Oddworld Graphic Novels?

THE ALMIGHTY RAISEN · #1 03-27-2011, 10:10 AM

I know oddworld is making a comeback with SW HD and Abe HD but if it doesn't work out this time then it's sad to think we'll never see how the Quintology pans out so i was thinking this:

Why doesn't Lorne consider making the Quintology into a series of graphic novels if things dont work out with the games industry this time? The only reason im suggesting this is because i desperately want to see more of oddworld and find out what happens in the rest of the quintology but i just have this feeling that we never will.

I love the series as games it would be amazing if they could stay that way but it all hinges on the success of the future oddworld projects.

So what do you guys think?

Michael · #2 03-27-2011, 10:29 AM

Sounds like a good idea, but there would have to be a lot of changes to the stories to allow for dialogue- for the games, the most part is running around and climbing, etc. This wouldn't translate well into graphic novel form any better than, say, an Assassin's Creed movie based directly on the game would consist of a whole hour watching someone climb.

As such, if there ever were any Oddworld graphic novels, they would probably feature new stories designed specifically for that format- the main reason video game movies never follow the plots of the games

Sekto Springs · #3 03-27-2011, 01:41 PM

Depends on the artwork really.
If it was Farzad or Swanland, or an artist with a similar style, I'd be game. But traditional comic-style art would put me off the idea.

MeechCrunchies · #4 03-27-2011, 02:03 PM

I think if farzard was still alive he'd be able to do some graphic novel type stuff.
Also, i think a competent GN could be made out of the games. Just edit out everything that doesn't involve suspense, action or comedy. Maybe put a tension/comedic relief page every now and then, but overall keep it up throughout the novel. After all, Oddysee WAS about the constant threat of death in a seriously hostile land in which the only things that don't eat you are the ones that are dependant on YOU for survival. God that sounds like something DC or Marvel would pick up

Bullet Magnet · #5 03-27-2011, 02:43 PM

If he's still alive? What?

***Wil*** · #6 03-27-2011, 05:07 PM

Have you seen the stuff he's designing now? That does not qualify as "alive".

I'm not against Oddworld graphic novels, but it's far from my first choice of experiencing the Quintology, especially the whole way through for the first time. If it did come to that then, Michael, the changes needed to make the story suitable for the new medium already exist. The chapters of the Quintology were written as traditional three-act films, after all.

***Xavier*** · #7 03-28-2011, 01:08 AM

:

Have you seen the stuff he's designing now? That does not qualify as "alive".

^ This

Also, I'm not sure I want the graphic novels to be about the quintology but rather spin offs from it. It could still feature Abe, Munch and everybody else, but not just re-telling what has been / will be seen in other mediums.

***Nate*** · #8 03-28-2011, 03:48 AM

I wouldn't mind the film plots being told as graphic novels. Would be cheaper to produce, after all.

Dynamithix · #9 03-28-2011, 06:15 AM

Graphic novels are a good idea, it would definitely fit Oddworld.

Hulaabeo · #10 03-29-2011, 04:41 AM

Yes, a graphic novel could be a grand edition (Art Book included) to any collection.

Michael · #11 03-29-2011, 05:52 AM

@ Max, I didn't know they had actually written the films! I always thought that was something they were originally going to do, but didn't

Does anyone actually know how these film versions would have differed from how the stories were told in the games? Either way, if these were written by Lorne/OI, then I'm sure they would make great novels and keep the Oddworld atmosphere intact

Mr. Bungle · #12 03-29-2011, 12:12 PM

I'm down. As long as they aren't traditional-style, like Sekto pointed out. I just can't picture Abe and his fellow Muds in a typical "WHAM, BLAM, KA-BLAM!" comic book scenario.

But yeah, it's a good idea.

***Nate*** · #13 03-29-2011, 06:27 PM

:

@ Max, I didn't know they had actually written the films! I always thought that was something they were originally going to do, but didn't

Does anyone actually know how these film versions would have differed from how the stories were told in the games? Either way, if these were written by Lorne/OI, then I'm sure they would make great novels and keep the Oddworld atmosphere intact

They didn't have a complete shooting script, but Lorne had the stories all plotted out in detail.

They would have been quite different to the games. We don't know exactly how different, but what we do know is from this interview, in particular parts 2 and 3.

Crashpunk · #14 03-30-2011, 12:20 AM

Oddworld Graphic Novels will work so well.

Michael · #15 03-30-2011, 05:35 PM

Thanks Nate, great read!

Really interesting to see just how complex the story is outside the games, gotta say it sounds like it'd be an awesome movie

And yes it could work very well as a graphic novel too

Sekto Springs · #16 03-30-2011, 08:32 PM

Agreed on the aforementioned point that Farzad's latest work is rubbish.

All other posts ignored.

Dynamithix · #17 03-30-2011, 11:37 PM

Can someone link me to some of Farzad's new work? I'm curious to see how bad it is.

Sekto Springs · #18 03-31-2011, 12:20 AM

http://www.appygamesblog.com/wp-cont...phon22blue.jpg

Two examples of his more recent work. It's hard to find his stuff unless you know where to look.
The second one is huge, so I won't image-post it. His technique is still ace, but his concepts are uninspired and lackluster.

Dynamithix · #19 03-31-2011, 12:41 AM

Well, that's definitely different than his older work, but I wouldn't call that bad. Maybe unoriginal and pretty boring but not bad.

EDIT: Also in the 2nd picture, the hands and feet look a bit similar to Oddworld's creatures.

Manco · #20 03-31-2011, 02:24 AM

:

His technique is still ace, but his concepts are uninspired and lackluster.

I'd say that's likely more to do with the projects he's working on, but I haven't looked into it to see if those pieces are for his employer or if they're personal projects.

***Xavier*** · #21 03-31-2011, 03:35 AM

I was more thinking of this:
http://www.appygamesblog.com/2009/10...-zombie-pizza/

Dynamithix · #22 03-31-2011, 03:39 AM

Now that looks stupid.

***Nate*** · #23 03-31-2011, 04:50 AM

It looks fine for the medium of phone apps. They tend to be more cartoonish afterall.

Your problem should* be with the projects he's working on, not his style or talent.

*Actually, that should probably say 'could be'. As I think even that disliking the project is also a pretty stupid thing to do.

Sekto Springs · #24 03-31-2011, 10:40 AM

Oddworld was his muse. It definitely felt more like a passion project for him.
What exactly was his reasoning for leaving? Money? Creative differences?

THE ALMIGHTY RAISEN · #25 03-31-2011, 12:02 PM

I cant believe that the artist who created many of the oddworld creatures we know and love today is now spending his time......drawing zombie pizzas

Sekto Springs · #26 03-31-2011, 12:02 PM

Money is money.

MeechMunchie · #27 03-31-2011, 12:13 PM

We all gotta live.

***Nate*** · #28 03-31-2011, 07:47 PM

:

I cant believe that the artist who created many of the oddworld creatures we know and love today is now spending his time......drawing zombie pizzas

You do realise that he's working with several former inhabitants? In fact, three of the five founders (including Farzad) of Appy Entertainment worked on Munch.

***Xavier*** · #29 04-01-2011, 12:44 AM

:

It looks fine for the medium of phone apps. They tend to be more cartoonish afterall.

Your problem should* be with the projects he's working on, not his style or talent.

*Actually, that should probably say 'could be'. As I think even that disliking the project is also a pretty stupid thing to do.

I simply find it extremely disappointing they decided to take that direction, resulting in games that look quite uninteresting.