Sweet Shop, yet another digital comics player just getting into the arena, has launched a beta test this week, with “24 OF THE BEST DAMN PUBLISHERS” signed on.
Image Comics, Kodansha, Fantagraphics, Dark Horse, IDW, Manga Mavericks, Ignition Press, and Panick are among the publishers signed on. The beta will offer Image Comics at launch, with the full publisher list is available at Sweet Shop.
The invite-only beta is launching simultaneously on Android and iOS, although apps are still pending approval as this is written. Features available at launch include in-app purchases, offline reading, and the ability to download DRM-free PDFs, among others. Reader recommendations, sales & bundles, reading lists, and more tools will be launching soon.
Sweet Shop is the brainchild of Kenny Meyers, and his tech company has already sent several software apps out into the comics industry, including BINDINGS, a marketing tool for creators, and Find Your Comics Store, a tool for readers to find physical comics shops. Throughout the development of their apps, Meyers has stressed better UX and tools for readers and collectors. And he’s got some fans along the way.
“I’ve been looking for a digital comic company that looks at what makes Steam and Letterbox work and working out how to do it for comics, so I’m excited to see Sweet Shop land,” said Kieron Gillen, bestselling comic book writer of The Power Fantasy, X-Men, and Young Avengers in a statement
Kelly Sue DeConnick also had praise: “The Sweet, um, suite (sorry!) is the first real, executable vision for a connected comics ecosystem I’ve seen that honors creators, readers, and—vitally—the brick-and-mortar stores who make our community possible,” she said. “Sweet Shop feels like it was built for us, not off us. I don’t have a lot of faith in tech these days, so I’m trying not to get ahead of myself, but… honestly? The Sweet folks have demonstrated to me personally that they’ve got hearts as powerful as their big ole brains. I’m borderline feral waiting for the beta.”
Lorelei Bunjes, Image’s VP of Digital Strategy joined in the chorus: “Everyone at Image is so incredibly thrilled to be working with Sweet to meet comics readers where they are—literally and meaningfully. Not only will anyone in the world be able to access our titles, but also the discovery tools within Sweet will offer readers the ability to explore and discover new titles that they’ll love. We can’t wait for readers to check out all the comics adventures we have in store for them!”
In a nod to staying true to the human DIY ethos behind so much of the comics industry, Meyers notes that Sweet Shop has accepted no venture capital for its development, and that thus do not accept AI comics.
To get on the waitlist for the beta launch, as features and publishers gradually roll out, creators, publishers, journalists, and comics fans can register their username https://sweetshop.app.
In the meantime, they made a video about the beta test with a great thumbnail:
