Comic books are evolving. Evidence of this evolution occurs each year at Comic Con, in the rebirth of films featuring comic book characters and in the dearth of once-popular monthly comics. Additional evidence of comic book evolution has arrived from a collaboration between Warren Ellis, Matt Brooker and London-based design studio BERG titled, “SVK.”
SVK, while a compelling graphic novel about “cities, technology and surveillance, mixed with human themes of the power, corruption and lies that lurk in the data-smog of our near-future,” the truly interesting feature of SVK is how one reads the story.
For £10 ($16 USD) plus shipping gets the buyer not only the book, but also a small UV-LED flashlight for viewing the thought bubbles of characters in the story.
According to the SVK site:
“Litho printed on 115gsm silk paper in tones of black and blue, SVK uses a third ink invisible without the SVK object. The object is a UV light source which unlocks hidden layers woven throughout the comic book. Reading SVK becomes a unique and strange experience as you see the story unfold through the eyes of Thomas Woodwind.”
The story appears extremely interesting and the interactive, unique, nature in which one reads the story is certainly something new in the world of comics.
SVK is so interesting it seems, that the first print run has sold out, with SVK now available by waiting list only.
What do you think of SVK? Do you like the concept and will you place your name on the waiting list to be the next to get the comic?
