First Second to publish Prince of Persia series

PW Comics Week reports that First Second Books has made an agreement to produce a graphic novel series based on the insanely popular Prince of Persia video game franchise. The first of three volumes is planned for 2008.

The graphic novels will be written by children's and YA author Carla Jablonski (The Books of Magic novels and the Wishbone series) and drawn by children's book illustrator LeUyen Pham (Twenty-one Elephants).

"In the U.S., comics based on videogames are usually just vehicles to promote the games," the game's creator, Jordan Mechner, told PW. "We're taking POP and creating an original graphic novel that is not an adaptation of the videogame nor of the upcoming movie, but a totally new work that lets us go back to the roots of POP and draw inspiration from many sources, including history and myth."

Mechner will be working closely with the creators on the graphic novels.

There's more First Second acquisition news at the link.