Wow! The Comics Video Social Networking Site Has Arrived: Comflix.net
I guess there were other startups already working on a comics-based social networking site, but Comflix came out as a bomb first, exploding on AdAge: “Comflix is the first — and, at the moment, only — comic-inspired, ad-supported video network. … Comflix takes work from comic-book publisher Platinum and turns it into videos. Together, the two have spawned Splastk, an ad network to make money off the videos. ” I like the name, the features are quite good - hopefully getting even better (user profiles are missing yet, no internal search or RSS feed, no major topics, no stats on most viewed yet, etc.). It is free, comics can be rated, they are commentable, downloadable (iPod, PC, cell phone, etc.), embeddable (I love it), forwardable in email. You can subscribe to newsletters. Good start for a real comics social networking site with cool videos. The Comic Book News is linked to ComicBookResources.com featuring both staff and guest writers (affiliate news site).
Comflix seems to primarily target mobile users: “Comflix Studios is a company with the technical, creative and production capabilities to create a new generation of comic book based entertainment for the emerging mobile marketplace,” writes the About page. And the guys behind this new service are David Fisher, Chief Creative Officer and Scott Schneider, Chief Executive Officer.
Comics are transformed into quasi-videos: in fact you get a continuous flow of standstills brought to life by basic camera movements, zooming in and out, tilting, panning, etc. and with voiceovers, sound effects. Occasionally you get a minimal 3D effect. Currently the featured film is The Last Sin of Mark Grimm about a “detective hunting the criminal underworld. When his wife is kidnapped, no amount of bloodshed will stop Grimm from getting her back.” Black and white with rare blood red, fluorescent green, light purple etc. - very much like Sin City. Commenter Gabriel (what a weird structure to quote somebody commenting - like a military term), so commenter Gabriel says “ahhhh, gotta love neo-noir/pulp!”
Comflix has signed up on YouTube as Comflixstudios (aged 26) back in Sept 2007, but the only film they have uploaded is a site trailer (getting so far 9 views). I wonder if they are going to upload more of their staff on YouTube and become partners for further reach and revenue.Advertising opportunities on the video comics site offer 15-second prerolls, display ads or branded integration. “For example, Harley-Davidson was integrated into a Johnny Delgado comic book and the brand followed the storyline into the video,” writes Abbey Klaassen on AdAge. Branded integration sounds pretty close to product placement for me, which ruins my comics experience as a user in stealth mode.Now make your own comics (at least a trailer), and submit it to Comflix to be a series author:
“Do you have an original idea for a comic book? Are you the next Stan Lee or Frank Miller? If you think so, get your artwork, storyboards, story concepts or anything else you’ve got and upload your idea now! Simply create a short trailer pitching us your concept, and If we like what we see and your idea gets the most viewers’ votes we’ll take your idea, develop it with professional comic book writers and artist, and make a Comflix series out of it! “
You can see Comics contest entries here.