A prequel comic will be released after the release of The Mandalorian and Grogu.
Din Djarin and Grogu are going into comics because apparently having a tiny empire selling green goods wasn't enough for them.
Mad Cave Studios and Papercutz, in collaboration with Lucasfilm Publishing, have announcedStar Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu - Danger in the Dark, a new comic book for all ages, set shortly before the events ofThe Mandalorian and the Grogu film. The highlight? The comic will be released on July 22, 2026—approximately two months after the film's premiere.
So yes, technically this is a prequel. It also comes after what it precedes. The Star Wars timeline remains unbeatable.
Din, Grogu and the Anzellans go underground
According to Mad Cave's official statement, in Danger in the Dark Din Djarin and Grogu find themselves under the surface of Nevarro, where a crashed pirate ship is wreaking havoc in the lava tubes beneath the city.
They are joined by a group ofAnzellanallies, which means the plot already promises a very specific kind of chaos: tiny engineers, dangerous tunnels, creepy creatures, and Grogu presumably learning important lessons while everyone else tries not to get eaten, burned, crushed, or emotionally manipulated for being cute.
This setup also provides a great opportunity for the comic to continue the story beyond Season 3 of The Mandalorian. Din and Grogu are no longer just wandering from one mission to another.They have a base, connections to the New Republic, and a very strange little family structure built out of armor, snacks, and questionable child-rearing methods.
The first original comic from Clan of Two.
Mad Cave describesDanger in the Dark as thefirst-ever original ephemera comic starring Din Djarin and Grogu. This is important becauseThe Mandalorianhas already had film adaptations, but this is a new story, not a retelling.
The book was written by Delilah S. Dawson, whose works in the Star Wars universe include Phasma, Star Wars AdventuresandForces of Destiny. Illustrations byArianne Florean, layout byMario del Pennino, and covers byBrent Schoonover,Ramon RosanasandJunie Ba.
In other words, this is not just a passing advertising ploy. This is a full-fledged publishing move, timed to coincide with the first in many yearstheatrical release of "Star wars".
Why release a prequel after the movie?
The fun part is the release timing, but it can also be practical.
If Danger in the Dark complements what Din and Grogu were up to between Season 3 and the movie, then releasing it after the movie will avoid any awkward spoiler situations.It will also give young readers and families another opportunity to meet the duo after the film has already brought them back to the big screen.
This fits into the overall Mando trend we've been following, from Pedro Pascal's desire to continue playing Din Djarin to Kathleen Kennedy's comparisons of Jon Favreau's innovations with George Lucas.
Lucasfilm is not treatingThe Mandalorian and Groguas one isolated film. The company is creating a full-fledged, voluminous project: theatrical distribution, interviews, temporary retail outlets, publishing, merchandising and, probably, so many Grogu products that the store shelves will be full of it.
The era of Grogu publishing begins.
The most interesting thing here is not the pirate ship, but the format.
A stand-alone comic for all ages is exactly the type of story that Din and Grogu can easily pull off. Their relationship is simple, graphic, funny, emotional and instantly readable. You don't need six lore tables and a PhD in Mandalorian helmet politics to understand why the little man and the armored dad are a good combination.
Peril in the Dark may not be required reading material before watching the film. But it shows that Lucasfilm and its publishing partners view Din and Grogu as characters who can live on beyond the series' release on streaming platforms and in theaters.
The film comes out first.
The following is a comic.
Grogu, of course, continues to conquer all formats that are offered to him.