A few months ago, during a rather dull bank holiday weekend, I came across an illustrated mystery series on a digital reading app on my tablet. The plot was set in a retro-futuristic city and revolved around an eccentric detective trying to solve an unusual disappearance linked to underground transport networks.
To be honest, I initially bought it just to pass the time because I was stuck indoors due to the awful weather. A colleague had raved about the striking artwork, so I downloaded the entire volume on a whim. I don't usually read comics digitally, but the convenience of having all twelve chapters instantly available on one lightweight device was really appealing.
Reading it on a high-resolution screen turned out to be a pleasant surprise. The digital format allowed the artist to use vibrant, neon colours that practically popped off the screen in a way print rarely manages. I could easily zoom in to appreciate intricate background details, and scrolling vertically felt completely natural after a couple of minutes, even though I did miss the tactile feel of turning physical paper pages.
What really stuck with me, though, was how the format enhanced the atmosphere of the narrative. The dark, moody lighting in the illustrations suited the screen's backlighting perfectly, making the whole experience feel almost like watching an animated film in slow motion. It completely changed my perspective on reading illustrated fiction electronically.