Who are you and what are you working on right now?
Brian Winkeler, I’m writing Knuckleheads at Monkeybrain Comics and am working on new stories for my comics property Bastard Road with Dave Curd which appeared in Image Comics’ Popgun anthology.
What drew you to digital comics?
Robert Wilson IV and I self-published Knuckleheads #1 in 2010 and became friends on the con circuit with Chris Roberson and Allison Baker, who invited us to bring it to Monkeybrain comics in 2012.
Webcomics or digital comics?
I prefer the format of webcomics since I enjoy reading stories over strips or single pages, but I do love the webcomic Guns of Shadow Valley by my pal Dave Wachter.
What do you think works with digital comics?
What works best for me is reading comics one panel at a time using ComiXology’s Guided View. I get to appreciate the art much more seeing it closer up, and it allows for great panel reveals. Chris and Dennis Culver used it to great effect recently to choreograph a conversation in Edison Rex.
Can digital comics replace print comics?
I doubt it. I honestly see it as being similar to the music industry. I love reading digital books but I love reading print books more. My kids have a stack of comics in the back seat of my car. My hope is that digital can potentially increase comics readership and savvy retailers can find the best ways to maintain and grow their businesses. Nothing can match the culture and community of a really great comic book shop.
How can print comics work with digital comics?
I think digital can allow readers to find interesting work from new creators (like me and Robert) that might not find an audience in print, which can lead to a print collection of the work so that we can all get the best of both worlds.
What don’t you like about digital comics?
You can’t read them during take off or landing.
What digital comics/webcomics do you read?
Most Monkeybrain books. I love Amelia Cole, High Crimes, Theremin, Kinski, Masks & Mobsters, and tons more. Jeff Parker’s Batman 66 is awesome, and I met Matthew Todd at SDCC this year who has a book called Mysteryman with Jonathan Case. Great stuff.
Where do you see digital comics going from here?
Hopefully mainstream? Robert and I really feel like Knuckleheads appeals to both regular comics readers and non-readers who are fans of character-based comedy (like Arrested Development). I think people are getting used to leisure reading on their tablets and hopefully we can grow awareness as the industry grows. And it’s not going to be with gimmicks: it’s still all about great storytelling.
Who do you think we should look out for in digital comics?
I’m working on a project titled Number One Hit with an artist named Michael James Anderson and he’s got an amazing, kinetic style with a strong animation influence that I think is a perfect fit for digital.
