Dungeons & Dragons Announces New Dark Sun Trilogy, All Confirmed Details

Published Oct 12, 2026, 2:28 PM EDT

Dark Horse has officially announced an upcoming three-volume graphic novel initiative that will kick off on April 20, 2027, with the first volume of Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Sun. Marketed as “the perfect companion to the new Dark Sun TRPG book and Dungeons & Dragons’ Season of Survival,” this first installment in the graphic novel trilogy will follow Tikat, a lethal Thri-Kreen gladiator, as he joins forces with an unlikely team of antiheroes to fight for survival in the wastelands of Athas.

Fans will be pleased to learn that an S-tier creative team is joining forces to bring the graphic novel to life, with the first volume written by Dan Abnett (Warhammer 40,000), illustrated by Nil Vendrell (The Witcher), colored by Mattia Iacono (Werewolf by Night), and lettered by Buddy Beaudoin (The Flash). The 56-page Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Sun measures 6.625 x 10.1875 inches and will initially be released as a hardcover priced at $17.99.

Everything We Know About Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Sun Trilogy (So Far)

Main Cover by Jeff Stokely for Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Sun (2027)

While details for this Dark Sun-set Dungeons & Dragons graphic novel remain largely under wraps, Dark Horse Comics has shared the official cover, courtesy of artist Jeff Stokely. Right off the bat, the brutal desert world of Dark Sun is clear, but even more notable is the first look at what appears to be the main character, Tikat, and his ragtag party.

Tikat is easy to recognize, since the official synopsis identifies him as a Thri-Kreen, an insectoid humanoid species in Dungeons & Dragons. Therefore, the character who resembles a giant praying mantis on the cover is Tikat. Readers can find the official synopsis for the graphic novel below:

On Athas, every day is the end of the world. Amidst an arid wasteland defiled by psionic magic, callous survivors fight for scraps in the shadows of sorcerer kings. Generosity can get you killed in a place like this. But that won’t stop Tikat, a lethal Thri-kreen gladiator, from fighting for the ones he loves. So, when Tikat’s friend Wik is targeted by a powerful psionic enemy, Tikat volunteers himself as bodyguard.

What follows is a brutal battle for survival as Tikat, his cannibal companion Kvora, and the rest of their reluctant party members fight to escape the city of Tyr. As the team rends their way through hordes of bloodthirsty minions, they also hunt for the identity of their faceless enemy. Can Tikat and his comrades unmask their true foe before being butchered by a thrall?

While the graphic novel is marketed as the perfect companion to the new Dark Sun TRPG book, readers should note that no prior knowledge of the tabletop RPG or the Dark Sun setting is needed to enjoy the story. However, the graphic novel matters in the context of the wider Dark Sun franchise, as Wizards of the Coast has also announced the setting's return to fifth-edition D&D, with two tabletop releases planned: Dark Sun: Blood and Power and Dark Sun: Edge of Oblivion.

With this in mind, 2027 is shaping up to be an exceptional year for Dungeons & Dragons' Dark Sun fans.

Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Sun Vol. 1 from Dark Horse will be available to read on April 20, 2027!