Digital manga and comic publisher Udon Entertainment, based in Richmond Hill, Ontario, has signed a deal with San Francisco-based online media distribution giant Crunchyroll to launch Udon Combo! The weekly digital manga and comic digest will launch in August.

Billing itself as the largest international online community for Asian entertainment (anime, drama and music), Crunchyroll’s distribution and partnership program delivers content to about four million fans worldwide. Prior to launch, Crunchyroll will build a Udon Group and invite its users to join in order to receive a virtual bowl of udon noodles in its online world, Crunchyland.

Udon chief of ops Erik Ko says providing free and easily accessible comics and manga to readers ‘is a proven business model. The benefit of working with Crunchyroll is that both our large fan bases can receive free manga and also have an option for DRM-free premium downloads without the hassle of needing custom viewing software.’

Udon is best-known for projects based on video game franchises such asStreet Fighter, Darkstalkers, and Mega Man.