Nintendo has asked Dark Horse to create original comics for its house magazine, Nintendo Power. The magazine -- which reaches 1 million game players every month through subscriptions and newsstand sales -- features articles, interviews, and gaming tips. The first Dark Horse comics will appear in the May-July issues of the magazine.

Blast Corps, the hot new game for the Nintendo 64, will be appearing in three 8-page installments in Nintendo Power. The Blast Corps comic story is based on the original story from the Nintendo 64 video game by Leigh Loveday of Rare Ltd. The comics serial is written by Tom Sniegoski (Vengeance of Vampirella), with art by Pop Mahn (Ghost Rider) and Nathan Massengill (Deadpool).

"There are a couple of things I keep hearing from comics retailers: "Where will our new readers will come from?" and "Kids aren't reading comics, they're playing video games," said vice president of sales and marketing Lou Bank. "This program should address both."

"I'm having the time of my life working on Blast Corps," said editor Meloney Crawford Chadwick. "The story is loaded with action. I only wish the series could go on forever -- of course, who knows when the Blast Corps team may be called upon for another mission?"

Blast Corps debuts in Nintendo Power #97, available now. Each of the comics serials includes the toll-free Comics Shop Locator Service number.

To subscribe to Nintendo Power or for more information about Nintendo you can call the Nintendo Consumer Service at 1-800-255-3700. For reviews, tips, and codes for all Nintendo games catch them on the internet at Nintendo Power Source (www.nintendo.com).