Valve Comics Compendium Revealed By Dark Horse

Earnest Cavalli

New member
Jun 19, 2008
5,352
0
0
Valve Comics Compendium Revealed By Dark Horse



Dark Horse Comics' latest solicitations include the announcement of a collection of comics based on Valve Software's beloved gaming series.

Like peanut butter and poor analogies, videogames and comic books are two great tastes that go great together. It's increasingly common to see gaming publishers and comic book creators join forces to craft comics based on famed virtual worlds, and the benefits are obvious: The universe gets a convenient expansion, and the comic's creators get exposed to an audience they might not reach otherwise.

These aren't simple one-off, disposable marketing gimmicks however, as evidenced by Dark Horse's newly-revealed collection of comics based on Valve Software's catalogue.

From the publisher's official solicitation:

For fifteen years, Valve has defined the cutting edge of video games. Now, Valve joins with Dark Horse to bring three critically acclaimed, fan-favorite series to print, with a hardcover collection of comics from the worlds of Left 4 Dead, Team Fortress, and Portal. With over three hundred pages of story, Valve Presents: The Sacrifice and other Steam-Powered Stories is a must-read for fans looking to further explore the games they love or comics readers interested in dipping their toes into new mythos!

The 304-page, hardcover book goes on sale November 16 for $30.

I've read "The Sacrifice," [http://www.l4d.com/comic/] and for what is essentially glorified Left 4 Dead fan fiction, it's a phenomenal story. The art is of excellent quality, the writing elicits the same feelings of dread and isolation as the game, and the violence is right on par with Valve's zombie shooter.

That said, I have no point of reference for the Portal and Team Fortress comics. I'm going to guess at the existence of duplicitous baked goods, but otherwise that section of the book is a question mark.

Speaking of question marks, and as much as I love the three games covered in this tome, can anyone explain to me why a comic book omnibus based on Valve Software games features no Half-Life comics? Gordon Freeman's adventures may lack the kinetic bombast of Team Fortress or the cerebral undertones of Portal, but I would pay cash money to see a Rob Liefeld take on everyone's favorite theoretical physicist.

Just imagine how many extraneous pouches could fit on the HEV suit!

Source: CBR [http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=33181]

Permalink
 

RA92

New member
Jan 1, 2011
3,079
0
0
The_root_of_all_evil said:
Now why would Gordon Freeman not appear in comics...

...

...
Well said put. ;)

I can imagine the pitchforks raised if Gordon has a single speech bubble that says anything but "..."
 

badmunky64

New member
Sep 19, 2007
171
0
0
I don't follow comic books, but the Left 4 Dead comic was phenomenal. As soon as I finished reading the graphic novel I dusted off my digital copy of L4D and played constantly for the next 3 days.
 

The Random One

New member
May 29, 2008
3,310
0
0
The TF2 ancilliary material, including comics, is better than the game. And that's saying a big something.

That said, I'm not too keen on paying for stuff I've seen on the 'net. Will we get new material? Will we get Team Fortress babies?
 

Crimson_Dragoon

Biologist Supreme
Jul 29, 2009
795
0
0
Well the Portal comic they put online was really good so, hurray I guess.

I think we're missing the real point though: what's up with dat ass on Chell?
 

maturin

New member
Jul 20, 2010
702
0
0
I really can't imagine how the essence of the Portal universe (as experience by the player) can be translated into a long run of comics.

And really, why no Half-Life? We need something to tide us over for Episode Three. It could even introduce some key concepts in advance of the games. And you have a universe that is begging to be expanded, given that it is a quite elegant post-apocalyptic dystopia with most of the details merely insinuated.
 

Jamboxdotcom

New member
Nov 3, 2010
1,276
0
0
Raiyan 1.0 said:
The_root_of_all_evil said:
Now why would Gordon Freeman not appear in comics...

...

...
Well said put. ;)

I can imagine the pitchforks raised if Gordon has a single speech bubble that says anything but "..."
Well... that and the fact that Gabe basically all but admitted there will never be another Half-Life game, recently. At least, that's how i read it. http://www.penny-arcade.com/patv/checkpoint/108/
 

Dr_Horrible

New member
Oct 24, 2010
421
0
0
Jamboxdotcom said:
Raiyan 1.0 said:
The_root_of_all_evil said:
Now why would Gordon Freeman not appear in comics...

...

...
Well said put. ;)

I can imagine the pitchforks raised if Gordon has a single speech bubble that says anything but "..."
Well... that and the fact that Gabe basically all but admitted there will never be another Half-Life game, recently. At least, that's how i read it. http://www.penny-arcade.com/patv/checkpoint/108/
There's no way that valve would give up on half-life. I think what he meant was that we already knew that it was coming, but not for a while, and they're not telling until they're basically done.

At least, that seems to be the most likely
 

RA92

New member
Jan 1, 2011
3,079
0
0
Jamboxdotcom said:
Well... that and the fact that Gabe basically all but admitted there will never be another Half-Life game, recently. At least, that's how i read it. http://www.penny-arcade.com/patv/checkpoint/108/
Arrggghhh! That <url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/79914-Doug-Lombardi-Confirms-Half-Life-3>bastard <url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/108821-Valve-Says-Hang-In-There-For-Half-Life-2-Episode-3>Lombardi lied!
 

gigastar

Insert one-liner here.
Sep 13, 2010
4,419
0
0
I wonder if this means we can finally get a full Saxton Hale comic...

Either way im expecting some kind of cross promotion. That is just how Valve works now.
 

NLS

Norwegian Llama Stylist
Jan 7, 2010
1,594
0
0
gigastar said:
I wonder if this means we can finally get a full Saxton Hale comic...

Either way im expecting some kind of cross promotion. That is just how Valve works now.
Oh yes, please. I've barely played any TF2 for the past 3 years, but I absolutely loved Saxton Hale. I need more of him. NOW!
 

MisguidedTerran

New member
Dec 7, 2009
25
0
0
You know... actually this could be interesting, being able to tell new stories in those certain universes. Team Fortress there's plenty of stupid things to comicate out, Portal could have new test subjects, maybe, and Left 4 Dead could feature new survivors without having to make a game for them. (I also demand an explanation for Keith, I'm worried if Ellis might be slightly schizophrenic.)
 

Jack_the_Knife

New member
Nov 8, 2008
87
0
0
I'm wondering, and hoping, that this isn't just a hardcover collection of the pre-existing comics that already exist online. Now while I don't know off the top of my head, the Portal 2, L4D/2 and TF2 update comics(War update, Sniper/Spy, Engineer, Saxton Hales, Mac Update, Director) could likely add up to a little less than 300 pages, the remaining filled out with artwork and maybe a free poster.

I mean, hell, for $30 I'd hope a few of those were at least original creations.
 

Twilight.falls

New member
Jun 7, 2010
676
0
0
I want to see Dota 2 comics.

As for the rest, Valve, I don't even have to tell you I'm giving you my money.