Marvel and DC Comics superheroes are everywhere at the moment - at the cinema, on TV, in newspapers and magazines. You can't even visit the deli of your local mini-mart without some minor comic book personality serving up your slices of ham and luxury cheese coleslaw. However, rather than using licensed characters, Freedom Force vs The Third Reich is stuffed with Irrational Games' own creations, such as the destructive metal-headed Manbot, and the rasping, beyond-the-grave revenge-seeking Tombstone. "There's no way we could do all the cool moddable stuff if we were licensed," says Irrational's CEO Ken Levine. "We want to be making more games for hardcore gamers that don't have publisher control. It's similar to an independent film. We'll plough all the money that we make from this one into another." Like a plot from a comic book, Irrational is ready to fight and build its own dynamic and funny alternative universe of Patriot City, free from the tyranny of big-money licensees and corporate interference. Kapow!