WoW #8: The king is back and there's gonna be trouble...
by Michael Gray 
Jun 18th 2008 at 7:30PM
A sneak peak of World of Warcraft #8 (the comic book) is available from Blizzard. And it's a doozy. Whether you're a comic book fan, or just a lore fan, it definitely looks like it's going to be worth the $2.99. Remember that pesky Missing Diplomat quest? Varian Wrynn, King of Stormwind, was on a mission to visit Jaina Proudmoore when he went mysteriously missing. Turns out, he got kidnapped. Then, he got free. Then, he was getting his Arena on, kicking ass, taking names, and getting entangled with unsavory sorts. (Presumably, Season 3.) He'd had a case of amnesia, but got better. And now he's realizing he's the King, baby.
WoW #8 opens with an obvious imposter prancing his merry way along the gates of Stormwind and being kind of a jerk to Anduinn. But, off at the dock, a dwarf sees three mysterious "thugs" step off the boat. Through some beautiful art, the book foreshadows exactly how bad-ass Varian has become. This is Elric or Conan quality bad-ass. This should definitely have some impact on Stormwind's royalty when WotLK arrives. It'd be nice continuity to have Varian clean up the mess in the comic, and then see a few less dragons standing around Bolvar. Here's hoping.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, News items, Lore
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Plug Jun 18th 2008 7:50PM
Varian Wrynn might be added in 2.4.3/2.4.4 or as the opening event of Northrend.
RogueJedi86 Jun 18th 2008 8:19PM
It would be nice if he kicked Old Miss Katrana O. out of Stormwind. She's been sitting there helping no one for too long. I doubt he'd make some major changes though. If Katrana O. was kicked out, Redridge, Westfall, and Darkshire would get badly needed reinforcements, and with that we'd lose 90% of the quests pushed on adventurers due to lack of reinforcements.
Also when he comes back, he should bring a unique model for his son. His son(Anduin Wrynn) is the Crown Prince(interim King until dad comes home), but looks just like the 50 random blond boys running around Stormwind(except for a scepter in his hand, big woop).
Cyrus Jun 19th 2008 12:33PM
It's interesting to think about Katrana being removed from Stormwind, but I doubt it. Maybe the story will be that she successfully hides her involvement in the scheme until the player does the quest lines, and at the part of the Onyxia attunement quests where dragonkin now attack Bolvar in the throne room, they'll attack Varian himself. And going after Onyxia will be about avenging his imprisonment instead of rescuing him.
The reason I doubt Katrana will be removed is that it would be a very big change. At least two long quest lines spanning a dozen zones would have to be deleted or changed completely. Her deception ties into what the Defias is doing in the Deadmines and what Nefarian is doing in his lair. Sure, those instances would still exist, but it would be hard to swallow them remaining the same.
Have the game designers ever taken any content out before? The announcement that they'll move the existing Naxxramas — one single instance that very few people ever entered — is the only example I can think of, and even that seems like a much smaller deal content-wise, and seems to cause no problems at all lore-wise.
Aracross Jun 18th 2008 9:07PM
Actually, Varian is going to be at Northrend. No more, nor less.
Jason Jun 18th 2008 9:55PM
No he's not, use your head. Highlord Bolvar Fordragon is going to Northrend. That is announced by blizzard themselves (go look at the lore video). Now with the King returning, who do you think will replace Bolvar.. what, Topper McNabb?
All in all, it seems the City is getting a big overhaul. King Varian returning and Stormwind almost doubling in size with that huge new harbor.
RogueJedi86 Jun 18th 2008 10:23PM
Plus apparently an area in Northrend is called Fordragon Hold, makes more sense for Bolvar to be there than Varian.
Yoir Jun 19th 2008 7:13AM
There is also a huge statue of Varian (comic book style) in the Alliance main city of Valiance, at Borean Tundra.
It could perfectly both go to Northrend, after all Warsong Hold in the alpha has Garrosh and Saurfang as its leaders.
Aracross Jun 19th 2008 9:02AM
My apologizes if I'm wrong, but a new alliance faction is:
"Valiance Expedition - The main armies of the Alliance in Northrend, moving against the Scourge and unified under King Varian Wrynn's command."
(Wikidot)
So... maybe. Is soon to be sure about anything.
Cimmerial Jun 18th 2008 9:49PM
Does everyone know Varian is missing. That never made sense to me with the missing diplomat quest. If it's a secret how did Bolvar explain his being missing and crowning his son king. I think it would be kind of suspicious if he just showed up one day and said "Hey the old king is 'missing' I'm going to assume power..."
RogueJedi86 Jun 18th 2008 10:24PM
Judging by the parade in his honor in one of the Preview Pages of the comic, the population at large knew he was missing, but only the higher-ups knew the Defias were involved.
kr3wman Jun 18th 2008 9:59PM
Didn't Frag Dominant win at MLG with a Druid/Warrior/Rogue setup? Coincidence? I think not.
webdesign Jun 19th 2008 9:54AM
Ick, I almost puked at the prospect of King Varian falling for Lady Katrana (though her putting a faux king in his place would make sense, frightfully). -- That said, he's helping a blood elf?! And he looks more Conan/Gath of Baal styled instead of Arena Season gear. I know we all love our black with green/red glowy stuff but my vision of "arena" is more like the original. Its spikey, its utilitarian. Its frightening --- its not the newest piece of raver outfit.
Kerrima Jun 19th 2008 7:41AM
Urgh? SPOILER ANYONE?
I hadn't got that comic yet, I'm in the uk and only up to the 5th or so comic :
Yoir Jun 19th 2008 8:38AM
SPOILERS:
That's not the King, Varian is cracking Defias skulls at Menethil Harbor.
Hugh "Nomad" Hancock Jun 19th 2008 8:03AM
Bugger, there goes that idea for a Machinima piece.
Damn Blizz for advancing their plot!
webdesign Jun 19th 2008 9:56AM
Bolivar: "So... you haven't been missing all this time?! You've been running the Arena circuit?!"
Varian: "How else do you think we're going to get S4 gear? Psh! Noob."
Wesley Jun 19th 2008 11:21AM
SPOILER ALERT:
Question...in the comics they said that item that causing the Furblogs in Felwood to be corrupted was destroyed or cleansed. Does that mean the Furblogs in Felwood will no longer be hostile to travelers in WotlK?
Cyrus Jun 19th 2008 12:32PM
I haven't read the comics, but I doubt it. Wasn't Felwood tainted by the Skull of Gul'dan, way back in the Third War (Warcraft III)? Illidan claimed the Skull in that campaign mission, five years before the start of the story of WoW, but Felwood is still tainted. Of course, if the comics refer to some completely different item and the characters themselves destroyed it in an issue, disregard this comment.
bashfullson Jun 19th 2008 12:37PM
Looks like the changed most of the art-team; The only guy they kept is simonson, the writer.
Kind of ironic since most of the complaints of the comics is the godawfull writing.
It is amusing to see Metzen as a simple "consultant", where is you read the comic you can see Metzen being extremely carefull not to upset current canon. A plus in my opinion.
The bloodelf is still showing a lot of skin, but at least its not"Liefield" idiotic.
I hope they won't make Varian a cardboard cut-out of an unstoppable killing machine that we had in the eighties movies.
I can almost hear the trailers:
They killed his wife, they took him from his child. They thought they could control him. They were wrong.
One man against a dragonflight. They didn't stand a chance.
FallingSnow Jun 19th 2008 12:52PM
The comic is nice. I hope that more stories will come to us via comic-form soon. The thing though is that although I don't personally mind that the SW King is coming back in a big way does his beginning story have to be so close to that of Thrall? Take a look at the origin, Varian's backstory is way too similar. Also, some of the artwork is a bit strange with sharp, strong angles to the facial/body features(taking a look at the picture in this article doesn't help any either) LOL! SPeaking of which -- why does the poor female look so Orc-ish? Blood Elves are known for their beauty. I wish it would be portrayed a bit more. But really, hurray for Varian! Can't wait to see him confront that imposter.