Blizzard and Tokyopop are putting together a four-part graphic novel series. The first one is called Thundergod, by Richard A. Knaak and Naohiro Washio, and stars "the Thor". There is no word on whether the Thor's constant permutations are going to affect the novel. (I figure the Thor will get a name change if its role changes before the game goes gold.) In addition, there will be twenty or so Warcraft and StarCraft graphic novel products in total over the next 2-and-a-half years. I figure even seven StarCraft graphic novels would make the wait worth it. There is, unfortunately, no word yet on DeCandido's StarCraft: Ghost graphic novel series. There was actually very little info released, but New York Comic Con is on Saturday and both DeCandido and Knaak will be there to talk about the series. I'll update this and the wiki when that happens. *The press release says it's for Comic Con, but that's on Saturday, not today. Hey, I won't complain! Source: http://blizzplanet.com/news/2303/ In addition, Keith DeCandido is writing a novel and a manga that follows StarCraft: Ghost: Nova. Interesting... Source: http://www.dragoncon.org/dc_guest_detail.php?id=383
Ehhh. I'm iffy about this, as much of a fan I am of the Blizzard literature out there. Richard Knaak is an excellent author but the Sunwell Trilogy mangas didn't do it for me. But, being the fan I am I still will buy it because I'm awesome like that. I don't think they're quitting at Nova. I think a bit after Starcraft 2 if they don't release Diablo 3, they'll probably resurrect Ghost. It makes sense because Warcraft started as a strong RTS, and suddenly shifted gears into an MMORPG. I think it would make sense for them to gear shift with Starcraft as well. Turn it into a MMOFPS like Planet Side or something?
I'm just going to be thankful there's StarCraft lore products at all. I don't know how old this page is, but apparently Keith DeCandido is writing a novel and a manga that follows StarCraft: Ghost: Nova. Interesting... Source: http://www.dragoncon.org/dc_guest_detail.php?id=383 IMO Ghost as a game is dead like Lord of the Clans, but the story will still be told. Honestly, this makes me happy. Ghost looked like a really fun game (any game where you pop open a Marine's visor, insert grenade, seal visor then run like hell looks like a really fun game!) but Blizzard shot themselves in the foot when it came to marketing. They promoted it as a storyline-based game, but didn't make it available to the large number of StarCraft fans who didn't have a console. (They specifically said they wouldn't ever make it a PC game.) The number of problems they would face resurrecting the game are legion. A lot of work went into making models for units like Firebats, which are mostly gone now. (StarCraft: Ghost takes place just before StarCraft II.) Dumping all that work means a lot of wasted time. Using all that work means you have a story-based game that doesn't make sense. In fact, the "requirement" to go to new consoles probably sank Ghost even before StarCraft II was announced. Even if they resurrect Ghost, they basically have to wait for StarCraft II to be released so they know which units to replicate! Such a game wouldn't be StarCraft: Ghost anymore (even if it kept the same name). I also have serious reservations about how well MMOs tell stories; just look at how many WoW villains suddenly went mad, acted out of character, and were killed by random heroes (that would be heroes no one knew about in a raid; you can't even tell in-lore if Kel'thuzad was killed by Alliance or Horde!).
I think it should be like what they had then. Single player is on your own as Nova. But multiplayer you're all faceless units and maybe instead of just what we saw as playable (Marine, Pilot, Firebat, Ghost) you could be four units from the other races too. And has Naohiro Washio done any previous work or is this his first manga? Excuse me if he has done other things. I only just started reading manga last year, so I don't know many artists.
Zerg units were available at BlizzCon 2005. Playable units! (Zergling, Hydralisk, Infested Marine and Mutalisk.) This isn't his first manga, but I don't know what he's worked on before. I hardly ever read comic books or graphic novels, actually, other than Marvel.
A StarCraft: Ghost graphic novel, academy, is set to be published in summer 2009. It's another prequel to StarCraft: Ghost. Source: http://blizzplanet.com/news/2309/ Blizzard hasn't officially given up the Ghost yet. Source: http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008...-ghost-wasnt-on-the-dice-canceled-games-list/
...There's still hope. My gawd. And if there's so many books being prequels to Ghost, I think it's obvious they're going to go through with it sometime soon. ...Right?
I don't like manga. Just think of the Battlecruiser driver with spiky hair and big eyes. Why not normal comics?
Yes, because we all know the Sunwell Trilogy characters looked like they're from Dragon Ball Z. Although I didn't like the Warcraft manga, I liked how it still looked like Warcraft and not Love Hina or Bleach.
Soon? This is Blizzard we're talking about! They'll either cancel Ghost and novelize the storyline, or wait until Ghost comes out (c. 2015).
Yay, I had so much fun reading the Starcraft books. I had to read each of them again a few times just to enjoy the fun! I hope the books and manga come out soon.
