Comics Inspired by Video Games

First published in GRIND V, pages 222–223.

@ARHIVABD

Leaving games behind to read comics – that's what it means to be a Witcher-mafioso! Article by Gabriel Stan (ArhivaBD)

Hiya, lovely people! Hope you're having a wonderful day! When the GRIND lads suggested I bring the magic of comics to issue V as well, I said: let's bung another coin in the slot and see what comes out! This time I want to run through a few comics inspired by video games (d'oh, it's a gaming magazine, not a gardening one). We're talking popular titles from the industry, such as The Witcher, Lost Planet and Devil May Cry. If you like the sound of those and you've played any of the titles mentioned, then make yourself a decent coffee – or a tea – and flick through these comics, because they're worth it. If my recommendations land, I'll be waiting for a like and a subscribe on the @ArhivaBD channel. Happy gaming, and above all, happy reading!

Still not going to hit subscribe? I'd have a think about that...

The Witcher Omnibus Volume 1

If you're a The Witcher fan and you've ever thought “hmm, I'd like a bit more Geralt, but without sitting in front of the computer for 60 hours or watching Henry Cavill frown intensely for 10 episodes” — then The Witcher Omnibus Vol. 1 is exactly what you need.

Instead of chasing ghouls through Velen or debating the philosophy of necessary evil with an aristocratic vampire, here you get Geralt in action... on paper, but not just any paper! The illustrations are so good you can almost smell the alchemical brew and the Novigrad mud. We've got monsters, curses, haunted forests and Geralt's dry sarcasm – all packaged in a cellulose format. It's the perfect combination of a dark fantasy series and a train journey where you don't want to talk to anyone, you just want to sink into pages of swords, blood and moral dilemmas. Basically, if you've ever enjoyed saying “these monsters aren't the worst of it, people are”, but never had enough visual context... now you do!

In short: Geralt does what he does best – that is, he scowls, kills things and gives you reasons to ask yourself existential questions – but in a version where you don't have to click on anything. Recommended for everyone who believes that “life is hard, but at least I don't live in a world where every well is haunted by a dead woman with wet hair”.

The Witcher Omnibus Vol. 1, with its 440 pages, published in 2019 by Dark Horse Comics, is exactly what you need!

LOST PLANET First Colony

You're a space pirate. You've got a cool ship, a simple plan and (probably) an ego the size of an orbital station. The idea? Land on a frozen planet, recover some rusty equipment abandoned by others less brave, and come back rich and famous. What could possibly go wrong? Short answer: everything. Long answer: GIANT ICE MONSTERS. And cold. And other pirates. And cold again.

Lost Planet First Colony is the comic from TITAN Comics in collaboration with CAPCOM, released in 2013, which shows you how NOT to run a colonisation mission. It's a prequel to the game Lost Planet 3, but also a lesson in how “space adventure” actually means freezing to your soul and running from gigantic critters who fancy a human barbecue. The characters? We have the crew of the ship Crusader, led by Captain June – a woman who looks like she could batter anything, including a snowstorm and an existential crisis, both at the same time. They land on E.D.N. III, a planet with a landscape worthy of Instagram, if you're a penguin, but which is populated by Akrid – creatures so friendly that they'll bite your face off the moment you meet them. If you're a Lost Planet fan, this comic is like a snack before the game – it won't fill you up completely, but it'll whet your appetite. And if you've never played the games... no worries! You can happily enjoy all the madness without knowing who, what, when or why everyone's dying of cold.

In conclusion: Lost Planet First Colony is like an episode of Deadliest Catch in space, but with more fangs, less hope and a lot more snow. Recommended with a thick blanket and a mug of tea. Or a warming robot.

DmC: Devil May Cry The Chronicles of Vergil

Welcome to a universe where demons run the world from the shadows, capitalism is in power (as usual), and the only salvation is... an elegant gentleman with a samurai cane and a voice that sounds like he reads gothic poetry every night before bed. Yes, we're talking about Vergil, Dante's brother and the protagonist of this comic, which serves as a prequel to the game DmC: Devil May Cry. The story focuses on Vergil, Dante's brother, exploring his origins and the motivations that lead him to form the organisation The Order, in the fight against the demons controlling the world. It's a quick, intense read and perfect for anyone who wants to understand why Vergil is so angry all the time. (Short answer: trauma. Long answer: demons, capitalism and existential frustration.)

The artwork is dark and cool, the story hooks you, and if you like drama with monsters, edgy philosophy and characters who've never smiled in their lives – this is exactly what you're after. Bonus: you don't have to play the game to follow it, but a stylish haircut would help. The comic is from TITAN Comics in collaboration with CAPCOM, and it came out in 2013.