WoW Insider Axel Ziebart shelled out a few questions to Micky Neilson to dig out some story elements of the upcoming World of Warcraft: Pearl of Pandaria — the DC Comics graphic novel.

The story is set pre-Cataclysm, when Deathwing wasn’t yet an imminent danger and somewhere at the end of the Northrend campaign against the Lich King. However, the story doesn’t focus too much into that. Yea, the story is that old. Apparently, I posted news about Wildstorm producing a World of Warcraft Pandaren comic book a bit too early around July 2010. I don’t remember the details, but from the link posted at WoWpedia, I deleted the entry.

The graphic novel was probably delayed after Jim Lee announced on September 2010 the DC Comics Wildstorm would be shutdown by December, moving all the Blizzard licenses to the newly restructured DC Comics.

Regardless of the delay, Pearl of Pandaria introduces Li Li Stormstout, and Chen Stormstout before the events of the pandaren starting zone in the Mists of Pandaria — giving us a background on the characters and their motivations.

According to this new interview, Li Li sets into a journey to search for Chen Stormstout who is adventuring around Azeroth. Li Li and Bo will face new villains: Naga sea witch, Blademaster, and a goblin alchemist. Read the full interview.

We will learn more about this graphic novel hardcover at San Diego Comic Con where Blizzard is holding a panel for their 2012-2013 licensed products line-up.

Description

In this enthralling original graphic novel published in a landscape format, you will meet the PANDAREN, one of the most beloved (and mysterious) races in World of Warcraft! Written by Blizzard’s own Micky Neilson (the World of Warcraft MMORPG, World of Warcraft: Ashbringer and World of Warcraft: Curse of the Worgen), with art by fan favorite Sean “Cheeks” Galloway (TV’s Teen Titans Go and Wednesday Comics), this story ties directly into the upcoming World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria expansion pack.

World of Warcraft: Pearl of Pandaria introduces Li Li Stormstout, a precocious young student who lives atop a giant turtle called Shen-zin Su. Like the rest of the wandering island’s pandaren, Li Li comes from a line of adventurers who left their homeland long ago to explore the world…and she wants nothing more than to chase that dream. But when Li Li runs away to find her famous uncle Chen, how will she survive Azeroth’s perils?