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It’s that time once again for the Comic Countdown, where comics are looked at in numbered form. While comics are always the topic here at the Countdown, this is first and foremost a video games website, so this week is going to focus on the select few gaming franchises that have been adapted into comics. Most adaptations of anything (comics to movies, video games to comics, movies to video games, etc.) are terrible. Plain and simply, they cannot in any way live up to the original content, and are deemed almost unviewable by the mass public. These inferior products place a stigma about adaptations that is hard to break, but occasionally, there are success stories. Ten adaptations of popular gaming franchises that have also turned into successful comic titles (hint: most of these are pretty recent, because this was only recently figured out in any maintainable way).

#10: Tomb Raider

Now this one is on the list because of the sheer volume of content that has been established, but Lara Croft is not only an action star in gaming, but one in comics as well. With a long list of titles in the comic world such as Tomb Raider: Epiphany, Tomb Raider:Journeys and Tomb Raider: Takeover among others, Ms. Croft has given herself quite a bit of space in the comic world, and with the success of the franchise as a whole in multiple mediums, it deserves a place on this list.

#9 ortal 2

There is very little with the Portal 2 name on it in the comic book world, but with a title such as Portal 2: Lab Rat, there isn’t much need. While short, it epitomizes the entire gaming franchise without even impacting it very much in terms of continuity. It’s challenging, gripping, and at times, a but disturbing, with an art style that contributed to the overall atmosphere in a way that made it a very impressive foray into the comic book world.

#8:Batman: Arkham City/Arkham Asylum

The Batman title Batman: Arkham Unhinged is an interesting homecoming for Batman on one of the many titles based off of the gaming franchise, as he’s a comic book character that was turned into a gaming franchise and back into a comic book. For the latest installment of games, which has been named the best series in the long line of games, those who worked on the comic book adaptation made a terrific effort to tie it all in, from Batman: Arkham Asylum: The Road To Arkham to Batman: Arkham City: Endgame, there is plenty of material to go off of with this series.

#7: Fallout: New Vegas

The adaptation for the hit Fallout: New Vegas game was the well-done Fallout: New Vegas: All Roads, which was an interesting and entertaining adaptation of an already terrific game. While this is really the only time this series has been given a shot in another medium, it was a great foray into the comic book world.

#6: Darksiders

With comic book adaptations for both the original game and its sequel, the Darksiders franchise as its share of literature based on the popular gaming franchise. With versions coming as bonus material from the game or the series done by Dark Horse Comics, the Horsemen have been done justice with the comic book versions of their title.

#5: Left 4 Dead

While mainly known for the gaming franchise, the comic book adaptation of the massively popular DLC The Sacrifice  was a wonderful success, making its debut along with comics based on popular Valve games. With the huge fan following of this DLC, the comic was just as well made, just as heartbreaking and just as positively received as the game content itself.

#4: Dead Space

The scary and beloved Dead Space series was very well-suited for the comic book world, where horror and intensity can be made with much further ease than in many other mediums. With dark corners, scary creatures, and a story that flows and works well within the context of the game, this is a series that was born for this kind of adaptation, instead of forced into a rushed tie-in like many other franchises.

#3:Gears Of War

Another series that was built for a medium such as comics, the Gears Of War series is full of violence, action, scary creatures and a gripping plot. These factors, built around the rich environments of the gaming franchise, make for an interesting and immersive experience into the world of Gears Of War, without even having to boot up the game. Though, it works much better as supplemental material to add to the story of the game.

#2: Mass Effect

Very few gaming franchises have been as successful in other media as the Mass Effect series. With a massive world, a plethora of interesting and varied characters, and an incredible story, this series is built for supplemental material. From the Homeworlds comics to titles such as Redemption and Evolution and with writing help from those who have worked on the game itself, this series is tough to beat in terms of volume and quality content.

#1: Sonic The Hedgehog

Getting the nod for success and volume alone, no gaming franchise has had as much success as the Sonic The Hedgehog franchise has built an entire new world based on the universe of the gaming franchise. New characters, new storylines, and brand new worlds are all the norm with the new Sonic titles, and virtually no other franchise has done more in another medium than Sonic.

That’s it for this week! Make sure to come back this and every week for a brand new Comic Countdown!