There’s a chance that very soon you will be able to pick up a comic book and read about the adventures of Geralt of Rivia, protagonist of The Witcher video games. Publisher Dark Horse comics and CD Projekt Red have announced a recent “cooperation,” although specifics are being held until an October 11 reveal at New York Comic Con.
Dark Horse has had a huge amount of success publishing licensed comics based on existing properties, including the continuation of Joss Whedon’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer after the TV show ended, and several Star Wars comics (although those will soon revert to Marvel via Disney, which owns both properties). It also recently published a series based on BioWare’s Mass Effect, as well as a Legend of Zelda companion called the Hyrule Historia. A comic based on The Witcher would be in good hands.
The Witcher games, the third of which is due out next year, are based on a series of books by Polish author Andrzej Sakowski. The books are considered a national treasure of sorts to Poland, to the point that a signed first-edition of the first book, Blood of Elves, was given as a diplomatic gift to President Obama when he visited Poland. The games are taken directly from these books, but they follow a unique (if heavily influenced) storyline created by CD Projekt Red. If this collaboration is indeed a comic based on The Witcher property, the story is likely to come directly from the games, or at least be based off of those games rather than the books.
CD Projekt Red is also working on Cyberpunk 2077, which is based on the tabletop role-playing game. The story is still under wraps, but since the partnership is between CD Projekt Red and Dark Horse, any comics would likely be based on – perhaps even introduce – the upcoming game’s story.
The partnership could also make it possible for a film based on The Witcher series (Cyberpunk as well, but The Witcher is the more popular property by far). Dark Horse Entertainment is responsible for several movies, including both Sin City films, the recent R.I.P.D., and the Hellboy series of live action and animated offrerings. A handful of TV series’ have also been made based on Dark Horse properties, but the last was a failed pilot for The Amazing Screw-On Head in 2006.
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