The Marvel ReEvolution is here—and comics will never be the same!
We've heard this sort of thing before but Marvel has revealed their plans in making this happen. The 'future' was seen yesterday at SXSW Interactive. The Marvel ReEvolution seamlessly brings the worlds of print and digital media together for a comics experience like no other. This new initiative consists of a new comic book format, Marvel Infinite Comics and Marvel AR, the first major augmented reality app from a comics company. We will get to see this when AVENGERS VS. X-MEN #1 is released on April 4th.
== TEASER ==
Dan Buckley, Publisher and President of the Print, Animation & Digital Divisions, Marvel Worldwide, Inc., had this to say:
Marvel’s always led graphic fiction industry in digital media innovation and the Marvel ReEvolution is a quantum leap into the future of publishing. We see print and digital product as complementary, not competitive—so we’ve made sure that not only do we have new digital content but also digital products that enhance the printed page. The release of Avengers VS X-Men #1, the biggest story we’ve ever told, is the activation point for the re-evolution of comics as a whole.
Marvel Infinite Comics will represent a new form or comic book storytelling and use tablets and smartphones as a new canvas to tell the story. The technology will be utilize to enhance the reading experience. The first omic released in this format will be AVENGERS VS X-X_MEN#1 INFINITE, from Mark Waid and Stuart Immonen and available on April 4 for purchase on the Marvel Comics app, free with the redemption of the code found in print copies of AVENGERS VS X-MEN#1 or included with the purchase of the digital version.
Here's what Editor-in-Chief, Axel Alonso had to say:
We call these Marvel Infinite Comics because the storytelling possibilities are, frankly, infinite. Writers and artists now have a whole host of new tools at their disposal to redefine the comic book medium. Current tablets and smartphones, along with comiXology’s Guided View technology, allow us to develop new, full length stories for a different medium that are very much truly comics—but experienced by readers in a way no other major company has ever executed.
The Marvel AR app, powered by Aurasma, will be released in April for iOS and Android devices. By opening this app and scanning select Marvel products featuring theMarvel AR logo, you’ll unlock exclusive content starring the world’s most popular Super Heroes -- including Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, Spider-Man, Wolverine, Hulk and many others! Go behind the scenes of your favorite comics, see new footage, hear from creators, catch yourself up on past events and more!
We'll be getting more behind the scenes content and a new way to read comics. Most likely there will be some opposed to seeing a change to the way they read comics but all this is being offered for free. As long as you are not required to read the extra content to get the full story, those without smartphones and tablets won't have to worry about missing out.
It sounds like a lot of PR hype but it definitely is a step in the right direction. There's a lot that can be done with this if utilized in the way they presented it. We'll have to check it out in April to see how the execution goes.
