Over on the official Paizo blog I wrote a little article about how I went about adapting the award-winning Pathfinder Role-Playing Game into a comic series. Read on!

I was a guest last night on Know Direction, a live videocast all about the Pathfinder RPG.

My interview section runs for the first 45 minutes and we cover a lot of different ground about the Pathfinder comic series, my gaming influences and fantasy comics as a whole. You can watch the video by clicking below:

If you haven’t had a chance to read the Pathfinder comic series from Paizo and Dynamite (written by a certain Zub you may know) now’s the time to join the adventure. Paizo is serializing the first issue for free over on their website with a new block of pages being posted up each week.

Give it a read and, if the story grabs you, consider ordering the spiffy hardcover first collection coming out in April!

Pathfinder #5 arrived in stores Wednesday. It’s an important issue in our first story arc and includes something I wanted to post a few extra thoughts about. The fact that it’s also Valentine’s Day today makes it extra-appropriate. Let’s talk about love, people!

Pathfinder is easily the most inclusive tabletop RPG setting on the market. Strong characters of both sexes, characters of color and characters of different sexual orientations are all positively represented in many of the game supplements Paizo has released over the years. It’s a robust fantasy world that incorporates classic themes and tropes while allowing including progressive elements at the same time. It’s one of the many things I really like about Pathfinder when compared to a lot of the white-washed and stereotype-ridden fantasy settings of old. It’s something the developers at Paizo paid special attention to and I think it’s one of the many reasons why their game has sold so well around the world.

When we were choosing the six characters who make up the core group in the comic we made sure there was a gender balance and overall mix. These characters are the iconic representation of each ‘class-type’ from the game and they should appeal to a broad readership. Once we finalized that group it was my job to build their personalities and define the attitudes, strengths, flaws, speech patterns and push and pull for how each one regarded the other. The gang at Paizo asked me if I was comfortable writing emotional sparks between characters, and that included possible same sex relationships. In the world of Golarion same sex couples aren’t seen as an exception, but here in the real world it’s still a subject many people are coming around to. Without hesitation, I told them I was up for it.

The world is growing closer thanks to technology and a global culture that embraces the broadest possible diversity is a positive and hopeful future worth striving for. People deserve happiness and love whatever they look like and whoever they choose to be with. I firmly believe that from the bottom of my heart. I’m happy to include that in my writing, not as some kind of politically-motivated agenda, but because it’s the world we live in and our entertainment should reflect that.

Fans have wondered for years about whether any of the ‘iconic’ Pathfinder heroes are interested in members of the same sex and issue #5 finally answers that question during a flashback sequence. It’s a small moment, one that readers might miss, but it’s one I’ll be following up on in our second story arc (issues #7-12). It isn’t the focal point of the story to come, and I don’t think it should be. Pathfinder is a sword & sorcery adventure comic and that’s my first priority. Action, adventure and excitement are what readers expect and that’s what we’ll be delivering with each issue. This relationship is just one among others that are developing as the characters interact and grow.

That being said, here’s why it’s important- More than ever before people want to see themselves in their escapism. Having a same sex relationship in a fantasy comic series is not a ‘big deal’ but it is a reflection of real gamers, Pathfinder fans, fiction readers and the world at large.

When Paizo and Dynamite approached me about writing the Pathfinder comic they wanted big action and strong characters to play a role in the story. I’m thrilled they’re letting me explore that further in a tasteful and engaging way. Entertaining characters help build great stories and a diverse cast has the potential to grab hold of an even wider audience. If you’ve been reading along so far, I hope you enjoy the group dynamic we’re developing and look forward to future adventures.

Pathfinder #5 arrives in stores Wed Feb 13th and Comic Book Resources has a 5 page preview. Click on through to check it out.

I’ll have more thoughts on this important issue from the series in the next day or two.

April sees the hardcover collection of the first Pathfinder story and the beginning of our second story line with issue #7, welcoming aboard new series artist Jake Bilbao!

PATHFINDER VOL. 1: DARK WATER RISING HC
Writer: Jim Zub
Artists: Andrew Huerta and Jake Bilbao
Cover: Matteo Scalera

FC • 160+ pages • $29.99

The warrior Valeros can rely on his sword arm and his friends— mysterious sorceress Seoni, quick-witted elven rogue Merisiel, powerful wizard Ezren, well-traveled dwarven ranger Harsk, and courageous cleric Kyra — but nothing can prepare him for the dangers that lurk ahead. The scattered goblin tribes of Varisia are unifying in ways no one has ever seen before. At the heart of this strange evolution is an ancient force of evil looking to establish itself anew in the world of Golarion!

Paizo’s award-winning fantasy world, fiction line, and tabletop RPG is now the ultimate fantasy comic! With an action-packed story written by Jim Zub (Street Fighter Legends, Skullkickers) and incredibly detailed artwork by newcomer Andrew Huerta, this first volume introduces readers to a richly envisioned fantasy world filled with compelling characters and impressive sights.

This beautiful, oversized hardcover collects the first six issues of the comic series as well as an EXCLUSIVE 10-page bonus story by Jim Zub and Ivan Anaya, and includes more than 30 pages of encounters, characters, a world detail for the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, including a brand-new poster map of the
region explored in the Pathfinder comic!

PATHFINDER #7
Writer: Jim Zub
Artist: Jack Bilbao
Covers: Lucio Parrillo, Carlos Gomez (c)
2 regular covers will be shipped in equal ratios
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

A new evil is rising in Varisia! When Valeros and his companions are tasked with tracking down a mysterious beast scaring the locals of Sandpoint, they find far more than they bargained for!

The hit comic series based on Paizo’s incredible award-winning fantasy world, fiction line, and tabletop RPG continues, featuring exclusive Pathfinder bonus materials like the fan-favorite region maps!

Pathfinder #3 continues our slate of solid reviews. Here are a few highlights:

Freakin’ Awesome Network: “If you’re not a fantasy fan, Pathfinder is one of those books that shouldn’t have an affect on you at all, but it does! This is because of Jim Zub and Andrew Huerta’s ingenious use of mood and tone to create an intense and universally accessible sense of creeping fear and paranoia.”

eXpert Comics: “Highly recommended series for gamers and comic fans alike.”

Read Comics Books: “Jim Zub is a great writer and has a great grasp on the subject matter.”