Tron: Betrayal

by Jai Nitz, Andie Tong (Pencils), Jeff Matsuda (Illustrator)

Following the events of the original Tron, the year is 1983 and Kevin Flynn is now in charge of Encom. He's built it into the largest videogame company in the world. But that's not all Kevin has accomplished—he's also secretly built the Grid, a digital world filled with living programs! As this new world develops a life of its own, Flynn is going to first need the help of an old friend, a security program named Tron.

Tron: Betrayal serves as a prequel to TRON: Legacy, the Walt Disney Pictures' high-tech adventure film, which hits U.S. theaters in Disney Digital 3D and IMAX 3D on December 17, 2010.

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The Grid is in danger! Created by Kevin Flynn to be a place where the only limit was his imagination, the Grid evolved into more than Flynn could have conceived. As the world of the Grid and the real world change around him, Flynn finds that what was once his digital playground is growing into a dark and dangerous place. He'll have to make a decision that affects the lives of not only Tron and the other programs on the Grid, but the people in his life as well. Flynn's going to have to learn how to be in two places at once, and even that may not be enough!

Tron: Betrayal serves as a prequel to TRON: Legacy, the Walt Disney Pictures' high-tech adventure film, which hits U.S. theaters in Disney Digital 3D and IMAX 3D on December 17, 2010.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Fiction, Cyberpunk, Graphic Novels Comics, Fantasy

127 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2010

About the author

Jai Nitz is an American comic book writer who has written for Marvel, DC, Image, Disney, Dynamite, and other publishers. He graduated from the University of Kansas in 1998 with a degree in film studies. He won the prestigious Xeric Foundation grant in 2003 for his self-published anthology, Paper Museum. He won the Bram Stoker Award in 2004 for excellence in illustrated narrative for Heaven’s Devils from Image Comics.

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

Tron: Betrayal, unlike the movie, is not visually impressive. Whenever Tron, Clu, or Flynn was on the page, and especially when all three were, I had a hard time keeping track of which was which. Yes, I know Clu and Flynn are identical, but it was irritating to keep having to check clothing and hair details (and all three wore black) to see who was speaking, and Tron certainly isn't supposed to look like either. In our world, Jordan (Flynn's wife), looks like Lora, and both of them look like the random-woman-in-pink standing behind Flynn in one of his Encom scenes (Unless the random-woman-in-pink is meant to be one or the other. I can't tell).

We learn nothing about the Isos that was not shown in the movie: They seem sort of stuck-up in the one scene where Flynn talks to them, they dress strangely (or at least, Ophelia does), and they are killed. That's not much.

The Flynns get little development, either. Kevin Flynn is moderately irresponsible, which we already knew. Sam is a baby. And Mommy Flynn? I briefly discussed the movie with the Entity who wanted to know whether Kevin Flynn's wife even had a name, or if she existed just "to squirt out Sam." I defended her absence on the ground that the death-of-the-parents is a pretty traditional way to start fairy tales, which is more or less the genre I'd stick the Tron series in, if I were stashing it somewhere.

Tron: Betrayal answers the Entity's questions rather differently: Yes, Flynn's wife has a name (Jordan), and, yes, her sole purpose is to give birth to Sam. Her scenes come up as Flynn arrives at the doctor's office just in time to see the sonogram of little Sam, Flynn arrives at the doctor's office just in time for Sam's actual birth, and as Flynn carries toddler Sam to her gravestone. When alive, she's astoundingly cheerful about her husband's frequent absences and amazingly chipper about his missing her entire labor. When dead she is, of course, completely silent.

The book also adds an additional Grid-world character, Shaddox, who spends his time hanging out with Tron, Flynn, and Clu, commenting on things and who seems to be someone important. I don't know who he is in the scheme of things, as he's not in the movie, that I saw, and he's not introduced in Betrayal itself. I do know I could always identify him, since he was the black guy with the beard, something which strikes me as an embarrassment of riches. He could have been black and someone else could have had the beard, and I would have spent less time wondering which character was talking ("But what about his personality?" you ask (or I imagine you do). What about his personality? He has two identifying traits. That's more than any other character gets. You expect character development as well?).

I had hoped for something that would help me better understand and enjoy the movie. Tron: Betrayal did not provide that.

Note: This was originally part of a dual movie/graphic novel review over on my blog, Bookwyrme's Lair. Stop by and visit for more reviews, photos, visits to city parks, and other adventures.

[Eden · Rating 3 out of 5]

I need MORE

[Kati · Rating 3 out of 5]

Artwork: Amazing. Very similar to the movie, it really felt like a different world! 5 stars.

Story: Kind of boring, to be honest. It took place between Tron and Tron: Legacy, it set up the second movie, it told us why Clu had decided to destroy the ISOs in the first places, yet... Yet it felt shallow, too much stuff cramped into 100+ pages. And honestly? After reading it, I found Clu more likable than Flynn because Flynn wanted it all - a company, a wife, a kid, a world of his own - and messed up everything. He was never there when he was needed and little by little, everybody lost their faith in him, until only Tron remained by his side. This comic book made me wonder if Flynn ever had it in him to be a leader or if he had always been an unrealistic dreamer for whose shortcomings everybody had to pay the price. 2 stars.

[Neil R. Coulter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tron and Tron Legacy are two of my favorite films. This graphic novel fills in some of the story in the years between the movies. The artwork is bright and vivid, which suits the look of of the movies. But the character design is bland, and there are story elements that don't line up with the movies—for example, Kevin stepping down from being Encom CEO, and Kevin and Sam having no real father–son relationship, which is at the heart of Tron Legacy. The writer of this graphic novel seems to have spent all his time thinking about the grid, and the real-world story is neglected. A number of obvious typos also marred the reading.

[Alexander Draganov · Rating 5 out of 5]

As one other reviewer said, superfun quick read. This "Tron" graphic novel tells the story of the second Grid, before the Legacy movie - how Clu came to be, why he became evil. The story was interesting and well executed. The highlight to me was the growing madness of Clu, the inability of Tron to calm his fellow program and the way Kevin couldn't accept what is happening. The story is actually pretty gloomy, a bit like "The Revenge of the Sith". Strongly recommened for "Tron" fanboys like me.

[noor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tron: Legacy is one of my favorite movies of all time, and I was ecstatic to find this. I always wondered what happened to the world between the films, and this leaves much to be desired, sadly. I was pleased with Flynn and Tron's relationship and the explanation for CLU's hatred of the ISO's stemming from Flynn's perfectionist tendencies and CLU having the power to actually control one world, but it fell short in all other aspects. Wish there was more!

[Christopher · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow. I know it's been awhile since I've seen the movie but I was hoping that this prequel would at least do the usual setting up of what comes after but no, nothing of the sort. At all. I take that back, it does at least say where Clu comes from so...one point for that?

Terrible art, terrible plotting, terrible guilt for everything that happens to the characters. She's dead for no reason?!? Just...ugh. I can't believe Disney paid for this and then published it. No wonder they didn't want to make Tron 3 when they saw how badly people talked about everything they did to Tron 2. "We thought we made good decisions and everyone hated it so obviously they were wrong."

Doesn't make me excited about Tron 3 at all.

[Valéria. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read set before Tron:Legacy. And pretty good one. I had problem sometimes to recognize who is who, but other than that, art was good too. But let's stay with good, or possible to look at without headache. If you liked movies, this is good filler for a gap between them.

[Giovanni Gelati · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where to start on this one: I have yet to see the new movie; I loved the original movie very much, and played all the video games from the original movie in Space Port. I know, I’m dating myself; I am over that already. I am married now but I will admit to being old enough to be among those that can say that they played the cutting edge games from back in the day. When I saw this was available I had to pick it up and give it read, memories. Here is the synopsis:
“Sam Flynn is the rebellious 27-year-old son of Kevin Flynn, a computer programmer who disappeared when Sam was just a child. When Sam looks into his father’s disappearance, he finds himself pulled into the same world of brutal programs and gladiatorial games where his father has been living for almost 25 years. Along with Kevin’s loyal confidante, Quora, Kevin Flynn and his son Sam must embark on a life-and-death voyage across a visually-stunning cyber universe to put an end to the evil Clu and his reign of this digital world.
This 128-page graphic novel prequel will bridge the story between the first Tron film from 1982 and the upcoming Walt Disney Studio’s film, Tron: Legacy. “
Anytime I can read about Flynn and the MCP is a good day in my book. The art in this is just right; the storyline is a good continuation and helps explain in some ways what is going on currently and what Flynn has been doing since his disappearance oh those many years ago. I like the fact that they have resurrected this story and I am looking forward to playing the video games with my kids that I am sure will sprout up from this new movie. The graphic novel is a good tie into it, something to whet the appetite, and get us prepared for the main event, TRON:Legacy. The graphic novel is indeed a very nice bridge to the new movie. Check it out; it is a quick ride worth taking.
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[Lisa M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Side note, the description above (and on other sites for this book) actually describes Tron: Legacy and not Tron: Betrayal.

This is the prequel to Tron: Legacy, but to really understand this I think you need to have seen the movie first. There's some great backstory here that there just wasn't time for in Tron: Legacy. Being a fan of both the original and the new movie, and eager for more, I ate this up. Any fan who's interested in learning more about the events in the Tron world, should read this.

Tron: Betrayal follows Flynn, Clu and (to a lesser extent) Tron as they all struggle with their responsiblities. We gain a greater understanding of Flynn and Clu, watching how they change over the course of the book. I don't want to say more, for fear of leaking spoilers, but it's interesting witnessing the characters' growth.

I wish this had been longer. There was more that could have been done with the Isos. They were a major part of the storyline, but they were hardly mentioned except in passing. I know they appear in the video game from the same prequel time period, so maybe their story's there. Also several parts, including the end, felt rushed and I was a bit confused about what happened.

The artwork was mediocre. The main characters looked very similar. At times, I had to look at outfits to confirm who was talking. The action scenes were also muddled and confusing.

I still enjoyed this, I just wished there was more. Any Tron fans looking for more backstory to the new movie should read this.

[Chris Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some reviewers are saying that you should watch Tron: Legacy before reading this book. I completely disagree. BUT - if you are going to read this book first (and you should, because it's a prequel), you should play the video game, Tron: Evolution. The video game actually takes place after this book, and before the movie.

So the chronology is like this:
Tron (film)
Tron: Betrayal (graphic novel)
Tron: Evolution (video game)
Tron: Legacy (film)

That's the order in which I experienced Tron, and I was never lost or confused. The book and the game may give away some things from Tron: Legacy, but they also give you a broader view and better understanding of what's happening. Best of all, the video game allows you to play a character that contributes to the story in a way that is acknowledged in Tron: Legacy, and it's surprisingly satisfying.

[Gordon Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tron: Betrayal, which the summary on the site inaccurately describes, is the tale of what happened between the two Tron films. The book chronicles the fall of Clu, who is the digital counterpart to the book's main character Kevin Flynn. This book was a fun read and would be great for any kid who is interested in the Tron films. It helps fill in some of the missing information that the latest Tron film hints at but doesn't fully explain. The dialogue is well-written and it's sad to see how Kevin Flynn's life pretty much falls apart. He is too committed to too many things, and ultimately everything he has his hand in falls apart. There's a certain lesson in that that every person in today's hectic society can relate to.

[Indah Threez Lestari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Graphic novel ini menjadi jembatan antara film Tron dengan Tron: Legacy. Jalan ceritanya kurang lebih sama dengan flashback di Tron: Legacy, bagian Papa Flynn menjelaskan pada sang anak tentang asal-usul dia bisa terjebak di Grid, tapi lebih rinci dan jelas.

But... lagi-lagi, sama dengan Tron: Legacy, kayaknya nggak pantas deh buku ini pakai-pakai nama Tron, padahal Tron-nya sendiri cuma numpang lewat, jadi cameo dan figuran saja.

Oh... Bruce Boxleitner!!!

[Mitchel Broussard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great at hinting what Legacy will be about, explaining the origins of Clu (and why he's gonna be the bad guy), and generally a super fun quick read.

[Adam · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really felt in love with Tron: Legacy when it came out and still love it. That led me to Tron which I couldn't stand thanks to the heavily dated CGI. I've never been able to get that same Tron kick anywhere outside of Tron: Legacy. I was hoping this would do it.

The story left a lot to be desired. It serves as a prequel to Tron: Legacy. It started off promising by giving a recap of Tron. But then it transitioned into into the new story not shown in the movies. Sometimes I was digging it and was hopeful it would dive into certain plot lines more. However, right when I felt like it was going somewhere good...it would stop. The dialogue and plot also began to feel repetitive at times too.

The art was good in a lot of ways. They perfectly mimicked the movies and it really set the vibe. But here's the problem. Tron, CLU, and Flynn are all dudes similar in age and appearance. The was very little to separate the characters visually so you'd have to pay really close attention to things such as stubble. Then other times, it wasn't so clear because the character is in a suit. So I was lost at times. My other problem was the use of gutters. You have heavy inked blacked artwork and your gutters are also black. When your panel layout gets creative, I have to know where to look. But all that black made it hard for my eyes to follow and determine where I'm supposed to look and what is going on.

Ultimately, I would not recommend this unless you really really love Tron and want more story.

[Kevin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this more than I did. Overall I thought the art work was pretty good although there were many panels when I could not really tell what the heck I was supposed to be seeing. Mostly during fight scenes so I got the gist but the details were cluttered.
My biggest problem with it was that the story was very choppy. It seemed like it was going to go in interesting directions a few times then fell flat and moved to something else. There were "real world" scenes that had nothing to do with anything else going on - why the fascination with Mumbai? It never factored into the story. Period.
And then the end of the last chapter, prior to the epilogue, just fell apart and really made no sense whatsoever.
The one thing this did really well was set up and show Clu's frustration with the conflicting orders he was given by Flynn. Enforce order and create the perfect system but also ignore the random changes that cause destructive bugs in the system. Unfortunately that is about the only thing that was really well done in this story. It feels like it was almost great but had no clear direction of how to get there.

[Patrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was, very simply, a book that didn’t need to exist. The backstory to Tron: Legacy is told sufficiently in a more efficient way in the film. This graphic novel doesn’t add much to that background, except some texture about what was going on at ENCOM and Kevin’s relationship with the mother of his son (which is bare bones at best).

Worse is that the action panels are an incomprehensible mess. It’s hard to tell what’s going on and which character is which. Die hards may enjoy this, but even regular Tron fans won’t find much to love here.

[Scot Eaton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a pretty good representation of the Tron franchise: the visuals are jaw-droppingly gorgeous, and the story makes no sense.

This is not the writer's fault here; it's that the Tron world tries so hard to make you believe there are stakes, when ultimately it all just takes place in one random person's computer, and could be immediately wiped with a disk format with little to no consequences.

[Greg Fischer]

Fantastic insight into the time between the original Tron film in 1982 and the new Tron:Legacy film in 2010. This story can also be seen somewhat in the Tron:Uprising animation series that went for one season with 19 episodes.

[Payton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish it was longer and the action was kinda incomprehensible most of the time but as a fan of tron 1 and legacy this was a really cool way to connect those more directly. Flynn and clu’s characters and parallels were definitely the highlights.

[Engel Dreizehn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good backstory, artwork and run up to the Tron Legacy movie....explains alot of things the movie doesn't too much like the ISO's and the founding of the Grid.

[Ken · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as I wanted it to be but always nice to find things in the Tron world

[Ron Turner · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disappointing. The art sucked and the story was lacking. It's a shame because I liked the idea behind it. A bridge between the two Tron movies.

[Katie Daniels · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got my Tron fix but it still ends too soon.

[DSP · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this more, as a huge Tron fan, but it fell a little flat. Not terrible and worth a read for any Tron fanatic, but it didn't win me over.

[Matthew Eargle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet, it effectively fills in some of the details between Tron and the prologue of Tron: Legacy.

[Stijn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great as a prequal, although I missed some critical origin info I wanted to know from the Tron: Legacy movie. Too bad, but otherwise, great stuff.

[Sam Nicholson · Rating 4 out of 5]

8/10

[Ritvij Tiwari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a solid prequel to such an underrated film. I hope they make a new Tron movie soon.

[Nathan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. Some good background information, but overall pretty uninspiring.