Among the games expected to tie in with the comic, "Crusader Kings 3" is not a standout. But there are only a few weeks left before Paradox's grand strategy game gets its own free comic, "Many Roads to Power," a prequel to the upcoming "Roads to Power" expansion.

The mini-comic will be available on the CK3 website and Steam on August 22 and will chronicle the rise of Byzantine Emperor Basil I.

The comic will also be available on the CK3 website and Steam.

Basil had an interesting rise to power. He was born a peasant in Macedonia, married the mistress of his predecessor Michael III, then assassinated Michael and ascended to his own throne. Good for him.

Frankly, there have been weirder adaptations. There was "Battleship," a world where "Battleship" became a terrible movie about aliens. And "Crusader Kings 3" is all about using medieval nobility to tell a compelling story of murder and civil war. History is full of weird shit worthy of a comic book.

At the very least, it's something to read while waiting for what could be the most exciting expansion in CK3. "Roads to Power" finally allows you to play as a landless adventurer or member of a noble family, cunningly plotting to gain power and eventually rise to the rank of viceroy, and be able to influence the royal court and gain great power. Alternatively, he could live as a mercenary or bandit leader.

This is primarily a Byzantine-flavored expansion that, along with new mechanics, will introduce new events and activities like chariot races, and new assets that can make the nobles shine.

Paradox has not had much of a patchy patch lately, with the failed launch of Cities: Cities: Skylines 2, the last-minute cancellation of Life By You, and most recently, the postponement of Prison Architect 2. Road to Power" may be the one.