Robot Comics » Press releases

Robot 13 wins Digital Innovation Award at Digital Book World New York

robotcomics — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 03:20:27 +0000

Robot Comics’ Robot 13 app was awarded yesterday the Digital Innovation Award at Digital World Book New York.

Robot Comics was the only European company in competition, and the only company nominated twice when the longlist nominees were named for the Digital Book World Publishing Innovation Award.

Robot Comic’s Android and iPhone app Robot 13 – adapted from Blacklist Studios’ comic of the same name – was the winner in the Comics category. Other nominees in the same category included the Amazon Kindle bestseller Tumor, Disney’s Epic Mickey Digicomics, and the TallChair’s critically-acclaimed Operation: Ajax iPad app.

Robot 13 is no stranger to success. The Android version of the multi-platform app was previously featured by Google in the Android Market, reaching 200,000 downloads in a few weeks. It was the first comic book app featured by Google.

Created by Thomas Hall and Daniel Bradford, Robot 13 is an amnesiac robot who battles mythic monsters. Robot Comics brought Robot 13 to mobile devices using cross-platform software that combined frame-by-frame animation, transition effects, and vibration to create a unique reading experience.

“Daniel and I strive to make our comics as good and entertaining as possible. We are humbled by the attention Robot 13 has received and thankful to the Digital Book Awards for recognizing our efforts.”

–Thomas Hall, writer, Robot 13

“As Robot 13 is a labor of love, the Digital Book Awards is a true honor. It is exhilarating to see your creations come to life, especially in an exciting digital format. We are grateful for all those that helped along the way.”

–Daniel Bradford, artist, Robot 13

Released in early 2010, Robot 13 was one of the 200 apps that Robot Media produced the past year. “Mobile devices provide new storytelling possibilities where experience and content go hand in hand,” states Robot Media’s founder, Hermés Piqué. “Robot 13 was one of our first releases that explored this and our goal is to continue to explore it further. 2011 will be an exciting year for digital content!”

About Robot Comics

Robot Comics publishes mobile comics for hand-helds such as Apple’s iPhone and iPod Touch, Google’s Android mobiles, Nintendo DSi and Amazon’s Kindle. It is one of first and few mobile comic publishers who offer titles specifically designed and formatted to be read on e-devices. For more information contact: contact@robotcomics.net

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Robot 13 and Valentine Nominated for Publishing Innovation Award

robotcomics — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 06:40:33 +0000

The longlist for Digital Book World’s inaugural Publishing Innovation Awards has been released, and TWO Robot Comics apps have been nominated in the comics category!

The Publishing Innovation Awards recognizes the best ebooks and book apps based on their merits in the areas of origination, development, production, design, and marketing.

Robot 13 by Thomas Hall and Daniel Bradford and Valentine by Alex de Campi and Christine Larsen have both been selected as part of seven total nominees, alongside such works as Archaia’s Tumor and Disney’s Epic Mickey Digicomics!

The top 5 finalists will be announced on Monday, January 17th, 2011.

Robot 13

Robot 13 is part sci-fi action, part Lovecraftian horror, the story of an ancient robotic hero salvaged from the ocean floor and forced to fight his way through a menagerie of mythical monsters as he journeys to discover who he really is….

Robot 13 was the first comic on either iTunes or Android to combine frame-by-frame animation, a wide-range of transition effects, and vibration into a single package. It was also the first independent label mobile comic to surpass 200,000 downloads on both Android and iTunes.

Valentine

Valentine is the historical-fiction supernatural adventure that pits French calvary officer Valentine against an unholy horde as he battles his way through a desolate Russian landscape during the War of 1812.

Valentine was the first comic to be published in a ground-breaking 13 different languages simultaneously upon its debut.

About Robot Comics

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In Maps & Legends In An Exclusive Android Edition

robotcomics — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 07:09:54 +0000

In Maps & Legends won the Zuda Comics competition in November 2009, but its online serialization was interrupted with the close of the Zuda website. Now creators Michael Jasper and Niki Smith have teamed with Robot Comics to release an exclusive Android edition.

In Maps & Legends is available now both as a free 8-page preview and $0.99 full-length Issue #1

Synopsis

Kaitlin Grayson considers herself just an artist until she gets recruited by a strange man named Bartamus, who shows up at her place in the middle of the night and demands she use her skills to save his dying world. Soon Kait gets caught between two realities, and if Bartamus’ world falls, Earth is next — along with untold others.

In Maps & Legends is a world-shattering fantasy with hints of sci-fi and steampunk, written by novelist Michael Jasper and illustrated by Niki Smith.

Preview

About the Creators

Artist Niki Smith is an artist and writer who is currently working on a handful of creator-owned comic projects such Some Did Rest. Her work has also appeared in several English language and German comic anthologies.

Writer Michael Jasper has published three novels, a story collection, and over four dozen short stories in Asimov’s, Strange Horizons, Polyphony, Writers of the Future, and the Raleigh News & Observer, and other fine venues. His most recent novel is A Gathering of Doorways (Wildside Press, 2009).

About Robot Comics

Robot Comics publishes mobile comics for hand-helds such as Google’s Android mobiles, Apple’s iPhone and iPod Touch, Nintendo DSi and Amazon’s Kindle. It is one of first and few mobile comic publishers who offer titles specifically designed and formatted to be read on e-devices. Their mission: “Our goal is simple: to create and distribute high-quality mobile comics, while contributing to the development of the digital comics industry.”

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Armageddonquest: A Non-Market Android Comic Exclusive

robotcomics — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 22:07:16 +0000

Robot Comics has released the first issue of Armageddonquest – a 900-page graphic novel opus by Ronald Russell Roach.

This is a non-market app for Android smart phones and tablet PC’s now available as a free download online. To read Armageddonquest on your Android powered device, you’ll need to upload the ACV file to your SD card, and then download and install Robot Comics’ free Droid Comic Viewer to open and read the comic.

Armageddonquest is a non-market app because it’s being offered exclusively as part of a Kickstarter fundraiser to produce a limited edition single volume printing of the AQ graphic novel.

Readers interested in receiving the entire 20-chapter, 900-page saga for their Android device can visit the Armageddonquest Kickstarter Project for details.

Preview

Armageddonquest #1 combines frame by frame animation, vibration, and transition effects to create an immersive reading experience (see video below for sample):

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Create, Fund, and Distribute Mobile Comics with Robot Comics and Hukilau

robotcomics — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 04:25:09 +0000

Robot Comics has officially partnered with Hukilau to offer a brand new opportunity for independent comic creators to create, fund, and distribute comics digitally on smartphones and tablets.

This is an unprecedented partnership allowing creators to fully control the production of their comic – from concept to funding to creation to distribution – while working with established mobile comic professionals to create the adaptation and apps.

Robot Comics joins of a larger coalition of companies that have teamed with Hukilau to offer a one-stop resource for digital distribution, transmedia marketing, studio services, agency representation, and the ability to showcase creator work to entertainment industry professionals.

What is Hukilau?

Hukilau is a new venture that launched in July 2010, it’s mission to create a new platform to create, fund and distribute independent media. In the converging media landscape, their aim is to help digital media find it’s audience. Creators can propose independent projects, get them funded, produced and distributed.

While Hukilau is the core portal for all its resources, it is through strategic partnerships with other companies that they plan to offer every possible service an independent creator might want or need.

“When we first discovered Hukilau, they’d just launched their Beta site, and they appeared poised to offer an incredible new venue for independent creators,” Robot Comic’s Deputy Director Dave Baxter comments. “But their current partnerships seemed tailored for handling prose books, film, and music, but nothing specifically for comics. That’s where Robot Comics stepped in.”

The Services

Robot Comics will offer comic creators the ability to create custom branded Android apps and iPhone/iPad apps with a long list of optional content and development features including video and audio support, soundtrack, creator commentary, vibration, frame-by-frame animation, customized controls, bonus materials, and more.

All apps will be developed by Robot Comics’ parent company, Robot Media, and will include the same style of successful branding and cutting edge software as Robot Comics’ own Robot 13 and Scott Pilgrim’s Precious Little App.

How it Works

All creators will need to apply and be accepted into the Hukilau Creator’s Program. Once inside, Robot Comics and the creator will review the comic project together and determine the ideal package and quote the full cost involved. The creator then utilizes the Hukilau system to fund the project in part or in full.

For more information on Hukilau, visit their website. If you’re a creator, begin by signing up to the Hukilau Creator’s Program.

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Robot 13: Indie Comic Breaks 100,000 download mark on mobiles

robotcomics — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 01:39:00 +0000

In a world where mainstream comic book titles routinely top the digital download charts, one challenger has risen like David against Goliath to stake its claim: Robot 13 by Thomas Hall and Daniel Bradford has just become one of the first independently produced comics to push past the 100,000 download mark!

A true-blue indie label comic garnering 100,000+ readers is an unparalleled triumph for both independents and digital comics alike. There are few such comics that make it onto Diamonds’ Top 300 for any given month, and none that rise above the 10,000 order mark. Robot 13, on the Android market alone, Robot 13, with Android Market downloads alone, would be at the #2 position of Diamond Top 300 of June 2010! Which is unquestionably ground-breaking of for an indie.

“Robot 13 is a truly Independent Comics success story,” Blacklist Studios’ Co-Owner and Robot 13 Co-Creator Thomas Hall said. “Everything was done without Diamond’s distribution or outside funding, and was the product of two guys making Comics they wanted to see as fans.”

“Sure, we knew the book was pretty good,” Blacklist Studios’ Co-Owner and Robot 13’s Co-Creator Daniel Bradford continued. “But who could know we would get that level of interest? It was more than anyone could have expected.”

Curious?

Robot 13 already proved itself a fan-favorite with traditional print readers, selling out of its first issue and garnering solid sales for its second and third. With its genre-blending story, grand-scale action, and lush Gothic artwork, Robot Comics knew it would be a hit with mobile readers as well. But we didn’t want to stop there:

“We decided that R13 was the perfect vehicle to debut our latest technology,” Robot Comics’ Deputy Director, Dave Baxter comments. “So on top of the comic’s own creative merits, we wanted the mobile reading experience to be, appropriately, just as exceptional.”

“When we talked to Robot Comics, they started telling us what they had in mind for Robot 13,” Hall said. “We were both blown away, because we didn’t know of anyone who was pushing mobile Comics so far. This was more than just viewing a PDF… it was a totally new hybrid Comics experience.”

Robot 13 was the first comic on either iTunes or Android to combine frame-by-frame animation, a wide-range of transition effects, and vibration into a single package.

“We’ve since gone even further with our Scott Pilgrim app,” Baxter adds. “But Robot 13 was and is a ground-breaking beginning for pushing the boundaries on what a mobile comic can be. And I think readers are responding to that, as well as the incredible quality of Tom and Daniel’s craftsmanship.”

The success of Robot 13’s 100,000+ downloads hint toward yet another positive trend: new readers. By keeping the app stand-alone and not buried within a dedicated reader app, R13 managed a featured slot on both iTunes and the Android Market, and during that time a large portion of readers – as they mention in the comments left behind on the app’s market listing – are not normally comic readers, and their response to R13 is largely positive.

“The key difference,” Baxter says, “Is that Robot Comics is dedicated to building apps around a brand, and not creating a storefront. A person doesn’t buy a particular comic because they know the name of their local comic shop. They buy a comic because they understand the qualities associated with the brand name. This is something that digital initiatives rarely take into consideration.”

“Since the Robot 13 App has exploded,” Hall said, “It has opened the door for new readers who want to check it out in print. Part of the reason all 3 print issues have all but sold out, is that many Mobile Comics fans want to read R13 in traditional print after enjoying the book on their phones.”

Baxter concludes: “Few of the new readers are swearing to become overnight comic fans, but it’s a step in the right direction for fulfilling digital’s promise of a new audience for comics. For many, R13 is their first or only recent comic experience. Time and quality comic apps will take it from here.”

Robot 13 Preview (Video)

See R13 in motion by watching the video below.

Robot 13 Preview (Screens)

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First comic app featured on the Android Market

Robot Comics — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 12:03:46 +0000

Robot Comics’ Robot 13 app recently became the first comic app to be featured on the Android Market.

Developed by Robot Comics and featuring the indie smash success by Thomas Hall & Daniel Bradford, the Robot 13 app combines ground-breaking transition effects with vibration to create a truly unique reading experience for the end user.

After being featured, Robot 13 was downloaded more than 50,000 additional times by Android users in just a few short days. These are some of their comments:

“Absolutely brilliant. Fantastic illustration and the way it moves from page to page is brilliant. Never seen anything like it before!” -Laura

“This is so cool. It’s the perfect balance between interactive and traditional comic book. It’s a lot of fun to read.” -Aaron

“Very cool I don’t really like comics but this is something I could get addicted to” -john

“Excellent way of writing a story. Love the extras like vibrations and zoom. Awesome. Purely Awesome.” -Cesar

Curious? Download Robot 13 #1, available for free both on Android and iPhone.

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Robot Comics brings comics to Android tablets

Robot Comics — Fri, 21 May 2010 17:01:05 +0000

Over 40 free comics will be offered to users of the ARCHOS 5 internet tablet to inaugurate the Books & Comics category in AppsLib, the Android application marketplace for Archos devices.

The offering includes the first issue of all Robot Comics series and ongoings, and also complete stories and one-shots. These comics will span a variety of genres, for all tastes and ages: Valentine, the fantasy epic by Alex de Campi (Smoke) and Christine Larsen (Shrek), American Terror, the sci-fi war drama by Alterna Comics and Jeff McComsey, Bram Stoker’s Dracula’s Guest, illustrated by Steven Sanders (S.W.O.R.D.), or Jason James‘ ghostboy, an all-ages ghost story, are only a few of the many titles that will make Archos’ users rediscover the joy of reading comics.

Also offered, alongside the free comics, will be the free app Droid Comic Viewer, the leading Android comic and manga reader, which allows users not only to read Robot Comics releases, but also any comic in CBZ, CBR and ACV formats. Droid Comic Viewer has a growing community of more than 100K active users worldwide and supports all Android devices, from the affordable HTC Tattoo to the powerful Google Nexus One, and now the versatile ARCHOS 5 High Resolution Internet Tablet.

The added “Books & Comics” category of the AppsLib market creates a new layer of entertainment for the ARCHOS 5 internet tablet , which already supports a wide range of traditional media and games. Following this initial release, Robot Comics will start publishing free and paid comics weekly both in the Android Market and on AppsLib, for ARCHOS 5 internet tablet users.

About Robot Comics

Robot Comics publishes mobile comics for all Android devices, and also iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Nintendo DSi and the Amazon Kindle. It is one of first and few mobile comic publishers who offer titles specifically designed and formatted to be read on mobile devices.

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A Massively Awesome Mobile Comic

robotcomics — Wed, 19 May 2010 20:37:06 +0000

Stephen Lindsey – creator of the fan-favorite Jesus Hates Zombies – teams with artist Rolf Lejdegärd to unleash his latest weird hyper-action masterpiece, Massive Awesome. Originally published by 215Ink, Massive Awesome is a planned 4-issue mini-series of interconnecting one-shots starring a piece of bacon and a pickle. Yes, you read that right. So what’s so massive and awesome about it? Did we mention the bacon is a commando 80’s action hero? And that the pickle thinks it’s a zombie? And that they battle ninjas, robots, evil masterminds, and more?

It’s all-out action all the way with a free first issue, available now on Android and coming soon to iTunes! Plus: the Android version comes packaged with an original, full-color Jesus Hates Zombies story, “Sorority Row”! It’s mobile comic MAGIC!!!

Synopsis

A commando piece of man-sized Bacon and a Pickle that thinks it’s a zombie. Together, they fight ninjas. Lots and lots of ninjas. And robots. And evil masterminds. Must be read to be believed! Includes an original Jesus Hates Zombies bonus story! By Stephen Lindsay and Rolf Lejdegärd, produced by 215 Ink.

Download

Alternatively, search “Massive Awesome” on the Market.

Preview

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Jesus Returns to Android!

robotcomics — Wed, 19 May 2010 20:35:16 +0000

Jesus! Zombies! Werewolves! And now with 100% more Abraham Lincoln!

Alterna Comics’ Jesus Hates Zombies has been one of the best-selling comics on Android since its debut in mid-2009. Now the series makes a triumphant return to the platform with an all-new storyline starting with Jesus Hates Zombies #5: Jesus Hates Zombies Featuring Lincoln Hates Werewolves: Yea, Though I Walk.

Originally released as four graphic novels, JHZFLHW picks up where the original JHZ left off, with Jesus and his zombie sidekick, Laz, searching for a way to rid the world of the zombie plague. When they look for help from Heaven, they wind up facing a threat even worse than the zombies! And how does Abraham Lincoln and werewolves fit into this? Oh, my, that would be telling.

Jesus Hates Zombies #5 will also feature a free preview of creator Stephen Lindsey’s new comic: Massive Awesome, starring a commando piece of bacon and a pickle that thinks its a zombie squaring off against ninjas, robots, and more!

Download

Alternatively, search “Jesus Hates Zombies” on the Market.

Synopsis

Brand new storyline, introducing Abraham Lincoln, werewolf hunter! Jesus and Laz, the brain-dead zombie, request help from on high in ending the undead menace, but will Heaven’s mightiest angel be friend or foe? Meanwhile, in the past, Lincoln fights his first werewolf! How will be the two time-lines converge? If you’re looking for answers, you are better off reading Jesus Hates Zombies than watching Lost! By Stephen Lindsay and Steve Cobb, produced by Alterna Comics.

Preview

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