World of Warcraft #0 comic online
by Mike Schramm 
Nov 9th 2007 at 8:32PM
MTV has posted issue number zero of the new World of Warcraft comic, right up there for free online so everyone can read it. They had the first page up a little while ago, and now that the comic is dropping later this week, they've got a special five page preview up as well.It's an interesting read. They don't waste any time getting right into the mix of things-- there's background on Reghar Earthfury (supposedly our Horde hero for the comic, and he's a Shaman, which automatically makes him a badass), and the story revolves around an event-- just as we were told-- in the Dire Maul arena. A gladiatorial group called the Crimson Ring also features, but I've never heard of them. Either they're new to the lore, or I'm just not as knowledgeable about underground fighting rights in Azeroth as I should be.
The art isn't bad at all, but it's nothing to write home about, either. Still, it's nice to see the World of Warcraft in comic form, and hopefully the story will turn out to be all that the fans think it should. Gonna grab the comic later this week?
[Via Massively]
Filed under: Odds and ends, Blizzard, NPCs
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Matthew Rossi Nov 9th 2007 8:49PM
I believe the Crimson Ring is new: it might well be a lore explanation of the Arena PvP system, now that I look over the preview.
Urthona Nov 9th 2007 8:56PM
VALEERA? as in Sanguinar? Then I assume the narrator is none other than Broll Bearmantle.
Rob Lammers Nov 9th 2007 9:43PM
No sir. I don't like it.
Wow already has a great visual style, and this is not it. This is "How to Draw Comics, the 'Image' way." There are plenty of great comic artists that could have done a comic true to the WoW style... Hector Sevilla (Lullaby), Kano Kang, Zack Suh (Mega City 909) come to mind.
Maybe they should have gone with a tallented unknown. The guy who designed Hellboy for the animated movies was found on deviantart.com!
Or (*GASP*) one of the great artists at Blizzard could have done it. I bet they're familier with the style. :p
JMCampbell Nov 9th 2007 11:57PM
@3 They did go with an unknown, this is Ludo Lullabi's first major comic book work, at least in america.
And doing design images is a lot different than doing 22 pages of character movement month in and out.
This is pretty close to the Wow style and I'm willing to give it a few issues to evolve grow before I pass judgement on Ludo. I just wish they'd have gone with someone a little more WoW knowledgeable than simonson. He's a great writer, but when someone isn't knowledgeable of the source material, it can come off weak. Hopefully that won't happen here.
Rob Lammers Nov 10th 2007 1:14AM
@4 Well, I did say "tallented" unknown...
Ok, ok, the guy is not untallented. I'm just saying this is not the style of the game. Everything in game has a very painted look. I think they should have gone with that in the comic instead of the dull mask and gradient style you see in too many comics these days.
Ugkul Nov 10th 2007 2:15AM
WTB Flintlocke comic.
Brian Nov 10th 2007 4:45AM
@5 I doubt this is a comic made for WoW fans who like comics. It's more likely to be a comic made for comic book fans to get them into WoW. And if you are going to talk about comic book art then surely the writer should have drawn it Or are you going to say that someone with Mr Simonson's pedigree doesn't float your boat because a lot of his classic comics used plain colours and didn't look 'painted'. Coming from the UK with things like 2000ad painted comics aren't all that. It's the writing that counts. So long as it comes out regularly I'll happily buy it.
It seems that the action figures are indeed tied into the comic. Now we will have to see how long it takes these characters to get into the TCG.
I don't want WoW to have a uniform art style as that stifles creativity. WoW's style draws very much from manga influenced art so I think it is right that the comic should have a generic manga feel, which it does.
kent Nov 25th 2007 4:35AM
id have to agree WoW has more of a manga feel to it then say your Final Fantasy 11 and Vanguard etc and limiting the artwork of the comic to one particular style and not allowing the art to change even if its just a little puts a huge restriction on where you can not only take the game in the future as far as graphical design but where u can take the comic as well. im an artist and i think if anything as a comic fan you should appreciate that fact that a company like blizz is able to produce something new for its fans or even people who have heard about the game and are curious as to what its about. remember blizz started out as a small time studio and is now a million dollar corporation, even though we may not always agree with what they do it gives those like myself who are getting into the field hope that we can do the same. so i say appreciate what they are putting out and if you dont like it then go with what we say in the game "if you dont like it then leave"