Metal Gear Solid is returning to consoles this year thanks to the revamped Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, but I'm pretty sure that most fans don't kniw that Snake and the other Metal Gear characters have a whole other life on the comic book page. If you’re looking for something to get you pumped for the new game, you could do a lot worse than checking out the Metal Gear comics from IDW Publishing.
Despite its unique character designs and high-stakes scenarios, the Metal Gear Solid franchise has only produced two comic series to date: adaptations of the original Metal Gear Solid and its sequel, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty.
With the first series written by Kris Oprisko and the second by Alex Garner, both adaptations faithfully recreate the games they’re based on. Yet what really makes the adaptations stand out, in my opinion, is the artwork by Ashley Wood, who gives both stories their own unique look on the page.
Metal Gear Solid Has a Whole Other Life in Comic Books
Adaptations Faithfully Recreate the Games on the Page
So if they’re only adaptations of the original Metal Gear Solid games, why should you read the comics? Well, for one thing, you can get the story experience of a ten-plus-hour game in a single sitting. Obviously, nothing matches the experience of sitting down to play through the games themselves, but if you just want a refresher on the story of both games, both comics allow you the opportunity to run through the story without having to save your progress and respawn a dozen times to beat Metal Gear Rex or lead Emma Emmerich through the flooded section of the Big Shell facility.
Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima was so impressed with Ashley Wood’s artwork on the comics, he hired Wood to create the art for the cinematic scenes in the games Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker.
Both comics are incredibly faithful to the source material, but in my experience they find interesting ways to deviate from the original games. The Metal Gear Solid 2 adaptation provides some context not present in the game, such as Raiden’s backstory as a child soldier being further fleshed-out. There’s also an early effort written by future comics superstar Matt Fraction, a completely original short story taking place between the first Metal Gear Solid and Sons of Liberty, in which Solid Snake infiltrates a speeding train.
Ashley Wood’s Art on Metal Gear Solid Is a True Highlight
Fans of the Game Must Check Out the Comics
Holding both adaptations together is Wood's incredible artwork, as the sketchy, expressionist work recalls that of Metal Gear Solid’s character designer Yoji Shinkawa. Wood’s artwork makes every page of the MGS comics a thing of beauty that I've pored over again and again. If you’re a fan looking to relive some of your favorite moments from the game in anticipation of Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, you could do a lot worse with the Metal Gear Solid comic series.
Metal Gear Solid is available now from IDW Publishing.
