Project Lore

The manga fans out there probably already own these bad boys, but for us layman, the release of the first two volumes for Warcraft: Legends probably passed us by.  I picked up the original publication during my shopping spree - no, not not that one - but have not had the proper time to digest it.  Fitting all the Warcraft lore in my pea-sized brain is becoming more and more difficult when companies like Tokyopop and Wildstorm are expanding the already massive universe at every opportunity.  But Tokyopop is making it a little easier on our wallets at least.

Blizzard Entertainment's manga partner announced a new ploy to suck us in late last week.  In celebration of their upcoming release of Volume 3, the company is posting their previous works for FREE*.  A chapter will be posted each business day until March 17, the day Volume 3 launches at retail.  For those of you who may have missed the managa, or felt it to risky or expensive, you can now join me in reading the colorless stories for a limited time.  Here is the posting schedule as compiled by BlizzPlanet:

Warcraft: Legends Volume 1

• Friday, March 6: Fallen by Richard A. Knaak & Jae-Hwan Kim


• Monday, March 9: The Journey by Troy Lewter, Mike Wellman & Mi-Young No


• Tuesday, March 10: How to Win Friends by Carlos Olivares


• Wednesday, March 11: An Honest Trade by Troy Lewter & Nam Kim

Warcraft: Legends Volume 2

• Thursday, March 12: Fear by Richard A. Knaak & Jae-Hwan Kim


• Friday, March 13: Warrior: Divided by Grace Randolph & Erie


• Monday, March 16: Miles to Go by Dan Jolley & Elisa Kwon


• Tuesday, March 17: Family Values by Aaron Sparrow & In-Bae Kim

Although I have been interested in the Legends franchise since its inception, I never took the plunge until now.  Over the weekend I began reading Volume 1 so I could have it completed by the time Volume 2 begins going online later this week.  I would suggest that we all join the party and catch up on our Legends so we can have a nice book discussion later this month.  Shall I bring tea?

For those still on the fence about the time sink, here's the lowdown.  Each volume of Legends adds further backstory to one of the characters from the graphic novel, The Sunwell Trilogy (written by Richard A. Knaak & illustrated by Jae-Hwan Kim).  Outside those chapters, the stories generally focus on unknown characters partaking in their own adventures around Azeroth.  These works tend to focus on the daily lives of our toons, rather than fate of the universe type stuff.

Tokyopop's stuff may not sound as exciting as exposing Arthas' childhood, but you'd be surprise how entertaining some of the stories can be.  They aren't all gold, but at the fantastic price of FREE*, can you really complain?  Yes, yes we can, their manga + comic reader is absolutely atrocious.  Unless you are an eagle or possess a gigantic monitor, prepare for eye strain.  I guess there is something to be said for owning the hard copy, outside of collector pride.

*Internet connection required.