As video games continue to branch out and unite with other entertainment mediums, it was an exciting announcement to hear that the hot, upcoming genetically-mutated game Prototype would be getting it’s own comic series via the impressive duo DC Comics and Sierra Entertainment. Well I booted up Spawn Kill’s hype machine and as it was chugging along quite nicely, I decided to venture down to one of my local comic book shops and pick up the first (of what will be a total of six) issue myself to take a look at what seems to set up readers for a bit of a pre-story to the game.

We’re pitted in the boots of a squad of American soldiers in the jungles of good ol’ ‘Nam: 1968, there’s not too much digging deep within the character development of this team, before anyone can try to get attached to them, as you will see by the lack of actual names. They toss charming pet names back and forth to each other like Big Balls and Skully. The only character the story takes focus on is the commanding officer of the squad, Lieutenant Randall, who leads the pack into a glory hole a.k.a. a booby-trapped death hole just waiting for timely arrival.

After that little incident, Lieutenant Randall is asked on a new unexplained mission, and then the reader is whisked away into a present day(-ish) 2008 setting in New York City, and what better place to be than the good old Apple. You are introduced to a crew of detectives who are seeking out the person–or thing responsible for a deluge of corpses that are being discovered. If you are in this for the game and not just around for the comic, you will easily link this flow of bodies to the main character that you already know about from the actual game, Alex Mercer. It is clear that they have fallen prey to his malevolent ways. Bodies have been found torn up and chewed on, a beastly creature leaving his mark all over his prey.

You’re quickly torn away from this scene to go back to 1969 located in what I approve of being called Buttfuck, Idaho. (See the first screenshot at the bottom of this article.) A team of soldiers is sent on a recovery mission to locate and pick up a package. They’re greeted by an army of not-so-friendly mutants like those seen to your left here at a local grocery store. With the number of fallen victims present, I’d like to safely assume the mutants were there long before America’s Finest arrived. Determined to achieve their mission’s goal, despite the onslaught of man-eating little (huge) hellions, they battle their way to a secret laboratory in which I am led to believe that this is where Alex Mercer’s genetic mutation most likely took place.

It’s hard to dish out the good stuff without ruining what’s in store in this 25-page introduction to the mini-series that will unfold a bit of a backstory for Prototype. The six issue series will not be fully printed and released before the game does, so it will keep your well from drying up for all things Prototype even after you’ve played and beaten the game. It’s full of some great, comedic, and entertaining dialogue. I thoroughly enjoyed the first installment and will be keeping up with the rest of the issues from here on in as it was enough to satisfy my taste for now. So far, I am impressed with this comic adaptation method of bringing us the backstory, as this medium does well to bridge the gaming and comic fanbases together. The movie industry is still trying to get this down, but it’ll happen eventually where a movie can connect with gamers and be able to properly tell a video game’s story in an entertaining form… Someday. So far no good on that front. Imagine a TV series for a video game? It’s coming I assure you, it’s coming. Oh boy, but that’s a whole ‘nother story. For the mean time I am pleased with the beauty of the comic book art form being connected to games and I recommend picking up this series if you are the type to really get in to the story and characters of your video games. You know, like those Resident Evil gamers who page through every single note and manual they can get their paws on while exploring mansions and zombie-ridden police departments and all that good stuff. Just knowing all the little details gives you a sense of passion for the game. If that’s the kind of gamer you are, I hope you will enjoy this as well. (Read: Me.)

Tags: Activision, Big Balls, Comics, Prototype

This entry was posted on Friday, May 22nd, 2009 at 1:37 pm and is filed under Comics, Featured, Mini Review, PC, PlayStation 3, Reviews, Xbox 360. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.