In 1981 and 1982, prior to publishing dedicated comic books based on Dungeons & Dragons , TSR created a series of comics as advertisements for the Basic and Expert sets. These ads, written by Stephen D. Sullivan; their illustrators included Jeff Dee and Bill Willingham, were divided into two sets. One ran in various Marvel Comics titles; the other in Epic Illustrated and Heavy Metal . [1]
In 1987, following the successful launch of the Dragonlance campaign setting, TSR began a series of graphic novels adapting the setting's successful novels by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. The company's limited familiarity with comic book distribution led them to negotiate a licensing arrangement with DC Comics. DC produced Dungeons & Dragons comics under this license from 1988 until 1991, when conflicts over licensing led DC to not renew the agreement. A number of advertised comics were cancelled as a result, including an intended series written by James Lowder and set in Ravenloft. [1]
Few licensed comics were produced over the next several years, a period of time that included the acquisition of TSR by Wizards of the Coast. In 2001, an agreement was reached with Kenzer and Company to produce Dungeons & Dragons comics, which lasted until 2004 when the property was licensed to Devil's Due Publishing. Devil's Due lost the license in 2008 amidst financial difficulties the company attributed to book store returns. [2]
From 2010 to 2024, the Dungeons & Dragons comic book license was held by IDW Publications. They have published several new ongoing and limited series along with reprints of earlier series, including some DC and Devil's Due comics. [2] In 2021, HarperCollins Children's Books obtained exclusive rights to publish Dungeons & Dragons middle grade books, which include graphic novels. [3] Dark Horse Comics will acquire the comic book license in 2025. [4] [5]
Series | Publisher | Dates | Issues | Notes | Ref. |
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Dragones y Mazmorras [Dungeons and Dragons] | Planeta DeAgostini | 1985–1986 | 27 | Spanish-language adaptation of the Dungeons & Dragons animated television series. | [6] |
The Dragonlance Saga | TSR / DC Comics | 1987–1991 | 5 | First comic book featuring the Dragonlance campaign setting. Written by Roy Thomas, adapting Dragons of Autumn Twilight and Dragons of Winter Night . Published in graphic novel format. The first three volumes were published exclusively by TSR; the last two were in partnership with DC Comics. | [1] |
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons | DC Comics | 1988–1991 | 36 | First comic book featuring the Forgotten Realms campaign setting. Writers include Michael Fleisher, Jeff Grubb, and Dan Mishkin. | [1] |
Dragonlance | DC Comics | 1988–1991 | 34 | Most issues written by Dan Mishkin. | [1] |
Forgotten Realms | DC Comics | 1989–1991 | 25 | Written by Jeff Grubb. | [1] |
Spelljammer | DC Comics | 1990–1991 | 15 | First comic book featuring the Spelljammer campaign setting. Written by Barbara Kesel. | [1] |
Avatar: War of the Gods | DC Comics | 1991 | 3 | Written by Barbara Kesel as an adaptation of the first three books of The Avatar Series . | [1] |
Dragon Strike | Marvel Comics | 1994 | 1 | Written by Jeff Grubb, based on the DragonStrike board game. | [2] |
TSR Limited Edition | TSR | 1996 | 4 | Given away as promotional products. The four issues are Forgotten Realms: The Grand Tour (by Jeff Grubb), Birthright: The Serpent's Eye (by Ed Stark), Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Labyrinth of Madness (by Mike Barron), and Dragonlance: The Fifth Age (by Tom and Mary Bierbaum). [lower-alpha 1] | [2] |
Baldur's Gate | Interplay Entertainment | 1998 | 1 | Free promotional comic for the Baldur's Gate video game. | [2] |
Series | Publisher | Dates | Issues | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Forbidden Sands of Anauroch | 21st Century Games | 2000 | 2 | Graphic novels released in hardcover. Advertised as a six-issue series, but cancelled by 21st Century after the first two. | [2] |
In the Shadow of Dragons | Kenzer & Company | 2001–2002 | 8 | First comic book featuring the Greyhawk campaign setting. | [2] |
Tempest's Gate | Kenzer & Company | 2001–2002 | 4 | [2] | |
Black & White | Kenzer & Company | 2002–2003 | 6 | [2] | |
Vecna: Hand of the Revenant | Iron Hammer Graphics | 2002 | 1 | Graphic novel. Intended as part one of a series that was never produced. | [2] |
Where Shadows Fall | Kenzer & Company | 2003–2004 | 5 | [2] | |
Crisis in Raimiton | Wizards of the Coast | 2004 | 1 | Produced for Free Comic Book Day in 2004. | [2] |
Dragonlance: The Legend of Huma | Devil's Due Publishing | 2004–2005 | 6 | Adapted from the novel of the same name. Due in part to licensing complications, the sixth issue was printed as part of a graphic novel compilation before being printed in stand-alone comic book form. | [2] |
The Legend of Drizzt | Devil's Due Publishing | 2005–2008 | 22 | Adapted from R. A. Salvatore's Dark Elf trilogy, Icewind Dale trilogy, and The Legacy . | [2] |
Dragonlance Chronicles | Devil's Due Publishing | 2005–2006 | 24 | Adapted from Dragons of Autumn Twilight , Dragons of Winter Night , and Dragons of Spring Dawning . | [2] |
Eberron: Eye of the Wolf | Devil's Due Publishing | 2006 | 1 | First comic book featuring the Eberron campaign setting. Written by Keith Baker. | [2] |
The Worlds of Dungeons & Dragons | Devil's Due Publishing | 2008 | 7 | Various writers and settings, including the first comic book featuring the Ravenloft campaign setting, written by James Lowder. | [2] |
Dragonlance Legends | Devil's Due Publishing | 2008 | 3 | Adapted from Time of the Twins . | [2] |
Series | Publisher | Dates | Issues | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dungeons & Dragons | IDW Publishing | 2010–2012 | 16 | Written by John Rogers and illustrated by Andrea Di Vito, Denis Medri, Horacio Domingues and Juanan. | [2] [7] |
Dark Sun: Ianto's Tomb | IDW Publishing | 2011 | 5 | Written by Alex Irvine with art by Peter Bergting. | [2] [8] |
The Legend of Drizzt: Neverwinter Tales | IDW Publishing | 2011 | 5 | Written by R. A. Salvatore. | [2] [9] |
Forgotten Realms | IDW Publishing | 2012 | 5 | Written by Ed Greenwood, creator of the Forgotten Realms setting, with art by Lee Ferguson and Sal Buscema. | [10] [11] |
Forgotten Realms: Cutter | IDW Publishing | 2013 | 5 | Written by R. A. Salvatore and Geno Salvatore with art by David Baldeon and Steve Ellis. | [12] [13] |
Legends of Baldur's Gate | IDW Publishing | 2014–2015 | 5 | Written by Jim Zub with art by Max Dunbar and Sarah Stone. Four sequel limited series have been published. | [14] |
Abraxis Wren of Eberron | IDW Publishing | 2015 | 2 | Written by Paul Crilley with art by Valerio Schiti, Livio Ramondelli and Menton J. Matthews III (credited as menton3). | [15] [16] |
Shadows of the Vampire | IDW Publishing | 2016 | 5 | Written by Jim Zub with art by Nelson Daniel and Max Dunbar. Follows Legends of Baldur's Gate. | [17] [18] |
Frost Giant's Fury | IDW Publishing | 2017 | 5 | Written by Jim Zub with art by Netho Diaz. Follows Shadows of the Vampire. | [17] [19] |
Evil at Baldur's Gate | IDW Publishing | 2018 | 5 | Written by Jim Zub and Steven Cummings with art by Dean Kotz, John Wycough, Harvey Tolibao, Jim Zub and Francesco Mortarino. Follows Frost Giant's Fury. | [20] [21] |
Rick and Morty vs. Dungeons & Dragons | IDW Publishing, Oni Press | 2018–2019 | 4 | Co-written by Jim Zub and Patrick Rothfuss with art by Troy Little. Crossover with Rick and Morty . | [22] [23] |
A Darkened Wish | IDW Publishing | 2019 | 5 | Written by B. Dave Walters with art by Tess Fowler. | [24] |
Rick and Morty vs. Dungeons & Dragons II: Painscape | IDW Publishing, Oni Press | 2019 | 4 | Written by Jim Zub and Sarah Stern with art by Troy Little. Crossover with Rick and Morty. | [25] |
Infernal Tides | IDW Publishing | 2019–2020 | 5 | Written by Jim Zub with art by Max Dunbar. Follows Evil at Baldur's Gate. | [26] [27] |
Series | Publisher | Dates | Issues | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Released | |||||
Stranger Things and Dungeons & Dragons | IDW Publishing, Dark Horse Comics | 2020 | 5 | Co-written by Jim Zub and Jody Houser with art by Diego Galindo, colors by Michele Assarasakorn, and letters by Nate Piekos. Crossover with Stranger Things . | [28] |
At the Spine of the World | IDW Publishing | 2020–2021 | 4 | Written by AJ Mendez and Aimee Garcia with art by Martin Coccolo and colors by Katrina Mae Hao. | [29] |
Mindbreaker | IDW Publishing | 2021–2022 | 5 | Written by Jim Zub with art by Eduardo Mello. Follows Infernal Tides and acts as a prelude to the video game Baldur's Gate III . | [30] [31] |
Dungeons & Dragons Annual 2022 | IDW Publishing | 2022 | 1 | Written by Jim Zub & Ryan Cady with art by Eduardo Mello & Kyler Clodfelter. | [3] |
Dungeons & Dragons: Dungeon Club: Roll Call: 1 | HarperCollins Children's Books | 2022 | 1 | Written by Molly Ostertag with art by Xanthe Bouma. | [32] |
Dungeons & Dragons: Ravenloft – Orphan of Agony Isle | IDW Publishing | 2022 | 4 | Written by Casey Gilly with art by Bayleigh Underwood and Corin Howell | |
Dungeons & Dragons: Saturday Morning Adventures | IDW Publishing | 2023 | 4 | Written by David M. Booher & Sam Maggs with art by George Kambadais. | [33] |
Dungeons & Dragons: Saturday Morning Adventures II | IDW Publishing | 2024 | 4 | Written by David M. Booher with art by George Kambadais. | [34] |
Upcoming | |||||
Brie and the Borrowed Blade | Webtoon | 2024 | Written by Purpah with art by Ryan LeCount; R.A. Salvatore is also involved in the creation of the webtoon. It follows Brie, the daughter of Drizzt and Cattie-Brie. | [35] [36] | |
Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories. Several years later, it was published for the D&D game as a series of magazine articles, and the first Realms game products were released in 1987. Role-playing game products have been produced for the setting ever since, in addition to novels, role-playing video game adaptations, comic books, and the film Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.
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