Panel Borders: Interactive Comics

By John Freeman on July 7, 2011

Jack’s Abstraction by Daniel Merlin Goodbrey, available on Android devices

Starting a month of shows about the cross-over between comic books and video games on the Panel Borders radio show that first airs on ResonanceFM, Alex Fitch talks to web comics creator Daniel Merlin Goodbrey about the latest examples of his experiments in interactive ‘hyper-comics’: including Jack’s Abstraction, available on Android devices, and the forthcoming A Duck, which allow comic strip readers to follow differing narrative paths in various directions on the virtual page.

Alex and Daniel also talk about other recent examples of the intersection between games and comics including Batman: Arkham Asylum and InFamous 2: The Fame Strips which he designed the flash interface for but were written by Pat Mills and Howard Marks to promote the PS3 game and feature a number of well-known celebrities – including Lady Gaga, Pippa Middleton, Justin Bieber , Lindsay Lohan (right) and Cheryl Cole – get some refreshingly satirical treatment.

The fantasy comic strips, which bring together seven of the world’s freshest comic artists, explore what would happen if some of the world’s favourite celebrities were integrated into the fantasy inFAMOUS world alongside characters of New Marais, allowing them to hold superpowers and the choice to change the world for better or worse.

• Panel Borders: Interactive Comics airs at 5.00pm, Thursday 07th July 2011 on Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com

• Read the full collection of InFamous strips online here

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.