Thoughts on Friday: Digital Comics

My desk looks nothing like this, although I definitely wish it did. I have an… “organized mess”. We’ll just call it that.

It’s been a while since I’ve done one of these types of posts. Where I just ramble on about something that may, or may not, be book related. It’s always nice to take a step back, and remember why I started this blog in the first place. It’s a space to share all the things I love, with others who have the same kind of passion. Books for life!

Anyway, today I’m rambling about digital comics and my journey from begrudgingly accepting them to actually loving them. Maybe you’ll read this as a die-hard fan of digital comics, maybe you’ll read it as someone who is dipping their toes in. Either way, I hope you’ll share your comments on the matter!

In case you’re a new follower, I should share that I’m relatively new to the comics/graphic novel scene. Only within the last two years did I take a peek into the current state of things, and realize that it had become this vibrant, diverse and beautiful space. There are so many good stories being told! Before, I was bombarded with the “capes and tights” set, and I ran away because I wasn’t impressed. Now there’s so much more out there to enjoy, and I find myself devouring everything I can get my hands on.

I started my foray into this new medium by borrowing physical graphic novels from the library. After all, I’ve always been a big fan of having something solid in my hands. It seemed like the most logical way to get my stories. Then, I was introduced to Comixology. A whole world of comics at my fingertips. A place where I could get new books, without having to brave the LCS (which, for the record, was not very female friendly). It seemed too good to be true. Could digital comics really be as good as the physical thing?

It took a while for me to warm to them. I wasn’t sure how I felt about using guided view, vs. being able to see a whole page at a time. It’s hard to read a whole page on a small screen, like a phone. The more I read though, the more I saw the value. In tension filled comics, like Locke & Key, I was able to stop myself from spoiling the next intense panel. In mystery comics, I was able to hold on to that moment where the big reveal happened. Suddenly I really appreciated guided view, and was using it more often.

The truth is, I still read both. I buy certain comics in physical form, and others in digital. Some, I buy in both. It really depends on the story inside. I’ve come to appreciate both forms of comics, much like I came to appreciate both forms of books after a time. There’s really no wrong answer to devouring what you love.