The Last of Us Comic Prequel Explains Ellie’s Origins

Comic book publisher Dark Horse is teaming up with Naughty Dog for a comic of the upcoming game, The Last of Us. Titled "American Dreams", the graphic novel is being set as a prequel that features one of the game's protagonists, Ellie, in the early days of the apocalypse that sees much of mankind reduced to mindless husks. 

Artwork for the comic can be seen below the fold. 

The comic book, which was unveiled at this year's New York Comic Con, is said to focus on Ellie's childhood and her friendship with an older girl named Rachel. The story will follow Ellie's childhood into her teenage years, as she appears in the game proper. 

“In Ellie’s world, when you enter into its version of middle school, you can either choose to become a soldier and go out and fight, or you can say no and go out to fend for yourself with the other survivors,” Druckman said. “Those are the two ways a teenager can live in this world. Ellie believes there is a third way.

“Ellie is living in a world when she wants to be innocent, but can’t be. She’ll find things like a CD player and other pieces of civilization before the game’s event. She’ll get glimpses of the life she can’t have.”

The backstory appears to share similar concepts to Gameranx alumnus Annie Wright's article, "The Zombie Apocalypse is the New American Dream". 

It is a collaboration between Naughty Dog's Neil Druckman and Faith Erin Hicks. Rachel Edidin is also onboard as the story editor. American Dreams is being developed as a four part series. 

American Dreams is set to launch alongside the release of The Last of Us in early 2013. The Last of Us is exclusive to the PS3.