BETHESDA SOFTWORKS AND DARK HORSE COMICS ANNOUNCE RAGE(TM) COMIC BOOK SERIES (3/11/2011)

Three-Issue Series Based on id Software’s Highly-Anticipated RAGE Video Game to be Available Starting June 22, 2011

March 11^th, 2011 (London, UK) – Bethesda Softworks®, a ZeniMax® Media company, and Dark Horse Comics today announced a three-issue comic book series based on id® Software’s upcoming RAGE® video game. This original miniseries is being written by Arvid Nelsion, the acclaimed creator of Rex Mundi, and penciled by Andrea Mutti (DMZ). The cover art is being created by Glenn Fabry, best known for his work on Hellblazer andPreacher. Set prior to the events in the game, the comics are an extension of the RAGE universe and will provide numerous insights into the game’s storyline. The first of the three comics will be available in North America and the UK on June 22, 2011.

This comic series, developed with the direct participation of RAGE’s creative director, Tim Willits, presents a new twist on the post-apocalyptic near future as one woman discovers that the survival of humankind doesn’t necessarily mean the survival of humanity.  The Earth has been devastated by a collision with an asteroid, with a tiny fraction of the population surviving in life-sustaining Arks buried deep below its surface. Those who survive emerge to find a wasteland controlled by a global military dictatorship called the Authority. But a rescued scientist learns that the Authority has lied to her and the other survivors about how this new world came to be.

RAGE is the latest game from id Software, the acclaimed designers of theWolfenstein®, DOOM®, and QUAKE® series. RAGE features intense first-person shooter action, breakneck vehicle combat, an expansive world to explore and jaw-dropping graphics powered by id’s revolutionary id Tech® 5 technology. Set in the not-too-distant future, you emerge to discover humanity working to rebuild itself against forces such as bandit gangs, mutants, and more.

Eagerly awaited by the gaming community, RAGE is already being touted as one of the industry’s most innovative first-person shooters, winning numerous awards at E3 2010, including ‘Best Overall Game of Show’ from IGN and three ‘Best of E3’ Game Critics Awards including ‘Best Console Game’. RAGE is slated for release in North America on September 13^th and throughout Europe on September 16^th and will be available for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, and Games for Windows.

For more information on RAGE, visit www.rage.com.

For information about more comics from Dark Horse Comics, please visit:www.darkhorse.com.

About Bethesda Softworks:
Bethesda Softworks, part of the ZeniMax Media Inc. family of companies, is a premier developer and worldwide publisher of interactive entertainment software. Titles from five of the world’s top development studios – Bethesda Game Studios, id Software, Arkane Studios, Tango Gameworks, and MachineGames – are featured under the Bethesda Softworks label and include such blockbuster franchises as DOOM®, QUAKE®, The Elder Scrolls®, Fallout®, Wolfenstein®  and RAGE®.  For more information on Bethesda Softworks’ products, visit www.bethsoft.com.  

About id Software :
id Software, part of the ZeniMax Media Inc. family of companies, has provided technical, design and artistic leadership as a world-renowned game developer and technology innovator since its founding in 1991. id Software’s iconic brands such as Wolfenstein, DOOM, QUAKE and Enemy Territory have become staples of popular culture for generations of gamers. More information on id Software can be found atwww.idsoftware.com.  id, Wolfenstein, DOOM, QUAKE, RAGE, Enemy Territory and related logos are registered trademarks or trademarks of id Software in the U.S. and/or other countries.  All Rights Reserved.

About Dark Horse Comics
Since 1986, Dark Horse Comics has proven to be a solid example of how integrity and innovation can help broaden a unique storytelling medium and establish a small, homegrown company as an industry giant. The company is known for the progressive and creator-friendly atmosphere it provides for writers and artists. In addition to publishing comics from top talent like Frank Miller, Mike Mignola, Neil Gaiman, Gerard Way, and comics legend Will Eisner, Dark Horse has developed such successful series asThe Mask, Timecop, and SpyBoy. Additionally, its highly successful line of comics and products based on popular properties includes Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Aliens, Conan,  Emily the Strange, Tim Burton,  Trigun, Serenity,and Domo . Today Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent comic-book publisher in the US and is recognized as one of the world’s leading publishers of licensed comics material.