With the release date of Horizon Forbidden West fast approaching, excitement for the highly anticipated game is only growing. Trailers and screenshots released by Guerrilla Games demonstrate that Horizon Zero Dawn’s sequel is going to be bigger and better in every way. Aloy will face new dangers that include deadly new machines and fierce tribes as she explores a postapocalyptic version of San Francisco. To deal with the new dangers, Aloy has a few tricks up her sleeves, including the ability to hand-glide and use Valor Surges.
Naturally, plenty of gamers will be struggling to bottle their excitement until February 18. Fortunately, Horizon Zero Dawn comics are available to tide gamers over until then. The comics reveal plenty of new information about Aloy, showcase new machines that will appear in Horizon Forbidden West, and answer a few questions one might have about Aloy’s world.
What Are the Horizon Zero Dawn Comics?
The Horizon Zero Dawn comics are written by Anne Toole, illustrated by Ann Maulina, and published by Titan Comics. The first edition, Issue #0, was released on July 22, 2020, for free as part of Free Comic Book Day. Since then, there have been four editions of the first arc, with the last issue published on November 4, 2020. The comic series was popular enough to warrant a second arc, with the fourth issue set to release on January 5, 2022.
Aloy makes a return in the comics, and she is just as brave as ever. However, she is not the sole star of the show. The comics also spend time focusing on Talanah, who is a member of the Carja tribe. Both Aloy and Talanah are fierce warriors capable of overcoming any adversity they face. In the Horizon Zero Dawn game, Talanah demonstrates her tenacity by becoming the first female leader of the Carja Hunters Lodge.
Horizon Zero Dawn Comics Expand on Aloy’s World
Thanks to the beautiful illustrations and sharp writing, the Horizon Zero Dawn comics feel just as alive as the game. The comic book narrative kicks off after the events of the Horizon Zero Dawn video game. Aloy has defeated the cultists and peace has been restored. However, as Talanah notices, Aloy remains restless. Talanah eventually realizes that she has the same wanderlust as Aloy, and she will not be content remaining idle.
During Talanah’s adventures, she comes across new machines that will make an appearance in Horizon Forbidden West. This includes Clawstriders which are machines that look a little like velociraptors. Clawstriders are smart and they can track down their targets, making them very dangerous. Furthermore, their metal feathers and aggressive attitude make them a sight to behold and a force to fear. The comics also shine a spotlight on Shellsnappers, which are massive machines that look like turtles and have foliage growing on their backs. Their glowing, red eyes are enough to make anyone's blood run cold.
In addition to the new machines, there are also new characters to meet in the Horizon Zero Dawn comics. This includes Talvo, a young boy that Talanah finds as he is scavenging parts from fallen machines. There is also Amadis, a brave yet mysterious warrior from a distant tribe. Amadis has traveled to the "Forbidden West," and what he saw in battle haunts him. Although they get off to a rocky start, Talanah and Amadis soon learn that they are a formidable team together.
The second arc of the Horizon Zero Dawn comics focuses on Aloy and Erend as they search for a killer and defend themselves against machines. It is a must-read for fans of the series, as Erend goes into detail about Meridian’s history and the death of the Carja Vanguard captain, who happens to be his sister.
Video game adaptations have a rough history, but the Horizon Zero Dawn comics buck that trend by offering an experience that both complements and expands on the games it is inspired by. For more Aloy action, and a preview of some of the machines of Horizon Forbidden West, look no further than the Horizon Zero Dawn comics.
Horizon Forbidden West is set to release on February 18, 2022, on PS4 and PS5.