Comix Zone

Comix Zone is a 1995 beat 'em up game developed by Sega Technical Institute (STI) and published by Sega for the Sega Genesis. Set within the panels "Panel (comics)") of a comic book, it follows the comic writer/artist Sketch Turner who, after being transported into the comic by one of his creations, attempts to escape while contending with various threats. The game sees the player traversing six levels "Level (video games)"), where they interact with the comic world and must defeat enemies, or occasionally solve puzzles, to progress. Conceived by STI programmer Peter Morawiec, the concept for the game was originally shown off in 1992 via a demonstration video, entitled Joe Pencil Trapped In The Comix Zone. The concept was greenlit by Sega of America CEO Tom Kalinske and development began on the game in late 1993.