Dark Horse unveiled at C2E2 convention in Chicago the beta version of its much anticipated digital comics storefront, and the company's blog has been updated with a video demonstration of the software. Developed in-house, Dark Horse's digital comics store for iOS devices like the iPhone and iPad will sell single-issue titles for the low price point of $1.99 per issue. Those products can be read on any supported device or Web browser the user wishes to use, including Web-enabled Android phones.


Demonstrated by Dark Horse's Director of Public Relations Jeremy Atkins, the company's digital storefront will be easy to operate if you've ever used any of the popular digital comics readers. A swipe advances to the next page, double-tapping controls a panel-by-panel reading experience, and you can jump to different parts of the comic with a scroll bar on the bottom.

What's more impressive s the infrastructure upon which the app is built. When you purchase a Dark Horse digital product, you will be able to read it on any iOS device or with the Web browser on your computer or smartphone. The Web browser option is particularly cool, because it means that Android users can log into the Dark Horse digital comics store and read their purchased products via the Android Web browser, cleverly circumventing platform restrictions common to other services.

Additionally, downloaded comics can be stored online, freeing up mobile disk space as needed. According to Atkins, users will be able to access that cloud content "indefinitely."

Dark Horse's digital comics store is still in the beta stage of development, but should launch with approximately 300 products, including what Atkins described as "comprehensive" libraries of Hellboy and B.P.R.D. Going forward, the company expects to make some material available day-and-date.

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