Grinding Gear Games and Dynamite Entertainment 

Team Up for Path of Exile Graphic Novel

Four serialized issues featuring all-new Path of Exile lore and artwork

from artist Carlos Rodriguez with writers Royal McGraw and Edwin McRae

Auckland, New Zealand - July 9, 2014 - Grinding Gear Games, developer of the critically-acclaimed action role-playing videogame Path of Exile, today announced that it will be partnering with comic book and graphic novel publisher Dynamite Entertainment to launch a four-issue comic book series based on Path of Exile. Featuring canonized lore based on the in-game world of Wraeclast, this is the first time the Path of Exile IP has been utilized in a medium outside of the game.

Planned for a summer release, the first issue of the Path of Exile comic series will reveal backstory from an upcoming, unannounced expansion, weaving elements from the existing in-game narrative with an entirely new and gripping conflict. Each 22-page issue will release digitally with individual cover art, and the entire series will ultimately be compiled as a full-color, printed graphic novel, and be published by Dynamite next year. Additionally, each issue will feature unique in-game bonuses for players of Path of Exile, such as armor cosmetic effects, among other surprises.

In close collaboration with Grinding Gear Games' Creative Director Erik Olofsson and Narrative Designer Edwin McRae, the Path of Exile comic series will be illustrated by Carlos Rodriguez and written by Royal McGraw. Carlos Rodriguez is a comic artist with published work in series such as Nightwing and Teen Titans (DC Comics), as well as in Fall of the Hulks: Red Hulk and X-Men Vs. Agents of Atlas (Marvel), among countless others. Royal McGraw is a professional writer who has penned projects for DC Comics, Syfy Channel, Electronic Arts, and other top-tier entertainment companies.

 

"We are thrilled to be working with Grinding Gear Games on this," said Rich Young, Dynamite's Director of Business Development, who is also serving as Editor on the project. "The work being produced by the creative team is really top notch, and it's tying in seamlessly to the game, thanks to Edwin and Erik. I think that fans of Path of Exile are really going to enjoy this series, which adds to the depth of the game, but in a different medium."

Path of Exile is an online action role-playing game set in a dark fantasy world. Playing as one of seven unique character classes, players find themselves banished for their past misdeeds to world of Wraeclast. There, they encounter hundreds of species of deadly enemies laden with loot and mysterious artifacts as they explore the abandoned continent. With over 5.5 million and counting registered users, Path of Exile has received universal critical acclaim, including 2013 Game of the Year awards from leading game sites such as GameSpot and PC PowerPlay.

More information about Path of Exile and the Path of Exile graphic novel can be found on the game's website at www.pathofexile.com.

About Grinding Gear Games

Grinding Gear Games is an independent game studio founded in 2006 and based in Auckland, New Zealand. Its team members come from various countries and have a diversity of backgrounds ranging from artificial intelligence and software security to industrial design and professional tournament gaming. GGG recently released its flagship title, Path of Exile, and is committed to ongoing expansion and new content releases for the critically acclaimed game. You can find more information about Grinding Gear Games at www.grindinggear.com.

About Dynamite Entertainment

Dynamite was founded in 2004 and is home to several best-selling comic book titles and properties, including The Boys, The Shadow, Vampirella, Warlord of Mars, Bionic Man, A Game of Thrones, and more. Dynamite owns and controls an extensive library with over 3,000 characters (which includes the Harris Comics and Chaos Comics properties), such as Vampirella, Pantha, Evil Ernie, Smiley the Psychotic Button, Chastity, Purgatori, and Peter Cannon: Thunderbolt. In addition to their critically-acclaimed titles and bestselling comics, Dynamite works with some of the most high profile creators in comics and entertainment, including Kevin Smith, Alex Ross, Neil Gaiman, Andy Diggle, John Cassaday, Garth Ennis, Jae Lee, Marc Guggenheim, Mike Carey, Jim Krueger, Greg Pak, Brett Matthews, Matt Wagner, Gail Simone, Steve Niles, James Robinson, and a host of up-and-coming new talent. Dynamite is consistently ranked in the upper tiers of comic book publishers and several of their titles - including Alex Ross and Jim Krueger's Project Superpowers - have debuted in the Top Ten lists produced by Diamond Comics Distributors. In 2005, Diamond awarded the company a GEM award for Best New Publisher and another GEM in 2006 for Comics Publisher of the Year (under 5%) and again in 2011. The company has also been nominated for and won several industry awards, including the prestigious Harvey and Eisner Awards. www.dynamite.com