Dungeons & Dragons Is Officially Nerfing One of Its Most Powerful Characters Ahead of New Series

Published Aug 18, 2026, 5:08 PM EDT

Dungeons & Dragons is truly making 2026 its year, with the franchise partnering with Dark Horse to launch the ongoing series Dungeons & Dragons: The Fallbacks and Dungeons & Dragons: Total Party Killers. In addition to these ongoing series, fans can also look forward to Dungeons & Dragons: Ravenloft, a four-part horror miniseries launching September 16, 2026.

However, while all these new series are exciting, the most anticipated of the bunch will undoubtedly be the recently announced Dungeons & Dragons flagship series, which is slated to be an ongoing epic with an unknown number of installments at present time. The series will be spearheaded by Eisner-nominated creators Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly (Star Trek, Captain America, NYX), who will be joined by Ibraim Roberson (Annihilation 2099, Star Wars, Weapon X), Arabson Oliveira, Dan Brown, and Haley Rose-Lyon.

Among Dark Horse’s various D&D comic series, the upcoming Dungeons & Dragons stands out for several reasons, including the fact that it will serve as the comic publisher’s flagship series and star one of the franchise’s most famous and powerful characters, Mordenkainen. However, as previously mentioned, this series isn’t simply a retelling of Mordenkainen’s story; instead, it will take the bold approach of stripping the legendary wizard of his power.

Dungeons & Dragons New Series Is Stripping Mordenkainen of His Legendary Power

Main Cover by Esad Ribic for Dungeons & Dragons #1 (2026)

Slated for a November 4, 2026, release, Dungeons & Dragons #1 will be 32 pages and available for $4.99 at local comic shops or digitally. While much of the series remains under wraps, the official synopsis for issue #1 reveals two major changes to the status quo when it comes to typical D&D lore. First, the series will take place in the Forgotten Realms, despite its main character being Mordenkainen.

This is notable because Mordenkainen is typically a Greyhawk character, and while he has crossed over into other D&D settings, fans most commonly associate him with Greyhawk. By bringing Mordenkainen into the Forgotten Realms, the series is already making a significant departure from the established status quo. However, the change in setting is far from the only major change on the horizon.

Mordenkainen is one of the most famous and powerful wizards in the franchise, known for his extraordinary power and his obsession with maintaining a balance between opposing cosmic forces. However, the synopsis for Dungeons & Dragons #1 reveals that he will be anything but powerful in this upcoming series:

A draconic apocalypse approaches the Forgotten Realms, and it has one name on its lips: MORDENKAINEN. Now, stripped of his magic but never out of the fight, the most powerful wizard in all reality will need the help of Faerûn’s most legendary heroes to restore the balance.

Creative hivemind Jackson Lanzing & Collin Kelly team with artist Ibraim Roberson for a brand-new ongoing epic that will shake the world(s) of Dungeons & Dragons!

This synopsis confirms that Mordenkainen will not only be less powerful than fans are typically accustomed to seeing him, but that he will be completely stripped of his magic. This makes for an exceptionally interesting premise, given that the series is essentially stripping Mordenkainen of the very thing that makes him Mordenkainen. The tease that he will still be “in the fight” is also particularly intriguing, as it raises the question of what exactly his contribution will be without his magic.

With Mordenkainen entering the Forgotten Realms and being stripped of his defining power, Dark Horse’s upcoming Dungeons & Dragons series is shaping up to be an exciting new chapter for the franchise.

Dungeons & Dragons #1 from Dark Horse Comics will be available to read on November 4, 2026!