Marvel Launching New Contest Of Champions Series

Marvel Comics is launching new Contest of Champions ongoing series based on the mobile video game developed by Kabam, CNET reports. As in the game, the story revolves around heroes being kidnapped and forced to fight by the Collector.

While Marvel Comics concepts and characters have been the driving force of films, television, and video game projects, this is the first time one such video game project has inspired a comic book of its own.

"On the comic book side, this book has to be as good and bar-shattering as the game," said Bill Rosemann, creative director at Marvel's games group. "We have to define what a comic is based on a game."

The news series will be written by Al Ewing (Captain America and the Mighty Avengers, Loki: Agent of Asgard) and drawn by Paco Medina, who were tasked with figuring out how to craft a narrative around a fighting game.

"Where are the trapped heroes stored when they aren't fighting?" Ewing said. "And if they're in a prison, do they try to escape?"

Contest of Champions will also debut a brand new character co-developed by Marvel and Kabam. Named Guillotine, the character gets her powers from a magic sword based down as a family heirloom since the French Revolution. You can get your first look at the character in the gallery below.

Contest of Champion releases in October.