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Batman: Arkham City Prequel Comic Book Series Announced

Want to know what the Bat was doing between the first and second game?

Now here’s a transmedia deal that makes sense. DC Comics is pushing out a six-issue comic book mini-series that will explain what happens during the gap between the acclaimed Batman: Arkham Asylum and its upcoming sequel, Arkham City. How novel!
 
According to The Source, this coming series will be penned by the writer of both games, the esteemed Paul Dini, who also had his hand in the Batman animated series. Each issue will be sold digitally and at retail for around $2.99 each starting this May. Also, after each comic prequel is released, DC has promised to toss out a 99-cent, eight-page “digital-first” interlude that tells the story between releases. Here’s to hoping we’ll finally get to see Bruce Wayne on the toilet--there’s just no way he’ll find that much of actual interest to do in a mini-series inside of a mini-series.
 

No Caption Provided
 
Issue one and issue two will see a release in May, and while it’s not made crystal clear in the press release, it appears as if you can look forward to a new comic roughly once a month after the fact. Of course, there's no firm release date for Arkham City yet other than "fourth quarter," but this comic series might lead you to speculate about a more specific timeframe if you're so inclined.

31 Comments

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BradNicholson

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Edited By BradNicholson

Now here’s a transmedia deal that makes sense. DC Comics is pushing out a six-issue comic book mini-series that will explain what happens during the gap between the acclaimed Batman: Arkham Asylum and its upcoming sequel, Arkham City. How novel!
 
According to The Source, this coming series will be penned by the writer of both games, the esteemed Paul Dini, who also had his hand in the Batman animated series. Each issue will be sold digitally and at retail for around $2.99 each starting this May. Also, after each comic prequel is released, DC has promised to toss out a 99-cent, eight-page “digital-first” interlude that tells the story between releases. Here’s to hoping we’ll finally get to see Bruce Wayne on the toilet--there’s just no way he’ll find that much of actual interest to do in a mini-series inside of a mini-series.
 

No Caption Provided
 
Issue one and issue two will see a release in May, and while it’s not made crystal clear in the press release, it appears as if you can look forward to a new comic roughly once a month after the fact. Of course, there's no firm release date for Arkham City yet other than "fourth quarter," but this comic series might lead you to speculate about a more specific timeframe if you're so inclined.
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buft

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Edited By buft

batman comic is that news or the norm? Im interested in reading it but i bet it won't be any easy get in the uk, especially in northern ireland where i reside.

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SpacePenguin

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Edited By SpacePenguin

I wonder what the DLC will be like.

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radar5

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Edited By radar5

Great, just as I'm getting back into comics. Another series I won't have time to read.

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RsistncE

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Edited By RsistncE
@buft said:
" batman comic is that news or the norm? Im interested in reading it but i bet it won't be any easy get in the uk, especially in northern ireland where i reside. "
There's going to be a digital release also which should be available to everyone. I'm not sure what the price is although one would assume it would be cheaper digitally?
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deactivated-5de441812a230

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Over/Under on these being in some sort of 'super collectors' edition of the game? I'll wait.  
 
My one hope for the game is that you get to spend a bit of the time on the bruce wayne side of the equation, even if just in the opening or something.

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napalm

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Edited By napalm

I thought... nevermind.

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buft

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Edited By buft
@RsistncE:  if it gets a digital release,i imagine i will get it but pricing it lower because its digital isn't always the norm unfortunately.
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buft

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Edited By buft
@GravityProof said:
" Over/Under on these being in some sort of 'super collectors' edition of the game? I'll wait.   My one hope for the game is that you get to spend a bit of the time on the bruce wayne side of the equation, even if just in the opening or something. "
that would be awesome.
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Animasta

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Edited By Animasta

batman animated series best batman PROVE ME WRONG.

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RussianDrink

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Edited By RussianDrink

Comics based on video games based on comics? I'm in!

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sixghost

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Edited By sixghost

I bet he was fighting crime

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RsistncE

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Edited By RsistncE
@boondocksaint2k said:
" Comics based on video games based on comics? I'm in! "
I'm pretty sure the game is considered to be canon so in a way the game isn't really "based" on anything, it's just another chapter in the story.
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august

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Edited By august
@RsistncE said:
" @boondocksaint2k said:
" Comics based on video games based on comics? I'm in! "
I'm pretty sure the game is considered to be canon so in a way the game isn't really "based" on anything, it's just another chapter in the story. "
I'm pretty sure it isn't canon, actually.
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RsistncE

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Edited By RsistncE
@august said:
" @RsistncE said:
" @boondocksaint2k said:
" Comics based on video games based on comics? I'm in! "
I'm pretty sure the game is considered to be canon so in a way the game isn't really "based" on anything, it's just another chapter in the story. "
I'm pretty sure it isn't canon, actually. "
My bad, I remember them saying they were going to retroactively put the Arkham Asylum story into canon when they first announced and showed off the game. Guess not.
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SomeDeliCook

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Edited By SomeDeliCook

What exactly IS canon? There's so much random stupid stuff in the Batman universe it's almost Mortal Kombat worthy. 
 
If anything, Arkham Asylum SHOULD be canon, or at the very least have it's own spin off comic.

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Charlee_CoCo

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Edited By Charlee_CoCo

About the whole canon vs non-canon thing, don't bother with it. 

Rocksteady (along with Paul Dini) never intended to make it fit with anything, they just wanted to make it familiar, but at the same time they wanted something they could call their own that was separate from the canon.
 
The short of it, is that the Arkham universe is not canon. For instance Robin doesn't exist in the Arkham universe (they intentionally did not mention Robin, Nightwing, or Dick Grayson in AA, not even in the super obscure character files the first game had) and in the demo that was shown to Game Informer it shows that Catwoman and Batman haven't known one another very long, ie they don't have the lengthy/tangled history they have in the comics.

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JJOR64

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Edited By JJOR64

No one has posted "I'm Batman" yet?  COME ON GIANT BOMB!
 
On Topic:  I finally played through Batman: AA last weekend and it was a great game.  I really hope this game is longer and has objectives.  AA had too many "tracking the subject down" moments in the game.  Also hope the boss fights are more challenging.

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Agent47

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Edited By Agent47
@JJOR64: I'm B4TM4N?
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MisterMouse

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Edited By MisterMouse

this is a comic book tie in that actually really fits in.

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Parabole

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Edited By Parabole

A comic about the game with the Paul Dini. I hope that it has a birthday card voice thing with Mark Hamill and Kevin Conroy talking over the intro. I'll buy!

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RE_Player1

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Edited By RE_Player1
@pyromaster222 said:
" this is a comic book tie in that actually really fits in. "
My thoughts exactly. 
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seangeo

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Edited By seangeo
@boondocksaint2k said:
" Comics based on video games based on comics? I'm in! "
I hope they make a video game based on this comic book based on the video game based on the comic book.
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MrKlorox

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Edited By MrKlorox

Now that's how you do brand synergy.

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Nightfang

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Edited By Nightfang

Cool, i'll read it!

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phrosnite

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Edited By phrosnite

I'm batman.

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kennybaese

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Edited By kennybaese
@radar5 said:
" Great, just as I'm getting back into comics. Another series I won't have time to read. "
If you are just getting back in, mini series are the perfect thing to read. You don't need as much backstory or a knowledge of continuity. 
 
Besides, it's Paul Dini writing Batman. You can't ask for much better then that.  
 
I'm stoked. Jim Lee did say that they interlude issue thingies wouldn't be released in print until the trade comes out, which is probably when I'll actually end up reading this. Oh, and over at Comic Vine they said that all of the interludes would be done by different artists, so that's cool. 
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spiceninja

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Edited By spiceninja

Riddle me this. Has there ever been a good prequel comic for a game? This happens a lot for games, but the few times I've actually read them they usually turn out to be pretty lame.

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mannoza

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Edited By mannoza

Definitely looking forward to this.

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NXH

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Edited By NXH
@buft:  Dude, I reckon you will be able to find it. Your nearest comic book shop is bound to get it in stock. Especially if you ask them to.