Surviving the apocalypse should come with a vacation, but for Carl and his sharp-tongued feline companion Princess Donut, the chaos never stops. Matt Dinniman's Dungeon Crawler Carl has turned a deadly game show into a fantasy juggernaut, and now the story is expanding beyond the novels in a big way.
According to Variety, Vault Comics will launch an ongoing Dungeon Crawler Carl comic book series in January 2027, kicking off with a double-sized 48-page first issue. After that, fans can expect monthly installments that serialize the existing webtoon adaptation, bringing Carl and Donut's adventures to comic shops in a fresh format. Writer Tevagah and Laurel Pursuit Studios, who handle the webtoon's art, will continue their work, with artist Kuzomari joining to scale the visuals for the comic page. For readers already following the webtoon, this announcement offers a new way to collect the story as a monthly series.
The cover lineup is already turning heads. Nathan Gooden, known for Barbaric and Post Malone's Big Rig, will provide the main covers. Variant covers come from an all-star roster including Invincible's Ryan Ottley, Brett Bean, Frank Cho, Clayton Crain, Yoshi Yoshitani, Katie Cook, Riley Rossmo, Tyler Walpole, Doug Mahnke, Trish Forstner, and novel cover artist Luciano Fleitas. More artists are expected to be announced later.
For the uninitiated, Dungeon Crawler Carl follows Coast Guard veteran Carl and his ex-girlfriend's cat, Princess Donut, as they navigate a lethal fantasy dungeon after the apocalypse. Survival means dodging traps and leveling up in a world that runs on video game logic. Their ordeal is broadcast across the galaxy as a reality show, making their suffering prime-time entertainment.
That premise is also heading to Peacock through Universal International Studios and Seth MacFarlane's Fuzzy Door, with Chris Yost and Eric Heisserer serving as co-showrunners. While fans wait for that live-action adaptation, the monthly comic gives Carl and Donut another arena to cause spectacular mayhem.
With the upcoming video game also on the horizon, 2027 is shaping up to be a huge year for the franchise. The comic series is a smart move for collectors and newcomers alike, offering a visually rich entry point into this twisted universe.
Dungeon Crawler Carl #1 hits comic book stores in January 2027.
