JJM scripts new Mass Effect comics series

Busy news day! In advance of Comic-Con International: San Diego, Dark Horse Comics comics today announced a joing partnership with Bioware to produce comics based on the hit Mass Effect video game. Launching in January, Mass Effect: Redemption is written by Bioware’s Mac Walters, drawn by Omar Francia, and scripted by … yes, yours truly.

Part of the Dark Horse announcement:

“BioWare™, a studio of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) and Dark Horse Comics today announced a new comic book series based on Mass Effect™, the blockbuster sci-fi action videogame that IGN.com rated the #1 Xbox 360™ game of all time. In Mass Effect: Redemption, the story takes readers through the treacherous events leading up to Mass Effect 2 which opens with galactic hero Commander Shepard having mysteriously gone missing and left to fight for survival. What unfolds next will expose readers to new locations, aliens and extended storyline in the Mass Effect universe. Mass Effect: Redemption is scheduled to launch on January 6, 2010.”

Dark Horse adds from Mac Walters: “Fans of Mass Effect are going to be pleasantly shocked by the events in these comics,” Mac said. “We worked very closely with Dark Horse to make sure this story was built in to the Mass Effect 2 arc, right from the ground up. Reading the series won’t just add to your experience of the universe, it will change the way you look at Mass Effect 2 . . . and beyond.” Mass Effect 2, of course, is the sequel to the award-winning game — and it is scheduled for an early 2010 release.

I’m thrilled to be working on the project, helping to bring Mass Effect into comics for the first time. I’d already had the chance to admire the storytelling handiwork of Bioware’s team on Knights of the Old Republic, and I’ve really enjoyed playing Mass Effect and getting into the milieu. Everyone’s working together to make this a project to look forward to!

There will be more to say later, of course — I have a page on the site here, for after the book releases. And there’s more right now in the press release. But in the meantime, Mac and Omar will be autographing a Comic-con exclusive Mass Effect signing card at the Dark Horse booth (#2615) on July 24th at 4:00pm – 5:00pm at Comic-Con International 2009 in San Diego, Calif. Be sure to stop by!

Update: Mac Walters has an interview here on IGN.