August 29, 2005

Exalted!
entry, August 29th, 2005

I just got the convention issue of Exalted in my mailbox.

Sandra handed it to me while I was polishing up a commercial panel for a client in the Netherlands (that's really fun to say, you know?) and I realized that I had a few minutes to kill, so I could do a little light reading.

Exalted began life as a pencil-and-paper RPG from White Wolf Studios, and much of the game's recent artwork came from a little studio in Canada called Udon. Now White Wolf has licensed Udon to do a comic book, and that's what I held in my hands just moments ago. (I had to put it down to type. Yes, I keep picking it back up.)

I've never played the White Wolf RPG by the same name, and I am completely unfamiliar with the setting, the characters, the story, the whole kit-and-exalted-kaboodle.

It doesn't matter.

Issue #0 only has 8 pages of story, an introductory "throwaway" bit, and I'm already hooked. As soon as I get done writing this, I'm calling Jason at Dragon's Keep, and placing a hold on Issue #1. And #2. And whatever else comes out. If you play the game, or if you're one of those hard-core, lots-of-disposable-income, collector-types, there's a foil-cover version that I've been told has bonus stuff for the RPG in it, too. It costs three times as much, though. (Curses! Foiled again!) If you'd like a sample of the artwork and a blurb about the first issue, there's a scan of the Retailer Insert here.

Speaking of Dragon's Keep, if you scroll to the bottom of this page you'll see a banner advertising their Grand Opening. It's a RE-opening, but it'll be grand, I tell you. I'll be hanging out there pretty much all day. If you're in the area, come by for a free sketch, or maybe even commission something from me.