DC Entertainment will be releasing an interactive digital comic based on the upcoming prequel to the Arkham series, Batman: Arkham Origins.
DC is using the comic to show off its "DC2 Multiverse" digital comics, which allow for different outcomes depending on the choices players have the heroes make. Remember those old "Choose Your Own Adventure" books? It'll be kind of like, without all the thumbing from page to page only to discover that you died.
There's only so many ways to improve print, but this sounds like an interesting concept. Movies and games have been riding off the benefit of technology, why not comics too?
DC announced the comic at Time Warner's "The Future of Storytelling" exhibition at the Time Warner Medialab in New York. As described during the exhibition, the comics layer "dynamic artwork" onto traditional panels, and each chapter has "dozens of possible story outcomes" based on the reader's selection of characters, stories, and plot developments. Action sounds will also be incorporated as well.
Besides the comic based on Arkham Origins, there will also be another based on the campy television show from the 60's dubbed "Batman '66" coming out first. However, it won't use DC2 Multiverse, opting for a "stripped down" version called DC2.
Renowned DC artist Jim Lee was present during the announcement at the Medialab, and talked about this new form of comic as a blend between the printed page and electronic media: "Digital comics have proven to be a driving force in attracting new readers, in fact, since the onset of Same-Day-Digital our print and digital sales have both risen by double and triple digits, respectively," stated Lee. "With Digital-First titles we've created a successful formula of pairing comics with other media forms like TV shows and video games. Today's announcements demonstrate how we can tie innovations that organically fit and enhance comics - for example with Batman: Arkham Orginsyou can choose the destiny of your character by playing the game and reading the comic."
With DC's distribution deals, the comics are expected to be available on major e-readers like Nooks and Kindles. No details have been announced with regard to cost or availability, or how the comic will tie into the upcoming game, though I suspect it will be a preamble of sorts, and might even offer up the identities as to the rest of the assassin's the young Bats will be going up against.
While it's not an origin story, Batman: Arkham Origins stars a younger, not as experienced Batman we've seen in past Arkham games. The criminal Black Mask is offering a boatload of cash to whoever can kill the caped crusader. A number of hired killers are on the hunt, though not all have been revealed just yet. Announced so far is the assassin Deathstroke, Bane, Deadshot, Anarky, Scarecrow, Killer Croc, and a handful of others. Batman carries his usual array of wonderful toys, with a few new ones thrown in for good measure, all to help Bats pummel thugs throughout a Gotham city that's almost double the size of the one seen in Arkham City.
Batman: Arkham Origins launches Oct. 25 on Windows PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii U.