"Muppets Noir" Is Coming In 2026, As Kermit Becomes A "Hard-Boiled" Detective

The Muppets are reinventing themselves again, with a new series that throws it back to a classic genre: The Muppets Noir. The “hardboiled detective story” aesthetic of the early 20th century is all the rage right now, and it’s only fair that Kermit, Miss Piggy, and the rest of the iconic Muppets get a piece of the action.

The Muppets Noir #1 will be written and illustrated by Roger Langridge. The one-shot special issue is set for a February 2026 release.

The appropriately zany premise centers around Kermit getting bonked on the head with a brick, leaving his alter-ego “Flip Minnow, P.I.” to figure out whodunnit. In other words, it sounds like an instant Muppets classic.

Kermit Stars In “Muppets Noir,” The Next Great Genre Story For The Iconic Franchise

The Muppets Noir #1, Written And illustrated By Roger Langridge; Available February 2026 From Dynamite Entertainment

The Muppets are always at the top of their game when they take on genre stories. Look no further than Muppets Treasure Island, or A Muppets’ Christmas Carol, for proof of that. The upcoming Muppets Noir comic should prove to be no exception. The surprising thing is that the franchise hasn’t done more detective story parodies like this one.

Here is the synopsis for the issue:

It’s time to cue the music; it’s time to dim the lights! It’s time to get things started as the Muppets return tonight!

The show is about to begin at the famous Muppet Theatre, and the regular pre-curtain chaos has the troupe’s stalwart MC, Kermit the Frog, coming apart at the seams. In an attempt to de-stress, he settles down to read a few pages of a favorite old detective novel – only to get kayoed by an errant brick to the bean, leaving him laid out backstage as his co-stars try to coax him back to consciousness.

But unbeknownst to them, Kermit has taken up the hard-boiled mantle of his fictional hero to walk the darkened streets of Dreamland, righting wrongs and cracking cases under the concealing cover of night. Flip Minnow, P.I., has no time for song and dance – not if he’s going to solve the baffling mystery of the Snoozing Sleuth!

In other words, Muppets Noir is embracing the madcap energy of the Muppets and applying it to a noir detective story. This comes at a time when the genre is experiencing a renaissance, notably including the upcoming Spider-Noir Marvel spin-off starring Nicolas Cage.

Now, Cage’s gritty noir version of Peter Parker has competition: “Flip Minnow.” It’s a natural starring role for Kermit, while promising delirious reinterpretations of characters like Fozzy, Missy Piggy, and more, envisioned in an early-20th century cinematic milieu. Already, Muppets fans are wondering about the potential for the story beyond just this one-shot comic.

“Muppets Noir” Is The Perfect Kick-Off To The Franchise’s 50th Anniversary Celebration

A Classic-In-The-Making To Honor Five Decades Of Muppets

2026 is the 50th anniversary of The Muppets franchise. An anniversary special is expected to arrive on Disney+ sometime during the year, but beyond that, the future of the show, in its original format, remains up in the air. There are reportedly plans for a Miss Piggy solo film, but it is still early in development.

The last live-action Muppets appearance was 2021’s Haunted Mansion; before that, it was 2015’s underrated Office-style Muppets workplace comedy, which only lasted one season. Several animated films have kept the franchise alive, along with comics like Muppets Noir, which fans are already calling natural source material for a future movie.

Next year is going to be a big one for The Muppets and the franchise’s generations of fans. Muppts Noir is a great way to kick it off, and if it is successful, it might not be the last people see of “Flip Minnow, P.I.” and the noir incarnations of the legendary Muppets characters.

Muppets Noir #1 will be available February, 2026 from Dynamite Entertainment.