Dynamite Entertainment announced a new series of franchises that will be coming to comics soon in 2024 and beyond through its partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products (WBDGCP).
There are five major new titles to announce that are in the pipeline for new comics right now. These include Ben 10, Captain Planet and the Planeteers, Thundarr the Barbarian, The Herculoids, and Dynomutt & Blue Falcon.
Dynamite is excited to announce the first creator attached to one of the Warner Bros. properties, as beloved writer Tom Sniegoski takes on The Herculoids. Sniegoski is a veteran of comics for over three decades. His major breakout work was spearheading the Vampirella franchise in 1993. Since then he’s returned to the character multiple times, and worked on other big titles like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Hellboy, Bone, Star Trek, Punisher, and more.
“I know this is gonna sound stupid, but ever since I was a little Sniegoski-ling, I’ve been in love with these characters forever,” said writer Tom Sniegoski. “I can’t tell you how excited I am for this project and can’t wait to show the fans what I’ve got planned.”
The Herculoids is a unique mix of science fiction and fantasy, featuring a “space barbarian” family of father Zandor, mother Tara, and son Dorno alongside their eponymous giant pet Herculoids. These include Zok, a giant dragon able to shoot lasers; the rhinoceros Tundro; an ape formed of rocks named Igoo; and last but not least the shape-shifting Gloop and Gleep. Together this ragtag team fights off robots, evil scientists, and a stream of other foes who threaten their planet and way of life. The classic Hanna-Barbera show spotlights the boundless creative vision and unique character designs of legendary animation and comics artist Alex Toth.
Thundarr the Barbarian and Dynomutt, Dog Wonder (featuring Blue Falcon) also come from the prestigious vaults of the Hanna-Barbera and Ruby Spears animation masterpieces, a bit later than Space Ghost and Herculoids, as these two shows originally ran in the late 1970s and early 80s.
Thundarr is set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland vision of Earth, which has devolved into a barbarian state. The principal creator of the series was Steve Gerber, known for many comics contributions over the years.
Though often giving Blue Falcon first billing from fans, Dynomutt is actually more focused on the titular robotic canine companion and his bumbling attempts to help his superhero master with his haphazard abilities and tools afforded by his mechanical body.
One of the most exciting new announcements in this lot is the first entry of the Ben 10 franchise in comic books. This is a full circle moment for Ben, as the beloved character and world were created and developed by the Man of Action Entertainment collective. This group was founded by four comic book luminaries in Joe Kelly, Joe Casey, Steven T. Seagle, and Duncan Rouleau.
Captain Planet and the Planeteers left an indelible mark on the imaginations and worldviews of children who grew up with it originally in the 1990s and those who have gone back to it via reruns. The show took an inclusive and trailblazing approach to its cast and premise, as five children from diverse backgrounds come together with the ability to summon Captain Planet in addressing crises facing the Earth such as environmental pollution, and so much more.
Since Dynamite and Warner Bros. originally announced their partnership at New York Comic-Con in 2023, the debut of ThunderCats from writer Declan Shalvey and artist Drew Moss has exploded to be one of the biggest and most hyped titles in the industry. Space Ghost by David Pepose and Jonathan Lau followed hot on those heels, with a critically acclaimed and fan-favorite take on the character and superhero genre. Then Jonny Quest by Joe Casey and Sebastian Piriz is about to make a huge splash this August, following a glowingly received preview chapter released for Free Comic Book Day. Dynamite is excited to maintain this momentum and keep bringing incredible stories and top creators to fans featuring some of their favorite franchises.