Editing Overwatch: First Strike

{{Infobox book
| name = Overwatch: First Strike
| image = Overwatch First Strike Front Cover Art.jpg
| author = [[Micky Neilson]]
| artist = [[Ludo Lullabi]] (pencils & inks)<br/>[[Ryan Odagawa]] (colors)
| publisher =
| pages = 100<ref>2016-07-23, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6u6u5MACIHU#t=1m56s SDCC Ana Origins Panel Roundup], ''Youtube''.</ref>
| release = Cancelled <!-- November 2016 (digital)<br>April 2017 (physical)-->
}}
'''''Overwatch: First Strike'''''<ref name="world">2016-03-17, [http://us.battle.net/overwatch/en/blog/20063489/ Exploring the World of Overwatch]. ''Blizzard Entertainment'', accessed on 2016-03-18</ref> (previously titled '''''Overwatch: The Omnic Crisis'''''<ref>2015-07-11, [http://warcraftmovie.blizzplanet.com/blog/comments/sdcc-2015-blizzard-showcase-panel-video SDCC 2015 – Blizzard Showcase Panel Video]. ''Blizzplanet'', accessed on 2015-08-01</ref>) was to be an ''[[Overwatch]]'' graphic novel. Written by [[Micky Neilson]], penciled and inked by [[Ludo Lullabi]], and colored by [[Ryan Odagawa]], it would have detailed the formation of the [[Overwatch (group)|Overwatch]] strike team.<ref>2015-07-10, [http://overwatch.blizzplanet.com/blog/comments/sdcc-2015-overwatch-the-omnic-crisis-graphic-novel SDCC 2015 – Overwatch: The Omnic Crisis Graphic Novel]. ''Blizzplanet'', accessed on 2015-07-26</ref>

''First Strike'' was expected to be released digitally in November 2016, with a physical release to follow in April 2017.<ref>2016-07-20, [http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/07/20/comic-con-2016-dark-horse-and-blizzard-partner-for-new-overwatch-comics Comic-Con 2016: Dark Horse and Blizzard Partner for New Overwatch Comics], ''IGN''.</ref> However, on November 18, 2016, it was announced that the project had been cancelled due to the decision to take the story in a different direction, a result of the continued development and expansion of the ''Overwatch'' setting in the years since the comic's conception.<ref>2016-11-22, [http://us.battle.net/forums/en/overwatch/topic/20752185714 Overwatch: First Strike Graphic Novel Update], ''Overwatch Forums''.</ref> In May 2017, [[Jeff Kaplan]] further elaborated on the decision to cancel the novel, that it was "a very specific, self-contained story," and "would have limited us." Specifically, this is in reference to fan theories concerning the Omnic Crisis, and it was decided that part of the 'magic' of ''Overwatch'' was keeping certain canon less defined. According to Kaplan, "there’s a lot going on in Overwatch right now where I think that the story in players’ heads is often even cooler than what we can deliver to them."<ref>2017-05-17, [https://www.polygon.com/2017/5/17/15655410/overwatch-first-strike-canceled-jeff-kaplan-interview Canceled Overwatch graphic novel would have limited the universe, director says]. ''Polygon'', accessed on 2017-05-18</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Omnic Crisis-preview.png|Early pencil promotional art for ''The Omnic Crisis''.
File:Omnic Crisis-color preview.jpg|Colored promotional art for ''The Omnic Crisis''.
File:Overwatch First Strike Front Cover Inks.jpg|Inked version of the final cover.
File:X6UF17UYGNBB1458102934554.jpg|First Strike teaser from the PlayOverwatch Website. <ref>2016-03-16, [https://playoverwatch.com/en-us/news/20063489 First Strike teaser posted on the PlayOverwatch website.]</ref>
</gallery>

==References==
<references/>

[[Category: Comics]]
[[Category: Canceled projects]]