'Supernatural's Sam, Dean & Castiel Are Back - But You Won't See Them On TV
Just because The CW’s Supernatural (2005) has finished airing after 15 seasons doesn’t mean the story is ending anytime soon. Thanks to Dynamite comics, Sam, Dean, and Castiel are back for more stories about family, things that go bump in the night, and all the angst fans are familiar with when it comes to the Winchesters and their angelic companion.
As much as we’d like to see Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles, and Misha Collins back on our TVs, these new comics are exciting because they add to the lore during the show’s pivotal first couple of seasons. And we’ll be guiding you on what comics have been released already, what’s to come next, and answering whether this is the first time Supernatural has released a comic for the show. Spoiler: it’s not!
In addition, we’re suggesting a couple of shows that you can watch today if you can’t wait for the comics and you aren’t in the mood for a rewatch while still wanting to fill the void Supernatural left behind!
What Are The 'Supernatural' Spin-Off Comics From Dynamite About?
The Supernatural comics are less of a spin-off and more of a continuation of the 327 episodes fans watched over 15 seasons. The main batch of Supernatural comics from Dynamite is set between Seasons 1 and 2 of the initial series and began releasing in October 2025. The comics don’t mess with the ending of the series. Instead, they see Sam and Dean Winchester setting across small-town America to hunt down Supernatural threats in a monster-of-the-week style format.
The 10-issue comic book run is written by Greg Pak with art from longtime collaborator Eder Messias and also some art by Daniel Scalisi. There are multiple variants of the comics, even though you can tell by Ackles and Padalecki’s hair that they’re not using photos from Seasons 1 and 2 of the series.
The comics see Sam and Dean deal with everything from malicious spirits to demons, sirens, and even visiting New York City. What’s surprising and unusual for comics is the kind of big swings these Supernatural comics take. Because they’re also dealing with *checks notes* robots, zombies, and a mysterious corporation using the supernatural to their advantage.
But that’s not all! In February, Dynamite also released a Supernatural Valentine’s Day Special. In that comic, Sam and Dean have to deal with someone turning to demonic forces to bring their loved one back to life. But, of course, things go wrong, and they end up summoning an ancient, uncontrollable goddess of desire. This comic special was written by Preeti Chhibber with art by Pasquale Qualano.
What Are The New 'Supernatural' Comics About?
Like the Valentine’s Day Special, Dynamite is also doing one-shot stories with Sam and Dean. Also, Castiel gets thrown into the mix with his own special, too!
Supernatural: Wayward Special seems to be set before the series started. According to the synopsis: “The split starts here - in a shocking one-shot issue that sets the table for the explosive event to come! Sam and Dean Winchester are bound by blood and purpose - so what horrible, hellish forces could drive these brothers to travel separate roads?” This special is written by Paulina Ganucheau with art by John Amor.
Supernatural Special: Castiel marks the comic debut of the beloved angel Castiel. With the angel first appearing in the OG series in Season 4, we can assume it’s set after that. However, it’s also in the first days of Castiel knowing the brothers, as he’s just started to doubt his faith and duty. So, the comic sees Castiel follow Sam and Dean to Gainesville, FL, “on a chaotic weekend when music and sports fans have descended on the city.” There, he has to decide if he’ll help them or get in the way. It’s written by Preeti Chhibber with art by Pasquale Qualano.
Are There Other ‘Supernatural’ Comics?
This series of comics from Dynamite is the second time Supernatural has been continued in comic book form. The first time was from 2007 to 2012, thanks to DC Comics. It published four prequel miniseries while the show was still airing.
First up was the miniseries Supernatural Origins in 2007. Instead of focusing on the brothers, this comic book series focuses on John Winchester after Mary died. So, this means it’s set before the show even starts and follows John’s spiral into the supernatural world as a means of revenge while also trying to raise his children. This miniseries ran for six issues and had Peter Johnson as the writer with art by Matthew Dow Smith.
After that, we have the Supernatural: Rising Son miniseries released in 2008. This is set a couple of years after the Origins series. It seems John is still on his hunt for revenge, but he’s also grappling with the reality of continuing on this quest and whether his children will become hunters, too. (Since we’ve watched the show, we know the answer.) This miniseries ran for six issues and had Peter Johnson and Rebecca Dessertine as writers with art by Diego Olmos. It was released in partnership with WildStorm comics.
Then, we have the comic book miniseries Supernatural: Beginning’s End in 2010. It’s set years after Rising Son, and it sees the Winchester clan going monster hunting in New York City. But what’s special about this miniseries is that it’s written by the actual show writers Andrew Dabb and Daniel Loflin with art by Diego Olmos. It explores the horrifying story that led to Sam leaving his family to attend Stanford pre-Season 1. It ran for six issues and was also released in partnership with WildStorm comics.
Finally, we have the Supernatural 2007 miniseries, released in 2011, and centered around Sam. It sees Sam going to the United Kingdom for a sleepy little trip around the time he was at Stanford, aka pre-Season 1 of the show. But things don’t go as planned when he meets the “alluring” Emma of the Isles. This miniseries ran for six issues and had Brian Wood as the writer with art by Grant Bond.
Are The Comics Worth Reading For Longtime 'Supernatural' Fans?
If you’re a longtime fan of Supernatural, then the comics from Dynamite are absolutely worth it. It offers deeper insights into Sam and Dean as characters, brothers, and hunters. But it also takes a step back into the beginning of the series, or the golden era of Supernatural, before we really dove into everything with Heaven, God, the Men of Letters, or the Darkness.
By focusing on the beginning of the series, the comics also avoid the controversial ending and focus on the heart of the show: just two brothers traveling the country in the Impala and saving people because that’s what hooked us in the beginning. That and the trailer that showed Dean saying, “Dad’s on a hunting trip… and he hasn’t been home in a few days.” Simple and effective, that’s what fans crave and what these comics deliver.
Shows Like 'Supernatural' To Watch Instead
If you’re looking to watch a TV show that captures Supernatural’s monster-of-the-week format, definitely check out classics like The X-Files (1993), Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997), or Grimm (2011). But if you’re looking for something a little more recent, check out Ncuti Gatwa’s run as The Doctor on Doctor Who (2023). All of these shows have distinct episodic arcs, unique monsters, and big bads galore.
If you’re looking for supernatural mysteries that run for seasons, I’ve also got some recommendations for you. From (2022) is nightmarish and has literal monsters with a mystery wrapping it all together. And if you’re looking for something a little more recent, Widow’s Bay (2026) has become a viral sensation due to its mastery of horror and comedy on top of a supernatural mystery spanning hundreds of years.
These final recommendations might be a little surprising on the surface, but they make sense for the world of Supernatural. If you want to enjoy the format and the hunting of monsters of it all, you have to watch Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! (1969). Still in the animated space, I’d also recommend the lore-filled series Gravity Falls (2012). Or while you’re at it, if you haven’t watched Supernatural: The Anime Series (2011), then now is the time if you want to understand the full story of Sam and Dean.
