Fans of the best-selling and critically acclaimed Bloodborne video game, published by FromSoftware, are in for a real treat, as Titan Comics is releasing an exclusive prelude to their new Bloodborne graphic novel series on Free Comic Book Day 2022. With no news of Bloodborne 2 on the horizon, players invested in the lore and legends of Yharnam and the Hunters will be delighted to experience more world building of the epic gothic horror game.
The Bloodborne video game was first released by FromSoftware in 2015 and instantly became a fan-favorite, utilizing impressive action role playing game play with a unique, horrific, and gorgeous visual design and story. While not a sequel, the Bloodborne game resembles the popular Dark Souls series, also by FromSoftware, and has developed just as rabid a fan base. Bloodborne #1, being released on Free Comic Book Day on April 13th, is nowhere near the first Bloodborne comic, with Titan Comics having already released 16 Bloodborne comics since 2018. These comics have shown a wide range of different perspectives on the world of Bloodborne such as a deeper investigation into the Healing Church, background on the mysterious Eileen the Crow, and more history on the Hunters who fight against the blood-diseased beasts, formerly citizens of Yharnam.
Bloodborne #1—written by Cullen Bunn with art by Piotr Kowalski and Brad Simpson—is a prelude to a larger Bloodborne comic series by Titan Comics that is debuting later in 2022. Kowalski has done the illustrations for several of Titans previous Bloodborne comic series, and his unique artistic style brings the Victorian-era world of deranged monsters and cosmic lore into sharp, beautiful detail. While a fan-made PS1-style “remake” of the Bloodborne game, by indie developer Lilith Walther, was recently released there is still a huge vacuum of Yharnam-content while fans wait for news about Bloodborne 2, something that the Bloodborne #1 comic should hopefully help alleviate.
Titan Comics has not released a lot of details about what the new Bloodborne comic series will entail, but judging by the prior Bloodborne comics, this one will continue to develop the rich world of the Hunters and Old Yharnam and provide additional history and information for a game with a deep sense of lore. The cover for Bloodborne #1 depicts a Hunter fighting a “White Lantern” (sometimes called a “brain trust”), an enemy that appears as a Lovecraftian eldritch horror who roams the Nightmare Frontier. The official synopsis for Bloodborne #1 reveals:
“Exclusive lead-in to an epic new series, launching May 2022! Enter the city of Yharnam through the eyes of its citizens, when new hunters take to the streets to fight against the cruel and unusual epidemic that has gripped the city. In the black of night, families and faith will be tested… Based on the critically-acclaimed Bloodborne video game!”
The synopsis of the new comic book series alludes to the plot featuring citizens of Yharnam as their city first descends into a monster-filled hellscape, meaning that this comic could be a perfect introduction to folks who love Victorian-era gothic horror but haven’t played the Bloodborne game yet. While FromSoftware is currently working on their next fantasy RPG game Elden Rings, which is being touted as a combination of Dark Souls and Bloodborne, there is still a huge craving for Bloodborne-specific content. If you are a fan of Bloodborne, Dark Souls, or Victorian-style horror, make sure to pick up Bloodborne #1 by Titan Comics, based on the game by FromSoftware, when it drops April 13th 2022 on Free Comic Book Day.
