Convention - SDCC 2026: Dark Horse Comics Will Celebrate Its 40th Anniversary with an Exceptional Lineup of Panels

By Mulder, 14 july 2026

As Dark Horse Comics prepares to celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2026, the renowned publisher is putting together one of its most ambitious panel lineups to date for San Diego Comic-Con 2026. It will bring together award-winning writers, artists, actors, game designers, editors, and industry veterans for four days of exclusive presentations celebrating the publisher’s past, present, and future. Alongside a full schedule of signing sessions at booth #2615, Dark Horse’s lineup will highlight some of the company’s most iconic franchises, including Dungeons & Dragons, Black Hammer, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Three Worlds / Three Moons, Minor Threats, and Usagi Yojimbo—while showcasing the creator-focused philosophy that has defined the publisher since its founding in 1986. Throughout the convention, attendees will have the opportunity to hear directly from many of the industry’s leading creators as they discuss world-building, licensed storytelling, creator-owned comics, and the future of some of Dark Horse’s biggest publishing initiatives.

Founded by Mike Richardson in 1986, Dark Horse Comics quickly established itself as one of North America’s most influential independent comic book publishers by offering creators greater autonomy over their work, while simultaneously producing high-quality licensed comics inspired by popular movies, TV shows, novels, and video games. Over the past four decades, the company has published flagship titles owned by their creators, including Mike Mignola’s Hellboy, Frank Miller’s Sin City, Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá’s The Umbrella Academy, and Jeff Lemire’s award-winning Black Hammer universe. At the same time, Dark Horse has become a leading publisher in the field of licensed properties thanks to successful partnerships involving, among others, Avatar: The Last Airbender, The Legend of Korra, The Witcher, Cyberpunk 2077, Critical Role, The Last of Us, Tomb Raider, Dungeons & Dragons, and many other globally recognized franchises. The publisher has also helped introduce Japanese manga to generations of readers through English-language editions of classics such as Lone Wolf and Cub, Berserk, Blade of the Immortal, and Trigun. Since becoming part of Embracer Group AB in 2022, Dark Horse has continued to expand its publishing catalog while remaining true to its commitment to creator-driven storytelling.

The publisher’s Comic-Con schedule kicks off on Thursday, July 23, with Dark Horse & Dungeons & Dragons & Comics, an interactive live-action role-playing event that perfectly illustrates the growing connection between tabletop games and comic book storytelling. Held at the Omni San Diego Hotel, this panel will be moderated by Mayanna Berrin, Dungeon Master for Wizards of the Coast’s live-action game series, alongside comic book creators Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, Amy Chu, and Becky Cloonan. Inspired by Dark Horse’s Dungeons & Dragons comics and the humorous Total Party Killers concept, this session promises both entertainment and exclusive announcements regarding future collaborations between Dark Horse Comics and Wizards of the Coast (a subsidiary of Hasbro). Moderated by Ally Raney, Director of Communications at Dark Horse, this panel highlights the publisher’s ongoing commitment to expanding one of the most iconic worlds of tabletop role-playing games through original comic book stories.

Later in the day, the panel Dark Horse Licensed Comics: More from Your Favorite Fandoms! will highlight the publisher’s remarkable portfolio of licensed properties. Hosted by Aaron Knowles of the podcast The Oblivion Bar, this discussion will bring together the creators responsible for adapting some of the entertainment industry’s biggest franchises into comics, including Masters of the Universe, Dungeons & Dragons, Magic: The Gathering, Cyberpunk 2077, and Tomb Raider. Dark Horse has built a solid reputation for producing comics that faithfully enrich existing fictional universes while remaining accessible to newcomers, and this panel offers fans a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process required to bring iconic characters from video games, movies, and TV shows to life in sequential art.

Thursday afternoon wraps up with one of the publisher’s most anticipated anniversary events: Black Hammer: 10th Anniversary Celebration. Created by Jeff Lemire, this Eisner Award-winning superhero saga has become one of Dark Horse’s iconic modern franchises since its debut in 2016. This panel brings together Lemire and other creators from the Black Hammer universe to look back on a decade of critically acclaimed stories, while revealing exclusive information about the franchise’s future. Through numerous spin-offs, limited series, and interconnected stories, Black Hammer has established itself as one of the most ambitious author-driven universes in contemporary comics, redefining superhero mythology through emotionally driven narratives and genre experimentation.

The program will continue on Friday, July 24, with Fire, Earth, Water, Air: Carrying On the Legacy of Avatar. Presented in partnership with Abrams Books, WEBTOON, and Magpie Games, this panel explores the enduring popularity of Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra, two franchises that have been central to Dark Horse’s editorial strategy for over a decade. Writers, artists, and editors will discuss the expansion of this beloved animated universe through graphic novels and new stories, while moderator Rotem Rusak of Nerdist will lead the discussion on world-building, character development, and the ongoing evolution of one of the most famous fantasy worlds in modern animation.

Friday’s schedule will also feature Dark Horse: Three Worlds / Three Moons, one of the convention’s most anticipated science fiction presentations. Created by star writers Jonathan Hickman and Nick Spencer, this sprawling multimedia universe aims to establish an entirely new mythology through interconnected comics developed by multiple creative teams. Hickman, widely recognized for redefining Marvel’s X-Men and creating East of West, will join Spencer—acclaimed for The Amazing Spider-Man and The Fix—to discuss collaborative storytelling, long-term universe-building, and the challenges of creating a shared fictional universe from scratch. Moderated by Chris Hacker of the podcast The Oblivion Bar, this panel offers fans an unprecedented glimpse into what Dark Horse hopes will become one of the next major creator-owned science fiction franchises.

Saturday’s lineup will feature creators who have successfully transitioned from acting to comic book writing. Dark Horse: Star-Powered Storytelling brings together Emmy and Grammy Award-winning actor Patton Oswalt, acclaimed actor and screenwriter David Dastmalchian, showrunner Jordan Blum, and several collaborators from the world of comics to discuss projects such as Minor Threats, Witness Point, American Caper, The Guy in the Chair, Count Crowley, and Kingdom of Earth. Moderated by author and producer Ben Blacker, this discussion explores how actors adapt their storytelling instincts to the comic book medium while collaborating with artists and editors to build original fictional worlds. In recent years, Oswalt and Dastmalchian have both established themselves as respected comic book creators, demonstrating that Hollywood talent can successfully bring meaningful stories to the comic book industry beyond traditional media adaptations.

Saturday’s program will also pay tribute to one of the longest-running independent comic book series in history with Dark Horse’s Usagi Yojimbo. Legendary creator Stan Sakai, whose samurai rabbit has captivated readers for over four decades, will be joined by Jared Cullum and Zack Rosenberg for a retrospective exploring the evolution of this beloved ronin’s adventures. Moderated by Justin Eisinger, editor-in-chief of Dogu Publishing, this panel will look back on the series’ rich history while discussing upcoming projects and the enduring relevance of one of the longest-running comic book properties, which remains owned by its creator. Launched in 1984, Usagi Yojimbo has won numerous Eisner Awards and remains widely regarded as one of the greatest independent comic book series ever produced.

The convention will conclude on Sunday, July 26, with Dark Horse Comics: 40 Years of Comic Nerds, a celebratory presentation honoring the publisher’s remarkable four-decade legacy. Hosted by Ally Raney, the event will bring together creators, publishers, and members of Dark Horse’s editorial team to reflect on the company’s evolution from an ambitious independent publisher to one of the most respected brands in the comic book industry. Attendees will learn the latest news about upcoming creator-owned titles, licensed comics, graphic novels, high-end art books, and collectibles, while hearing from the people who have shaped the publisher’s identity over the past forty years. This anniversary panel is both a celebration of Dark Horse’s extraordinary publishing history and a glimpse into the exciting projects planned for the years ahead.

Throughout its program at Comic-Con 2026, Dark Horse Comics will showcase the extraordinary diversity of its publishing catalog. Few publishers are able to simultaneously celebrate creator-owned masterpieces such as Hellboy, Black Hammer, Sin City, and Usagi Yojimbo, while continuing to develop internationally renowned franchises, including Avatar, The Witcher, Cyberpunk 2077, Critical Role, Tomb Raider, Dungeons & Dragons, and Masters of the Universe. By combining exclusive announcements, discussions with creators, live performances, and anniversary celebrations, Dark Horse has put together one of the richest lineups at the convention, further solidifying its position as one of the industry’s most influential and innovative publishers as it enters its fifth decade.

Event Recap : 

Dark Horse & Dungeons & Dragons & Comics
Where: Omni San Diego Hotel, Omni Grand Ballroom ABC (4th Floor), San Diego.
When: Thursday, July 23, 2026 – 10:00 AM to 11:45 AM.
What: A live-play Dungeons & Dragons adventure hosted by Mayanna Berrin featuring Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, Amy Chu, and Becky Cloonan, plus exclusive announcements about upcoming Dark Horse and Wizards of the Coast projects.

Dark Horse Licensed Comics: More from Your Favorite Fandoms!
Where: Room 25ABC, San Diego Convention Center.
When: Thursday, July 23, 2026 – 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM.
What: Creators discuss Dark Horse's acclaimed licensed comics based on Masters of the Universe, Dungeons & Dragons, Magic: The Gathering, Cyberpunk 2077, Tomb Raider, and other major franchises.

Black Hammer: 10th Anniversary Celebration
Where: Room 6DE, San Diego Convention Center.
When: Thursday, July 23, 2026 – 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM.
What: Jeff Lemire and fellow creators celebrate ten years of Black Hammer while revealing exclusive information about the franchise's future.

Fire, Earth, Water, Air: Continuing the Avatar Legacy
Where: Room 25ABC, San Diego Convention Center.
When: Friday, July 24, 2026 – 4:15 PM to 5:15 PM.
What: Writers and creators from Abrams Books, Dark Horse Comics, WEBTOON, and Magpie Games discuss the continuing expansion of Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra.

Dark Horse: Three Worlds / Three Moons
Where: Room 5AB, San Diego Convention Center.
When: Friday, July 24, 2026 – 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM.
What: Jonathan Hickman, Nick Spencer, and collaborators present their ambitious new shared science-fiction universe and discuss large-scale collaborative worldbuilding.

Dark Horse: Star-Powered Storytelling
Where: Room 23ABC, San Diego Convention Center.
When: Saturday, July 25, 2026 – 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM.
What: Patton Oswalt, David Dastmalchian, Jordan Blum, and collaborators discuss their creator-owned comics and the transition from Hollywood to comic book storytelling.

Dark Horse: Usagi Yojimbo
Where: Room 24ABC, San Diego Convention Center.
When: Saturday, July 25, 2026 – 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM.
What: Stan Sakai, Jared Cullum, and Zack Rosenberg celebrate more than forty years of Usagi Yojimbo and preview future adventures of the legendary rabbit ronin.

Dark Horse Comics: 40 Years of Comic Nerds
Where: Room 7AB, San Diego Convention Center.
When: Sunday, July 26, 2026 – 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM.
What: A special 40th anniversary celebration highlighting Dark Horse Comics' publishing legacy, creator-owned successes, licensed properties, and upcoming projects for the future.

(Source : press release)