EyeCandy - a uniquely interactive comic book for iPhone or iPod touch

You may have been following recent App Store developments in which Apple has removed apps that violate some unknown App Store rule. The first app to get the axe because of its content was a digital comic book called Murderdrome. Apple said this was a “quality control” issue because this particular comic book did not satisfy their “community standards”, whatever they are. Apparently, Apple took offense to Murderdrome’s R-rated content and banned it for life from the App Store.

This event spurred much comment in the blogosphere about Apple’s role in censoring the App Store marketplace, but it also sparked an interesting response from Infurious, the makers of Murderdrome. This week, Infurious released EyeCandy Issue One - Masked Marshall, an interactive comic book featuring content to appeal to broader audiences, especially kids. Comic book aside, the Infurious comic reader platform takes advantage of the unique iPhone and iPod touch to deliver cool interactive features that we just love.

As a comic book, EyeCandy is a goofy story that kids will really like, but you’ll find yourself playing with EyeCandy’s interactive features that shows how truly innovative this platform can be for delivering comic entertainment. The reader platform, created by Infurious, takes advantage of all the unique iPhone features including the high resolution multi-touch screen, sound, vibration and even the accelerometer.

Reading EyeCandy comics is pretty straightforward, you flick the screen left or right to turn the pages and advance the story. Flicking up and down will keep you on the same page, but will add or remove layers of the design process. For instance, one flick down will remove the color palette so you can see the inks alone. Another flick down reveals the pencils, which not only gives you insight into the comic design process, but also allows kids to trace or copy the drawings. That is simply awesome.

EyeCandy is the first monthly kids comic book available in the App Store, and Infurious is planning much more content in the future, all delivered in this same format. Since Apple likes it, it won’t be banned from the App Store so you should be able to pick it up for a mere .99 cents, which gets you the comic book along with a bonus interactive digital toy.

We just hope that Apple can come up with a ratings system for the App Store so that someday we can enjoy mature titles from Infurious on this truly unique comic reader platform. Until then, pick up EyeCandy even if you don’t have kids. It’s totally worth a buck, just to check out how some creative thinking can leverage the iPhone into a new kind of interactive reading device. We’re looking forward to future comic titles from Infurious.

EyeCandy - Monthly kids comic [App Store]

 

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