prince!

Love this image!

For the past three days my neighbour has been having sex at five o'fucking clock in the morning. Very loudly, with a woman who squeaks. Squeaks i say.
SBT

I've had a similar problem with neighbours in the past.

My solution? As SOON as there's a hint of any south-of-bellybutton type activities going on at an unacceptable volume (and if you can hear it, it's sodding well unacceptable!) make a point of doing something EQUALLY LOUD. That generally sends the message that if they can hear you, you can hear them.

My preferred technique has been to get up and make a cup of tea. The racket out kettle makes is enough to make the paper thin walls in our gaff positively rattle.

Loudly saying 'AH! THAT'S JUST WHAT I NEED! A NICE CUP OF TEA TO CALM MY NERVES AFTER BEING SUBJECTED TO MY NEIGHBOURS SEX LIFE!' also serves to underscore the point.

I REALLY like Criminal. It's a gnarly read, populated by sleazy, flawed chaarcters, with some neat set-ups. I find I'm not always 'in the mood' for it, but it always delivers.

Definitely worth checking out!