Some say the animation and sound effects threaten the aesthetic foundation and could wipe out comic shops. Others say the medium is bringing badly needed new readers and innovation.

Chris Rosa manages Meltdown Comics in Hollywood. New readers who become interested in digital comic books might eventually want to collect paper issues, but “the jury is still out on that one,” Rosa said. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times / July 21, 2010)

It’s a book! It’s a cartoon! It’s … digital comics!

Technology, which has already upended the music, television and movie businesses, is now gripping the comic book world. Publishers are unleashing a torrent of digital comic books across smart phones, tablet devices, game consoles and digital book readers, portending major changes in how comics are made and marketed.

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