Double page spreads & Digital comics

This DC relaunch sure has been fun, right?  I've enjoyed a number of the titles immensely and I'm reading them all digitally.

One thing I was very curious to see was how DC's creators approached double-page spreads with the knowledge that these comics would be distributed digitally.  The problem with the double-page spread is that they don't work digitally.  They take what should be the most majestic scene of the issue and make it the least impressive.

Don't believe me?  Look at this comparison of areas (in square inches):

• Normal comic book page: 72.2
• Double page comic spread: 144.4
• iPad2 screen: 45.9

I'm honestly surprised that the iPad's screen is only 63% the size of a standard comic page because reading normal comic pages on the iPad isn't off-putting at all.  But, the double-page spreads end up being displayed at less than 1/3 of the intended size.  Suddenly all the scale and majesty is lost as we squint to even read the words on the page.

But, sometimes it works better than others.  Let's look at a few examples:


Justice League #1 by Geoff Johns and Jim Lee:

This is kinda the no-harm/no-foul of the digital double-page spread.  Maybe we don't get the thrill of a BIG image, but we digital readers can still see the whole of the action because the double-page spread is just one big image.  However, Johns/Lee could have accomplished this same effect digitally with a single-page slash image and that would have freed up an extra page for Batman and Green Lantern to talk to each other in the sewer.

The New 52...On a Budget

I'm one broke-ass comic collector lately. I don't really have anything to complain about; like a lot of the members of family Comicus Collecticus I have shelves full of unread material that my current budgetary restrictions are an open invitation to catch up on. What it has meant, however, is that even if I were inclined to sample some of the DC relaunch titles I would have to pick and choose which ones to buy very carefully. When it comes to comics, I don't do restraint well. And I don't particularly like missing out on the conversation. So what can I do?

Read previews, that's what. Normally, I don't read previews. In this case, it's all I have the chance to read, so read them I shall. This is really an experiment on several levels: reading previews in the first place, and trying books (like Superboy) that I would ordinary have only the slightest interest in.

These "reviews" should be taken with an entire shaker of salt. I don't really believe it's fair to judge or review a book based on 3-5 pages of it. These are my half-baked impressions based on those previews and you should not place any value on them whatsoever. You have been warned.

T.M.A.C. Two Man Army Corps

For those who may not know OMAC, he's basically a futuristic version of Captain America created by Jack Kirby and gets his powers from a sentient satellite called Brother Eye. You should also know that I have only read the first issue of Jack Kirby's OMAC, and I've only read the first issue of the Dan Didio & Keith Giffen's new 52 OMAC. With the excitement for the book and the DCnU, I am doing an issue by issue comparison of both series.