Creating, Publishing, and Reading in Digital: The Case of Comics

Abstract

The advancement of technology has brought new perspectives in artistic expression from the initial creation to the ultimate reception. Graphic narrations, traditionally created and developed on paper, are now challenged by new technological possibilities. Digital screens connect the producer-artist with the consumer-reader, while social network platforms give artists the opportunity to self-publish and self-distribute, bypassing publishers. Publishing houses, like DC Comics, and Marvel, have transitioned to digital as well. This paper provides an outlook of the constantly and rapidly changing digital landscape where comics are produced, published, and consumed. The following questions are discussed: - What are the digital forms of comics, the kinds of digital screens for their reading, and distribution platforms, and how have their creation and publication been affected? - What challenges does a comics reader face in encountering the various digital media and methods? As technological achievements expand and the skills of creators increase, new forms of digital comics will continue to emerge, and thus create new demands for digitally efficient readers of comics