Auckland, New Zealand-rooted game developer, Grinding Gears Games, and Mount Laurel, N.J.-based comic book publisher, Dynamite Entertainment, are joining forces to release a graphic novel series for the multiple 2013 GOTY award-winning action role-playing game “Path of Exile.”
According to a press release, there will be four serialized installments, written by Royal McGraw and Edwin Mc Rae, and Illustrated by Carlos Rodriguez, whose portfolio extends to artwork in both Marvel and DC Universe comics. Each individual issue will be released digitally and contain 22 pages. The four issues will also be compiled next year, and released as a coherent, full-color, physical book, under the same publisher.
The comic series, planned for a summer release, will synthesize material from the game with a new story arc, exclusive to the comic format. This story will be interwoven as the fabric of backstory for a yet-to-be announced expansion to the PC game.
Those who play “Path of Exile” will not be left in isolation. Each issue released will include various in-game bonuses, such as superficial armor effects for fans to don on their journey.
Director of Business Development for Dynamite Entertainment, Rich Young, said the team is enthused in their venture with Grinding Gears Games:
The work being produced by the creative team is really top notch, and it’s tying in seamlessly to the game, thanks to Edwin and Erik. I think that fans of Path of Exile are really going to enjoy this series, which adds to the depth of the game, but in a different medium.
The original free-to-play game lets players choose between seven character classes. The chosen character is in exile for ‘misdeeds’ against their original world. They must explore their new, abandoned world by fighting enemies and scavenging loot.
More information on both the game and comic installments can be found on the “Path of Exile” website.