Comments on: Filip Sablik’s Random Rumblings http://blog.newsarama.com/2009/03/25/filip-sabliks-random-rumblings/ The Blog@ Team and prominent comics personalities share what’s on their minds. Wed, 19 Jun 2013 23:43:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 By: Eric Arsenault http://blog.newsarama.com/2009/03/25/filip-sabliks-random-rumblings/comment-page-1/#comment-460986 Eric Arsenault Thu, 26 Mar 2009 17:26:36 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=11288#comment-460986 On the topic of prices for digital comics, I think a combination of free previews, 1$ downloads (downloads, not just view them like Marvel) and a monthly fee would be good. A monthly fee would appeal to those that enjoy reading them on their computer screens or other devices and 1$ comics would be good for people who want to sample the work. I only buy TPB/HC, mostly non superheroes, and I cannot say how many times I have downloaded the first 2-3 issues of a comic out of a hosting site to then buy the TPB/HC off Amazon. For me, I just want a big preview of the work to make up my mind, I dont buy monthlies since many years, but it always baffles me when a see an OGN or a TPB listed with 5-6 pages preview ! Really, publishers expect me to make a decision based on such a tiny fraction of the work ? It happens but rarely. If the TPB is 150 pages, why not put a 10-12 pages preview instead of 5-6 ? Another aspect of downloads that I like for me is this: When I download a comic and decide that it is not for me and that I wont buy the TPB (or continue to download it for that matter) I will keep giving the writer or artist a look when they come out with projects. Its less likely when I buy something that I dont like and that I feel burned about it. I know the fact that I download comics to get a better preview does not make it "right" in the eyes of some, I know some people will only download them and not buy any, wether they like it or not, but often this aspect of sampling the work translating in sales is not talked about. Take care On the topic of prices for digital comics, I think a combination of free previews, 1$ downloads (downloads, not just view them like Marvel) and a monthly fee would be good.

A monthly fee would appeal to those that enjoy reading them on their computer screens or other devices and 1$ comics would be good for people who want to sample the work.

I only buy TPB/HC, mostly non superheroes, and I cannot say how many times I have downloaded the first 2-3 issues of a comic out of a hosting site to then buy the TPB/HC off Amazon.

For me, I just want a big preview of the work to make up my mind, I dont buy monthlies since many years, but it always baffles me when a see an OGN or a TPB listed with 5-6 pages preview !

Really, publishers expect me to make a decision based on such a tiny fraction of the work ? It happens but rarely. If the TPB is 150 pages, why not put a 10-12 pages preview instead of 5-6 ?

Another aspect of downloads that I like for me is this:

When I download a comic and decide that it is not for me and that I wont buy the TPB (or continue to download it for that matter) I will keep giving the writer or artist a look when they come out with projects.

Its less likely when I buy something that I dont like and that I feel burned about it.

I know the fact that I download comics to get a better preview does not make it “right” in the eyes of some, I know some people will only download them and not buy any, wether they like it or not, but often this aspect of sampling the work translating in sales is not talked about.

Take care

]]> By: Ranma http://blog.newsarama.com/2009/03/25/filip-sabliks-random-rumblings/comment-page-1/#comment-460964 Ranma Wed, 25 Mar 2009 20:41:37 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=11288#comment-460964 I think Warren Ellis is going the right way with Freak Angels. He gives us 6 pages free almost every week. Then it is collected it into a trade. I already own Vol 1 and have Vol 2 on order, even thou I have already read everything online for free. Also he offers Freak Angels product on his own site. And here is the big one, no advertisement on his site to read his comic for free. I think Warren Ellis is going the right way with Freak Angels. He gives us 6 pages free almost every week. Then it is collected it into a trade. I already own Vol 1 and have Vol 2 on order, even thou I have already read everything online for free. Also he offers Freak Angels product on his own site. And here is the big one, no advertisement on his site to read his comic for free.

]]> By: Filip Sablik http://blog.newsarama.com/2009/03/25/filip-sabliks-random-rumblings/comment-page-1/#comment-460962 Filip Sablik Wed, 25 Mar 2009 20:09:18 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=11288#comment-460962 @Brian: 1) Fusion will act as a lead-in to Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer. Fusion #3 will ship at the beginning of July and Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer #1 will ship at the end of July (Comic-Con time!). The FCBD First Look will give you an advanced look at Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer #1. 2) For the time being Cyblade #4 will be it for that series. It completes the first story arc and should give fans a satisfying conclusion. We may revisit the series down the line, but unfortunately the market support just isn't there for the series right now. You can read more Cyblade in Fusion and Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer though! @eaglesfillthesky: I actually disagree. I think the customers coming in to LCS currently are the diehard fans rather than casual customers. The vast majority of them will want to continue buying physical copies of comics, because it is about the physical act of reading and buying and collecting. The internet does open up the possibility of capturing new casual fans and hopefully if we do things right turning them into semi-regular trade paperback buyers. Filip Sablik Publisher, Top Cow Productions Read a free issue of Witchblade at www.topcow.com/witchblade @Brian:
1) Fusion will act as a lead-in to Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer. Fusion #3 will ship at the beginning of July and Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer #1 will ship at the end of July (Comic-Con time!). The FCBD First Look will give you an advanced look at Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer #1.
2) For the time being Cyblade #4 will be it for that series. It completes the first story arc and should give fans a satisfying conclusion. We may revisit the series down the line, but unfortunately the market support just isn’t there for the series right now. You can read more Cyblade in Fusion and Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer though!

@eaglesfillthesky: I actually disagree. I think the customers coming in to LCS currently are the diehard fans rather than casual customers. The vast majority of them will want to continue buying physical copies of comics, because it is about the physical act of reading and buying and collecting. The internet does open up the possibility of capturing new casual fans and hopefully if we do things right turning them into semi-regular trade paperback buyers.

Filip Sablik
Publisher, Top Cow Productions
Read a free issue of Witchblade at http://www.topcow.com/witchblade

]]> By: Brian http://blog.newsarama.com/2009/03/25/filip-sabliks-random-rumblings/comment-page-1/#comment-460947 Brian Wed, 25 Mar 2009 17:32:24 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=11288#comment-460947 Hi Filip, Really enjoyed the article. May I ask 2 questions? (3, including this one.) 1. Is the FCBD issue related to the Fusion minseries in any way? 2. Looks like Cyblade #4 is up next week. Is that a final issue, or is there more to come? Cheers, B Hi Filip,

Really enjoyed the article. May I ask 2 questions? (3, including this one.)

1. Is the FCBD issue related to the Fusion minseries in any way?

2. Looks like Cyblade #4 is up next week. Is that a final issue, or is there more to come?

Cheers,

B

]]> By: eaglesfillthesky http://blog.newsarama.com/2009/03/25/filip-sabliks-random-rumblings/comment-page-1/#comment-460946 eaglesfillthesky Wed, 25 Mar 2009 16:59:52 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=11288#comment-460946 Your "retail partners" are going to feel pain no matter how this shakes out, i think. Your “retail partners” are going to feel pain no matter how this shakes out, i think.

]]> By: Jeremiah Allan http://blog.newsarama.com/2009/03/25/filip-sabliks-random-rumblings/comment-page-1/#comment-460940 Jeremiah Allan Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:17:48 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=11288#comment-460940 As someone who already digitally distributes his comic books for free online, I totally agree with your assessment about the future of online comics being free. The ad revenue model for sites like ComicsXP or Wowio (where my books are) isn't very lucrative but any time you can keep a consumer from opening up their wallet, you're giving the industry breathing room to grow, especially in this day and age where people don't view digital anything (books, movies, music, etc.) as "real" and refuse to pay for things that aren't "real" (tangible). Finding a perfect model that works IS problematic but, where there's a will, there's a way. I think Marvel's got a pretty good thing going for them right now, barring the clunky browser-based viewer that's keeping a lot of people (myself included) from signing up. I don't care if I can download the book or not, I just want to be able to read it and, with the Internet being practically everywhere now, I'm not worried about being denied access to it. Lose that reader -- maybe substitute it for the way Wowio presents pages -- and I think Marvel could clean up. As someone who already digitally distributes his comic books for free online, I totally agree with your assessment about the future of online comics being free.

The ad revenue model for sites like ComicsXP or Wowio (where my books are) isn’t very lucrative but any time you can keep a consumer from opening up their wallet, you’re giving the industry breathing room to grow, especially in this day and age where people don’t view digital anything (books, movies, music, etc.) as “real” and refuse to pay for things that aren’t “real” (tangible).

Finding a perfect model that works IS problematic but, where there’s a will, there’s a way.

I think Marvel’s got a pretty good thing going for them right now, barring the clunky browser-based viewer that’s keeping a lot of people (myself included) from signing up. I don’t care if I can download the book or not, I just want to be able to read it and, with the Internet being practically everywhere now, I’m not worried about being denied access to it. Lose that reader — maybe substitute it for the way Wowio presents pages — and I think Marvel could clean up.

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