Black Mask Studios has easily solidified themselves as the independent comics publisher to watch. With a focus that empowers transgressive themes, and cross media development its becoming clear that they aim to change the way we enjoy comics. This was even more evident last night, when they quietly launched a brand new website: Blackmask.tv
Here you’ll find something they’ve pioneered themselves, Tubecomics. Which they call: “Tubecomics are a new way to binge out on comics without fucking up your eyes from trying to read little fonts with a flashlight under your covers. Let us display each panel of beautiful art for you while our actor & musician friends fill in the soundscape of pure awesome. Tubecomics: kinda like TV if your TV knew shit about art.”
So far Liberator, 12 Reasons to Die, Ballistic, Hack/Slash, and Five Ghosts have gotten the Tubecomics treatment. You may notice those last two are not original Black Mask properties. So you can tell Black Mask founders, Brett Gurwtiz and Matt Pizzolo are making strides with one thing in mind: Comic Book Sales!
It’s a brilliant step in the right direction for those of us looking for an avenue for the digital comics age. Often comics can be enjoyed on the computer much in the same way that they can be enjoyed in print, but with the advent of motion graphics, and easy video editing its clear that Tubecomics are the way the industry should be headed. These first few episodes arn’t perfect. They feature basic keyframing, a neat soundtrack, and pretty great voice-acting.
But, imagine the possibilites with a little motion graphics thrown in. A little more time settling into the roles and these actors could really dig into the material. Original scores could take these to the next level too, but that’s all pipedream stuff. I’m getting too excited, the point is, Black Mask is doing something no other publisher is: they are fundamentally changing the way we enjoy comics.
Here’s the first episode of Ballistic. Which I called the #1 Best Debut Issue of last year.
“Adam Egypt Mortimer and Darick Robertson’s Ballistic blew me away this year. I’ve read the debut issue too many times to count, and I learn new things with every read. This is a deep book, which has an overwhelming amount to offer. It’s also filled with razor sharp dialogue. The story is insanely original and well thought out. Robertson’s art is unparalleled in its mastery. If you missed this book, do yourself a favor and get it immediately. It’s a Cronenbergian love letter to the intellectual science fiction of the past and it’s damn near perfect.”