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EA, DC Bring Mirror's Edge To Comic Books
Posted by Michael McWhertor at 2:40 AM on July 25, 2008
Electronic Arts announced today it has partnered with Wildstorm, an imprint of DC Comics, to bring its Mirror's Edge intellectual property to life as an ongoing comic book series. A limited edition prequel issue will be available to Comic-Con attendees at Booth #5233. The first person adventure, currently in development at DICE, will join sister property Dead Space in the four colour 2D medium later this year. The move is part of EA's IP³ initiative, a push to bring internally developed properties outside of the video game space and into areas like movies, animation and graphic novels.
EA announced yesterday that it had tapped United Talent Agency to represent the company as it moves its internally developed franchises into the realm of motion pictures and television series.
Hit the jump for the full press release on the Mirror's Edge comic book series and check back all week for further Comic-Con coverage from Kotaku.
EA and DC Comics Team up to Create Mirror's Edge Comic Book
Limited-Edition Prequel Sets the Stage for Faith's Adventure in Mirror's Edge Comic Book Series
Comic-Con International 2008
Booth #5233REDWOOD CITY, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—DICE, an Electronic Arts Inc. studio (NASDAQ:ERTS), today announced that it is teaming up with WildStorm, an imprint of DC Comics, the largest English-language comic book publisher in the world, to create an exclusive, limited-edition Mirror's Edge™ comic book. EA and DC Comics will distribute the first issue of the Mirror's Edge comic book series at Comic-Con International in San Diego. The game will also be on display at booth #5233.
"This partnership with DC Comics sets the stage as readers explore Faith's world in Mirror's Edge," said Owen O'Brien, Senior Producer, DICE. "The unique graphic style offered by the comic book genre is perfect for taking fans through her back-story. Frame by frame, page by page, we'll learn more about the events that shaped both her and the city."
Based on the upcoming Mirror's Edge video game, the comic combines the talents of writer and story designer Rhianna Pratchett with artist Matthew Dow Smith. Pratchett is also responsible for crafting the intricate script for the game. The six-part comic series will introduce readers to Faith and her fellow 'Runners' - a network of couriers who use acrobatic moves to avoid being detected as they traffic packages across a network of rooftops and aerial skyways.
"Rhianna and DICE have created an amazing game with a great backstory," said Hank Kanalz, Vice President/General Manager for WildStorm. "The characters have really come alive in the game, and we are pleased that we will be able to add to the canon of the Mirror's Edge universe with this project."
Mirror's Edge is being developed at EA Digital Illusions CE AB (DICE) in Stockholm, Sweden. This revolutionary new take on the first person action adventure genre will ship this winter for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system and for the PC. This product is not yet rated by PEGI or ESRB. For more information on EA DICE, please visit www.dice.se or www.ea.com.
About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is the world's leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the Company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, cellular handsets and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTSTM, EATM, EA SPORTS FreestyleTM and POGOTM. In fiscal 2008, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $3.67 billion and had 27 titles that sold more than one million copies. EA's homepage and online game site is www.ea.com. More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.
EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS Freestyle, POGO and Mirror's Edge are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. "PLAYSTATION" is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Microsoft, Xbox and Xbox 360 are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
ABOUT DC COMICS:
DC Comics, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world and home to such iconic characters as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the Sandman. These DC super heroes and others have starred in comic books, movies, television series (both animated and live-action) and cyberspace, thrilling audiences of all ages for generations. DC Comics' Web site is located at www.dccomics.com.
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
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TheLegendof_Erick
Posted 3:34 AM 25/7/08
You can't mention Image without saying something about Pitt
TheLegendof_Erick
Eville1
Posted 3:32 AM 25/7/08
@ExistentialEgg: Yeah I have a lot of that too. Just dug it out the other day. Wetworks, Spawn, Supreme, WildCats etc. Matter of fact I think I have Spawn 1-30. I know they've gone down in price but wow, I forgot. Dave Sim issue is still the best.@scndmg: Agreed for the most part. A lot of shit was being produced. A lot of gems were too. Where would the Xmen fighting game be without Omega Red?? HAHA ok, sorry. Still, some good came out of it. Mostly indy or small publisher stuff I'll admit.
Eville1
scndmg
Posted 3:19 AM 25/7/08
@ExistentialEgg: Memories? Most of that stuff was awful. I wish I could erase my memories of the comic industry from 1990 - 1994. There was so much shit being produced.
scndmg
duckncover
Posted 3:09 AM 25/7/08
@Crashproof:
I live in hope but I feel you may be right.
duckncover
Crashproof
Posted 3:00 AM 25/7/08
I'm sure this will be right up there with the comics for Hellgate London and City of Heroes... :P
Crashproof
duckncover
Posted 2:57 AM 25/7/08
Hmmmm, same writer as the game you say? Could make for a lot of material for a sequel perhaps. Maybe even some spin-offs. This could be a great way to build a series for a game, while we wait for the next playable part of the story you can read the comic and have the excitement building.
If the comic is strong it would give a huge incentive to play through the game for continuity. Going straight into a game where you already have a strong attachment to the characters and backstory could be a lot of fun. No wait for the build up, they can just start hitting you with surprises and plot tqists that would feel more real.
Of course they could totally screw it up one could mess up the other.
duckncover
ExistentialEgg
Posted 2:57 AM 25/7/08
@Eville1: Yeah, WildStorm was Jim Lee's separate imprint off the IMAGE company. Back the 90's a handful of artists started up their own comics, but over the years they've been reabsorbed into the bigger companies. Wildstorm is now part of DC. I have a lot of the original IMAGE comics; Wildcats, Savage Dragon, Spawn, Wetworks, Youngblood, Gen 13. Sigh... the memories.
ExistentialEgg
karasu is my homeboy
Posted 2:49 AM 25/7/08
I predicted a cartoon. I kinda want that instead.
I wonder if they'll draw the comic in first person view.
karasu is my homeboy
TheLegendof_Erick
Posted 2:42 AM 25/7/08
I can see a movie, but a comic?? I suppose they'll sell that book right next to the Mirror's Edge Tshirt/Lunch box combo
TheLegendof_Erick
GwennBlackfeather
Posted 2:41 AM 25/7/08
That's interesting. Mirror's Edge would make a fine comic. I just hope they don't use the art style from that second trailer.
GwennBlackfeather
Krondonian
Posted 2:36 AM 25/7/08
NOW I get the second trailer they released.
Much preferred the first one, but if there's a whole comic series coming, that explains it.
Krondonian
Arcon
Posted 2:33 AM 25/7/08
Hmm, maybe a little similar to The Couriers, an ace little comic by Brian Wood. Still, would be good to read.
Arcon
Eville1
Posted 2:33 AM 25/7/08
I always thought Wildstorm was an image spin off. You know, creator owned and operated. I suppose I was wrong but if I am, then my Wildstorm imprints with the Image logo may be worth somethin huh?
Eville1
Lord Thayer
Posted 2:31 AM 25/7/08
This experience (Mirror's Edge) seems so entirely integrated into the unique traits of videogames that this just seems inappropriate. If I just wanted the story, I could watch that goofy show on Toon Disney, Get Ed.
But who am I to challenge the mighty dollar (not so mighty now...but mighty enough to destroy everything and everyone I love)
Lord Thayer
LittleBigPlaneteer
Posted 2:30 AM 25/7/08
Cool, I think the premise is certainly fitting for a comic book. I wouldn't mind a movie like that either :)
LittleBigPlaneteer
BradOFarrell
Posted 3:57 AM 25/7/08
Awesome.
BradOFarrell
Eville1
Posted 3:57 AM 25/7/08
@ExistentialEgg: Don't forget Leifeld is personally responsible for the horrible big shoulder pad fad.
Although Xforce 75 sideways issue was pretty cool. It had a fastball special in it too.
/End Geek.
Eville1
Eville1
Posted 3:56 AM 25/7/08
@Gouki4u's avatar has a severe case of Jekyll and Hyde: Not a business man myself but I can imagine the press/name branding in other mediums would help draw people to the original work. And the cost couldn't be to huge to make something in print vs developing a game.
Eville1
Eville1
Posted 3:55 AM 25/7/08
@TheLegendof_Erick: Crap! I only had the first issue because they couldn't ever get the others out. Wait, wasn't there a Pitt vs Maxx?
Eville1
ExistentialEgg
Posted 3:54 AM 25/7/08
@Eville1: @scndmg:
shit being produced? HEY MAN! We had Superman die and come back as a blue mulleted surfer looking guy! Oh... nvmnd.. At least Wolvie still had his adamantium and Magneto was bad.
I liked some of the IMAGE stuff and it was an exciting time because it was the little guy artists forming their own company against the big dogs, and they did pretty well for a while, the problem though is that creative people aren't very good at RUNNING a business, they're good at creating products FOR a business, so most of the IMAGE guys had to go back to the big publishers.
ExistentialEgg
Gouki4u's avatar has a severe case of Jekyll and Hyde
Posted 3:52 AM 25/7/08
Shouldn't they wait to see how well the game is received before making a comic? Wildly successful games cross over easily into other areas (barring movies) with comics, action figures, and the like, but bringing them out at the same time could lead to a mediocre game, and a comic book nobody wants. It just seems like they're doing it backwards.
Gouki4u's avatar has a severe case of Jekyll and Hyde
F22
Posted 4:29 AM 25/7/08
the M.Edge devs should give all the 3d files of the environments in the game to the comic artists, would make a great tie-in, and they can pull some crazy angles for some nice still shot sequences. just an idea.
F22
Turel777
Posted 4:14 AM 25/7/08
I vaguely remember hearing that EA were looking to branch out into other forms of media, but I didnt expect 2 comic series and an animated movie already!
This sounds really cool , I like having some tie-in meterial to go with my games. I must say though, I'm more excited about the Dead Space stuff than Mirror's Edge.
Turel777
willz0rz
Posted 2:37 AM 25/7/08
the game seems like Run Lola Run to me anyways.
so its fitting that it would get a comic. I bet the story is excellent.
willz0rz
TheLegendof_Erick
Posted 4:59 AM 25/7/08
@Eville1: I know it seemed like years went by in between issues for that book, my bro has up to issue 6 but I'm not sure if they even made them after that
Pitt is still one of my favorite characters on ANY medium
TheLegendof_Erick
AlbenoEpiX
Posted 2:31 AM 25/7/08
They really are embodying the term 'multimedia' aren't they?
A game, a comic and a movie, hell, I'm half expecting them to announce a Mirror's Edge symphony and opera.
AlbenoEpiX
CelticMutt
Posted 5:40 AM 25/7/08
The press release says 6 parts - that's a mini series, not an ongoing.
CelticMutt
Ricksterlau
Posted 5:40 AM 25/7/08
I was never into comic books but this however will definitely change my mind.
Ricksterlau
Solidus
Posted 7:04 AM 25/7/08
Cool. I loved the comic and animated stuff for dead space. Can wait to see what they'll do for this one :)
I really hope EA doesn't ruin this game. I'm really excited by it! This one and dead space :]
Solidus
not_tom_brokaw
Posted 7:34 AM 25/7/08
Spoiler: Faith is actually Cassandra Cain on a different Earth.
not_tom_brokaw
floppylobster
Posted 9:33 AM 25/7/08
How about they release the game first, then create spin-offs later? In case, just in case, it's utter shit. It's coming from EA so I'm sure it won't be shit, it will no doubt carry their brilliantly consistent averageness, but planning spin-offs before a thing is finished has never worked to make movies better. It usually serves to dilute the final product.
floppylobster
pandafresh
Posted 10:06 AM 25/7/08
if the art is as cool as the game, awesome, if its as bad the animated trailer, not too awesome.
pandafresh
Z4N5H1N
Posted 9:17 PM 25/7/08
This has the potential to be greatness.
Z4N5H1N
MaTsKaT
Posted 1:38 AM 26/7/08
This game looks promising...the parkour elements are either gonna make or break the game, IMO.
Speaking of parkour, what ever happened to the proposed PSP title "FreeRunning"? Did I miss it....was it vaporware?
I 'd really enjoy a game focusing on "free-running"..Pop and Assassin's Creed are nice in terms of the running, grabbing, jumping etc...hope Mirror's Edge lives up to my self-imposed hype...
The real question is PS3 or X360 ? Prolly PS3, it needs some love.
MaTsKaT