Dark Horse Comics has announced that its graphic novels will be included in the SEQUENTIAL iPad app, with the first tranche of titles available now. The move makes SEQUENTIAL the first third-party digital comics app to distribute a full range of titles from Dark Horse.
Founded in 1986, Dark Horse has grown to become the third-largest comics publisher in the United States and one of the “Big Five” alongside Marvel, DC, Image and IDW. They are behind many of the most famous and well-regarded properties of recent years, including Mike Mignola’s Hellboy, Stan Sakai’s Usagi Yojimbo, and Frank Miller’s Sin City, as well as a huge range of licensed comics such as Aliens, Predator, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Mass Effect, Tomb Raider and Halo.
Mark Bernardi, Dark Horse’s Director of Digital Publishing, said, “We are very excited to be working with SEQUENTIAL. The app is terrific and their commitment to presenting the best in graphic storytelling mirrors our own. Given their editorial focus and large user base outside the US, this new relationship will help us reach thousands of comics readers who may not already be familiar with Dark Horse, or might know us only for our many successful titles based on licensed entertainment properties.”
SEQUENTIAL features hundreds of graphic novels and comics from leading creators and publishers, made available digitally via their acclaimed storefront app and reader for the iPad. SEQUENTIAL’s mission is to expand the market for graphic novels for adults with a beautifully presented, carefully curated selection of material that focuses on the richness of the medium outside of the typical superhero offering.
Often considered as a “coffee table” graphic novel app due to its high quality, SEQUENTIAL was launched in August 2013 and showcases the world’s best publishers of graphic novels including Fantagraphics, Top Shelf, Knockabout, SelfMadeHero, NBM, Secret Acres, Myriad Editions and Blank Slate Books, as well as a number of small press publishers and creator-owned works. The app also includes exclusive work by top names such as Alan Moore and Neil Gaiman, often with expanded features such as audio commentaries.
The announcement of the partnership is accompanied by the first tranche of specially-selected digital titles, including Will Eisner’s Fagin the Jew, Bryan Talbot’s Grandville Noël, Gilbert Hernandez’s Speak of the Devil, Vivek J, Tiwary’s The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story, Canales and Guarnido’s Blacksad and Mike Mignola’s Hellboy. Many more titles will follow.
Russell Willis, the founder of SEQUENTIAL, said, “From its inception Dark Horse has worked with creator-focused material, free from the constraints of traditional genres – and its commitment to quality has led to a mass of award-winning work that confirms the strength of the comics medium. Needless to say, we’re absolutely delighted to be working with Dark Horse, and partnering with them for SEQUENTIAL helps further establish it as the go-to app for graphic novel readers.”
• SEQUENTIAL is free to download from the App Store here:
https://itunes.apple.com/app/sequential-graphic-novels/id629759394
• Further information can be found on the SEQUENTIAL website here: http://www.sequential.cc
The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
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