Dynamite Entertainment, Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products, and writer Jason Aaron are bringing a sword-and-sorcery classic to comics for the very first time. Get ready — Thundarr the Barbarian is slashing into comic shops in 2026.
The cult-favorite cartoon ran for two seasons in the early ’80s, blending barbarian fantasy, sci-fi, and post-apocalyptic chaos. Now, for the first time, Thundarr, Princess Ariel, and Ookla the Mok are stepping onto the comics page to battle mutants, wizards, and the forces of cosmic destruction.
At the helm is Jason Aaron, one of the biggest names in modern comics, known for acclaimed runs on Thor, Avengers, and his revival of Conan the Barbarian. For Aaron, Thundarr isn’t just another project — it’s personal.
“Thundarr the Barbarian isn’t simply my all-time favorite Saturday morning cartoon,” Aaron said via press relese. “It’s a fundamental component of my DNA as a writer. To say I’m thrilled to be crafting Thundarr’s first ever comic book adventure would be a gross understatement.
“This strange new world arisen from the old, a world of savagery, super-science and sorcery, as created by so many comic book legends, imprinted on me in a profound way at an early age,” Aaron added. “In a career full of dream jobs, this one will most assuredly go down as one of the dreamiest. And as a lifelong fan of this character and his richly-imagined world, I’m intent on creating a story that honors the cartoon we all know and love, while propelling Thundarr into his most epic adventure yet.”
Artist Kewber Baal (Vampirella, James Bond) joins Aaron to bring the action to life, marking a major breakout moment in his career. And Dynamite is pulling out all the stops with a lineup of variant covers from top artists including Rob Liefeld, Dan Panosian, Francesco Mattina, Michael Cho, Joseph Michael Linsner, Björn Barends, and more.
In this debut series, Thundarr faces his most dangerous mission yet when classic foes like Gemini and Mindok unite for revenge. The story will also reveal, for the first time ever, Thundarr’s origin — including his first encounter with Ariel, Ookla, and the Sunsword.
Despite its legendary pedigree — with creative contributions from Jack Kirby, Alex Toth, and Steve Gerber — Thundarr the Barbarian has never had its own comic book series. That changes in January, with a project first teased at San Diego Comic-Con and now officially spotlighted at New York Comic Con.
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