Ezra Daniel’s Sci-Fi Upgrade Soul gets a Digital Upgrade

Ezra DanielBy Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Ezra Claytan Daniels‘ digital comic Upgrade Soul is literally getting an upgrade. This version of the 3D comic will relaunch on October 25th with the more content. The original release was never complete. When considering how often the graphics engine has improved over time, perhaps the effects will truly leap at readers. The ‘free’ version offers chapter one for all to read, and for the remainder of October, the entire digital comic can be unlocked for $6.99 USD. On November 1, the price will increase by $1.

The haunting soundtrack from Alexis Gideon gives the reading experience a unique pleasure. The compositions truly add to the atmosphere because it’s in sync with the narrative. FPE Records vinyl release makes for a terrific side-journey for those nights when all folks want is a little ambience for the Halloween season. If you like Goblin, then this album is for you! Two versions are available for purchase: a regular black and a limited edition run on translucent orange, with red markings and a signed print by Daniels. Of the latter, only 100 copies will be released worldwide.

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Powfolio Wants to Netflix Up the Comic Book World

DavidBy Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

Powfolio is a mobile app for iOS and Android looking to change how people look at comic books. This software has been out since early 2016 and they are making a new push to be known throughout the industry. Back in a different century, when printed versions could be found nearly everywhere, at corner stores and supermarkets, this era is distinguished by being able to find digital content very easily. While some towns may see a few supermarkets carry Archie paperbacks, to find that is very few and far between. CEO David Campiti (pictured top right) of Glass House Graphics (a talent agency / studio of artists who are hired to produce work for comic book companies like Dark Horse) fondly recalls those days when they were far more accessible. Today, the only place these rags can be found are at speciality operations.

“There was a McNamara’s drugstore right up the street from where I lived that carried almost everything, From Marvel, DC, Classics Illustrated, Gold Key, Harvey, Warren … If you name it, they had it,” recalled Campiti. “Skip forward to now, [the distribution of] comics have been shrunk down into a very niche market of 1800 shops scattered across the US. This means an entire generation of children has never held a comic book in their hands.”

As a father who delivered presentations at his young daughter’s school, talking about his job in the comic book industry, he’s seen the result of the times. In today’s digital age, he sees more children tuned to their mobiles than a paper product. As he was handing out free products (Marvel Comic’s X-Men) to the kids, he was astounded to hear one boy say, “You mean there’s a comic book too?”

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Google Play Offers Free Comics!

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

google-play-logo1

Google Play is an online store where people can buy software, music and books to read on their mobile devices (mostly Android) and today they are celebrating how their Play Books application have become comic-book interface friendly. New features include a vertical scrolling experience in landscape mode, and a curated series webpage to make searching for favourite titles easier. These features are nothing new when compared to standalone readers like iComics on iOS, but its a step closer to not having a mobile device bloated with tons of software.

To get people embracing this new distribution method, the company is offering several free comics. These first issues are only teasers of what’s to come. To name a few, titles include: Batman, The Walking Dead, Star Wars Previews, Star Trek, Planet of the Apes, Orphan Black, The X-FilesJem and the Holograms, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Ghostbusters and My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. A huge selection of manga is offered, making this announcement very notable amongst the gang here at Otakunoculture. A full list can be found here.

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