For as long as most of us can remember, licensed comics haven been a part of the comic book industry. From the original Star Wars to TRON: Legacy to the bizarre upcoming Prelude to Marvel’s Avengers – a licensed prequel to a comic book adaptation super-movie – these kind of things are standard fare for building a franchise and covering all of the bases. But one franchise in particular – one set to make a huge return in the coming year – has been notably absent from comic books altogether: J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth saga of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. More..