Comic book heroes soaring to video games
— -- Good news for comic book fanatics not yet sated by all the superhero flicks this summer: The action is soon coming to a small screen near you.
No, we're not referring to DVD or Blu-ray releases for The Dark Knight, Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk or Hellboy II— rather, a handful of superhero-size video games based on familiar comic book characters are in the works for this year and next.
The following is a look at four to watch for.
'Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe'
Consider it a battle between two billion-dollar franchises: Midway's Mortal Kombat warriors — such as Scorpion and Sub-Zero — face off against DC Comics' iconic superheroes including Batman and Superman.
Available this fall for the Microsoft Xbox 360 and Sony PlayStation 3, Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe is a fighting game that features signature attack styles and special moves, multiple solo and multiplayer game modes and never-before-seen environments.
More importantly for comic book enthusiasts, perhaps, is an intertwining story line penned by the Mortal Kombat creative team in collaboration with celebrated comic book writers Jimmy Palmiotti (Painkiller Jane, Marvel Nights) and Justin Gray (Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight, JLA Classified).
Unveiled at the recent E3 Expo, Sony Online Entertainment's DC Universe Online is an action-heavy massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) slated for a late 2009 launch on the PlayStation 3 and PC.
You first create a unique superhero or supervillain from scratch — by selecting from hundreds of appearance and ability options — and must progress throughout interactive worlds, such as Gotham City and Metropolis. Depending on your role and the missions you accept, you will befriend the likes of Superman, Flash or Batman — or vow to destroy them.
Jim Lee, a legendary comic book artist who founded DC Comics' popular WildStorm Productions, is serving as a creative director on the project.
