The other day I bought my first single issue in months. I stopped collecting them regularly a while back, mainly because I find trade paperbacks to be a bit less expensive and a lot easier to store. Every now and then though, whether it’s due to nostalgia or sheer impatience, I find myself buying an issue or two.

This time I surprised myself by buying one of what I normally consider to be the lowest of the low in comics: the movie/video game adaptation series. These are the comics that are always released shortly before or after a major movie or video game adaptation of a series comes out. As a general rule, I’m not a fan of these creations, because even if what there are advertising is good, the quality of this promotional material rarely lives up to the hype. The writing is usually bad, the art so-so, and they add nothing to the product they’re tacked onto. However, every once in a while there is an exception to this rule. The issue that caught my eye in this instance was the five issue limited series titled Batman: Arkham City, named after the upcoming video game sequel to the best-selling game, Batman: Arkham Asylum.

What made me pick up the first issue of this series was largely due to the glowing opinion I had of the original game. Batman: Arkham Asylum was the shining example of what a comic-based video game should be. It had a brilliant and well-constructed story written by Paul Dini, incredible graphics and game play, and it stayed true to the characters. It even united the voice cast of the Batman Animated Series, including Kevin Conroy as Batman and Mark Hamill as the Joker.

[It’s all in the laugh.]

If the first issue of the miniseries is any indication, the sequel to this game is looking to be just as promising as the original. Put together by the same creative team of Paul Dini and Carlos D’Anda, Batman: Arkham City takes place a year after the events of Arkham Asylum, but this time the playground has expanded to encompass half of Gotham City.

Unfortunately, there’s not much more I can say without giving some vital information away, and I’m not one for spoilers. What I will say is that while I’m not certain how vital this prequel will be in bridging the first game to the second, it’s a series I plan to finish. There’s a long wait between now and the October release date for Arkham City, and this is just the thing to help pass the time.

Now, just for fun, here’s an epic trailer for Arkham City. Enjoy.

-Brent

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