The CULT OF THE LAMB Comic Continues Its Brilliant Expansion of the Game's Mechanics

Summary Oni Press' Cult of the Lamb comic adaptation expands on game lore in crucial ways, including giving the Lamb greater agency as its main character, and exploring the motivations of other characters, including the Lamb's first recruit, Nana.

The comic cleverly adapts the original game's mechanics; issue #2 cleverly sets up a "dissenter" plotline, reflecting one of the things that happens to players in the game, while adding depth to the story.

The colorful art and sharp writing of Cult of the Lamb comic capture the game's essence, appealing to both experienced players and new readers looking for something unexpected.

Warning: Contains spoilers for Cult of the Lamb!Indie hit Cult of the Lamb was one of the biggest games of 2022, and is still going strong, with new updates keeping the fanbase engaged. While the game has a strong narrative, the Cult of the Lamb comics from Oni Press are really expanding on the lore in satisfying ways, explaining game mechanics in a way that works better on the page.

Cult of the Lamb #2 – written by Alex Paknadel, with art by Troy Little – builds on the comic's debut issue, which gave the titular Lamb a lot of agency, setting the stage for the story that will continue to explore why they would make their deal with the devil, and cut a bloody swath through the forest for freedom.

This issue develops that plot point even further, as the Lamb succumbs to their desire for praise from their rescued cultists, rather than being content with freedom and friendship.

Many video game adaptations forget to give the player character their own personality and motivations, but Paknadel and Little have paid attention to fitting the game mechanics into a non-interactive story.

Related One Of The Best Games Of 2022 Gets A Major Co-op Update August 12 It might finally be time to try out a standout indie title from 2022 with a friend thanks to a major multiplayer update on the horizon.

The "Cult of the Lamb" Comic Adaptation Honors The Game's Mechanics With Its Story

Cult of the Lamb #2 – Written By Alex Paknadel; Art By Troy Little; Color By Francesca Carotenuto & Nick Filardi; Lettering By Crank! & Troy Little

Cult of the Lamb is a combination of roguelike dungeon crawler and farming sim. Lamb orders followers to farm, build, cook, and, of course, worship. While the cultists are busy, the Lamb pushes the story forward by fighting the old gods who originally sent them to slaughter. However, in the video game, the Lamb is the player’s avatar, meaning their actions are at the whim of the player. Many video game adaptations forget to give the player character their own personality and motivations, but Paknadel and Little have paid attention to fitting the game mechanics into a non-interactive story.

In the comic, the Lamb rescues another creature, a bunny named Nana. She is happy with a life of freedom in the forest, but the red crown on Lamb's head drives their desire for devotion. As they return with more believers and a Commandment Stone, to bend the cultists' whims to Lamb’s own, Nana rejects them and runs away. In this way, the comic builds on the mechanics of “dissenters” in the ranks of the cult. Within the game, dissenters appear when the cultists' needs aren't met, but this turns their appearance into a satisfying plot twist that works.

For anyone who's more comfortable watching a Let's Play or reading about the story, the comics do an awesome job shepherding the feeling of the game into a print medium.

"Cult of the Lamb" Is Perfect For Experienced Players And New Readers Alike

A High-Caliber Adaptation

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Another clever twist happens with the boss characters. The old gods watch Lamb's vengeance, but aren't yet fully concerned. Kallamar orders his brother Leshy, god of Darkwood, to defeat Lamb: “Kill the creature thrice if you must!” Again, this gives the repeated visits the Lamb must make to Darkwood to kill Leshy a narrative reason; the gods think the Lamb isn't very powerful, and that their own bishops can deal with them. It's a clever explanation for a game mechanic, rather than just papering over it for narrative simplicity, reducing Lamb and Leshy’s showdown to a single fight.

Cult of the Lamb already has a great story in the game, which keeps old players coming back for new DLC, and attracts new players even two years later. However, for anyone who's more comfortable watching a Let's Play or reading about the story, the comics do an awesome job shepherding the feeling of the game into a print medium. The art is colorful and dark, evoking the game's graphics, and the writing is still as sharp. Even for those who know the game inside and out, the Cult of the Lamb comic fulfills the same joy as playing.

Cult of the Lamb #2 is available now from Oni Press.

CULT OF THE LAMB (2024) #2 Writer: Alex Paknadel

Artist: Troy Little

Colorist: Francesca Carotenuto & Nick Filardi

Letterer: Crank! and Troy Little

Cover Artist: Carles Dalmau