Dynamite Entertainment and Double Helix Studios have partnered to bring the hit game franchise Killer Instinct to comics for the first time ever. Leading the new series is New York Times bestselling author, and multi Eisner-award nominee Ian Edgington (2000AD), and artist Cam Adams (Fallout World). Killer Instinct – slated for launch on September 13, 2017 – will provide fans with epic new adventures in a stunning game-play universe.
Although the Shadow Lord Gargos has finally been defeated, the battle between humankind and his Astral invasion has taken its toll on Earth. As the world lies in ruin, a sinister new power called the Coven has risen. Vying with the megacorporation Ultratech, the Coven vows to rule the shattered nations. Kim Wu and Jago must band together with the Night Guard to forge a pathway into the Astral Plane. Meanwhile, a secret malevolence threatens to destroy them all.
“Killer Instinct has a colorful and diverse cast of characters, each with their own rich backstories and with plenty more tales to tell. The Killer Instinct pantheon effectively comprises a superhero universe and it’s hard not to get overwhelmed with the wealth of riches there is to work with. I’ve taken a dozen or so characters – Kim-Wu, Jago, Aganos, Tusk, Aganos, Kan-ra, etc., and built a story around them that’s self-contained but can spring board into other series if need be. I’ve structured it to appeal to die-hard Ki fans and those coming to it cold. You won’t need any foreknowledge of the game to enjoy it. Likewise, there will be plenty of nods and easter eggs to the game for Killer Instinct fans. I’ve had a huge amount of fun writing this series. It’s a fantastic world to be permitted to play around in,” said Edgington.
Additional credits for Edginton include Stickleback, Helium, Kingmaker, Leviathan, Brass Sun, Judge Dredd, Batman, Wolverine, X-Force, Uncanny X-Men, Stormwatch, and Aliens. He also wrote Scarlet Traces and Scarlet Traces: The Great Game, the Eisner Award nominated sequels to H.G. Wells’ The War of the Worlds. As well as the video game properties Kane and Lynch, Dead Space, The Evil Within, and Assassins Creed.
“Killer Instinct has always been a killer game, and the team at Double Helix Games have been a sheer pleasure to partner with on this property. By bringing on widely celebrated writer Ian Edginton, and the endlessly talented Cam Adams, we're confident this is going to be a killer comic book series as well,” said Nick Barrucci, Dynamite's CEO and publisher.
The popular fighting game, Killer Instinct, was originally released by Double Helix Games in 1994. The 2013 game serves as a reboot of the franchise after a 17-year long hiatus since its last title, Killer Instinct 2, was released in 1996.
The debut issue of Killer Instinct features a wide selection of cover variants, featuring the talents of Yildiray Cinar (Teen Titans), Jonathan Lau (Red Sonja), interior artist Cam Adams, and Udon (Streetfighter), respectively. Limited variant editions in black and white and virgin formats are also available as retailer incentives.
Killer Instinct #1 will be solicited in Diamond Comic Distributors’ July 2017 PREVIEWS catalog, and is slated for release in September. Killer Instinct #1 will also be available for individual customer purchase through digital platforms courtesy of Comixology, Kindle, iBooks, Google Play, Dynamite Digital, iVerse, Madefire, and Dark Horse Digital.
