For a film as beloved and meticulously crafted as The Lion King (1994), expanding its story has always been a risky move. The beloved animated classic isn’t just another Disney title; it’s sacred ground for an entire generation. That’s why any attempt to slip something new into its timeline needs to feel earned.
Of course, Disney has tried this before. The original 1994 film was followed by The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride (1998) and The Lion King 1½ (2004), both of which expanded the world in very different ways, but with mixed reception.
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More recently, the franchise returned to theaters with Jon Favreau’s photorealistic 2019 remake — which was commercially successful but divisive among fans — before expanding further with Mufasa: The Lion King (2024), a mostly forgettable prequel focused on Simba’s father.
In short, nothing has quite lived up to the magic and charm of that first film — until now. Surprisingly, Dynamite’s new The Lion King comic book series manages to pull it off.
Set during the events of the original film, the new story picks up shortly after the infamous hyena attack in the elephant graveyard. From there, it leans into a lighter, more episodic tone, focusing on Simba’s early lessons under Mufasa’s watchful eye. Familiar faces return — Simba, Mufasa, Zazu, and Scar all appear — while Timon and Pumbaa are notably absent, simply because the story hasn’t reached that point in the timeline yet.
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But that restraint works in the comic’s favor. While it opens with the iconic scene where Simba and Mufasa sit under a starry sky, the series otherwise feels content to exist between scenes, exploring the Pride Lands at a slower pace rather than racing to hit familiar beats. It’s fun, easy to follow, and never overly ambitious — which is exactly what it should be. Visually, though, the series stumbles slightly.
Issue #1, written and illustrated by Edwin Galmon, is genuinely impressive. The artwork feels animated in spirit, capturing the expressiveness and warmth of the film without directly mimicking it. It’s fluid, cinematic, and immediately familiar in the best way.
That’s why the shift in Issue #2 is so noticeable.
Carlo Lauro steps in on art duties, and while the work is still brilliant, the tonal change is a bit jarring. Characters look just different enough to pull you out of the illusion that this is a seamless companion to the film — a small but frustrating distraction, especially given how strong the opening issue is. Still, the heart of the story remains intact.
As Dynamite’s official synopsis promises, the new Lion King series deepens the bond between Simba and Mufasa while hinting at the internal and external threats facing the Pride Lands. It doesn’t rewrite history or overstay its welcome — it simply adds texture.
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!
With Issue #3 now pushed to late February, there’s still time for the series to find its visual footing again. If it does, Dynamite’s The Lion King may end up being one of the more respectful and worthwhile Disney tie-ins in recent memory.
Will you be reading “The Lion King”? Let us know in the comments!
