Pesto Comics - Audio Edition

Why cold, hard paper comics aren’t going anywhere…

Reading Experience

I mentioned last week that I really love the experience digital provides. It allows me to see everything huge and backlit. Sometimes with amazing resolution. It all makes the art pop…with one exception: two-page spreads.

I’ve yet to find a good way to read these in digital and their impact is completely squashed in digital. But in print? It’s an amazing tool to do some really creative things.

It’s also the way these books are meant to be read.

Most writers aren’t thinking of the digital page turn - they’re thinking of the physical one. That means the pacing, or how scenes are broken up, can be a little wonky reading digitally.

If that feels like a stretch from me, considering how hard I went to bat for digital last week, that’s because it is. Though there’s something that digital will truly never be able to do.

Multiple Formats

Floppies are great and all, but where print truly shines are when you get the premium editions. There’s nothing like having a giant, physical book in your hands that really gives you a sense of how the artist got the page together. (Technically, since a lot of artists are digital natives nowadays.)

It takes the size advantage away from digital when you’re talking about absolutes or library editions. There’s also nothing like having it laid out on a table in front of you.

Not to mention, looking at your books on a shelf brings a small joy itself. It’s not the same looking at the DC Universe Infinite website or your folder of PDFs from Kickstarters you’ve backed.

Collecting and The Thrill of the Chase

Speaking of looking at your books - collecting is a hobby in itself. I have access to read most of the Superman Triangle Era from the 90s-early 00s via DCUI, but I still find myself going to antique malls across Ontario to fill the gaps in my collection.

It’s likely a mix of nostalgia and an urge to collect that’s driving this more than anything. I rarely dig through my longboxes when I want to revisit a story (especially now that I have boxes spread between cities). Yet, there’s nothing like cracking open your longboxes to see what you’ve gathered.

Just looking at the covers can bring those emotions you felt reading the stories the first time out right back. I don’t get that looking at a jpeg.

The Community

As great as it has been to meet people online, both through this newsletter and through socials like Twitter/X and Instagram, there’s nothing like meeting like-minded folks in person.

Where do I meet most of these like-minded pals? Cons while we rifle through longboxes trying to fill our backlists.

My LCS, Knowhere Comics in Toronto, is another great destination to meet people, but I’m not there as often with the Wednesday Warriors to pick up my books. (Especially since I split orders with CaptCan Comics in Brantford a lot too).

But some of the best conversations about comics have come from within the walls of an LCS. Whether that’s Stadium Comics in Brampton (recently shifted to online) or the Silver Snail in Toronto.

It’s always a must do when I’m in a new city. It’s somehow always extremely familiar whether I’m in a shop in Rome, Dublin, New York or Los Angeles. That doesn’t happen if we’re only downloading books.

But Why Floppies?

From a creative, and maybe even a business point of view, it’s hard to make the argument that comics should continue in the traditional serialized format. It’s the way we’ve always done it, but if we’re learning anything about how manga is consumed in the West - folks want a complete story.

Every time I fall behind, I do appreciate being able to get an arc read rather than having to try and remember what I read a month ago - or longer if we’re talking indies.

That said, I don’t know if creators outside of the Big Two could afford to front books that way. Serialization allows some room to see how a book is doing and adjust accordingly - rather than an all or nothing approach shifting to trades would be.

Arguably, you’re getting the best of both worlds right now. But it does feel like we’re holding onto something that won’t be here in this form 10 years from now.

Maybe there’s a shift to weekly “magazine” style books containing the serialized stories like Shonen Jump or 2000 A.D. or maybe more of what we’re seeing with some books starting digitally then being collected in print.

It’s interesting to see how this all shakes out, but the one thing that’s clear is that print isn’t going anywhere any time soon - and I’m happy for that.

What’s Next?

March 1

In For The Long Haul

What can “save” comics - if they even need saving

March 15

Sense of Community

Where to make friends in comics (and out)

Pesto Comics Release Calendar

Launching Soon

* Writing Tools (within Archetypes: An Independent Geek Culture Magazine)

April 2024

* Il Pestcatore (as part of TO Comix’ The City We Chose Anthology)

Spring 2024

* Crazy Latte Thing Called Love

* Working (After) Life

Summer 2024

* NKW #1

* Cleo & Gus

Fall 2024

* NKW #2

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit pestocomics.substack.com

Happy February! Time is flying by, isn’t it?

Before we dive into this week’s topic, I have a question for you…

Thanks for that! Now, to the business of the day.

I Prefer Digital Comics

It’s blasphemous to the comics gods, I know. It doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy a good floppy or the fancy magazine-sized version you get from DSTRLY or DC Black Label. They look great and I love the ritual.

There are just too many advantages to digital copies.

In fact, I’m a big part of the problem. When I have easy access to both, like when Marvel or DC would include a code in the floppies in the mid-2000s, I would read them digitally rather than the paper copies - keeping my collected issue completely unmolested.

The How is Why

I’m not some masochist that reads comics on my phone (with very few exceptions). I read them in two places: on my desktop or my tablet.

Reading on my desktop, with the screen turned to portrait mode, makes each page huge and backlit. It really highlights the art and makes it so much easier to read. Most of the time. Two page spreads are a little bit more of a pain and don’t have the same impact.

A small price to pay for really getting to appreciate the incredible art that is out there nowadays. (I don’t think that’s been getting enough attention. The art lately has been the best it’s ever been. People were amazed by Jim Lee and Todd MacFarlane, but we have DOZENS of artists putting out that level of quality every week now. Anyway…)

Where Do I Keep It All?

I read a ton of comics.

If I had a physical copy of every comic I read, it would literally be TONS. Between DC Universe Infinite Ultra (that name really needs to be so much shorter), Marvel Unlimited (which needs a much shorter window between releases), VIZ Shonen Jump (barebones, but at the right price) and GlobalComix (a huge up-and-comer) - I read hundreds of comics every single month.

Where would I put all of that?

I’m already surrounded by the handful of comics I do purchase for collection purposes. I couldn’t imagine if I had a physical copy of every single copy I’ve read. I’d need my own warehouse.

Heck, even counting the comics I’ve supported on Kickstarter, I’d have over 1600 books floating around. Instead, they’re available at a moment’s notice on my hard-drive (and backed up on the cloud, of course).

All About the Bordens

That doesn’t roll off the tongue the same way as “Benjamins”, but that’s who’s on our $100 bill in Canada. Him…and insulin.

My point is, for what it would cost me to buy every comic I read in a month, I’m able to get a whole year of comic reading. It’s truly insane.

It’s a common complaint that comics are too expensive. They can be - but they don’t need to be. They’re also not printed on flimsy newsprint that fades before it hits the shelf anymore either, so there’s trade-offs in every direction.

Talking indie comics again, living in Canada, the shipping usually outstrips the cost of the comic itself. I’ve been able to read so much more incredible indie stuff by getting a PDF copy. I’d likely have supported a tiny fraction of what I have so far if not for this option.

I’m happy with the minor trade-offs I make reading digitally to save the money.

Kirkman Should Have Researched Future Shop

There are two things that held digital comics back from being very successful.

First is Robert Kirkman convincing Comixology not to make comics $0.99, to align it with everything else on the App Store at the time.

There’s an argument to be made that it was actually a good idea. It allowed for sales, which creates a sense of urgency and might bring people who wouldn’t otherwise spring for comics to do so.

But I don’t believe that. Having digital comics cost the same as paper issues may have helped the LCS stay competitive, but really it just held people like me back from reading as much as they could.

A story comes to mind that I feel applies…

A Tangent About Canadian Tech Stores

Allow me to take you on a walk.

In Canada, before we had Best Buy, our tech store was Future Shop. Eventually Best Buy arrived here and not long after, it bought Future Shop.

The best performing Future Shop was in Mississauga’s Heartland Centre. (A suburb neighbouring Toronto.)

Normally, you’d assume they turn their best performing store into the flagship brand. Or at least leave it as is and let the money roll in.

So, did they convert the Future Shop into a Best Buy? Did they leave it?

No. They did something crazier.

They opened a Best Buy across the street.

You would think that would have split their profits in half. Instead, both stores became the best performing stores under each label.

Why this tangent?

Maybe comics would have done better to make more available to folks to get more people in the tent than trying to shield what they thought was working.

Amazon Ruins Things, As Amazon Does

The other half of the problem came to its conclusion recently:

Amazon finally ending the Comixology store after breaking it in a number of ways and gutting the staff rather than fixing it.

The good news is that in the piling heap of manure Amazon left in place of Comixology has come a couple of exciting players.

I’ve mentioned GlobalComix, which is positioning itself to be the Netflix of digital comics with unlimited reading of work from publishers like Image, Boom, AWA and a whole host of indie creators. Omnibus is the closest to the old Comixology setup.

Not to mention, the under-advertised apps by DC and Marvel.

It’s a good time to read digital - regardless of Bezo’s has done to the flagship Comixology.

Digital Has To Be The Future

If comics are to expand, I think digital is how it happens.

Doing what worked in the ‘90s isn’t going to grow the business and get it in front of more people. That said, it doesn’t mean physical copies and collecting needs to go away entirely.

In fact, I believe it’s an important part of the business we’ll talk about next entry.

What’s Next?

February 15

Long Live the Floppy

The joy of a good comic book shop & the thrill of the chase

March 1

In For The Long Haul

Expanding from last post and what can “save” comics - if they even need saving

Pesto Comics Release Calendar

February 2024

* Writing Tools (within Archetypes: An Independent Geek Culture Magazine)

April 2024

* Il Pestcatore (as part of TO Comix’ The City We Chose Anthology)

Spring 2024

* Crazy Latte Thing Called Love

Summer 2024

* NKW #1

* Working (After) Life

Fall 2024

* NKW #2

* Cleo & Gus

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit pestocomics.substack.com

Yes, Really!

Garfield is underrated.

Can Jim Davis’ creation be cringe from time to time? Absolutely.

Over-exposed? Hell yeah (at least when I grew up.)

Respected for how ubiquitous and successful it has become? Very rarely.

--

Follow Pesto Comics at https://pestocomics.com

Or on your favourite social media sites @pestocomics

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit pestocomics.substack.com

While procrastinating on these upcoming projects, I’ve made a MCU-inspired timeline for Pesto Comics in 2024. I’ve left the moonshot projects, particularly ones relying on government grants, off the timeline.

Even without those, this is pretty ambitious. All of these projects are in progress, so I feel confident we can deliver as expected. I kept the windows open to seasons, like “spring 2024” to allow for a bit of wiggle room.

Let’s go through the projects and others initiatives for the next 12 months…

Comics & Writing

Archetypes 1

February 2024 | An Independent Geek Culture Comic-Sized Magazine

If you follow me on Twitter, Mastodon, LinkedIn or Facebook, you’ll know I put out daily bits of writing advice. Joey Galvaz of Geek Collective is putting together a magazine that will include even more writing tips from me this February!

Check it out on Kickstarter in February

Crazy Latte Thing Called Love

Spring 2024 | One-Shot w/ Mattia Monaco

For anyone who’s been on this newsletter for any period of time or backed the last campaign, you know about this one. Mattia should start sending art my way soon - at which point I’ll be happy to share what I can!

Very, very excited for this one.

Follow it here if you haven’t yet!

Working Stiff

Spring 2024 | Weekly Webcomic

I love my floppies, but what got me into “comics” were comic strips. I’ll get into one of my favourites next post, but it’s time for one of my own to get out there: Working Stiff.

It’ll be free and it’ll be everywhere I can put it. WebToon, Tapas and on the socials.

Expect to see something more than a title caption very soon.

Il Pescatore

June 2024 | The City We Chose Anthology by TO Comix

I was lucky to be selected for the latest anthology by TO Comix. This edition is called “The City We Chose”. It was a dream come true to work with this group as I’ve been reading their “Toronto Comics” collections for years now.

For my entry, I wrote a short (very) loosely based on the experience of my grandfather coming to Toronto from Italy.

I was even luckier to get paired up with Marzia Migliori. The character designs she’s submitted are absolutely astonishing.

(Click the link below for even more great character designs by Marzia)

“NKW”

Summer 2024 and Onward | New 5-Part Series w/ Rafael Chrestani

This is the big one.

I’ll have more to share in the very near future, like the title, but until then we’ll just call it “NKW”.

If you’ve been a fan of anything I’ve written (or Rafael has drawn), I think you’ll absolutely love this one. It’s going to be a ton of fun, a little weird and beautiful to look at.

Stick around for more.

Cleo & Gus

Fall 2024 | 3x Weekly Webcomic

Did I mention that I love comic strips? Working Stiff will have some very clear influences I’m drawing from - and you’ll see that again, albeit with different influences, in Cleo & Gus.

This one will be 3x weekly and I’ve already written a year’s worth! It’s going to be some goofy fun - and also free to all on all the platforms!

NKW and the strips will take up the 2nd half of 2024 (and likely the first half of 2025), but there’s more than just creating content next year…

In-Person

Feeling the FOMO at TCAF & Toronto Comicon

I applied for tables at TCAF and Toronto Comicon this year, which I quickly learned was a novice mistake. Without too much to offer beyond Stay Cool and Unlimited Udo, I was not approved for a table this go round.

That said, I’ll be at both events as an attendee.

TCAF has the excellent Word Balloon Academy on the Friday and the festival itself through the weekend. It’s always fun to check out.

Plus, I’ve already got my ticket to Toronto Comicon from my Fan Expo pass - so I’ll certainly be checking that out, along with…

Attending San Diego Comic-Con & Fan Expo Canada

I’ve been going to Fan Expo Canada forever - and I’ll be continuing that streak this year. Last year was the first post-covid year that felt more like old times and I’m excited to go back.

Before that though, I’m going to the big one: San Diego Comic-Con!

I got tickets for Thursday and Sunday - so I’m missing the big days. I’ll take what I can get - and from what I hear there’s lots to do around the city, so I’m sure it’ll be fun. I’m excited (and a little nervous) to check it all out.

Applying to Niagara Comicon & Hamilton Comicon

I plan to apply for tables at two more cons later in the year - and I should have a lot more to fill a table by then. Here’s hoping you can find me in Hamilton or Niagara Falls this year. Fingers crossed.

Marketing

The Pesto Comics newsletter podcast

I’m reading these to you now! Hopefully, this can increase engagement on the newsletter and expand the base a bit. Right now, it’s just a straight readout of what you can read yourself, but it opens the door to expand this in the near future. I have plans, but no big commitments yet.

Shift to Video - TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts

It’s something I’ve been putting off, but I’ll be replacing the energy I’ve used to update the experimental “Pesto Hyper” newsletter and put it into expanding my reach on these platforms.

It’ll likely be a lot of the same content, but in very easily digestible 15-20 second bites.

Still On The Bad Place - Twitter/X

Twitter is a writer’s platform and Comics Twitter remains pretty strong (though not like it was in its heyday). I’ll still be there if you’d like to get the content I was posting on the now defunct Pesto Hyper.

I also post my videos on here too - in case you’re not on the other apps.

It’s been a good experience on the platform in spite of the efforts to burn it all down. You just need to be liberal with your block and mute buttons.

All said…

I’m Excited for 2024, Are You?

There’s so much planned and I can’t wait to start delivering it to you. I’m so grateful for growing in 2023 and excited to accelerate that this year.

Thanks again for joining me on this journey. Have a wonderful 2024!

What’s Next?

January 15

The Comics That Inspired Me: Garfield

Really? Garfield?

February 1

Digital is the Future for Comics

It has to be, right?

Enjoying what you’re reading? Get a bunch of free stuff from me by referring a friend.

Thank you for helping get the word out about Pesto Comics!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit pestocomics.substack.com

2023 Was a Huge Year!

2023 will forever be the year Pesto Comics came to be. It was something I had been planning and researching forever, but never got off the blocks.

This year, I finally pulled the trigger.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit pestocomics.substack.com