Zub And Oliveira Team For 'Pathfinder: City Of Secrets' #1

When it comes to comics inspired by tabletop roleplaying games, many titles focus solely on stories using general concepts from the realms they pull from. Dynamite seems to be going the extra mile this May, though, with the launch of the new Pathfinder: City of Secrets #1 by writer Jim Zub and artist Leandro Oliveira that includes "an exclusive Pathfinder Roleplaying Game encounter, sourcebook appendix, and a bonus removable playable tactical map/art poster," which are all things regular Pathfinder player CA Staff Writer Chris Sims assures me are "neat."

The new series follows Zub's previous ongoing Pathfinder title with Andrew Huerta, along with the Pathfinder: Goblins spinoff miniseries that was written and illustrated by a host of creators anthology-style.

Here's how Dynamite's official synopsis describes City of Secrets:

In Pathfinder: City of Secrets #1, the Pathfinder heroes head to the city of Magnimar, and danger isn't far behind. As the wizard Ezren seeks an audience with the Pathfinder Society, his adventuring allies explore the city's ancient magic, well-hidden secrets, and deep political divides. The dangers and opportunities of the big city could bring the adventurers closer together-or tear them apart!

Even if you can't make heads or tails of the Pathfinder Wikipedia entry (So Pathfinder is Dungeons & Dragons but NOT Dungeons & Dragons???), the previous Pathfinder comic made for a solid read by following group of warriors while they did their fantasy realm questing thing and conversed in a manner befitting each of their in-game archetypes. It's kind of like how Battlechasers would've been if...well, a lot of things.

To sweeten the RPG player deal, however, Dynamite has partnered with Pathfinder maker Paizo's Pathfinder Society Organized Play program "to connect retail stores with volunteer Game Masters who can run in-store Pathfinder RPG demo events based on the encounters featured in the series." This will effectively allow Pathfinder players to defend their comic or gaming retailer from the game's goblins in a game scenario.

You can take a look at four covers from Pathfinder: City of Secrets #1 by artists Genzoman, Carlos Gomez, Sean Izaakse and Steven Cummings below.