Over 30 years after The Nightmare Before Christmas first blurred the lines between Halloween and the more heartwarming holiday season, a new chapter in Tim Burton’s gothic universe is finally on the way — but not on the big screen.
Announced at NYCC (New York Comic Con), “Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas: The Shiver of Christmas Town” is an official comic book sequel from Dynamite Entertainment. The upcoming four-part series picks up in the aftermath of the 1993 film, although this time, Jack Skellington is notably absent. Instead, the story centers on his love interest Sally, and a new creation from Dr. Finkelstein, her eccentric inventor father.
Here’s the plot synopsis:
“The enigmatic Dr. Finkelstein, Sally’s creator, has another creation in the works. When he debuts an unusual, yet unexpectedly adorable creature as a new pet, Sally is tasked with taking care of it. Only for the three resident trick-or-treaters of Halloween Town to have it in tow as they embark on their journey to Christmas Town.”
Related: Celebrate the Magic of Two Holidays with This ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’ Figurine | Disney Dining
While Jack Skellington’s absence may disappoint fans, “The Shiver of Christmas Town” is the first officially licensed continuation of the film’s world since the comic book adaptation of 2022’s New York Times best-selling YA novel “Long Live The Pumpkin Queen” by Shea Ernshaw, which was released earlier this year.
But while the franchise has seen numerous spin-offs across many mediums, there has never been a true sequel on the screen. Tim Burton himself has long resisted returning to the original, telling People in 2023 that he’d rather leave it untouched: “I feel like that old guy who owns a little piece of property and won’t sell to the big power plant.”
“Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas: The Shiver of Christmas Town” #1 hits shelves in January 2026.
The comic comes from writer Torunn Grønbekk (“Thor”, “Venom”, “Red Sonja”), artist Edu Menna (“Army of Darkness”), colorist Adriano Augusto, and letterer Taylor Esposito.
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