BioWare and LucasArts team up with Dark Horse Comics to create an all new, online, and exclusive comic dedicated to Star Wars: The Old Republic! Three decades of history will be featured leading up to the time line of the game and bringing forth lore that will be vital to the game's story-driven concept. Details were shared in today's press release from Dark Horse.

FEBRUARY 7, NEW YORK – Dark Horse has joined forces with LucasArts and BioWare™, a division of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS), to create a new comic series, published entirely online, to introduce both the gaming and comics worlds to the upcoming massively multiplayer online game Star Wars®: The Old Republic™. Debuting this month, Star Wars: The Old Republic - Threat of Peace will feature action-packed, character-driven episodes written by BioWare’s Rob Chestney and published by Dark Horse. The stories will span the three decades from the pivotal signing of the Treaty of Coruscant to critical events at the beginning of the game.

War between the Galactic Republic and the Sith Empire has gripped the galaxy for generations, but the sacking of Coruscant and a subsequent peace treaty are changing everything. As the Republic scrambles to re-establish order, the Sith Empire moves quickly to consolidate power within its new dominion. Behind closed doors, however, individual Sith Lords engage in a quiet but deadly power struggle, and discord breaks out among the Jedi as they wrestle with the moral implications of the new galactic balance. During these chaotic days, the stories of several critical characters interweave as they pursue their passions, stand up for their convictions and ultimately lead the galaxy back to the brink of a catastrophic conflict.

“The Old Republic time frame is ripe for creating epic, galaxy-spanning storylines with provocative moral themes,” says Rob Chestney. “Not only will readers get a preview of the game, they’ll also meet some of the game’s most compelling characters.”

“The comic offers a unique perspective on an era in the Star Wars galaxy unseen outside the game,” explains Dark Horse series editor Dave Marshall. “It will be an integral companion to the online experience, and a compelling adventure on its own, accessible to every Star Wars fan.”

This new ongoing series begins in February, featuring story by Rob Chestney and art by Alex Sanchez. Sanchez is an artist who has done work on comics such as Marvel Age Hulk, X-Men, and various Dark Horse comics. New issues of Star Wars: The Old Republic - Threat of Peace will appear every other Friday exclusively on StarWarsTheOldRepublic.com.

Star Wars®: The Old Republic™ is a story-driven massively multiplayer online PC game set in the timeframe of the Star Wars®: Knights of the Old Republic™ franchise. Developed and published by BioWare and LucasArts, Star Wars: The Old Republic represents an innovative approach to interactive entertainment, featuring immersive storytelling, dynamic combat and intelligent companion characters.

In Star Wars: The Old Republic, players will explore an age thousands of years before the rise of Darth Vader when war between the Old Republic and the Sith Empire divides the galaxy. Players can choose to play as Jedi, Sith, or a variety of other classic Star Wars roles, defining their personal story and determining their path down the light or dark side of the Force. Along the way, players will befriend courageous companions who will fight at their side or possibly betray them, based on the players’ actions. Players can also choose to team up with friends to battle enemies and overcome incredible challenges using dynamic Star Wars combat.

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