The Forgotten Realms are getting a lot busier on comic shelves. Dark Horse Comics and Wizards of the Coast have announced an ongoing Baldur's Gate 3 series that follows the game's companions after their adventure ends, and it arrives right behind a brand new flagship Dungeons And Dragons comic that launches next month.
The Baldur's Gate 3 series was announced at New York Comic Con earlier this month with the first issue set for February 24th, 2027.
A Murder Mystery In Waterdeep
The opening six-issue arc follows Astarion Ancunín, the charming vampire spawn who became one of the most popular characters in the game. Dark Horse's synopsis explains that Astarion is "enjoying his freedom after escaping the clutches of Cazador Szarr. But when Waterdeep is rocked by a spree of gruesome ritual murders, Astarion must hunt down the killer before he becomes their next victim!"
Waterdeep, the City of Splendors, is one of the best-known locations in the Forgotten Realms, so it is a natural backdrop for a dark fantasy whodunit. The arc is written by Alyssa Wong (Star Wars: Doctor Aphra, Deadpool) and penciled by Vincenzo Carratù (Dracula: Blood Hunt), with inks by Elisabetta D'Amico, colors by Valentina Taddeo and letters by Buddy Beaudoin.
Karlach Descends Into The Nine Hells
The second arc is even more ambitious. Issues #7 through #18 follow the tiefling barbarian Karlach into the Nine Hells, the infernal plane she fought so hard to escape. Becky Cloonan, the writer behind Somna and Four Gathered on Christmas Eve, will script it, with Francesco Scimonelli on art.
From there, the series will rotate through Wyll, Shadowheart, Gale and Lae'zel, with other characters from the game appearing as well. Dark Horse says this is the first time any of these companions has appeared in comics.
The first issue is 32 pages, priced at $4.99 and rated 14+. Gerald Parel's main cover is joined by variants from Scott Fischer, Angela Wu and Tyler Walpole, along with a blank cover based on the game's character creation screen.
Mordenkainen Leads The Flagship Dungeons And Dragons Series
Before Astarion arrives, Dark Horse is launching its main Dungeons And Dragons ongoing series on November 4th. It is written by the Eisner-nominated team of Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly, whose credits include Star Trek and Captain America, with art by Ibraim Roberson and Arabson Oliveira.
Its official synopsis reads: "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."
Mordenkainen is a legendary wizard more traditionally associated with the World of Greyhawk setting, so bringing him into the Forgotten Realms is an interesting choice. Each issue also includes backmatter such as essays from RPG personalities and game assets that players can use in their own campaigns, and every issue gets a dragon foil variant cover.
The two series are linked too. Dungeons And Dragons #2, out on January 6th, 2027, will include a sneak peek at Baldur's Gate 3 #1.
Astarion's Story On The Page
Fantasy readers already got a taste of Astarion's past in prose. Baldur's Gate 3: Astarion, a prequel novel by award-winning author T. Kingfisher, was published last month (September 29th) and became a New York Times bestseller. It follows him during his years under Cazador and pairs him with an Aasimar paladin in a hunt for the blood of a dead god buried beneath Baldur's Gate.
Between the novel, the comic and the new flagship series, the Forgotten Realms are getting a steady stream of new stories in print.
Which new Forgotten Realms comic are you more likely to pick up, the Mordenkainen-led Dungeons And Dragons series or Astarion's Waterdeep mystery?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.