An Interactive Graphic Novel? The Cursed Swords Logbook Wants To Redefine The Graphic Novel Experience

You may have already heard of interactive graphic novels – or IGN for short. For instance, The Boat is an incredibly immersive online comic experience. The Land of the Magic Flute retells Mozart’s opera in a stunning, modern way. Even Marvel tried something similar: online motion comics. Some worked, like Spider-Woman (the character of the Marvel movie Olivia Wilde is set to direct, maybe). Some didn’t. In fact, not enough worked; it looks like some I wanted to introduce here are unavailable now. But if you notice something about the interactive graphic novels so far, it’s that they are all online only. After all, how can you make a printed graphic novel interactive? The team at Bubba Dutch might have figured that out.

The Cursed Swords Logbook: An Interactive Graphic Novel You Can Actually Hold…and Smell?

Everything about the Cursed Swords Logbook is handmade – everything. Even more impressive is that it’s made with material accurate to the 1800s, the era the story takes place. Handbound leather, cotton paper pages, etc. But the best feature, as usual, is the art and the story:

(Image: Bubba Dutch Studios)

As Zack Gutin, Director of Media Relations at Bubba Dutch describes the interactive graphic novel:

“We live in an age where screens are the primary medium. Cursed Swords is an alternative reading experience that brings pages to life through sight, touch and even smell. The book is a half graphic novel and half novel. The reader follows the long-lost journal of a pirate in a mythical world trying to build a better future. Each unit is handmade to provide readers with an authentic, exclusive journey—while offering unique collectible quality.”

It’s an amazing product…but with amazing products come not-so-amazing prices. Because of the production, the first wave costs $100 for the hardcover. Additionally, there’s the softcover for $75. However, they’re only making 1000 units in this style, so it’s might one day be an awesome collector’s item too. And how often can we read something that smells like the 1800s?

Whether you’re in it for the collectible or merely admire the handmade concept, this experience is one only for those who can meet the price tag. Yet, if all goes well, this won’t be the last one.

Featured image: Bubba Dutch Studio

Roman Colombo finished his MFA in 2010 and now teaches writing and graphic novel literature at various Philadelphia colleges. His first novel, Trading Saints for Sinners, was published in 2014. He's currently working on his next novel and hoping to find an agent soon.