Review; World of Warcraft Chronicle: Volume 1By Jamie Ross
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Writers: Chris Metzen, Matt Burns, Robert Brooks
Artists: Peter Lee, Joseph Lacroix Publisher; Dark Horse Comics Publication Date: March 15, 2016 |
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It’s not much of a secret that I am a huge fan of Blizzard’s World of Warcraft. Anyone who has checked out the Backwards Compatible Youtube page will be aware of my passion for this now aging MMO, especially its rather convoluted background. So, it was with great anticipation that I cast my eyes over the latest art book, examining the origins of the Azeroth.
Blizzard is often criticized for telling much of the story of World of Warcraft off screen. Important plot progression is detailed in novels and short stories, and players are often left unaware of what has been going on behind the scenes, especially in relation to the links between expansion. Whilst, yet again, this new work provides background information outwith the game itself, it at least takes a step in the right direction. This Chronicle attempts to place all of the information about the creation of the world in one place, saving a lot of hunting through old books and potentially out of date articles online. Volume 1 seeks to delve into the very mists of Azeroth’s origins, which, to date, had been subject to much speculation and contradiction. This hefty tome examines the first life in the Universe, the origins of the Old Gods and Titans, right through the War of the Ancients, and ending with the birth of the Guardian Medivh. Very little of this is brand new lore, with much of it being explained in a number of older published works from Blizzard, as well as some in game explanations. What’s great however, is all this is in one place. Furthermore, the scholar in me is extra pleased, due to a handy index. So if you need to find out about the role the Wild Gods played in the origins of the Night Elves, it's right there, and easy to find. This might not seem like that big a deal, but having spent many an hour pouring over various Wiki pages trying to find out some obscure fact so I can look smarter than Phil, this is a Godsend. Whereas, as I mentioned, there are no massive changes, there are a few cool little additions and explanations about why things are the way they are. We knew very little about the Old Gods and the Titans that wasn’t through in game information. There wasn’t much that could have been said for certain about their origins, and their motives. This Chronicle clarifies where these beings from the dawn of time came from, and the role they played in shaping the earliest epochs of Azeroth. |
Whilst all this is great, what really jumps out at me was the quality of the of the illustrations. The depictions of the Titans striding through the cosmos does more to illustrate exactly what these beings are than any text could. Of particular interest to me were the maps showing the rise and fall of the various empires that have spanned Azeroth over the centuries. It is incredible to think of all those powers that the players see very little of in the World of Warcraft that exists at the time of the game, in particular the vast stretches of the planet ruled over by the Old Gods and the Elemental Lords.
Much of the book, unsurprisingly perhaps, sets the scene very nicely for the upcoming expansion, Legion. The origins of the Burning Legion, and the Fallen Titan that leads them are outlined. On top of this, the various invasions of Azeroth by this demonic army are discussed in great detail. If you were in any doubt as to who the big baddies of the Warcraft Universe are, this new book sets it out in great big flaming letters. The Legion, more than anything we have faced before, is something to be scared of. And with our ancestors having gone out of their way to annoy them at every turn, they are going to be coming back with a vengeance.
All in all, this book is a must have for any fan of the background of the World of Warcraft. With this work being the first of three volumes, I can’t wait to see how they go about examining some of the more familiar lore, from both the original RTS games, and World of Warcraft itself. But with a firm base to build on, examining how the world of Azeroth came to be, I can’t wait to see where this series will go next. In particular, with much confusion surrounding the time travel aspects of Warlords of Draenor, and what impact the meddlings of the players have had on the past, I am intrigued to see how this will be referenced in an “official history”, if it will be at all.
Much of the book, unsurprisingly perhaps, sets the scene very nicely for the upcoming expansion, Legion. The origins of the Burning Legion, and the Fallen Titan that leads them are outlined. On top of this, the various invasions of Azeroth by this demonic army are discussed in great detail. If you were in any doubt as to who the big baddies of the Warcraft Universe are, this new book sets it out in great big flaming letters. The Legion, more than anything we have faced before, is something to be scared of. And with our ancestors having gone out of their way to annoy them at every turn, they are going to be coming back with a vengeance.
All in all, this book is a must have for any fan of the background of the World of Warcraft. With this work being the first of three volumes, I can’t wait to see how they go about examining some of the more familiar lore, from both the original RTS games, and World of Warcraft itself. But with a firm base to build on, examining how the world of Azeroth came to be, I can’t wait to see where this series will go next. In particular, with much confusion surrounding the time travel aspects of Warlords of Draenor, and what impact the meddlings of the players have had on the past, I am intrigued to see how this will be referenced in an “official history”, if it will be at all.
