[Astaldo711]

Blocking certain threads would be a feature I'd like to see as well.

[boox909]

Blocking certain threads would be a feature I'd like to see as well.

I think it is a good proposal, we can already block individuals, why not threads?

I might even start an "Arts & Crafts" thread to illustrate the potential benefit of having the ability to block threads. ::buwhahahaha::   

[narfstar]

Cover images are possible and some have them. It is another step in the process that most by the time of upload are just wanting to get the book up. We are trying to make sure threads are labeled so they can be ignored but a block would be better. I come in go right to unread posts. So everything in every thread comes up. I am sure others do likewise and are exposed before ignoring and that can be bothersome.

[Aqualad1]

I would love to see a real definitive Publisher's history page (or blog) attached or linked to it's corresponding site (comics).  Just something more detailed than a few paragraphs.  I envision a page that posts and encourages posts of photo's, articles anything subject related that highlights the artist's and writers who contributed to the publisher's efforts. Which of course links to an artist's biography page (expertly edited)  a sort of memorial/tribute if you will to all the bygone comic book pioneers.  And since I'm spewing with grandiose ideas: How about a "Hall of Fame" of sorts for Golden Age Comics enshrined by the site's Senior VIP's -And a Top 25 most currently popular (Downloads, Heroes, Comics, Artist's, Publishers ect, ect..) -  as voted by every visitor to the site. I hope some of these ideas are worth kicking the tires on. Thanks!

Also, just for fun - how about a "Panels" page where famous or obscure comics panels can be dissected & discussed for their merits or otherwise. Last idea & question: has anyone ever done a complete listing of all the Golden age titles in each comic and character listing? A mean something comprehesive like the recent DC and Marvel Encyclopedia books.  It would be fun and interesting to see something like that online for all the forgotten Golden Age books and characters - kind of like an ongoing user contribution "Wikepedia" of sorts.    

[Astaldo711]

Aaualad, I think this is a good idea as well. I never thought too much about publishers' histories before but after reading so many posts it's truly piqued my interest.

[narfstar]

I think the closest would be the Keltner index Aqua

[wizardofthenorth]

1) Not sure of their linking standard, but either a direct link to the GCD, or perhaps some type of webservice call to their services to retrieve information (stories, artist, writers, etc) (assuming GCD even have such webservices available).

2)Standard naming format for all files : Ex...Pub_Title_Issue. I know there is kinda ,sorta a standard, but its usage is fairly inconsistent.

3)As part of the database of titles, have it track all the total number of issues that were published, so all users can see much easier what is still needed. And what lines are complete (10%, 35%, 96% - Missing 16, 35, 87). Maybe this would be an easier trigger to remember if they have something in stock. Or perhaps allow for an automated ebay and auction house search for when titles pop-up, for those generous users willing to purchase.

[wizardofthenorth]

4) Maybe a comic preview, let me see a page or two, if not interested, I may not download entire comic, savin bandwidth

[fox_centaur]

1) Not sure of their linking standard, but either a direct link to the GCD, or perhaps some type of webservice call to their services to retrieve information (stories, artist, writers, etc) (assuming GCD even have such webservices available).

We (the GCD) would like to have such a web service, but don't at this time and don't currently have enough programmers to start working on it.  We just offer database dumps (soon to be automated weekly).

The GCD has added more publisher fields to its data as well, since someone brought up publisher history.  This is a very complex topic, and we're still debating how to capture the information at the GCD.

---
Henry Andrews
GCD Editor / Lead Programmer

[JVJ]

There's a terrific conflict, Henry,
between the "needs" of fans to believe in a continuity (and to actually FIND the comics) and the "needs" of historians to reflect and document the truth.

Case in point:

Everyone KNOWS that Blue Beetle was published by Fox, then Holyoke, then Fox (again), and then Charlton. The simplest and most truthful portrayal is to present each of these four stages as a different title. It really makes the most "historic" sense. But it is contrary to the fans' desire (or "need") to see the continuity of the title - one issue after the other and that nice, long numeric sequence that they perceive as "history". And, quite honestly, that perception makes it a lot easier for them to find the scans on GAC.

The GCD does an admirable job of distinguishing among these publishers for this title - you're to be congratulated, but GAC doesn't make the same distinctions.

The same can't be said for GCD's listings for Cat-Man and Capt. Aero, both of which everyone KNOWS were only published by Holyoke for one year.

Nor does GAC distinguish among such companies as Rural Home and Croydon, although GCD does. I foresee a real need to resolve these types of difference before anyone will be able to link between the sites.

my 2

[deni]

       It would be nice if an information note came up whenever a non-Public Domain title is requested through the main page search function.    The information note need only say: "The book that you are looking for is not Public Domain"
      I don't know  how labor intensive this may be.    Perhaps a start could be simply giving members an area to post information when they discover that a book they are looking to upload or download is actually a non-allowed non-PD.

[narfstar]

There are many many many books that are not pd. We do have a list of not allowed uploads in that titled forum.

[JonTheScanner]

It might be possible when a search returns zero results to have a message come up that says, "This site only provides scans of comics published before 1960 and in the public domain.  The comic you requested may not fit those criteria.  In particular, no comics published by DC, Marvel, or Street and Smith are included here."

[fox_centaur]

There's a terrific conflict, Henry,
between the "needs" of fans to believe in a continuity (and to actually FIND the comics) and the "needs" of historians to reflect and document the truth.

Case in point:

Everyone KNOWS that Blue Beetle was published by Fox, then Holyoke, then Fox (again), and then Charlton. The simplest and most truthful portrayal is to present each of these four stages as a different title. It really makes the most "historic" sense. But it is contrary to the fans' desire (or "need") to see the continuity of the title - one issue after the other and that nice, long numeric sequence that they perceive as "history". And, quite honestly, that perception makes it a lot easier for them to find the scans on GAC.

The GCD does an admirable job of distinguishing among these publishers for this title - you're to be congratulated, but GAC doesn't make the same distinctions.

In the long term (no idea what the timeline is), the tentative plan is to allow looking at series several different ways- you can either look at the individual "segments" (split on publisher, for instance, or "publishing house", whatever that means), or you can look at the larger series joined into one view.  This requires us to convert our rather informal tracking notes into structured database links that will be tagged with data like "series continues under another publisher", or "series revived as series X on publisher Y", etc.  The data won't be stored as words like that, but that's what it will mean, more or less.

The same can't be said for GCD's listings for Cat-Man and Capt. Aero, both of which everyone KNOWS were only published by Holyoke for one year.

We've covered this quite thoroughly elsewhere :-D  I can't wait until we/GCD finally fix moving and splitting series so I can clean that mess up to better reflect current knowledge.

thanks,
-henry

[builderboy]

I know I missed this thread when it was active, but I have been contributing both here and at GCD lately (download a book, read it, look it up at GCD. If info is missing, update the index).

While the idea of a cross linking of the sites is WILD and fills the head with incredible possiblities, they are built differently, and need the freedom to make decisions independently about what best fits their respective needs.

However, something as low-tech as a link to the GCD record page for an issue in the comment section of a book's GAC download page would suffice to let somebody jump from GAC to GCD at download time.

If the download page comment section supported hot-linking, all the better.  If it doesn't, cut & paste

[narfstar]

GCD has pretty much voted against linking to other sites within their indexes. Too many sites disappear. I think that it would be a fantastic idea to link from here to the GCD on the download page. Would benefit those here who want to learn more and the GCD when someone can add info. It does not make a hotlink but I put a link on Crime Must Pay the Penalty 38 http://goldenagecomics.co.uk/index.php?dlid=12841
Anyone else think that this is a good idea?

[builderboy]

I added a link for Target Comics v4 #1.  Maybe if contributors will do this when they upload new books (along with the cover thumbnail), it could start to be a regular feature.

[Janus Wolf]

What are we trying to achieve here? I went to the link by Narstar and saw a link to comic cover? What information can can we add to GAC-UK?

I added a link for Target Comics v4 #1.  Maybe if contributors will do this when they upload new books (along with the cover thumbnail), it could start to be a regular feature.

[narfstar]

The link is not just to the cover. If you click on the cover you get the information available about what is in the book and as much as is known and recorded about who the writer/artist/colorist/letterer/editor of each story is. This type of thing benefits both sites. GAC becomes a place people can go to for downloads of the issues plus a link to more information that we do not need to carry all of here since it is a link away. GCD can get information added from downloaders who recognize the art or it is signed.

[Janus Wolf]

Hmmm...any way we can get that info on GAC-UK's site? With the credit to GCD? Links break, sites go down etc....
Good ideas!

Janus

The link is not just to the cover. If you click on the cover you get the information available about what is in the book and as much as is known and recorded about who the writer/artist/colorist/letterer/editor of each story is. This type of thing benefits both sites. GAC becomes a place people can go to for downloads of the issues plus a link to more information that we do not need to carry all of here since it is a link away. GCD can get information added from downloaders who recognize the art or it is signed.

[JVJ]

I added a link for Target Comics v4 #1.  Maybe if contributors will do this when they upload new books (along with the cover thumbnail), it could start to be a regular feature.

Is the link supposed to be live, bb? I had to cut and paste into my browser. A LIVE link would be optimum, but having the visibility there is a strong plus. Maybe more people will actually figure out what information is out there...

(|:{>

[narfstar]

I did not see anything that would allow the comments to be live links. Yes that would be better. Maybe when the site updates. BETA will be up for testing soon.

[builderboy]

I agree...a hot link would be the next best thing to an integrated data structure, which is understandably not feasible.