Manga publisher Dr. Master has joined the ranks of publishers offering digital downloads via IGN’s Direct2Drive site. D2D already offers games and movies and has been slowly moving into the comics distribution business.

DrMaster Publications Inc., the publishing arm of DGN Production Inc., today announced an agreement with Fox Interactive Media’s digital retail store, Direct2Drive (http://www.direct2drive.com), to distribute its popular comic content to readers via digital download. The agreement will make Direct2Drive the exclusive home for downloadable DrMaster content, including upcoming new releases.

“Television, movies, comics and anime…Direct2Drive pulls no punches,” said DrMaster marketing director, Shawn Sanders. “Their download service has pioneered digital distribution for video games and exclusive content — including comics — and DrMaster is proud to add its content to Direct2Drive’s considerable content offerings.”

Initial titles from DrMaster available on Direct2Drive will include Volume 1: issues 1 and 2, of the new action adventure, Chinese Hero: Tales of the Blood Sword, which is available now and debuted on the site one week after its printed launch in retail stores. Direct2Drive will also be the official launch partner for, Purgatory Kabuki, an original manga tale that will be released in the fourth quarter of 2007.

Downloadable content from DrMaster on Direct2Drive will be delivered in high-resolution, full-color documents via Adobe Systems Incorporated’s Portable Document Format (PDF), enabling users to download, view and print the e-books on any standard Windows PC.