Warren Ellis Releases "SVK", Gives New Way To Read Comics

Um...yeah. I'll pass. But he's thinking and I like that=P

That is fascinating. I really dig what he's doing. It's making the reader less of an omnipotent third party and more like a regular person with amazing powers. Imagine using this to write a POV X-men book from Jean Grey's perspective. You could give the reader the ability to read peoples thoughts and stuff without cluttering the page with all the bubbles, and choosing whether or not you should could change what you know about the problem-at-hand. The possibilities are endless...

Very interesting to say the least. Not trying to be negative by any means but being realistic here; if it means a higher price, I have a hard time thinking most people would buy it.

eh could be kinda cool. its neat to see people trying to go outside of the box.

It's a gimmick, to be sure... but you have to admit it's a great one. BERG is a neat company, and if you check out their web site they have all kinds of clever apps and whatnot. The UV ink would be a neat idea for a mystery or a detective comic with the big reveal written in the invisible ink at the end. I'd like to see this process combined with 3D in some way.

I'll always give something a try if it has Warren Ellis behind it.

Very interesting to say the least. Not trying to be negative by any means but being realistic here; if it means a higher price, I have a hard time thinking most people would buy it.

I'll always give something a try if it has Warren Ellis behind it.

I am waiting for my copy of this to turn up. As a massive fan of Ellis, I couldn't wait to not only see his latest comic with D'Israeli but to also read what he is calling one of the hardest things he's ever written. In my eyes, making comics a little different and giving people something different even for a little bit more monies, means that it will at least lengthen the life span of comics as a medium. I'm a bit sick of reading Superman smack Brainiac in the face for the twenty eighth time.

If this project fails with it being a Warren Ellis project then the medium really doesn't carry the support it should to evolve and push the medium anymore.  Ellis' cult is huge, I for one would most definitely trade off reading most of DC's planed 52 if it means reading this.  The one book may be expensive, but it is definitely something different then the way the Superhero books recycle ideas. I do have to give Warren Ellis credit that he pushes the medium the way he does.  While Moore and Morrison are more into " magick", Ellis has always been about technology.  He is a celebrated vertigo alumni and Vertigo was once called "The House that Alan built".  When guys like Ellis make something with their whole heart, then it in my opinion is better then the superhero stuff they do half-hearted to just make money.  It would be obvious speculations I would be pro for this book and I hope it succeeds.
 
@Black_Lantern_Bison22 said:

That is fascinating. I really dig what he's doing. It's making the reader less of an omnipotent third party and more like a regular person with amazing powers. Imagine using this to write a POV X-men book from Jean Grey's perspective. You could give the reader the ability to read peoples thoughts and stuff without cluttering the page with all the bubbles, and choosing whether or not you should could change what you know about the problem-at-hand. The possibilities are endless...

@Decept-O said:

Very interesting to say the least. Not trying to be negative by any means but being realistic here; if it means a higher price, I have a hard time thinking most people would buy it.

It will probably be like video games that require extra peripherals like Rock Band or Guitar Hero where you can buy the comic bundled with the SVK object or without it, wouldn't make sense to have to buy the object over again since you only need one, the comic would probably still be a little expensive by itself though since this is almost a Print on Demand type distribution.

@Silkcuts: I will disagree with you in one tiny area - His fans are not all techno savvy. I'm a big fan of his and I am a techno retard.

Interesting idea, but Warren Ellis is a perpetually gutter-minded individual, IMO.  I have no desire to need a special light for my comic, just to see that one guy is thinking, "Boobs boobs boobs..."  In the hands of a better writer, this would be a cool gimmick (and yes, it is a gimmick).  It could actually make it like reading two different stories - the first read-through with just dialogue, and the second with the light revealing their thoughts... thoughts pertinent to the story.  Overall, I think it's a waste of time.

Interesting idea, but Warren Ellis is a perpetually gutter-minded individual, IMO.  I have no desire to need a special light for my comic, just to see that one guy is thinking, "Boobs boobs boobs..."  In the hands of a better writer, this would be a cool gimmick (and yes, it is a gimmick).  It could actually make it like reading two different stories - the first read-through with just dialogue, and the second with the light revealing their thoughts... thoughts pertinent to the story.  Overall, I think it's a waste of time.

First off, COOL! I'm an Ellis fan, leave it to him to be involved with this. I'm in.

@Silkcuts: I will disagree with you in one tiny area - His fans are not all techno savvy. I'm a big fan of his and I am a techno retard.

Interesting idea, but Warren Ellis is a perpetually gutter-minded individual, IMO.  I have no desire to need a special light for my comic, just to see that one guy is thinking, "Boobs boobs boobs..."  In the hands of a better writer, this would be a cool gimmick (and yes, it is a gimmick).  It could actually make it like reading two different stories - the first read-through with just dialogue, and the second with the light revealing their thoughts... thoughts pertinent to the story.  Overall, I think it's a waste of time.

Really Really Really Cool. Nice to see boundaries pushed in a creative way for once.

This is a cool idea. Much like 3D comics were...but different, because 3D is played out and no one wants to wear dumb glasses.

This is as cool as Clear Pepsi!

@cbishop: Warren Ellis is known for this sort of humour, and lets be honest, its not entirely unrealistic. Men think of things like this, especially when things like this are not commonly available. He is gutter minded but that doesn't make it less realistic. I think you're over simplifying the rest of the dialogue and everything else - Inner thoughts are 100% honest, especially the Subconscious ones. You don't so much think that as have them,

@iLLituracy: Plus 3D only works well if you have decent colour vision, which I do not possess.

Having received my copy in the post this morning, I can say it was an interesting read, but nothing revelatory. It didn't recreate comics as a medium, it was just a typical Ellis affair dealing with Security and all the themes from the intelligence community he likes to play with. This isn't a comic that's going to re-write the game book or the form, but it is quite enjoyable and the gimmick is a bit...I don't know if anyone else struggled to use theirs? It's a bit flickery and off and on and not terribly well fabricated. I have to say, I am a fan of the type of character Ellis creates and Tom Woodwind is a lot more "normal" for an Ellis character. No chain smoking, chain swearing anger towards humanity. This guy is a much softer and nice protagonist which is really what draws me in as a reader - this is what I've not seen from Ellis before - Someone who is actually nice.

Anyway, that's my mini review done.

It`s always nice to see something new and a little different from the mystery meat that is superheroes and other wonderful things we have all grown accustomed to from the past couple of years . and Warren Ellis is taking a few risk with his creator-owned project . sure some of you here do not see anything special in it at all , sure  the price is a bit steep and a little off putting , but at least it`s something a fresh and a little bit of a change of pace . besides I feel that mainstream comics should (if they could ) take a few unconventional risk with what they have , yes digital comics right now seems to be the best thing since peanut butter and jelly  , and yes we have every-other superhero known to man right now (with a really big list of exceptions ) you know , the market is being overstimulated right now with either more ( other priceless gimmicks such as the annual death of a main character , or the entire unasked for re-boot /re-vamp of an entire long running series of titles + a few new ones that were barely a year old ) magic number being 52 but who`s counting at this point eh . 
 
but all I am trying to say is lets just let this play out and wish the man well , besides at least between him and kirkman , Erik Larsen , Grant Morrison and yes Mark Millar to some existent is trying either something new or just out right taking risk and just doing their  own thing without worrying about what critics or people who dont get it behind them.  I mean if the economic climate was Healthy and well supported for everyone to just fly by the seat of their pants for aspiring creators (writers /artist ) do just do what ever . well at-least his web comic the freak angels is an enjoyable read  (it`s that little appraiser I look at in-between various trades I would buy from time to time ) and other web comics out right now  like American Barbarian , I already mentioned freakangels , zombiecity , PvP and too many others to count right now . but the truth is things are not doing so well but I hope that one of these days our economy with pull itself out the mud that is the national debt . so everyone do what you want  but if I was anyone who was at least a little bit patient I would wait for the price to come down and buy it to give it the good ol collage try . it looks fun and interesting enough to warrant a first , second maybe even a third read . But the question we all should ask ourselves this if you was creating something like this (or better ) and it was far removed from what`s already out on the stands and shops right now how much are you willing to invest into it and how much would you be willing to charge for such an unique experience (in the form of comic books folks ) all in all I really enjoyed this article a lot and this from what you layed eyes upon was my two cents ( ^_^) and now I return you to your regular programing .

It could actually make it like reading two different stories - the first read-through with just dialogue, and the second with the light revealing their thoughts... thoughts pertinent to the story.

Interesting, but gimmick for sure...and something like that will by definition have a substantial price tag attached to it.  Nice idea but...yeah, a gimmick, and an expensive one at that.

@BKole said:

@cbishop: Warren Ellis is known for this sort of humour, and lets be honest, its not entirely unrealistic. Men think of things like this, especially when things like this are not commonly available. He is gutter minded but that doesn't make it less realistic. I think you're over simplifying the rest of the dialogue and everything else - Inner thoughts are 100% honest, especially the Subconscious ones. You don't so much think that as have them,

 

Never disputed the realism of it - I just don't think it's necessary.  Woody Allen does the same thing in his movies - all the characters talk at the same time in some scenes, because that's what happens in real life.  That's true, but it's unnecessary for a story, and distracting in a way that takes you out of the story.  Some have called it "genius," but I call it "bad writing."  I understand completely that not everyone will agree with me on that, but it's my two cents, nonetheless.  You're not wrong at all though, about true inner dialogue.