Apple made a comic book out of its very technical app store rules

To mark the release of its updated app rules, Apple has transformed a technical guidance document to a zippy comic book (pdf) called App Review Guidelines. Created by digital-storytelling expert Madefire, the 36-page book given out at the WWDC conference this week is a showcase of illustration techniques from DC Comics style to Japanese manga.

Apple hopes that the full-color book will help new developers understand its rather lengthy and convoluted rules about approving apps for its online store.

“We hope these new guidelines help you sail through the App Review process, and that approvals and rejections are more consistent across the board,” writes Apple in the introduction.

While the book makes for a good souvenir, it’s unlikely that the book will increase comprehension of the 6,731-word technical document. Juxtaposed with splashy Pokemon-like creatures, angry mutants and superheroes is the same dry, technical prose as in the plain guidance document.