What Can Publishers Learn from Digital Comic Books?
Scott believes that publishers in general—like those in the comic book sector—are not yet applying the real advantages of the new medium. "What they must do is not treat digital and print as separate products. They must create synergistic packages that allow consumers to enjoy the content wherever they are and only pushing them to specific platforms when specific experiences are desired. Marvel Comics' augmented reality app is not sexy but it is a step in the right direction as they use the app's recognition of specific pages in a print comic to deliver value added content from enhanced art to creator interviews. The publishers that market their content, make it easy to access anywhere, anytime, and continue to find ways to offer value across the board are the publishers who will not only survive but flourish."
John Parsons (john@intuideas.com), former Editorial Director of The Seybold Report, is an independent writer, ghostwriter, and editor. He is the co-author of the interactive printed textbook, Introduction to Graphic Communication, on the art, science and business of print, which has been adopted by Ryerson, Arizona State, the University of Houston, and many other schools and vocational training centers. Custom editions of the book are under consideration by major printing companies and franchises for internal training purposes.