Dark Horse Comics and Hasbro’s Wizards of the Coast are launching new and exciting graphic novels, books, and comics expanding the worlds of popular tabletop role-playing games (TTRPG) Dungeons and Dragons and Magic: The Gathering. The announcement comes on the heels of the 50th anniversary of Dungeons and Dragons.
Dark Horse announced that the new graphic novels, books, and comics will expand the rich worlds of both series and tell original stories with new characters. Due to the reliance on imagination for both games, the possibilities in storytelling are practically endless.
The graphic novels and comics also provide a great opportunity to introduce the games to new fans who may want to learn about the worlds and lore, but not actively participate in a Dungeons and Dragons campaign or join a Magic: The Gathering group.
Dark Horse & Wizards Promise to Bring Magical Worlds of Imagination to Print
The Future is Bright for Fans of Comics and TTRPG Alike
Dark Horse has previously collaborated on Dungeons and Dragons-based content, most recently with the Netflix hit series, Stranger Things. But what makes this collaboration with Hasbro different is that the graphic novels, comics, and books are not tied to a specific show or license. The opportunities for varied partnerships and original storytelling are endless. Discussing the upcoming content in a Dark Horse press release, Marianne James, Senior Vice President, Licensed Consumer Products at Hasbro said:
Dungeons and Dragons and Magic: The Gathering are two legendary games with incredibly strong fandoms and world-building gameplay. We are dedicated to expanding these universes through unique brand-offerings and world-class partnerships, ultimately bringing players and fans alike new, exciting ways to engage with these iconic franchise brands. From this licensed publishing program with Dark Horse Comics, we anticipate a lot of excitement to come with new artwork and creative storytelling.
At their core, both Dungeons and Dragons and Magic: The Gathering are about telling unique stories based on the whims of the dice or the cards.
Both games require a fair amount of investment and a learning curve, as the rules can be complex. With Dungeons and Dragons, the key element is having enough time to devote to a campaign where sessions can easily surpass two hours in one sitting. Speaking about this matter in the same Dark Horse press release, Jackie Jones, Vice President of Creative, Magic: The Gathering said:
We’re so excited to be teaming up with the incredible creatives at Dark Horse to invite fans and newcomers alike into the iconic fantasy world that has defined Magic: The Gathering for the past 30 years, told through a fresh new lens. Each series will feature epic, high-stakes stories across Magic’s visually stunning, diverse multiverse, told through the eyes of our most iconic, complex, and compelling heroes and anti-heroes – giving readers the opportunity to experience what makes Magic so unique and awesome.
With graphic novels, books, and comics, fans no longer have to worry about being able to commit to a group. The fun and excitement of both games will be at your fingertips.
Tabletop Role-Playing Games Have Skyrocketed in Popularity Over the Decades
2025 Marks 51 Years of Dungeons and Dragons and 32 Years of Magic: The Gathering
Dungeons and Dragons was invented by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson in 1974, and was met with mixed reviews, with much of the public believing the game to be Satanic in origin. Despite the criticism, Dungeons and Dragons endured through the years and made a mainstream resurgence recently with streaming sensations such as Critical Role, The Adventure Zone, and Dimension 20. Critical Role has been so successful that the campaigns were adapted into an animated series, The Legend of Vox Machina. The Adventure Zone was adapted into graphic novels, and Dimension 20 is launching a webcomic on WEBTOON this Spring.
Part of the reason for the resurgence and mainstream popularization of Dungeons and Dragons has been due to celebrities expressing their love for the game and even appearing as guests on series like Critical Role. Additionally, the actors/comedians who run the series are often extremely successful in their respective fields, from podcasting to voice acting. The Adventure Zone, for example, was created and played by brothers Justin, Griffin, and Travis McElroy, who already had a massive fanbase due to their hit comedy/advice podcast, My Brother, My Brother, and Me.
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TTRPGs have become so popular that graphic novels, comics, shows, and podcasts aren’t the only forums for gameplay. Last year, a Dungeons and Dragons interactive live show, The Twenty-Sided Tavern, debuted off-Broadway at the Stage 42 theater. The Twenty-Sided Tavern is formatted in such a way that one doesn’t need any knowledge of Dungeons and Dragons to attend. No two shows are the same, as the actors’ storylines are at the mercy of the dice and audience participation. Actors such as Felicia Day and Neil Newborn have appeared as guests of the show, appealing to a wide and diverse audience.
Dark Horse Has A Major Opportunity For Bold New Storytelling
Starting With Stranger Things, Dark Horse Knows How to Tell a Story
Dark Horse’s collaboration with Netflix’s Stranger Things capitalized on the popularity of the series, where a main focus of the show is a group of children playing Dungeons and Dragons. As the show was an immediate number one hit, Dark Horse launched a line of graphic novels that appeal to fans of the show, thus bringing more people into the world of Dungeons and Dragons. Particularly, Dark Horse focused on season 3 of Stranger Things, and the viewers’ response to the fan-favorite character, Eddie Munson. All of the Stranger Things Dark Horse graphic novels are currently available for preorder on Dark Horse’s website.
Dark Horse is known for unique and engrossing stories with stunning graphics. With the worlds of Dungeons and Dragons and Magic: The Gathering, most of the visuals are left to the Dungeon Master’s exposition or the player’s imagination. While a story may be pre-written for the Dungeon Master, the overall experience comes down to one’s own interpretation, even when playing with a game table and miniature models. However, by creating books, graphic novels, and comics within these worlds, Dark Horse will surely bring the reader into fantasy worlds beyond imagination.
Source: Dark Horse
