Cool homebrew app lets you read comics
by David Hinkle 
{ Oct 9th 2006 at 4:15PM }
Comic Book DS, a nifty little homebrew application, allows users to view comics or pictures on their DS. We haven't given it a whirl yet, but you can check out some impressions from 4cr here. Eric over at 4cr also gives a step-by-step rundown on how you can get your comics onto the DS, as well as navigating them through the application.
Personally, we're looking forward to scanning some of our Berserk mangas and having at it. Anyone else give the program a whirl?
[Thanks George!]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
fischju @ Oct 9th 2006 4:46PM
its great, i use it for doujins (the 18+ variety) its awesome
graham @ Oct 9th 2006 5:35PM
yeah I also use it since it's inception! It's greaaaat, even for a picture viewer. Only problem is if I hit select.....it freezes. Dunno what's that about, but I read bleach manga on it perfectly so wee!
The ZeroCorpse @ Oct 10th 2006 1:04AM
I'm willing to bet all we'll find out there for this is the repetitive manga crap with the big eyes, small mouths, and same story in every book. There are a lot of Japanese comic book creators who are excellent storytellers and artists, and DON'T feel the need to jump on the manga/anime big-eye-small-mouth bandwagon, but all I ever see is this silly, low-rent junk.
I'd much rather see a company like Marvel, Image, DC, or Dark Horse exploit this technology and offer digital distribution. It's pretty sad when the local comic shop gets the newest issue of a hot series and IMMEDIATELY jacks up the price and sticks it in a mylar baggie. Some of just want to READ the books, not collect them (I used to collect, but it's ultimately pointless as the market's so huge now that things barely gain in value these days, and the big two pretty much ruined things in the 90s with their multiple covers, frequent specials, and gimmicks).
Anyway, though I accept that thousands of people have poor taste (my opinion) and want anime-style manga (BTW, "manga" literally means "random pictures", but is commonly used to mean simply "comic book") I hold out hope that the big, real comic book companies-- the ones that draw fairly realistic characters with normal-sized eyes and mouths and fewer schoolgirl kinks-- will choose to allow us to subscribe to a downloadable version of their products. I'd pay 1/4 to 1/2 a print subscription rate for a digital version of their books.
Amethyst @ Oct 10th 2006 2:27AM
Where did the rant come from? "All we'll find out there for this"?
Out where?
You are aware that this isn't a commercial thing, right? You did read the post and understood what was on the screen before you, correct? You add your own comic scans. No one's sh'tting on your DS.
graham @ Oct 10th 2006 5:30AM
its not just for manga....its more of a picture viewer, that works great with comics. Manga works, webcomics work....
infact.....anything thats a jpeg, or gif or whatever thats in a zip, rar, or folder can be added.
To have you rant on about manga/ how DC should make a viewer is pointless. This is HOMEBREW. I use it personally to create a nds file of my own comics and pictures to view.
but hey everyone makes mistakes so whatever if you thought it was just for manga. 8)
DS Comic Reader @ Oct 10th 2006 12:32PM
where do you guys get your comics?
The ZeroCorpse @ Oct 10th 2006 5:33PM
Sorry. `Feeling cranky from a day of selling manga.
Yes. It's part of my job.