industryIPadaptation

From Panels to Play: How The Orangery’s Graphic Novels Could Become Game Goldmines

UUnknown

2026-02-02

10 min read

WME signing The Orangery signals a new era: graphic novels like Traveling to Mars are prime game IP. Here’s a 2026 playbook to adapt them right.

Hook: Your next breakout game might already be a comic on a shelf — if you know how to mine it

Studios and indie teams hear the same pains: finding IP that’s fresh but proven, avoiding toxic tokenomics, and turning a loyal but niche fanbase into a sustainable live‑ops audience. That pain just got a map. In January 2026 WME signed The Orangery — a European transmedia studio behind graphic novel hits like Traveling to Mars and Sweet Paprika — and that move is a fast lesson in how graphic‑novel IP becomes game gold. Here’s why this matters, what makes comics and graphic novels uniquely ripe for games today, and exactly how studios should structure transmedia deals so both creators and developers win.

Why WME signing The Orangery matters in 2026

When a major agency like William Morris Endeavor (WME) attaches to a small IP studio, it’s not just prestige — it’s an operational lever. WME brings distribution channels across film, TV, brand partnerships, and critically, introductions to game publishers and platform partners. Variety broke the news on Jan 16, 2026, spotlighting The Orangery’s catalog and signaling stronger cross‑industry interest in creator‑owned graphic IP.

Put bluntly: this is the kind of connective tissue that turns a cult graphic novel into a multi‑platform property instead of a single‑format cult hit. For studios and creators, WME’s involvement reduces friction for big‑ticket licensing, co‑development, and transmedia financing. For game teams, it points to cleaner rights pathways and higher‑value tie‑ins.

What changed in 2024–2026 to make this moment pivotal?

Streamers and publishers are hungry for IP — By late 2025, streaming platforms doubled down on serialized, IP‑driven content. Games are a natural extension of that demand.
Creator‑owned IP is winning on authenticity — Audiences crave original worlds with cohesive visual identities; graphic novels deliver that in spades.
Web3 learned hard lessons and matured — By 2025–2026, token strategies shifted from speculation to utility (membership, access, digital collectibles), making responsible transmedia web3 tie‑ins possible without tanking brand value.
Agencies are building gaming desks — Talent and IP representation now includes studio matchmaking and licensing orchestration, which speeds deal closure and reduces legal complexity.

Why graphic novels are unusually fertile ground for game adaptations

Graphic novels check a lot of boxes developers look for, fast. They provide: strong visual language, serialized narratives, character arcs, and a built‑in fanbase who already engage with storyworld merchandising. But those qualities are only valuable when harvested correctly.

1. Pre‑baked aesthetics and worldbuilding

A graphic novel’s art style is effectively a design bible. From color palettes to creature design, the assets exist and can be adapted into concept art, UI themes, and marketable skins. Traveling to Mars, as a sci‑fi series, gives procedural generation teams starship motifs, planet biomes, and technology aesthetics; Sweet Paprika offers a mature aesthetic and character expressions usable in narrative tech like advanced facial animation or visual novels.

2. Episodic structure lines up with games

Serialized comics already think in arcs and beats — exactly how you structure episodic content, chapters, and DLC. That makes planning monetized episodes or seasonal content far simpler and more organic.

3. Character IP = playable personas

Iconic characters translate directly into playable classes, skill trees, cosmetics, and branded DLC. When the fanbase recognizes a character’s silhouette, you’ve already won 50% of the marketing battle.

4. Community & cross‑sell dynamics

Graphic novel fans collect physical and digital issues. That behavior maps to in‑game collecting, limited‑run cosmetics, and premium story DLC. The most successful transmedia plays in 2025 used staggered drops (comic issue → in‑game item) to drive cross‑platform retention.

Practical roadmap: How studios should approach transmedia deals with graphic‑novel IP

Below is an actionable, phase‑based playbook for studios evaluating or negotiating rights with IP owners like The Orangery.

Phase 1 — Pre‑bid IP assessment (Due diligence checklist)

World depth score: How many named locations, factions, and episodes exist? (Target: 10+ robust nodes.)
Character economy: How many distinct, playable archetypes are present? Are they license‑friendly?
Visual IP assets: Exist as high‑res art, model sheets, or animator notes? The more, the cheaper to prototype.
Audience metrics: Sales, social engagement, newsletter growth, crowdfunding history, international reach (esp. Europe/Asia data).
Legal map: Does the studio own all media rights, merchandising, derivative works, and web3 rights? Who retains moral/artistic approval?

Phase 2 — Term negotiation essentials (what to push for)

Most transmedia deals fall apart on ambiguity. Here are must‑have contract terms:

Granular rights matrix: Spell out game rights (console, PC, mobile), merchandising, sequels, and sublicensing.
Approval windows: Limit creator approval to specific, time‑boxed checkpoints to avoid creative freeze.
Earn‑out + milestone payments: Use staged payments tied to clear milestones (vertical slice, alpha, launch) rather than large upfront fees.
Revenue share: Negotiate flexible splits for live‑ops revenue (microtransactions, season passes) and secondary markets (merchandising, licensing).
Co‑marketing commitments: Define marketing spend, social activations, comic‑to‑game cross‑promos, and release windows.
IP reversion clauses: If developer misses milestones, rights should revert after a reasonable cure period.

Phase 3 — Design & prototyping (translate panels to play)

Turn the graphic novel’s DNA into playable systems. Practical steps:

Produce a narrative vertical slice that uses the comic’s visual language and a core gameplay loop tied to character motivations.
Use 2–3 flagship panels as UI and key art to keep fidelity high in early trailers and press kits.
Build a world‑map of progression that mirrors the comic’s arc to preserve fan recognition and reward readers.
Plan monetization that respects narrative integrity — e.g., cosmetic and story expansions rather than paywalls for core chapters.

Phase 4 — Community & launch strategies

Graphic novel fandom is community‑driven. The go‑to playbook in 2026:

Cross drops: Release limited comic issue variants with in‑game item codes. Time them to drive both issue sales and game preorders.
Creator co‑op streams: Run read‑throughs with the original authors and a dev commentary stream to humanize the dev pipeline.
Early access & episodic play: Ship the first major arc chapter to paying early adopters; use feedback loops for subsequent design.
Ethical web3: If adding NFTs/membership tokens, make them utility‑first (VIP access, early chapters, physical art prints) and design secondary royalties that reward creators without creating speculative pump cycles.

Monetization models that work for graphic‑novel adaptations

Forget one‑size‑fits‑all. The best revenue stacks combine upfront sales, episodic pays, cosmetics, and brand partnerships.

Base game + episodic DLC: Align DLC with subsequent comic arcs to create staggered revenue spikes.
Cosmetic economies: Leverage the comic’s art direction for high‑value skins and vanity items.
Merch & physical drops: Limited prints, signed art books, and collector boxes fuel community loyalty and higher ARPU.
Subscription/season passes: Package serialized narrative content with cosmetic seasons tied to comic releases.
Licensing & brand deals: Use WME’s network to land non‑endemic partnerships (fashion drops, music collabs) that respect brand tone.

Red flags and pitfalls — sharp advice from 2026

Learn from recent missteps: several 2024–2025 transmedia tie‑ins stumbled because studios over‑monetized, misread fandom, or left legal ambiguity. Watch for these traps:

Over‑tokenization: If tokens are the product, not the utility, you’ll lose mainstream players and invite regulators. Design tokens for access and experience, not speculation.
Creative drift: Stripping the art style or tone to chase trends kills trust. Keep canonical artists or brand custodians at the table.
Vague rights: Undefined derivative rights lead to disputes over sequels and spinoffs; get clarity upfront.
Ignoring internationalization: Graphic novels with European origins — like The Orangery’s catalog — need localization strategies that preserve cultural textures while opening global markets.

Case study sketch: Turning Traveling to Mars into a playable franchise

Use this as a concrete blueprint for how a studio could adapt <> without breaking the IP or alienating fans.

Phase 1 — Rights and buy‑in: Secure game rights for PC/console, limited mobile, and merchandising. Include a co‑marketing clause with the original creators for authenticity.
Phase 2 — Prototype: Build a narrative exploration RPG vertical slice: one planet, three key NPCs, and a mission loop that reflects comic beats.
Phase 3 — Monetization: Launch as premium episodic chapters (chapters 1–3 included), with season passes for subsequent arcs and cosmetic bundles tied to iconic panels.
Phase 4 — Community: Stagger comic issue releases with in‑game events; run developer diaries with the illustrator and author to deepen buy‑in.

Checklist: Must‑ask questions before signing any transmedia deal

Who owns what, exactly? (Define platforms, territories, and derivative rights.)
What creative approvals are required and how long do they take?
Is there an IP reversion clause for missed milestones?
How will marketing spend be shared and coordinated?
Are there pre‑existing licensing deals that could block or complicate game releases (music, merch, film options)?
What web3 rights exist and what guardrails are in place for tokenized items?

“WME signing The Orangery signals an accelerating convergence between creator‑led IP studios and deep-pocketed distribution networks — exactly the pathway studios need to turn comics into games without getting burned.”

Final analysis: Why this is a moment for bold-but-sane bets

The Orangery + WME is a microcosm of a larger 2026 trend: agencies and platforms are finally treating graphic‑novel IP as a pipeline for serious game franchises. The risk is real — misaligned deals, token misfires, or creative dilution can wreck a brand. But the upside is as strong as it gets: ready‑made worlds, engaged communities, and a cross‑sell engine that can sustain live‑ops for years.

If you’re a studio hunting for the next franchise, don’t chase the flashiest headline. Score IP like a VC: evaluate the narrative runway, aesthetic fidelity, and rights cleanliness. If you’re a creator, insist on transparency, staged earn‑outs, and a seat at the table for brand stewardship. When handled right, comic‑to‑game adaptations don’t just make money — they build cultural properties that last.

Actionable takeaways

Do a rights forensic before you bid: map every right, region, and preexisting license in a single matrix.
Design monetization around story integrity: prioritize cosmetics, episodic paid content, and merch over gating core narrative beats.
Prototype with the artist: use canonical panels as early marketing assets and to keep tone intact.
Use staged payments and reversion clauses: protect both developer and creator from long development freezes.
If adding web3, be utility‑first: focus on access, community, and collectibles with clear legal counsel.

Call to action

WME’s move on The Orangery is a signal flare — a chance for studios and creators to rethink how comics seed games. Want a ready‑to‑use transmedia checklist and sample term‑sheet items tailored for comic IP? Download our free Transmedia Deal Playbook at defying.xyz/transmedia-checklist or drop a note to our editors to get a 30‑minute deal triage call. If you’re building a game from a graphic novel, don’t go it alone — turn the panels into play the smart way.

Unknown

Contributor

Senior editor and content strategist. Writing about technology, design, and the future of digital media. Follow along for deep dives into the industry's moving parts.