Where does he get those wonderful toys?

With Comic-Con in full effect, it's no surprise that everyone is talking about how the comic book industry is making its mark in other media.  And when it comes to video games, especially those based on popular comic book franchises, well let's just say that you'd better damn well have your act together otherwise these fans will rip you apart.  One game on everyone's mind at Comic-Con this year is Batman: Arkham City, from Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Rocksteady Studios.  It's pretty much a given that Arkham City is going to be big ... but what about that OTHER Batman game currently in development? You know, the one from Monolith? The guys behind F.E.A.R., Tron 2.0, and both Condemned games? The one that's a first person shooter starring a bunch of Batman and Joker wannabes?

You mean you haven't heard of Gotham City Impostors yet?

There's an old saying that goes, "When the cat's away, the mice will play." Well, apparently the same thing happens when the Bat is away as well.  Only instead of mice, you get some batsh-t crazy loons (pun intended) who decide to use Gotham City as their personal battlefield of good versus evil.  Loosely based on the Batman: Impostors story arc in Detective Comics #867-870 (written by David Hine, with art by Scott McDaniel and Andy Owens), the game pits teams of Batman and Joker wannabes (dubbed "Guardian Bats" and "Jokerz" in the comics) in 4-on-4 battles.  This isn't the usual Bat Family or Rogues' Gallery though.  Instead of hi-tech, well trained superheroes (or supervillains) like Nightwing or Bane, you've got guys like this:

It's like cosplay gone seven shades of wrong ... and armed to the teeth.  Players can customize their characters' costumes, weapons loadout, etc. for a unique presence in the game.  Sure, you'll look like someone who's outgrown their Underoos, but it's that same over-the-top feels that somehow makes the idea of a Batman shooter just seem to work.  It's like some sort of warped love child between the Dark Knight and Team Fortress 2.  And if you need any more convincing, just take a peek at the game's official trailer, which went live just as Comic-Con started:

I'll be posting more about the game as it becomes available, but this is shaping up to be one of those offbeat titles that you'll kick yourself for missing out on.  Make sure it doesn't slip under your radar when it comes out for Xbox 360, PS3, and Windows PC next year.