Mojang and Microsoft Studios' Minecraft needs no introduction, as the immensely popular sandbox game is the second-highest selling video game ever, behind only Tetris. But while it remains a hit with millions of players, it's not a franchise that immediately springs to mind as ripe for a comic book adaptation.

Enter writer Sfé R. Monster, artist Sarah Graley and letterer John J. Hill, who have crafted the first official, licensed graphic novel based on the popular video game world for Dark Horse Comics. In Minecraft Volume One, Monster, Graley and Hill's story focuses on Tyler and his friends Evan, Candace, Tobi and Grace as they adventure through Minecraft's digital world together. Rather than just exploring the impact those players have on the game world, the book looks at the impact Minecraft has on them as they grow up in an age where video games provide opportunities for building and maintaining relationships.

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CBR caught up with Monster and Graley to talk adapting Minecraft for the page, and what the popular game means to so many around the world.

CBR: What was your relationship with Minecraft like before working on this project?

Sfé R. Monster: I've been playing Minecraft on and off since 2012, which is actually exactly as long as I've been making comics! My entire experience has been playing on shared servers and realms with other comics-making friends and colleagues, so for me it's always been a fun way to catch up and unwind with friends that don't live nearby while making some outlandish and creative builds together, and I have a lot of fond memories wrapped up in it. It's a game that I've held near and dear just because of how long I've been able to play it, and the people I've been able to play it with!

Sarah Graley: Before working on this project, Minecraft was something that I've spent time playing with my partner and my sister, and it's always been a really relaxing thing to do. I've dabbled in both survival and creative modes - mainly making cool bases in the sides of mountains...and trying not to immediately die and lose all of my stuff in survival!

You're adapting one of the most culturally significant video games ever into a comic. How challenging -- and intimidating -- was that?

Monster: Adapting Minecraft into a comic has been one of the most wonderful, surreal, and (I'll be honest) intimidating projects I've ever been involved in. The game is so much fun because it has so much potential, but it's a bit daunting at the same time because not only does everyone know it, everyone has their own way of playing it. It was a challenge to wrangle all that scope and everything you can do, into a single story about some things some people did do, without omitting a bunch of stuff that makes Minecraft so great! It was a really fun challenge, though, and I think my most favorite part was writing about a group of kids who have such a different way of playing than I do and are so much better at playing Minecraft than I will ever be, so I could pretend to be a player who isn't intimidated every time it gets dark in-game and all the monsters come out!

Graley: When I was first asked to be involved, I was over the moon! Minecraft is such a huge phenomenon, and it's a real honor to be part of it! Working with Sfé's incredible script definitely helped take a lot of the intimidation away - it's a really fun story that I think people will really enjoy, whether they're new to Minecraft or whether they've been a fan for a long time.

Sarah, Minecraft Volume One is an intriguing mix of both your distinctive visual style and that of the game. Can you tell us how you went about combining the two looks?

Graley: It's been really cool bringing the styles together - we definitely wanted the Minecraft world to look like the Minecraft world that players know and love, but we wanted to put real human characters into that world. The story is all about real friends playing the game and going on adventures together, and we wanted to represent that. It was really fun getting to put my own spin on things!

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Like a lot of people, I grew up with parents that would, to my frustration, tell me to put down the controller, go outside and make some friends, because they didn't really understand I talked with people online. The social element of games like Minecraft is a big focus of your graphic novel. Can you tell me a bit about that?

Monster: For me, Minecraft has always been about being social and spending time with friends playing together-- especially friends of mine that live in different cities (and different countries!). The thing that I'm most excited about with this story is that it's about five super close friends who aren't necessarily able to see one another offline, so all their communication has to be chatting through text, and when they "hang out" on weekends they do so by playing Minecraft together online. Friendship is important, whether that friend lives next door, or on the next continent, and I think it's really exciting that we got to show these kinds of long-distance friendships (especially since I also grew up in the early days of having "online friends") and how strong and important that bond can be, even when you're so far apart from one another.

Graley: I can relate to that! I think the general perception of the games that I grew up playing online was that they weren't a constructive use of time when they were actually really positive experiences for me! These things lead to online communities where I made some really good friends, and they helped to start encouraging me to make art and learn some simple HTML code along the way too - both things that I've ended up using a whole bunch professionally!

I think it's really special how video games can connect people, and Minecraft is a perfect example of that! It gives people a huge virtual space to express themselves and be creative and also to be able to go on fun adventures and quests with their friends.

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What are you hoping people who pick up Minecraft Volume One, particularly younger readers, take away from it?

Monster: Most of all I hope they have fun! This was honestly one of the most fun projects I've ever worked on, and I enjoyed every second of writing and scheming, and seeing Sarah's incredible art take shape. I hope the people reading it remember that it's okay to have fun, it's awesome to work together, and there's a place for every single kind of person in the big wide world of Minecraft.

Graley: I think Sfé has created a story with a really wonderful cast of character that readers will be able to relate to and see themselves represented in. I think an important message of the story is that friendships can sometimes get a little bit rocky, but that's okay! If you have a good positive friendship group, you can totally work these things out, and then go on a cool adventure together!

Obviously, the first book hasn't even come out yet, but is there anything you can tease about the future of Dark Horse's Minecraft graphic novels?

Monster: I know that there are a lot more Minecraft stories in the works, especially with Minecraft: Stories from the Overworld coming out this fall! I have a lot more ideas in mind for Minecraft adventures, and working with Sarah on this book was a dream, so hopefully, we'll be able to make many more Minecraft comics in the future! I know I'd be thrilled to!

Graley: Dark Horse, Mojang AB and Microsoft have plans for more Minecraft stories with Minecraft: Stories from the Overworld coming in October! I had a whole bunch of fun working with Sfé on Minecraft: Volume One, and I think we'd both love to be back on board for more adventures in this awesome world!

Minecraft Volume One, by Sfé R. Monster, Sarah Graley, releases June 4.