complete with original artworks,

era, complete with original artworks, comic book covers and animation. US industry magazine The Comics Journal called the exhibition the highlight of the festival.

But all that is past glory. The comic book business has been struggling over the past decade for a variety of reasons, including piracy, rising publishing costs and the larger array of entertainment options available for young people.

“It’s easier than ever to download scanned copies of comics online to read,” Tony Wong says. “Sales figures aren’t just dropping for us in Hong Kong, they are dropping in the US as well.”

But the comic book veteran and other publishers hope new media and alternative distribution through mobile phone apps can turn into revenue streams.

Wong believes the new iPhone app can help introduce the medium to more casual readers: it will distribute the first three issues of a series free of charge and charge 99 US cents for each subsequent release.

“As a life-long lover of comics, I can say that there is no feeling like holding a comic book in your hands. I think real fans will always prefer that,” he says. “But for everyone else

– the mainstream crowd – I’m hoping the ability to read on their phone will appeal to them.”