Death Knight Manga to be released December 2009
by Daniel Whitcomb 
Mar 29th 2009 at 12:00PM
Via Blizzplanet, we have news of yet another Warcraft graphic novel coming to us from Tokyopop in December 2009. This time, the story will focus on Thassarian, a Human Death Knight NPC in World of Warcraft.
If you've played a Death Knight or an Alliance character in Northrend, chances are you know of Thassarian. He first shows up in game as a thrall of the Lich King, but even as he assists in the slaughter of the Scarlet Crusade, he shows a noble spirit that even the Lich King's control can't completely suppress.
He shows up again in the Borean Tundra, where his quest line uncovers both some insight behind his new existence and his past and involves epic battles against the Scourge to prevent them from completing a plan to completely dismantle the Alliance offensive. Not only is said quest line one of the few Alliance quests in the Tundra that is actually not boring, but it also provides some of the best early quest rewards for a new level 70. Finally, he shows up again in Icecrown, assisting the Alliance in sabotaging the Scourge.
The storyline of the manga is unknown, and with December 2009 as a target release date, I have to wonder if we'll get an Icecrown-centric storyline, since we may very well be on patch 3.3 or 3.4 by then. Of course, we may also get the story of Thassarian's downfall and resurrection, which in itself could be pretty juicy, as we'll get more insight into the origin of PC Death Knights and maybe even the political and military state of the Alliance before the return of King Wrynn. We'll find out for sure in December 2009.
Filed under: Alliance, Human, Analysis / Opinion, News items, Lore, Death Knight, Wrath of the Lich King, Comics
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
SunwellVialist Mar 29th 2009 12:07PM
...Oh, look there.
*Another* WoW comic that focuses on Humans/Alliance main chars...
C'mon, no love for the Horde side of things? I'm really getting tired of this.
Matthew Rossi Mar 29th 2009 12:14PM
They're publishing a manga about a Tauren who is also undead and hearing the call of the Lich King too, I believe. And hey, the Horde's gotten two of the biggest novels put out yet.
Although I would like to see more Tauren in the manga and novels. Maybe a novelization of Cairne's life? Or a big, sprawling epic set in Thunder Bluff, similar to HBO's Rome, about the Grimtotems and their various power plays?
Really, the Tauren just haven't gotten enough coverage.
SaintStryfe Mar 29th 2009 12:18PM
Wow, you'd think the Alliance were the more marketable of the factions or something.
SunwellVialist Mar 29th 2009 12:26PM
That is true, but as far as I know the Undead Tauren story is just one of several stories published in the Manga. And while I adore the novels, I truly would like to read more Comics/Mangas about the Horde side of things. I may be biased, since my two main characters are Tauren and Orc, but considering the major storylines so far either involved the alliance races, or dragons in elven/human form, (Sunwell, Ashbringer, WoW Monthly), I think we could stand to have a few books out focusing on Orc, Tauren, Troll or even Undead lives during the big events.
Hell, I am surprised the Undead had so little exposure, they should be all over with the crowd (not surprised about a blood elf rogue being part of the monthly book though).
There is so much potential here that is not used...
Hm, while I do agree the Tauren need more exposure, and my main is a Tauren, I don't think they offer much in the way of a 'Rome' like storyline. The Grimtotem never did strike me as being a major powerplayer, although a story focused on the various aspects of the Horde itself could be interesting. I mean, smack dab in the middle of Ogrimmar, one of the main warlocks is working with the Burning Legion, plus, we could have some light shine upon Garrosh and his slow advance to seize power (It seems to me at least that way). Although I also think it's time for a Tauren character to rise from the masses and take a more dominant role in the WoWverse.
Td:lr
Give us Hordies -something-. Really, *anything*!
Balasan Mar 29th 2009 1:33PM
Give us a bonus and make the hero a female. Preferably Tauren, but I don't mind if it's a Troll or an Orc; they've got better boobage options for Manga-art.
I'm sick of the fact that female heroes/villains of the horde are either UD or BE.
I'm eyeing the Garona storyline closely.
Suzaku Mar 29th 2009 5:54PM
I certainly hope Koltira gets some spotlight, too. I modeled my blood elf DK's appearance after him.
RogueJedi86 Mar 29th 2009 10:39PM
And where's my Gnome-centric WoW comic? Gnomes need a comic/manga next. The fall of Gnomeregan and how one gnome survivor defeated the Burning Legion singlehandedly, using just a few portable engineering gizmos.
Fargostar5000 Mar 30th 2009 9:19PM
Personally, I think that the Tauren are portrayed just fine in the WoW comics, and they are not terribly difficult to portray in a positive heroic fashion either.
What I would love to see is a Troll protagonist in these types of comics. For example in the Warcraft Legends preview almost every Troll in the comics was either a thug, savage, or villian which was easily killed, fooled or bested by any other character. Having one as a main character would be an intresting change of pace, as they seem to have the least postive, heroic or even sympathetic portrayal of all the other races in Warcraft lore.
Then again, maybe Trolls were meant to be that way...
Thyrial Mar 29th 2009 12:11PM
Dunno what it is about him but he's gotta be one of my favorite Wrath chars by far. Really excited to read this no matter what part of his story it covers. :D
Lavislyfat Mar 29th 2009 2:13PM
I thought both horde and ally where able to meet with Thassarian and do that quest in borean....i guess not :(
Matthew Rossi Mar 29th 2009 12:23PM
Koltira, the BE Tharissan refuses to leave behind, is the quest giver for the horde faction. Tharissan is on the alliance gunship and Koltira on the horde one.
Sedna Mar 29th 2009 12:35PM
Koltira and Thassarian are BFFs. In my head, they sneak off together to Cantrips and Crows to get drunk with Asric and Jadaar and make Corpse Explosion bombs out of dead rats.
Sedna Mar 29th 2009 12:25PM
Thassarian and his general awesomeness is one of the things that makes me wish I had an Alliance character. /moo
Elmo Mar 29th 2009 12:26PM
If Tharassian and Koltira are such big characters in the book I bet we'll see them in the Icecrown raid, (just like Kalec and Anveena in SWP)
Geamo Mar 29th 2009 12:34PM
Thassarian is one helluva badass. Seriously.
Galaden Mar 29th 2009 12:37PM
What happened to the third one?
lolret Mar 29th 2009 12:49PM
Orbaz Bloodbane. We killed him.
Siorra Mar 29th 2009 12:38PM
Thassarian? :O! Bar far the best 'new' character introduced in Wrath. I'm excited. :)
Siorra Mar 29th 2009 12:39PM
WTB edit function for crappy mistakes :>
*By far
Keleron Mar 29th 2009 12:46PM
I agree that they need to get the Horde more love. I read the comic book and the only BE is basically a traitor in that she is helping the alliance. As a BE Warlock I was thrilled to see a BE Warlock but then a few pages later he was dead;( They really need to add in some Horde characters, main characters, that aren't evil. One shots don't count. I want some ongoing love:)