Because I am curious, because I am a bad game masochist, and because it was less than ten bucks, I recently picked up a copy of, yes, Duke Nukem Forever. While I thought Duke Nukem 3D was a pretty good game in 1996, and it still resides on my hard drive, I never quite understood the mania that the game inspired, the popularity that financed over a decade of 3D Realms and George Broussard spinning their wheels. The sort of cult of personality that convinced Randy Pitchford and Gearbox to dust off a nearly finished game and release the game equivalent of eGuns 'N' Roses Chinese Democracy in that it stitches together years of gaming trends into a galumphing dirigible of a sci-fi shooter. The popularity that inspired IDW Publishing to add the license to its growing stable of video game comics. Duke Nukem Forever is a very mixed game, that's not quite surprising. What is surprising, however, is that the four issue miniseries that tied into it this summer, Glorious Bastard, is not only better than the game, but a genuinely good comic in its own right.

As you might guess by the title, Glorious Bastard takes place partially in World War II. In 1945, aliens, including some piggies, invade a Nazi research facility on Rugen Island near Berlin, killing all the soldiers and leaving the scientists alive. Fa 18 Hornet Download Fsx Sdk.

In the present day, elderly former French resistance fighter Elise 'the French Tickler' Plewmann arrives at Casa Nukem to discuss with Duke Nukem a matter of great importance. She explains that the aliens in the prologue, the Vril-ya, had taken over the Berlin facility and forced Elise and her fellow prisoners of war to build their flying saucers for an eventual takeover of earth.

Which would have happened if Elise, British Major General Conner Sean, and American Corporal Flip Henry hadn't been assisted by one Duke Nukem. The older Elise 'always bet on Duke, and it has made me a VERY rich lady' and that afforded her the resources to build a time machine. So Duke Nukem is going back to Berlin 1945, unfortunately, he forgot his gum. What follows is an entertaining romp as Duke, Elise, and the others use a kidnapped Nazi scientis to sabotage the Vril-yan's plans and save the day. Writer Tom Waltz is a longtime IDW editor who's written books like Gene Simmons House of Horrors, Infestation: Outbreak, and is currently co-writing the publisher's revival of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Waltz's script eschews the Michael bay style pyrotechnics of Duke Nukem Forever.

Duke remains his over the top self, but he's put in more realistic circumstances- as invincible as he is, Waltz's scenario pits him against the entire Nazi army and aliens with simply his Desert Eagles. It's not that Duke is suddenly vulnerable- he still kicks ass an takes names- but putting him in a slightly more realistic setting actually makes the action seem more fun than it would simply fighting 20 foot tall aliens and sniping city wide flying saucers from a roof cannon. It's all about the scale- and the tone. The Vril-Yas, the story's villains, are also a bit different than the faceless monsters from the games- while they command an army of ugly monsters, they're human looking, snobby aristocrats who are as impressed by Duke's prowess as much as they are threatened by him.

It makes a nice, if obvious, contrast with the rough and tumble Duke. When it comes to the comic's humor, Waltz also doesn't follow Forever 's path. A lot of the humor in Duke Nukem Forever is mean spirited and cheap, not to mention crossing the line into misogyny. Duke himself often comes off less like a satire of a smug action movie asshole hero than simply a smug asshole. Playing the game, I can see where Jim Sterling's massive freakout came from. Free Admin Bootstrap Template. Waltz's Duke is a little more measured- he bags the chicks, yes, he speaks in jokey sentences that sometimes murder the very concept of coherence, but he's also respectful and genuinely concerned about Elise and the others.

COVER RI-A Glow-in-the-Dark, Foil-stamped, Embossed Cover Artwork by John K. Snyder III COVER RI-B; 1; 3; 4; 5; 7; Visit us at: idwpublishing.com facebook.com/idwpublishing twitter.com/idwpublishing In-Stores July 20, 2011! Duke Nukem: Glorious Bastard #1. Please download to view. May 15, 2007 As long as trolls are still trolling, the Rick will never stop rolling.

In the comic's best moment, one of Duke's compatriots asks him about the future, and Duke's response- well, technically, it's the equivalent of this person being told everything he's fought for will eventually pay off, and the future is bright indeed. The thing is, it's Duke Nukem describing a great social event in his typical, hype-crazy pun-laden style, and imagining it coming out of John St. John's mouth is one of the best belly laughts I've had in a comic in a while. The artwork is by the delightfully named Xermanico, a name I've not heard of in comics, but apparently he comes from the world of game design. Xermanico's art is very reminiscent of Herc artist Neil Edwards or Authority and Fantastic Four artist Bryan Hitch, a sort of cinematic, widescreen style panels stacked between big splashes of action. He's not perfect- sometimes his figures look posed and stiff when they should be more expressive, and the fourth issue addition of inker David Enebral makes the work look choppy and darker than it should be. Still, he shows promise.

I don't meant to oversell this thing- after all, it's a comic book based on Duke Nukem, so there's plenty of lowbrow action to be had- but in contrast to the game it was meant to profit off of, Duke Nukem: Glorious Bastard trusts the reader to just sit back and have fun. Waltz isn't continually trying to top himself, he's not trying to replicate trends, he's just told a good story. Glorious Bastard isn't great literature, but it's a darn good time. The collection of this series ships in January, including these four issues and the limited edition Duke Nukem Forever comic book included with the Balls of Steel Edition (though I wonder- who bought that? Oh, who am I kidding- no one would admit to buying that). If you still believe in Duke, you won't be disappointed, and I hope Gearbox takes a look at it too.

And yes, there is a Hitler joke. And it's funny. Writer: Tom Waltz Penciller: Xermanico Inkers: Xermanico/David Enebral Letterers: Chris Mowry/Shawn Lee/Robbie Robbins Colorist: Luis Antonio Delgado Editor: Chris Ryall Covers: Xermanico/John K. Snyder III/2K Games Publisher: IDW Publishing.