The famous online MMORPG RuneScape will unveil the history of the momentous God Wars with an all-new comic miniseries. Debuting with a sneak peek issue on May 6th's Free Comic Book Day, RuneScape: Untold Tales of the God Wars aims to delve into the darkest period in the world of Gielinor. This twelve-page teaser promises to be a thrilling introduction to the world of the game that has captured the attention of players around the world for more than two decades.

In its official announcement game developer Jagex revealed that the series published by Titan Comics will focus on the conflict over the game's iconic Godsword weapon. It will also introduce a new character: an undead known as "Maro." The series is to be penned by Ryan O'Sullivan, with inks by Daniel Bayliss and Laurel Dundee. A graphic novel compilation of the four-part series is also slated to be released in 2024.

RuneScape Begins Its Newest Story in Classic Fashion

A dark and cloaked figure begins to tell the story of 'The Temple of Lost Ancients' to a crowded bar.

Released in 2001, RuneScape began its life as a free-to-play online MMORPG that swiftly gathered a strong and steady player base, which has proudly ed RuneScape for more than 20 years. These comics aren't the first time RuneScape has turned to other media to expand its lore: In 2010, the game worked with author T.S Church and Titan Books to publish the novel Betrayal at Falador, and its sequel, Return to Canifis, in 2011. It also sought to expand its gameplay in 2015 with the Hearthstone-style digital card game Chronicle: RuneScape Legends, and the RuneScape Kingdoms: Shadow of Elvarg tabletop role-playing game is in the works.

The God Wars is a fertile subject for future storytelling, as it refers to a dark age in the game world's lore when the gods Saradomin, Armadyl, Bandos, and Zamorak clashed for supremacy. The conflict proved to be so devastating and so destructive that it rendered the northern third of the world into a blasted wasteland known as the Wilderness (which has traditionally served as the game's PVP zone). The lore implications of this conflict are massive, as the widespread destruction wiped out virtually all the history and civilization of those northern regions, with only tantalizing ruins and mysteries dotting the soot-filled expanse. The various factions of gods, their causes, and their histories are also quite popular among the player base, remaining as rallying points for the devoted.

RuneScape remains a nostalgic corner of the internet for many, and readers will now have the chance to experience that history in comic format for the first time. As the game continues through its third decade, new stories like this help keep its world alive and introduce new generations to RuneScape's iconic brand of fantasy.

The sneak peek at Runescape: Untold Tales of the God Wars is available on May 6.

Source: Jagex