Sam & Max rise from the grave

If you're one of the fans eagerly awaiting the return of adventure gaming's favorite dog and rabbity-thing, head over to Telltale Games to check out the first Sam & Max comic to be released since the late 1990s. This opening installment of a new series takes place in a graveyard behind a medieval English church and appears to tie in with the mysterious engraving that appeared several months ago, without fanfare, at the official Sam & Max website.

Neither Sam nor Max makes an appearance in this first strip, but their creator Steve Purcell promises the crime-fighting duo is on the way. "The main thrust of the story, as always, is to give Sam & Max a chance to blather on with each other against a colorful backdrop," says Purcell. "In the second installment, Sam & Max's long-silenced yammering will pick up where it left off years ago."

In addition to hosting Purcell's new comic, Telltale has added Sam & Max merchandise to their online store. Initial offerings include a tee-shirt and signed 18"x24" prints. Telltale and Purcell are currently collaborating on episodic Sam & Max games, the first of which will debut in 2006.