Today marks the final "This Week In Video Game Comics" here at Kotaku and the birth of "This Week In Comics." Video game comics first, then some others I think are worth highlighting, all in U.S. shops this week.
The Legend of Zelda, Vol 9: A Link To The Past
Written and drawn by Akira Himekawa.
Summary Via Viz Media:
A terrible tragedy befalls Link's family and friends when the traitorous Agahnim launches a plot to seize the Triforce and unleash a terrible evil on the world. To bring justice to Agahnim, Link needs the Master Sword and sets off on a quest to find it. Link's journey may also help him discover what happened to his parents, and while Agahnim's minions and traps are dangerous, this link to the past may be even more challenging!
Super Street Fighter II Turbo #11
Written by Ken Siu-Chong. Drawn by Jeffrey Cruz and Omar Dogan.
Summary Via Udon Entertainment:
It's the battle of the bosses! Akuma crashes the Street Fighter Tournament, leading to one of our most epic confrontations yet – Akuma VS Bison! Plus, a backup story featuring Japan's youngest karate sensei – Makoto from Street Fighter III!
Resistance (mini-series collection)
Written by Mike Costa. Drawn by Ramón Pérez, CP Smith, Kody Chamberlain and John Paul Leon.
Summary Via Wildstorm Entertainment:
Collecting RESISTANCE #0-6, this new book is the first-ever graphic novel based on the best-selling Sony PlayStation 3 game! Writer Mike Costa (G.I. Joe: Cobra) and artist Ramón Pérez spin an integral tale tied to the video game story and explore this complex universe! In this volume, Nathan Hale leads a desperate fight against the extraterrestrial Chimera as the invasion of America begins!
Mass Effect #2 (of 4)
Written by Mac Walters. Drawn by Omar Francia.
Summary Via Dark Horse Comics:
Mass Effect 2 lead writer Mac Walters unravels more of the mystery behind BioWare's latest science-fiction epic!
Liara T'Soni searches Omega — the most dangerous space station in the galaxy — for clues that could save Commander Shepard, humanity's greatest hero!
Scalped #34
Written by Jason Aaron. Drawn by RM Guerra.
Summary Via Vertigo:
"The Gnawing" reaches its gut-wrenching conclusion, and you'd best believe there will be blood. But whose? The Hmong gangsters who've stormed the rez ready for war? Chief Red Crow, who's backed himself into the deadliest of corners? Officer Falls Down, who's hot on the trail of a killer? Or Dashiell Bad Horse, whose life will be forever changed no matter what happens?
Why I Included This Non-Gaming Comic: Scalped writer Jason Aaron is one the best young writers in the industry, and Scalped is his most powerful work. While Aaron has been recently telling Wolverine and Punisher tales at Marvel, I find this gritty, squalid tale of an undercover FBI agent trying to survive in the corrupt Native American reservation where he grew up to be wrenching, fascinating and unforgettable.
The Great 10 #4 (of 10)
Written by Tony Bedard. Drawn by Scott McDaniel.
Summary Via DC Comics:
The mysterious truth behind the Immortal Man-in-Darkness – and his stealth ship, the living aircraft known as the Dragonwing – are at last revealed.
Why I Included This Non-Gaming Comic: Tony Bedard is not a writer whose work I noticed until he began a run on DC's wonderful sci-fi saga R.E.B.E.L.S. In The Great Ten, he's telling a story in 10 issues, each focusing on one of 10 Chinese super-heroes, or "super-functionaries," all of whom were introduced by the great idea-generating writer Grant Morrison about a year ago. You get a mix of exotic powers and contemporary Chinese politics, with the expected conflicts of the state with personal freedoms and plenty of Chinese culture mixed it. It's a very different style of super-hero comic than DC usually publishes.