Telltale Games announces the release date for Episode 1: In Too Deep of their mini-series, The Walking Dead: Michonne. Pick up the episode on major platforms Feb. 23.

Telltale Games has entered a lull in their release schedule. The only ongoing episodic series they're currently releasing is Minecraft: Story Mode, with Episode 4 having been released in late December and Episode 5 TBA. Considering Telltale has at least four series announced, but as yet still unlaunched, the dam was bound to break. Today the adventure game developer revealed plans to release the first episode of the miniseries The Walking Dead: Michonne, as well as the first two screenshots of Episode 1.

Episode 1: In Too Deep will be the first of only three episodes in The Walking Dead: Michonne and will premiere on February 23 for every platform but mobile, which will see a release on February 25. Here's Telltale's short description regarding what fans can expect:

"In this premiere episode, 'In Too Deep,' Michonne joins Pete and his crew on the sailing ship The Companion as they cruise the coast for survivors and supplies. When a desperate signal for help draws them to a scene of horrific massacre, Michonne and the crew are lead further to the floating survivors' colony of Monroe, which may just be harboring the person responsible for the carnage."

For those unfamiliar with Michonne, she has not been introduced in the adventure game series up to this point. She is rather a prominent character from the comics and television series, though. In this specific incarnation, Michonne will mirror the character featured in the comics, specifically between issues #126-139.

Anyone unwilling to wait until February 23 to see the sword-wielding Michonne in action will have that opportunity. Telltale will be running a special preview broadcast on their YouTube channel on February 14 at 5:30PM PT. The preview will consist of the first five minutes of Episode 1: In Too Deep, teasing her current predicament while also touching on her haunting past.

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Telltale's also willing to go above and beyond the norm with The Walking Dead: Michonne, or perhaps this is just a new level of dedication we should expect from the developer going forward. The team confirmed that not only would Episode 1: In Too Deep be released in late February, but also that Episode 2: Give No Shelter and Episode 3: What We Deserve will launch in March and April, respectively. Three episodes in three months?

While there are certainly a number of fans from Telltale's The Walking Dead franchise hoping that they hurry along with Season 3, a break might be just what everyone needs. It's a breath of fresh air that involves slaying zombies with a samurai sword. That goes for the developers too, who have now done 10 emotionally-heavy episodes where they put a little girl through some of the worst situations imaginable. It's doubtful Michonne's adventure will be a walk through Candyland, but a change in perspective for a while will only work to everyone's benefit.

The difference between Michonne as a protagonist and Clementine as a protagonist is a striking one. For two seasons we've seen Clementine grow into a young woman faced with reality at its most horrific. Instead of breaking her, however, we've seen Clementine's inner strength and willpower push her on. Though to be fair, one of The Walking Dead's major themes is that inner strength is rarely enough to survive. Michonne, meanwhile, represents (likely quite intentionally) what Clementine could become. She's strong, independent, vicious, and decisive, and she overcomes her personal injuries to become the consummate survivor. The contrast with Clementine going forward will be palpable.

The Walking Dead: Michonne - Episode 1: In Too Deep will be released digitally on February 23 for the PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One and Xbox 360. A February 25 launch will follow for iOS, Android and Amazon supported devices.