Last week we talked about MMORPGs and MOBAs. This week we embark on a different multiplayer experience, the MOOC, Massive Open Online Course (MOOC). Class is in session for Christina Blanch’s (Ball State University) Gender Through Comic Books MOOC, and the best part of it all is that homework equals reading comic books. 7000 students are enrolled in this class that does not seek to define the comic book or gender roles in comic books, but gets students thinking critically about the subject.

It has been a few years since I’ve been to a classroom for any reason, but I have been enjoying the free iTunes U to learn about some basic computer science. The most convenient part of the iTunesexperience is that I can move along at my own pace and watch videos in my down time. When I had first heard of Christina Blanch’s course at Canvas.Net on John Siuntres’ Word Balloon podcast, I signed up, because I was intrigued by not only the platform but the subject matter. The course is free with open enrollment and students are allowed to join in at any time. The course will be archived on the site and students can go at their own pace. Also, the level of engagement is entirely up to the student.

If you wish to just watch the videos and skip the homework, you can do that, but you won’t get the cool certificate at the end.

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Monkeybrain Comics is a new comic publisher from veteran Chris Roberson and his wife Allison Baker as an expansion of their 2001 company, Monkeybrain Books. The distribution model is the one fans have been looking forward to and big companies have been dreading for years. Single issues of creator-owned work debut on comixology, further increasing the momentum of the movement towards a digital marketplace. At $.99 for the first wave of issues, we take a tap and swipe at the Monkeybrain offerings and update you on the second tier of Monkeybrain titles announced this past week at San Diego Comic Con.

It is always exciting to keep up with the comic news, especially after a gigantic convention. Nothing particularly blew our minds this year from San Diego, though some of us are excited to see more Sandman from Neil Gaiman.

More important than any flashy headline is buzz about changes in the industry, and Monkeybrain’s panel announcements of top tier talent included a new book, “Wander” from Kevin Church (Agreeable Comics, twitterer) and Olive Hopkins, as well as “Intergalactic” from Joe Keatinge (Hell Yeah, Glory).

[READ MORE at DIGBOSTON.com]

EARTH PRIME TIME: MONKEYBRAIN CREATOR-OWNED DIGITAL COMICS by clay-fernald