Dabel Brothers Productions has announced a six-issue Ptolus: City by the Spire comic book series, which will be written by game designer and novelist Monte Cook, and distributed to the direct market by Diamond Comic Distributors starting with issue #1 in May.  Monte Cook was a co-designer of the d20 game system and of Dungeons & Dragons Third Edition.  He also created the combat system for WizKids' superhero CMG HeroClix.  Cook wrote the indispensable Dungeon Master's Guide and founded Malhavoc Press, which has released a number of player campaigns including Arcana Evolved.  Later this year at GenCon Indy Cook will release his most elaborate campaign setting ever, Ptolus, which ties-in directly to the Ptolus: City by the Spire comic (see 'Ptolus: The Most Deluxe Campaign Setting Ever').

But the Ptolus comic book series is much more than a promotional tie-in, it's an extension of the game and each issue will feature an exclusive item or character with full statistics and rules.  But in addition to sourcebook-like information about the main character's 'hungersword,' the Ptolus mini-series is a compelling narrative of high fantasy and low treachery set in a complex medieval urban environment that exists on many levels from the top of the Cathedral spire to the tombs and dungeons far below ground.

While Monte Cook's background in fantasy gaming is well known, the Dabel Brothers studio, which will be providing the art for the comic series, also has some excellent fantasy credentials having produced comic book adaptations of George R.R. Martin's The Hedge Knight, Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time: New Spring, Tad William's The Burning Man, and Richard A. Knaak's Dragonlance: The Legend of Huma.