Writer David Gallaher and artist Steve Ellis are no strangers to the world of digital comics, after all they were the team behind pioneering digital series like High Moon and Box 13. Their latest title, The Only Living Boy was released in August via ComiXology, but after disappearing from our screens after issue 2, this week sees it relaunched in a new web comic format. With the entire run set to hit our screens in the coming months, along with a host of exclusive extras we were keen to find out more about this new digital venture so contacted David to get the inside story.

You’re launching The Only Living Boy as a website where you can download pages, what has inspired you to do that? Are you looking to follow the Thrillbent model of regular updates or is it just a new portal for releasing the story to the world?

DG: We looked at the previous success of High Moon and how well-received The Only Living Boy as part of the Comixology Submit program — those factors along with our constant sell-throughs at comic conventions — showed us that there is a NEED for our material. Making our comic available at the-only-living-boy.com (and the shorter url: olbcomic.com) gives a chance to reach more fans who don’t have the access of a credit card, a car, or a comic shop. The more engaged our readers, the better.

How will the web version differ from the ComiXology version already released? Or will they be identical?

DG: They’ll be more or less identical, but what we’re able to do is add sketches, creator commentary, guest strips, fan art, and more. Want to know why a certain page was pencilled a particular way? Or how we chose the character’s names? The blog on our site details all of that on a page-by-page basis. It gives our readers more details about our process and our world. Maybe, we’ll include a podcast down the road … who knows … the web gives us that luxury.

Will this new way of releasing the story help you to release pages more frequently? And what’s been the hold up in producing the book so far (is it just ‘real-life’ getting in the way or has it been a financing issue etc.?)

DG: Of course we could use more money (who couldn’t) but we’ll keep working on the series as long as their are fans out their supporting it. If you like The Only Living Boy, it is the perfect comic to share with your friends on Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook, Pintrest or whatever. We also sell copies of Only Living Boy directly to comic shops. Any retailer who wants copies of the print series is welcome to reach out to us directly. Any reader who wants a physical copy can also reach us directly, or buy a digital copy directly from our site.

We’re updating the series Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Producing on average — 40 pages a book — so twice the page count of a regular monthly series.

Does this new venture means you’ve given up on the ComiXology platform for releasing The Only Living Boy on? If so why? Or is this just a new way of getting the word out there?

DG: Comixology makes for a wonderful partner. Their Submit program is great. What we’re doing is we’re just adding an additional model for readers to access the material. I like the fact that people who don’t have access to our books or tablets can now suddenly read them on the web. The analogy I like to use is that the webcomic is like your favorite episode of broadcast television. To see it, all you have to do is tune in. If you really like it, you can buy it digitally. If you want a physical copy, you can also get one. It’s about making the material available to as many people as possible. We look at the tremendous success of Girl Genius and see that there is a hunger for this sort of material.

What can we look forward to from Erik and co going forward? How did things get left at the end of the last issue and when will we be seeing a new issue/new pages? 

DG: Without his memory, Erik is a walking query, driving by curiosity, but not colored by cynicism. He is a restless, adventurous spirit, but he’s awkward, still getting used to everything. We get to watch Erik as he becomes everything he grows up with. He’ll model those his admires, imitate the characters he reveres, and try to fit it. Will it work for him? We’re going to find out.

Visitors to our site we’ll get to explore this ALL for the very first time.

Do you have pages in the can from Steve Ellis ready to publish? And how long do you foresee the story continuing for?

DG: We’re in this for the long haul with over 100 pages of script written and ready to go. Over 40 pages of layouts … new material, sketches, characters and more on their way in the next several months. The first story wraps up around the 300th page. It’s going to be awesome.

You can read the Only Living Boy at the-only-living-boy.com and olbcomic.com. For more on David’s other great digital comics check out his website with artist Steve Ellis bottled-lightning.com featuring all their collaborations.