Can’t Afford Portal 2 Yet?

Sorry, I don’t have any special deals here, or I would be among the Missing right now, making my way through space bending puzzles. What I do have for you is a little something to curb your Portal cravings until you can get your hands on a copy.

That something is a webcomic called Portal 2: Lab Rat. For anyone interested in learning more of the lore behind GLaDOS and Aperture Science, this comic helps to fill in a few gaps in the story from the original game. And there were a lot of gaps. One of the reasons Portal was so successful beyond the superb game play is the compelling story and mysterious secrets that blend into not only the Half Life franchise, but real life as well, as witnessed by in game clues that players could decode and then pursue in a still ongoing ARG (Alternate Reality Game).

Lab Rat is a short 26 page comic, but manages fill in details set before, during, and after the events in Portal, explaining why Chell (Portal’s protagonist) is there and why everyone is dead when she wakes up. It also revealed who is behind all of the cryptic messages (“The cake is a lie!”) and random hints that guided you through some of the puzzles. It also helps to give a little bit more information that leads into the story for Portal 2

As a Portal fan and a fan of comics, Lab Rat serves pretty well on both fronts, although admittedly you may not get much out of it if you have not played the game. The art is well done and While I have not been able to find any info on the writer and creator, the art style is very reminiscent of Ben Templesmith. The dialogue fits well and never seems cumbersome or out of place for the tone of the Portal setting.

Obviously Portal 2: Lab Rat will not completely satisfy your desire to play Portal 2, but it will tantalize you with new information that any fan should eat up. Follow this link to read the comic.