A brand new chapter is finally being added to The Lion King, expanding on the story of the original Disney classic. Returning to the timeline of the first film, the new comic series from Dynamite looks to deepend the bond between father and son, showing even more of the relationship forged as Mufasa prepares Simba to one day take his place as king.
The New Lion King Series Will Finally Give Fans More Mufasa & Simba
Unlike Other Prequels or Sequels, This Story Returns To The Original Film
The new series is a marked change from the standard prequel/sequel format movie fans have come to expect, with multiple video sequels following an adult Simba, or the 2024 Mufasa prequel movie. Instead, this new series will focus squarely on the greates strength of the first movie: the bond between Mufasa and Simba, before tragedy split them apart.
It seems a brilliant move for comic readers looking to enjoy this series with children, and both Dynamite and writer/artist Edwin Galmon referng to the book as a family-friendly affair. The official plot synopsis and cover art make it clear that this story is aimed squarely at those who fell in love with the father/son story at its heart, with the first preview now available below.
THE ONCE AND FUTURE KINGS! Get ready to return to the sweeping plains of Africa for a brand-new series of adventures starring Mufasa and Simba!
Written and illustrated by acclaimed talent EDWIN GALMON and set in the golden time before the rise of Scar, The Lion King follows the ruler of the Pride Lands and his young heir as they navigate the complex network of relationships that make up their kingdom – and learn firsthand how to defend it against the forces that threaten it both from the outside and from within.
Featuring appropriately epic covers by GALMON, MEGHAN HETRICK, JACOB EDGAR, and GIULIA LOMURNO, The Lion King #1 deepens the bond between father and son that lies at the heart of one of the greatest animated films ever made!
The First Preview Of The Lion King Comic Confirms The Film’s Setting
The Lion King #1 by writer/artist Edwin Galmon and Dynamite
Those expecting a traditional ‘prequel’ may be surprised by the first preview pages of The Lion King #1, which largely (but not exactly) recreate a scene from the Disney masterpiece. While this scene is followed by the unfolding plot to kill Mufasa in the film, the comic shifts into a casual scene of Mufasa and Zazu at Pride Rock. Which may give a hint as to Galmon’s structure.
In the theatrical film, the perspective jumps regularly between Simba and Mufasa’s story, and the scheming of Scar with his Hyena forces. Were a series to focus solely on Mufasa, Simba, Nala, and the other key figures in Simba’s life, even a story set directly within The Lion King‘s time period would tell a dramatically different story.
With many returning characters appearing alongside new ones, it seems an almost obvious ‘revisit’ of the original film for modern storytellers. If Mufasa and Simba were able to cement one of Disney’s masterpiece stories in just a handful of scenes together, what unforgettable moments could arise with an entire series devoted to that same task?
Considering Dynamite’s previous trip to the franchise turned in the best Lion King prequel Disney could ever make, there’s every reason to get excited by the premise alone. But we doubt many fans will be able to read these preview pages without nostalgia kicking in, and wishing for more of Mufasa and Simba’s time together. A wish that is now becoming a reality.
The Lion King #1 will be available November 19 from Dynamite Entertainment.
- Release Date
-
June 24, 1994
- Runtime
-
88 Minutes
- Director
-
Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff
- Writers
-
Linda Woolverton, Jonathan Roberts, Irene Mecchi
