The Checkpoint 7.28.08: Comics That Should Be Games
Posted by John Curry on 07.28.2008
In an expansion on last week’s column and just in time for Comic Con, The Checkpoint looks at several comic books that should be transferred into video games.
Last week I opened the proverbial vein when I mentioned what I considered were my top Comic based games. Unfortunately, I could not delve into my reasoning for my selections as much as I normally do. However, the post allowed me to see that I am not alone in my enjoyment of comics and their collaboration and influence in video games. It is ironic that in a world where we fans are always seeking out the next great video game that has a compelling story line, great action and characters that we consider phenomenal that comic books are not utilized more frequently. In some aspects I understand the complication of creating a game where many of the players may not be familiar with the comic, such as The Darkness, and therefore do not buy the game. The fact is that there are comics out there that have some of the greatest storylines, compelling characters and most importantly transfer easily into a video game plot. The most important thing I want people to understand is that there are games out there who are not well known or follow the traditional comic story format that the Spider-man's and Superman's and Batman's of the comic world have set the precedent for.
As a result I have dug into the recesses of my memories, dug into my comic box and began to look at some of the comics I grew up reading and comics that I still pick up and read from time to time and analyze exactly which comics I thought would make the great video games and what style they would excel in. Every one of the comics must meet the following criteria for me to include them in this list. The comic must be original, must have an intriguing storyline, great characters, and most importantly transition into a game that would be great, not good, but great. There are hundreds more comics that deserve to be on this list, and I could write a book about them, but to me these are the comics I would love to see as games.
Sandman (1995)
The Sandman's main character is Morpheus, the Lord of Dreams, who is essentially the anthropomorphic personification of dreams. At the start of the series, Morpheus is captured by an occult ritual and held prisoner for 70 years. Morpheus escapes in the modern day and sets about rebuilding his kingdom, which has fallen into disrepair in his absence. Gaiman himself has summarized the plot of the series (in the foreword to Endless Nights) as "The Lord of Dreams learns one must change or die and then makes his decision."
The character's initially haughty and often cruel manner begins to soften after his years of imprisonment at the start of the series, but the challenge of undoing past sins and changing old ways is an enormous one for a being who has been set in his ways for billions of years. In its beginnings, the series was a very dark horror comic. Later, the series evolves into an elaborate fantasy series, incorporating elements of classical and contemporary mythology, ultimately placing its protagonist in the role of a tragic hero.
The story-lines primarily take place in the Dreaming, Morpheus's realm, and the waking world, with occasional visits to other domains, such as Hell, Faerie, Asgard, and the domains of the other Endless. Many used the contemporary United States of America and the United Kingdom as a backdrop. The DC Universe was the official setting of the series, but well-known DC characters and places were rarely featured after 1990, with one exception: Lyta Hall, formerly Fury of the 1980s super-team Infinity Inc., figures prominently in the "Kindly Ones" story arc. Most of the storylines take place in modern times, but many short stories are set in the past, taking advantage of the immortal nature of many of the characters, and deal with historical individuals and events.
My 411: The Sandman is one of the greatest comics I have ever read. Many casual comic fans are not familiar with it but the story line sets itself up to become one of the most intriguing stories and is already one of the more artistic comics. I would personally like to see this comic done in a combined styling of the Connan darkness with a Bioshock style of gameplay. The availability of the various worlds and dream sequences would allow vast amounts of creativity and multiple possibilities for character usage and more.
Preacher 1995
Preacher tells the story of Jesse Custer, a down-and-out preacher in the small Texas town of Annville. Custer was accidentally possessed by the supernatural creature named Genesis in an incident which killed his entire congregation and flattened his church.
Genesis, the product of the unauthorized, unnatural coupling of an angel and a demon, is an infant with no sense of individual will. However, as it is composed of both pure goodness and pure evil, it might have enough power to rival that of God himself. In other words, Jesse Custer, bonded to Genesis, may have become the most powerful being in the whole of living existence.
Custer, driven by a strong sense of right and wrong, goes on a journey across the United States attempting to (literally) find God, who abandoned Heaven the moment Genesis was born. He also begins to discover the truth about his new powers, which allow him to command the obedience of those who hear his words. He is joined by his old girlfriend Tulip O'Hare, as well as a hard-drinking Irish vampire named Cassidy.
During the course of their journeys, the three encounter enemies and obstacles both sacred and profane, including: the Saint of Killers, an invincible, quick-drawing, perfect-aiming, come-lately Angel of Death answering only to the authority of God Himself; a serial-killer called the 'Reaver-Cleaver'; The Grail, a secret organization controlling the governments of the world and protecting the bloodline of Jesus; Herr Starr, ostensible Allfather of the Grail, a megalomaniac with a penchant for prostitutes, who wishes to use Custer for his own ends; several fallen angels; and Jesse's own redneck 'family' — particularly his nasty Cajun grandmother, her mighty bodyguard Jody, and the 'animal-loving' T.C.
My 411: Preacher is one of those comics that tends to be more controversial than the gaming industry would care for. The truth is the comics are really quite enjoyable and if done in a perfect fashion where they could possibly combine the western feel of Gun with a gritty battle/fight sequence of say The Darkness, the game could actually be a success. The problem with turning this into a video game is going to be maintaining the dark almost sinister feel of the comic while still making it enjoyable for gamers.
Adolescent Radioactive Black Belt Hamsters (2008)
In 1977, NASA launched a probe containing four hamsters to destroy a mysterious mass of radioactive, gelatinous substance that was hovering above the atmosphere. Exposure to the substance mutated the hamsters into anthropomorphic creatures, whose vessel later crashed down near a Tibetan monastery; there, they were adopted by the monks and trained in the martial arts. The four of them are named after actors from action and kung fu movies: Clint (Eastwood), Chuck (Norris), Bruce (Lee), and Jackie (Chan). [1]
My 411: This is pure hilarity for me. I would absolutely love to see a game created in the spoof style of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles games. The story is so funny when you read the comic.
Appleseed (1988)
Appleseed takes place in the 22nd Century, after the non-nuclear Third World War decimates the Earth. While states like Great Britain, France and China have difficulty maintaining order and power, international organizations like the "Sacred Republique of Mumna" and "Poseidon" have been established in the aftermath.
The main characters are Deunan Knute and Briareos Hecatonchires, former SWAT members of the LAPD. They are found in the desolated city and invited to join the prestigious ESWAT (Extra Special Weapons And Tactics) organization in the utopian city of Olympus, the new world's most powerful state. Roughly one half of Olympus's population are bioroids.
The series follows Deunan and Briareos as they protect their new home from enemies, both foreign and domestic.
My 411: Why this game hasn't made it onto a system yet is beyond me. In this day and age and the ever growing popularity of Manga and Anime games and films, Appleseed is a one of the few comics that would easily transfer into a game. There are many, many different ways to approach this game but my personal choice would be to see this game done in a Gears of War fighting style with the Anime graphics of the Final Fantasy world.
Angel Sanctuary (2004)
The background story is that of Organic Angel Alexiel, who is one of the highest beings in existence, third only to God himself and the primordial man known as Adam Kadmon. Alexiel is equal in rank to her twin brother, the Inorganic Angel Rosiel. Before the beginning of the series God has fallen asleep to "gather his powers" which indicates that he is, in this series, very powerful but not omnipotent.
In this series Assiah (Earth) and the upper levels of Hell (Gehenna) are mirror images of each other. As mankind polluted and destroyed the Earth the lands of Hell also began to weaken. Taking advantage of their creator's sleep and the weakening of their enemies, the angels of heaven wage war on the Evil race (a group of beings that are demons who have turned away from the Devil, Lucifer, and God; they live in Gehenna and worship "Holy Dragon Gods"), wiping most of them out.
In doing this the angels fighting the war are corrupted. They commit vile crimes and murders under the name of God and righteousness. This deeply goes against Alexiel's morals. She feels that the Evils are more pure in their actions since they do not put up a charade of purity to cover their crimes. She joins the Evils' side of the war and declares an official revolt against God.
The war comes to a climax and end when Alexiel fights against her brother Rosiel. Earlier, Rosiel had found out that he is decomposing and that his mind will rot. He went to Alexiel to ask her to kill him before he goes crazy, which she agrees to. But when she is about to deal the killing blow to him, he yells "Would you kill your own twin brother, Alexiel!?". She then is filled with pity and remorse, so she seals him within the Earth using a barrier of forbidden magic. However in doing this she used every ounce of her power and shatters Nanatsusaya (the "Holy Sword of God", that made every bearer before Alexiel go mad with its power and kill themselves and countless others). The result is that Rosiel is now sealed inside Assiah and Alexiel is captured and tried by the Angel of Judgment, Uriel.
For her crimes, Alexiel is sentenced to the most severe punishment given to the fallen. Her body and soul are separated. The body is frozen in an angel crystal and then locked away in the deepest depths of angel security on the fourth circle/layer of Heaven, Machonon. Her soul is sentenced to be incarnated into a human mortal. That mortal's life is sentenced to be filled with physical and emotional pain. Everytime Alexiel is re-incarnated, the cycle begins anew. But in every incarnation Alexiel's personality is still present under specific (e.g. dangerous) circumstances, which causes her incarnation to have strange spiritual patterns and powers at times; it is as if the incarnation has a multiple personality disorder. In the storyline she is incarnated into a boy named Setsuna Mudo.
Setsuna Mudo is a problematic delinquent high school student, who is in love with his sister (thus producing the emotional pain required by her punishment). To add to his problems, he is also discovered as the reincarnation of a fallen angel, which gets him caught in the complex war between heaven and hell.
My 411: This is one of the most controversial comics to hit America but it is one of the most popular comics in Japan. The story would be great as a video game if done in a God of War style with more importantly an emphasis on the storyline opposed to the action. The biggest problem with this game is going to be the control of moral decisions and what exactly the censors will allow to be put in a game as moral choices. I know a lot of people do not enjoy games that tend to focus on the preachy aspects of these style games but this is one of the few games where the line between preachy and enjoyable can be walked gracefully.
Bipolar (2000)
Asaf, with writer Etgar Keret is telling the story of "Pizzeria Kamikaze." about a guy with a broken heart who committed suicide only to find himself at Pizza Kamikaze, a regular day job in a world where everyone died before and now it's about passing time. Tomer is telling personal stories with a twisted time sense that will put you right now, a year ago, and in the future.
This issue in two stories: The first: After finding his lost love, Mordy discovers that you can't trust anything in the land of suicides. Death, finger food, bureaucratic blunders, and one undercover angel roil the climatic last chapter of Asaf Hanuka and Etgar Keret's "Pizzeria Kamikaze". The second: "Aquaflesh" by Tomer Hanuka — Drowning in alcohol and self pity, the washed-up Aquaflesh gets his last chance to confront the moment that changed it all.
My 411: Bipolar would be one of the funniest yet most disturbing games in the world if it took a hint from the Death Jr. games and mixed it with the hardcore grit of the Condemned. The comic is a little awkward if you don't enjoy controversial dark comedy. Those of you who do would absolutely love this game.
The Badger (1983)
The lead character was Norbert Sykes, a Vietnam war veteran suffering from multiple personality disorder. "The Badger", an urban vigilante who could talk to animals, was just one of his personalities. Bizarrely, he would often call people "Larry", and it was later revealed that "Larry" was the name of his stepfather. After escaping from a mental institution, Norbert met an 5th century Druid named Ham (Hamaglystwythbrnxaxlotl in full), who had just awakened from an 800 year coma (this was later corrected in dialogue where it was noted that Ham's coma lasted 1500 years). Ham took the Badger in as a boarder in his castle in return for the Badger's bodyguard services. Other characters included Norbert's caseworker Daisy, Vietnamese martial arts expert (and Norbert's wife) Mavis, and Lord Weterlackus, a demon who empowered Ham until they had a falling out. Prior to his coma, Ham would sacrifice children in his castle in Wales (Ham was placed in a mystical coma for 1500 years by all the other wizards), but after his resurrection he would sacrifice animals (which enraged the Badger) or computer files. Ham would use his power over weather to influence markets and generate wealth for himself; occasionally his supernatural dealings would bring him into conflict with demons, whom the Badger would then be called upon to fight.
My 411: The Badger is one of those comics that many people are not familiar with, but for those of you who are familiar you will understand why this would make a great game in the comedic setup of the Tick and a game style of Viewtiful Joe. The smart ass comments and sidekicks could make this one of the most beloved cult games of all time.
Bastard Samurai (2002)
Jiro is a student of the KoZu Sword School, an underground training camp in midtown Manhattan that takes in orphans and twists and transforms them into Bushido warriors. The Yakuza use these kids in death matches staged across the city rooftops where Japanese businessmen gamble heavily on the always-fatal outcome. This killing life is all Jiro has ever known. But a rendezvous with fate is about to change all of that. In one moment Jiro realizes that everything he has lived for is a lie.The Samurai live by the Bushido code, one of which is RECTITUDE: the righting of wrongs. Now with the only ally he has-his sword--Jiro is forced to make the hardest decision of his life.
My 411: This would possibly be the easiest game to turn into a video game. I don't want to give anything away about the series but if there were a game to create for the cut em up fans out there this would be the one. The storyline should follow a Kane and Lynch style with the Ninja Gaiden fight style.
Bone (1991)
In the opening pages the three Bone cousins — the avaricious Phoncible P. "Phoney" Bone, the goofy, cigar-smoking Smiley Bone, and the everyman character Fone Bone — are run out of their hometown of Boneville after Phoney decides to run for mayor with disastrous results. An example of his resulting unpopularity was given by Smiley, saying that the mayor declared a school holiday so that all the schoolchildren could come and throw rocks at Phoney. After crossing a desert and ending up in a mysterious valley, the cousins are separated, and must individually make their way across a fantasy landscape pursued by locusts and rat creatures before meeting up again. At this time, they are taken in by a mysterious girl named Thorn and her even more enigmatic grandmother. Fone bone develops a crush on Thorn quickly when he meets her. As they stay longer in the valley they encounter humans and other creatures who are threatened by a dark lord, the Lord of the Locusts. Fone Bone is drawn into the events around him and finds himself on a hero's journey to help save the world.
One very unusual thing about the series is Boneville itself. Even though the three Bone cousins are from Boneville, and it is frequently referred to as the place where they wish to return, the village itself is never shown or depicted in the Bone comics. Also, it appears that Boneville is fairly modern, as opposed to the Valley, which, judging by the weapons used and methods of transportation, seems to be little above medieval. For example, Smiley Bone makes two comments, one to Phoney Bone about a failed scheme of his involving a nuclear reactor, and one to Fone Bone while trying to convince him to return to Boneville, referring to CornDogHutTM. Nuclear reactors, corn dogs, and trademarking are all twentieth century achievements.
My 411: Bone is my personal FAVORITE COMIC OF ALL TIME. This game should follow the format of any of the Animated games but combine an adult feel in the action and difficulty. The story could very well make one of the best games, and easily one of the best multiplayer games that have been created.
Eddy Current (1987)
Eddy Current is insane. At least that's what the world deems him to be. The very same world he intends to save. A window of opportunity opens, literally, allowing our hero to escape the asylum he calls home. Bed-check isn't until 6am, giving him 12 hours of freedom to accomplish his hero-given quest. Joined by a massive wall-of-a-woman called Nun, Eddy will live an adventure filled with the depths of humanities darkest crevices, as well as the heights and power of friendship and redemption.
My 411: How can you read the premise of this game and not picture a Grand Theft Auto meets Manhunt with some comedic aspects thrown in there. Just one mission after another in the 12 hours allocated to you.
Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service (2006)
A horror Manga series written by Eiji Otsuka and drawn by Housui Yamazaki. First published in Kadokawa Mystery manga, the strip later (October 2006) transferred to the companion publication Shōnen Ace.[1] The English translation is published by Dark Horse Comics.
The series follows five recently graduated students who have formed a company which specialises in dealing with the dead and their last wishes.
A U.S. live-action film based on The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service is now in development.[2] Characters Kuro Karatsu
A student Buddhist monk with average grades. He has the ability to "speak" with the recently deceased allowing the team to learn their "clients'" desires. Makato Numata
A dowser for the dead, his role is to find the bodies needed for the team's delivery work. Ao Sasaki
The brains behind the company. A skilled hacker and general computer expert. Yuji Yata
Another student, he wears a felt puppet on his left hand which he claims channels an alien intelligence. Keiko Makino
A licensed embalmer who handles the corpses found by Karatsu and Makato. She studied her trade in America since embalmers are rare in Japan where most bodies are cremated rather than buried.
My 411: This comic is relatively new but would make a great game. There is a film in the works supposedly but a game is what I am after. Let's take the mission style of Hitman and combine it with the fear/horror styling of Fatal Frame/Silent Hill and make it a team aspect and make one hell of a great game.
Kingdom of the Wicked (1996)
Kingdom of the Wicked focuses on Christopher Grahame. As a young child he was bedridden and to amuse himself began writing stories centered around an elaborate fantasy world named Castrovalva. As he grew older, he eventually abandoned Castrovalva and its population of made-up friends. (The new prologue shows how, after Chris left, a monster in the shape of a boy arrived to begin terrorizing the populace) After marrying and having his first child, Chris began to write stories again to amuse his daughter. His wife collected them and, without his knowledge, sent them in to be published. Now, several years later, he is known as the greatest children's writer in the world, besieged by offers of movie rights, sequels, art galleries, and the like.
At a press event, Chris begins having a series of blackouts, finding himself back in the world of Castrovalva. However, Castrovalva is now a war-torn landscape, where his childhood friends are fighting a war similar to World War I against a figure known as "the Great Dictator". The Great Dictator was the monster-child from the prologue, the "spitting image" of Chris. Chris sees his friend, teddy bear Sergeant Fuzzbox, get killed by going over the top and another friend, tin soldier Captain (now Colonel) Flashheart be murdered by an agent of the Great Dictator.
In the real world, Chris' wife and his doctors realize the reason he has been having the blackouts is due to a parasitic twin that failed to develop in pregnancy, and has attached itself to Chris' central nervous system. In Castrovalva, Chris has been manipulated into entering the Land Under the Bed that serves as the Great Dictator's headquarters, where the Great Dictator explains much the same thing. He was only able to look out at the world from Chris' senses, being otherwise incapable of anything. When Chris abandoned Castrovalva, the Dictator moved in, finding it a fully-made world that he would actually be able to inhabit and live in. However, after tiring of toying with its imaginary inhabitants, he lured Chris back in through the blackouts in order to kill him and possess his real brain, therefore becoming the "real" Chris.
Chris manages to stop the Dictator's attempts by realizing that Castrovalva is his territory, and that he can make the rules there. At the same time in the real world, Chris undergoes surgery to remove the fetus from his skull. However, Chris takes pity on the Dictator, and absorbs his essence into his. A brief afterward states that Chris took nine months to regain consciousness, and never told anyone of the events. However, the final page shows him working on a script entitled "Kingdom of the Wicked", implying his next book will be based on what he saw, and the final panel shows Chris and the Dictator, both as small boys again, running through a restored Castrovalva to play with Fuzzbox, Flashheart, and the other friends who died in the war.
My 411: Kingdom of the wicked is what I read when I want the fantasy fix that many people get from Harry Potter. I would personally love to see this done in a RPG style mixed with a little Anime a la Kingdom Hearts style. If this ever makes it to film it will be one of the greatest Cult films and provide those ever aging Potter fans with a real Fantasy adventure only rivaled by Labyrinth.
Roachmill (1988)
The comic is set in 30th century Los Angeles where an influx of aliens to Earth has caused social problems. In response, the Extermination Act is enacted, a law that allows anyone who carries a gun to use lethal force in "alien-related" situation. Eventually, the law is extended to allow the killings of humans as well, allowing for the creation of licensed Exterminators. Roachmill – a tall Dirty Harry-era Clint Eastwood look-a-like with two extra cockroach arms extending from his abdomen – is one such Exterminator, willing – for a price – to kill anyone or anything. The stories veered wildly between comedy, satire and serious sci-fi and the art between cartoony and realistic, sometimes in the same issue.
My 411: Roachmill would make a great game. I personally would chose to model the game after Crackdown in hopes that it would allow you to fully experience the 30th century L.A. while still enjoying the blow it up style that Crackdown presented.
Usagi Yojimbo (1996)
Set primarily at the beginning of Edo period Japan (early 17th century), with anthropomorphic animals replacing humans, it features a rabbit ronin, Miyamoto Usagi, who wanders the land on a musha shugyo (warrior's pilgrimage) occasionally selling his services as a bodyguard. The character of Usagi has been inspired by the famous swordsman Miyamoto Musashi while the tone and inspirations of the stories are heavily influenced by Groo the Wanderer, Lone Wolf and Cub and the films of the acclaimed director Akira Kurosawa.
My 411: While I am sure there will be complaints that I didn't put Lone Wolf and Cub on this list, I think Yojimbo would pay great homage to them in the storyline and battles sequences that could be potentially great in this game. A samurai rabbit with Kurosawa influences! Come on, how much more convincing do you need.
Thanks to Wikipedia & Dark Horse comics for the Plot Summations
