NAMCO BANDAI Games America announced a partnership with Dark Horse Comics to produce a comic book based on HELLGATE: LONDON, the first original PC title from premier developer Flagship Studios.

The comic book provides the background story behind HELLGATE: LONDON. Issue "0" begins when MI5 service agent Lyra Darius discovers a human charnel house in London whilst investigating the affairs of recently resigned Home Office Minister, Lord Sumerisle. Soon afterwards, Lyra is entangled in a bloody conspiracy with the Knights Templar in the build-up to the Battle of All Hallows' Eve.

This exclusive Issue "0" comic is written by Ian Edginton, the critically acclaimed author of Scarlet Traces and the recent War of the Worlds web comic adaptation. Edginton teams up with Superman and Preacher artist Steve Pugh to explore this demon-ravaged metropolis in comic form. Issue "0" is to be given away at the E3 2006 tradeshow on May 10th - 12th.

"Dark Horse Comics is the master of comic book story-telling and the dark, action-packed world of Hellgate: London is the perfect property to be adapted into a comic book", said Jeff Lujan, business development representative for NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. "This tale about how mankind's battle against demonic forces begins will thrill both gamers and comic book fans alike."

"Dark Horse publishes extremely high-quality comics and has partnered with some of the most exciting brands and biggest companies in the world," said Bill Roper, CEO and co-founder of Flagship Studios. "We've worked very closely with Ian and Steve to ensure that the comic will provide the perfect background and insight into the world of Hellgate: London. And since both of them are friends and residents of the city itself, the end result is a spectacular collaboration."