OK folks, here's the scoop. As I mentioned a while back, I have been chatting with the Big Bang Comics guys about revamping their website. It is now a go and I will start working on it this weekend. I have some ambitious plans for the site and helping Big Bang Comics as well. The guys are a little down on it right now but I aim to change all that.

Once again, I'm asking for any ideas, advice, tips on what you would like to see and MORE IMPORTANTLY, what would make you return to the site.

Thanks. I'll be posting this on IMWAN since these are the only two boards where I respect the groups opinions.

Linda, any preference on digital versions of the books?

I'd buy some digital Big Bang Comics. I've heard good things about their stuff. Releasing monthly back issues in digital format would bring me back to their site regularly.

Its in the plan. Just need to see the best format.

What would make you come back? If it was a community for fans of the old style books, not just Big Bang, would that interest you?

Personally, I don't mind the single-page JPEG format that's been used to publish whole preview issues of Shanna and Black Panther.

I'm not sure what it would take to bring me back to a company site ... I don't visit the web sites of the big two.

I suppose if you had some interesting message boards or some kind of new content ( not marketing dreck, mind you ) every few days ... that might make me want to visit regularly. The message board thing can go South on you if you don't have a way to weed out the trolls, though.

Jim Lawless

(edited to correct spelling )

A sexy redhead hostess.

Linda? Anyone? Beuller?

Here ya go, Kev:

That may be what YOU consider a "sexy redhead hostess," Frank, but not me!!

Yeah, something got lost in the translation.

I am falling in love with te Comic Book Reader format and would love to offer downloads of this nature on the Big Bang site. Any ideas or offers of help?

Creating them is simple. (I know this because even I can do it. ) You scan each page as a seperate .jpg, name/number them in the correct order, then compress them into a .zip or .rar file. Then all you have to do is rename your file; ".cbz" for zip and ".cbr" for rar. Once you do that, CDisplay can open the file.

Sorry for the delay people. I have had a time of it, trying to extricate Big Bang and the domain from Yahoo. Their hosting is a rip-off and mine is a lot cheaper, with more features. Plus, I'm paying for the first year out of my own pocket.

I'm working on the site offline so you won't see any changes until I'm done. I'm leaning towards using Mambo for the site, as I am familiar with it, it makes adding stuff very easy, and has a lot of cool components and modules. I might be posting a "work in progress site" so I can get feedback from this board only.

I'm also going to try many things to make these guys some money, as they are a little disheartened right now.

Keep flowing with the cool ideas and suggestions.

Do they have Trade paperbacks? They also need to have images of their back issues at the shop; it would help immensely.

They had a trade of their original mini series but I need to look into if they have any more of those, or maybe print on demand (and thoughts on the most inexpensive way to do so?).

There will be plenty of pix and I am waiting on some more for the store.

Plus, I'm really loving this CBDisplay format for comic book downloads, for free samples etc.

I'm looking into this new print on demand technology. Anyone have any input on where to go, which ones are not so expensive etc.

Also, any volunteers to digitize some ofthe Big Bang comics? I want to use the CDisplay to offer somefree downloads.

This may sound crazy but has anyone ever scanned stuff for a publisher? I am doing work Big Bang Comics, and we want to offer some free comic downloads. Anyone interested in helping out?

Getting read to launch the new site. Looking for volunteers for moderators, helping to promote it etc.

I was also wondering if anyone wanted to test the site for me, before the official launch. Extra eyes and all that sort of thing.

Allen:

I've been a BIG BANG COMICS fan since they were publishing at CALIBER. I'd be happy to help in some way with the forums, testing and what not.

I even pitched (it was rejected) a GENERATIONS style mini with Knightwatchman and Ultiman.

*sigh*...the things that could'a been.

Matthew Hansel
matthewphansel@mac.com

Cool Matthew. I could use all the help!

And I love the idea of a generations style mini. Email me and lets talk some more. Don't know if I could get the guys to go for it but it would be fun to discuss.

Allen my friend...you have PM.

Matthew Hansel
matthewphansel@mac.com

Unstickying this for the nonce and archiving it on the Drawing Board ... Allen, please bump this thread when you have more Big Bang news and we'll move it back upstairs.