Mass Effect is the sci-fi action role playing game released in late 2007, initially only for the Xbox 360 console from Microsoft. Now developer BioWare, which is a studio of EA, and Dark Horse Comics have announced that there will be a new comic book series based on Mass Effect. Titled Mass Effect: Redemption, the comic book series features a story leading up to the events in Mass Effect 2.
Adding to the Mass Effect universe, the story tells of how Commander Shepard has to fight for his survival after having gone missing under mysterious circumstances. The Mass Effect: Redemption story is the work of BioWare’s Lead Writer, Mac Walters, while the comic is scripted by John Jackson Miller and drawn by Omar Francia. The four-part series highlights the dangerous future Milky Way of Mass Effect, and reveals unseen locations as well as aliens and enemies.
“Fans of Mass Effect are going to be pleasantly shocked by the events in these comics,” Mac Walters commented. “We worked very closely with Dark Horse to make sure this story was built in to the Mass Effect 2 arc, right from the ground up. Reading the series won’t just add to your experience of the universe, it will change the way you look at Mass Effect 2… and beyond.”
“Those familiar with Mass Effect are aware that it offers one of the deepest and most compelling universes in the history of space adventure,” explained Dark Horse President and Publisher, Mike Richardson. “We have a long history of successfully adapting properties such as Aliens, Star Wars, and Serenity into comics, and we feel that Mass Effect has tremendous potential with regard to graphic storytelling.”
Writer Walters and artist Francia will be present to autograph a Comic-con exclusive Mass Effect signing card, at the Dark Horse Booth on July 24, 2009.
The series is scheduled to launch in January with the Mass Effect: Redemption issue 1 finding its way to comic store shelves on January 6, 2009. The price of the issue is not known at this point, but the video game Mass Effect 2 is slated to release for the Xbox 360 and Windows PC in early 2010.