You've probably heard of Hellboy, but did you know this demonic paranormal investigator has a family? That was one of the big reveals in Mike Mignola's Hellboy in Hell series, which introduced Hellboy's brothers, Gamon and Lusk. Now Mignola is teaming with his own brother, Todd, to craft a new story that sheds more light on Hellboy's dysfunctional family dynamic.

IGN can exclusively debut a new preview of The Crown: A Tale of Hell, which is set in the 16th Century and focuses on Hellboy's brothers and their long-lost mother. Check it out in the slideshow gallery below:

The Crown: A Tale of Hell is a two-issue series co-written by Mike and Todd Mignola, while artist Warwick Caldwell-Johnson (Our Encounters With Evil) makes his Hellboy debut on the series. The first issue features covers by Mike Mignola and Caldwell-Johnson. Here's Dark Horse's official description of the series:

The Crown: A Tale of Hell stars Hellboy’s brothers Gamon and Lusk, who first appeared in Mignola’s beloved 2012 series Hellboy in Hell, as they fight for control of Pandemonium in this demonic family reunion. But it isn’t just the siblings who get involved in the power struggle, as their mother returns from her prison for the first time in a hundred years with plans of her own.

“Todd came to me with the idea of writing something about Hellboy’s brothers,” said Mike Mignola in a statement. “It never would have occurred to me to do more with those guys but it didn’t take much prodding. Brothers writing about brothers in a somewhat complicated family dynamic—once we got going it was almost too easy. And fun. And SO MUCH fun that I could only imagine it drawn by Warwick.”

“The Crown follows a day in the 16th century life of Hellboy’s ‘Hell family.’” said Todd Mignola. “In the bowels of Castle Azzael, a crown is secretly being forged for a new king. Palace intrigue and deceitful backstabbing ensue as Hellboy’s dad, uncle and half-brothers all vie for the prize; for the chance to seize sleeping Satan’s throne.”

The Crown: A Tale of Hell #1 will be released on February 11. You can preorder a copy at your local comic shop.

In other comic book news, find out which series was selected as IGN's best comic book of 2025, and see which comics we're most excited for in 2026.

Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on BlueSky.

After last week's big news that Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere universe would be coming to Apple TV, the author has already offered up some progress on the upcoming Mistborn movie. More specifically, Sanderson has revealed a progress bar on his website for the project that indicates he is already 2% done with the script.

Sanderson took to his Youtube channel to discuss some of the details of his new Apple TV partnership, saying he's been looking for a partner to adapt his books for quite a while and started doing this latest round of pitches in Hollywood back in May 2025.

"I've been looking for a partner, not somebody just to sell things off to," he explained about his decision to strike a deal with Apple TV. "This one feels different."

He went a bit further into his reasons for choosing Apple over everyone else; "I really liked the vibe, but I like the vibe with a lot of these meetings. There weren't any bad meetings in the group. Part of it was the amount of control that Apple was willing to offer me. But it's less about control and more about the partnership."

Sanderson confirmed that they are still planning Mistborn as a feature film and Stormlight Archive as a series, but that nothing is necessarily set in stone. Although this is currently the trajectory, he said "that could change as we work and develop these things."

He also confirmed his involvement in the Stormlight Archive series, commenting: "I will be the co-showrunner with someone. So, we're going to be hunting down that person." Sanderson will reportedly have approvals on every project in this partnership, which will require him to be "deeply involved" in the development of each one.

Sanderson also addressed the elephant in the room regarding his upcoming books, confirming that these projects will indeed impact his writing schedule, but "not to the point that I think you need to worry."

With George R.R. Martin's final Game of Thrones book seemingly on indefinite hold after years of the author working on TV shows, this is a sigh of relief for fans worried the same thing will happen to Mistborn or The Stormlight Archive. You can currently see the progress of all of Sanderson's writing projects on his website alongside the Mistborn script. The next book, which kicks off the third Mistborn Era, is still currently slated for a 2028 release.

With the deal still fresh, it's likely going to be a long time before we see any of these Apple TV projects come to fruition. In the meantine, you can check out which books to read before the on-screen adaptions. You can also read IGN's full timeline of The Cosmere books for a deeper dive into Sanderson's sprawling literary universe.

It's never a bad time to get into the Legend of Zelda. Nintendo's legendary action-adventure franchise has seen over 25 mainline games and a handful of great spinoffs, and if you own a Nintendo Switch or Switch 2 and subscribe to their online service, you have access to just about every single Zelda title to date. But the green-clad Hero of Time transcends just video games, so we've put together a gift guide for that special Zelda fan in your life. From the video games and controllers, books to apparel, and even an amazing LEGO Deku Tree set, there's quite literally something for both new and old Legend of Zelda fans alike. If you're looking for a Valentine's Day gift with a touch of Hyrule, you can start right here.

Top Legend of Zelda Gifts for 2025

If you're in the market for a video game gift for someone, all of the options below are excellent choices for any Zelda fan out there. And it never hurts to get something for yourself while you're at it.

Legend of Zelda Video Games

With the Nintendo Switch 2 now here and both Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom receiving performance upgrades as launch games, you can still pick up two of the best games the original system still has to offer. Skyward Sword HD and the Link's Awakening remake are the best ways to revisit these older titles, while Echoes of Wisdom finally allows players to take control of Zelda. The first two Hyrule Warriors titles are incredibly fun action games, so be sure to check them out before picking up Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment on Nintendo Switch 2.

Legend of Zelda Controllers and Accessories

Now what if you already have all these Legend of Zelda games, what are you supposed to play them with to show your support of the franchise? Luckily there are tons of great Zelda-themed controllers and accessories to deck your system out with. From official Zelda Joy-Con (I have Skyward Sword HD set, they look incredible!) and pro controllers to third-party Nintendo Switch dock covers, you'll be sprucing up your game room setup in no time.

For more things like this without the Zelda theme, you can check out our guide to the best Switch accessories. There are not yet any Zelda-themed Switch 2 accessories available just yet, unfortunately.

LEGO Legend of Zelda sets

Legend of Zelda Encyclopedias

Legend of Zelda Manga

There are an impressive amount of Legend of Zelda manga and encyclopedias that look great on a shelf or coffee table. We put together a breakdown of all the Zelda books you should know about, like the wide breadth of manga covering the games from the Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and even both Oracles of Ages and Oracle of Seasons. The encyclopedias are great collectibles for any Zelda fan, as they offer closer looks at the lore and history of Hyrule, complete with old concept art and sketches. There is even a deluxe edition available that looks like a retro NES cartridge if you're looking for a display book.

Legend of Zelda Puzzles, Cards, and Board Games

There are tons of great jigsaw puzzles for adults, and the Legend of Zelda-themed puzzles are among our favorites. The 1.000-piece Hyrule map puzzle would look right at home framed over a fireplace once complete. You can also find a handful of classic board games with a Legend of Zelda skin, such as the Monopoly Legend of Zelda Collector's Edition or Legend of Zelda Uno. Also, be sure to have a look at the official Zelda playing cards (these are Japanese imports only!).

Legend of Zelda Amiibo and Action Figures

There are dozens upon dozens of available Nintendo Amiibo figures, and the Legend of Zelda characters make up a healthy chunk of them. You can scan these figures on your Nintendo Switch system to unlock different features in various Nintendo Games. Check out our breakdown of every Legend of Zelda Amiibo. You can also grab a couple of Legend of Zelda action figures from the IGN store, like super detailed Zelda and Ganondorf Figma action figures from Tears of the Kingdom.

Legend of Zelda Apparel

Also available on the IGN store are tons of great Legend of Zelda apparel items. T-shirts, hoodies, and crew necks all with sweet Legend of Zelda designs are available in various sizes. The designs vary from retro pixel art to stylized images of classic scenes from throughout the series' entire history. I'm a big fan of the Wind Waker stained glass crew neck, myself.

Legend of Zelda Replica Weapons, Drinkware, Vinyl Records

Everything listed here is just scratching the surface of the awesome collectibles and items you can get with a Legend of Zelda theme tacked onto it. On the IGN store, you can pick up a replica Master Sword and Hylian Shield, great for future cosplays or game room displays. I highly recommend the 2LP vinyl record set from iam8bit which includes a collection of the some of the series' best tracks. On Amazon, you can find an array of Zelda memorabilia like mugs, thermoses, and coasters. You can even buy a working ceramic ocarina!

Legend of Zelda Ornaments

Right in time for the winter holidays, the Legend of Zelda Hallmark keepsake ornaments are the perfect way to decorate your living space and Christmas trees with more legendary flair. The retro Link ornament even plays iconic music and sound effects at the push of a button.

Myles Obenza is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Bluesky @mylesobenza.bsky.social.

Star Wars Outlaws was one of the most anticipated games of 2024, but it didn't quite deliver the sales Ubisoft was expecting. In IGN's Star Wars Outlaws review, we called it "a fun intergalactic heist adventure with great exploration" despite overly simplified stealth and repetitive combat. As a game, it definitely wasn't one of the more successful ventures we've seen in the series.

Like any Star Wars creation, however, it's clearly backed by the sprawling universe that is Star Wars lore. It may not have sold well as a AAA game, but there were a lot of good pieces within that were still able to take fans off to that galaxy far, far away. And now that a couple years have passed, we're actually getting a Star Wars prequel in the form of a book that take the story even further.

Star Wars Outlaws: Low Red Moon Is Now Available

When it comes to Avengers: Doomsday, Marvel’s curtain of secrecy is as strong as ever. But, as always, we can usually count on the actors to let slip some intriguing new details. Ian McKellen is the latest to commit a Tom Holland-style faux pas. McKellen recently teased a major set piece in the new film when he spoke to the YouTube channel Jake’s Takes.

"Two police cars in front of me were raised up by cranes," McKellen reminisced about a sequence in 2006's X-Men: The Last Stand. "These were not special effects. Nowadays, I think things will become a little bit easier — though I did destroy New Jersey the other day. Oooh, I perhaps shouldn't have said that..."

This tells us that McKellen’s Magneto will be a very dangerous adversary in Doomsday, on a level we never saw in the older X-Men movies. But why would Magneto destroy New Jersey? And does this mean Marvel Studios is adapting perhaps the most infamous Magneto storyline of all time? Let’s break it down.

Beware of potential spoilers for Avengers: Doomsday ahead!

Will Avengers: Doomsday Adapt Ultimatum?

McKellen’s comments immediately bring to mind 2009’s Ultimatum, a series that pits the Ultimate Universe versions of the X-Men, Avengers, and Fantastic Four against a very angry Magneto. As the story opens, Magneto has gone off the deep end after being confronted with the deaths of his children, Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch. In retaliation, he attempts to destroy human civilization by reversing Earth’s magnetic poles and causing a series of global disasters.

One of those disasters includes a massive tidal wave that hits Manhattan and drowns thousands. Even a great many superheroes like Daredevil, Beast, and Nightcrawler are killed in the deluge. It’s not New Jersey – though it is just on the other side of the Hudson River – but this story remains the most notable example of one where Magneto destroys a major American metropolis.

How does Magneto accomplish an act as terrible as this? It’s all thanks to Thor’s hammer, Mjolnir. Magneto captures the hammer in the prelude story, 2008’s The Ultimates 3. Using his magnetic powers, Magneto is effectively able to cancel out Mjolnir’s enchantment and manipulate the hammer to his will.

Drowning Manhattan is just the opening salvo in Magneto’s war of destruction. By the end of Ultimatum, numerous heroes are dead, including Wolverine and the majority of the X-Men. Even Cyclops is assassinated, but not before he vaporizes Magneto’s head. Ultimatum even ends with Doctor Doom himself getting his head crushed by The Thing, proving that no one was wearing plot armor in the Ultimate Universe anymore.

Ultimatum is not a well-regarded comic, to put it mildly. It’s not just the shoddy characterization and the number of major deaths featured in this story, but the bizarre, faux-edgy tone in which those deaths are presented. One particularly reviled scene shows Magneto’s henchman, the Blob, devouring the corpse of the Wasp like a ravenous zombie. Though Marvel’s Ultimate line continued for several years after, some would argue Ultimatum marked the beginning of the end for this universe.

In short, Ultimatum is not the first X-Men/Avengers crossover story we’d think of for Marvel to adapt in Doomsday. But is there a kernel of a good idea here? Certainly, the basic concept of Magneto singlehandedly annihilating a major city has some merit to it. Could it be reworked to fit the MCU? Let’s take a closer look at how Doomsday could loosely adapt Ultimatum for its own benefit.

Magneto’s Role in Doomsday

For a while now, we’ve been speculating that Avengers: Doomsday is basically an Avengers vs. X-Men movie. The casting announcements made in 2025 and the recent X-Men-themed Doomsday teaser both seem to bear out that theory. We know that the majority of the original Fox X-Men cast are turning to reprise their roles (though, oddly, Hugh Jackman’s name isn’t among them). Doomsday is a multiverse story, and it’s going to bring together the MCU’s Earth-616 and the X-Men universe’s Earth-10005 (and The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Earth-828).

It appears that Doomsday is going to borrow a fair amount from Avengers: Time Runs Out and the first issue of 2015’s Secret Wars. Time Runs Out deals with the mounting crisis that arises as more and more universes are destroyed by the phenomenon known as Incursions. By the time Secret Wars opens, only the core Marvel Universe (Earth-616) and the Ultimate Universe (Earth-1610) are left. The heroes of both worlds are drawn into a desperate final battle that ultimately proves pointless.

Doomsday will likely follow a similar premise, except that the final two universes in the Marvel movie multiverse will be the MCU and Fox’s X-Men universe. The Avengers are fighting the X-Men. And based on McKellen’s comments, we suspect that Magneto is really going to bring his A-game for this fight.

This is where Doomsday may borrow a page from Ultimatum. What if, during the course of the fight, Magneto intercepts Mjolnir and turns its magic against the Avengers? Just like in the comic, he could use its power to reverse Earth’s polarity and cause a devastating tidal wave. He wouldn’t be attacking his own Earth, but rather the planet threatening the survival of the entire mutant race.

McKellen and Michael Fassbender’s Magneto is a character of constantly evolving morals and loyalties. But if there’s one consistent truth about the character, it’s that he’d do anything to ensure the salvation of mutantkind. And based on the X-Men-centric Doomsday teaser, we know the Sentinels are in play for some reason. Perhaps Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom is using them to stoke conflict between the Avengers and X-Men? In any case, drowning one world’s New Jersey under a tsunami seems like the kind of thing Magneto would do when push comes to shove.

The question is whether the fallout of that act will be similar to the comic. Will we see Magneto actually kill iconic MCU heroes when he destroys New Jersey? It’s possible. When Doomsday is dealing with the literal fate of existence, we can’t assume any character is truly safe. That’s especially true since the premise of Avengers: Secret Wars makes it easy enough for Doom to resurrect any characters he chooses as part of his new Battleworld.

The world will eventually be restored to some semblance of normality at the end of Secret Wars, but that doesn’t mean things won’t get pretty hairy along the way. Just don’t expect Doomsday to adapt that grotesque Blob/Wasp scene. Some things are better left to the comics.

For more on Avengers: Doomsday, find out why the Steve Rogers teaser has us so disappointed, and learn why the Thor teaser is a great reminder that Thor can and should be serious.

Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on BlueSky.

Cosmere fans, rejoice! At long last, Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere universe will be officially coming to both big and small screens courtesy of Apple TV. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the deal will adapt his most popular Mistborn (Era 1) and Stormlight Archive book series into film and television series, respectively, with Sanderson himself set to “write, produce, and consult” on the projects.

As a big fan of Brandon Sanderson and his works, (check out my reviews of both the Cosmere TTRPG and Mistborn deck building card game), I thought I would put together a short little helper guide for any of you out there that want to get a jump on the stories and characters that will soon be jumping out of your screens.

If once you finish these books and find yourself chomping at the bit for more, check out our full reading guide on The Cosmere to figure out where to go next!

Mistborn - Era 1

Mistborn and its metal-burning allomancers will be the first of the Cosmere works to coin-push their way from the pages and onto the screen in the form of films. Along with the Stormlight Archive’s world of Roshar, Mistborn’s Scadriel forms what could be considered the backbone of the entire universe-spanning story that Sanderson has been weaving together for the past two decades. The world of Scadrial is told over the course of multiple Eras, with only the first set of books, referred to as “Era 1” being the focus of the first film.

Mistborn (Era 1) follows Vin, a thief with the ability to use Allomancy, Scadrial’s special type of magic, which allows a person to burn specific metals for various effects. We don’t know just yet if Apple and Brandon will attempt to condense into a single film the entire Vin saga (I highly doubt it), but here is what you should check out beforehand. Considering Sanderson is only 2% done with the screenplay, you still have plenty of time.

The Books

2025 saw the release of so many incredible books, and I’ve already shared my roundup of the best books of 2025 so far, which included the likes of The Hunger Games prequel, Sunrise On The Reaping, Emily Henry’s latest release, Great Big Beautiful Life, and many more.

But, as we move into 2026, I’m taking a look back at some of the other best books of 2025 that you might have missed. And I’ve included all the major genres to hopefully pique your interest - and, of course, add a few more books to your shelves this year.

If you’re looking for more reading inspiration or you’ve challenged yourself to read a certain number of books, you’ll also find my recommendations of the best books of each month of 2025 (starting with January) - and I’ll be continuing to do so in 2026 to make sure you’re kept in the loop.

Until then, here are the best books of 2025.

Heart the Lover by Lily King (Contemporary Fiction)

The Hillbilly is easily one of the most memorable Killers in Dead by Daylight. That makes him a perfect choice to get the spotlight in Titan Comics' latest Dead by Daylight tie-in comic.

Last month, IGN debuted the trailer for Dead by Daylight: The Hillbilly #1. Now we can reveal a new preview of this issue. Check it out in the slideshow gallery below:

Dead by Daylight: The Hillbilly is written by Derek Fridolfs (Stranger Things) and drawn by Dean Kotz (James Bond), with colors by Allison Hu. The first issue features cover art by Kotz, Alex Horley, Francesca Ciregia, Ilan Sheady, and Niclas Mortensen. Each issue of the series also comes with a code for exclusive DLC for the game.

Here's Titan's official description of this issue:

When Officer Darnell Hollis makes the largest drugs bust in his small town’s history, the success draws the attention of City Hall. On the fast-track to success, this could be life-changing for Hollis and his young family. But the Rookie is haunted by horrific visions of violence and viscera in waking nightmares. And on Coldwind Farm, Hollis is confronted by a monster who is kept in a dark basement and lives for the slaughter. In the dense fog, a man called Boy tests the strengths of his chains, waiting for the day he’ll break free...

Dead by Daylight: The Hillbilly #1 will be released on April 8, 2026. You can find out more about the series here.

In other Dead by Daylight news, you can check out a new trailer for the game's Stranger Things: Season 2 content.

Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on BlueSky.

Following the trade paperback collection of Absolute Batman Volume 1: The Zoo, the next installment in writer Scott Snyder's newest Bat-title is out on February 3.

Volume 2, titled Abomination, is seeing a small discount on Amazon. Pick it up for $18.59, 7% off. Not the biggest price cut, but we're excited to finally get more Absolute Batman.

Absolute Batman Vol. 2: Abomination

Read DC's Absolute Universe Comics

The Absolute Universe started after the events of Absolute Power from 2024, and has spawned a handful of more unique takes on popular heroes. and villains.

Without the restrictions of a preexisting continuity to inform character decisions, the creators on the Absolute comics have been given free reign to have some fun.

Below is the first wave of Absolute Universe graphic novels you can pick up before their respective second volumes start to release throughout 2026.

Myles Obenza is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Bluesky @mylesobenza.bsky.social.

Books are great, obviously. They're also bulky space eaters – just ask the piles of books sitting around my apartment that don't fit on my already overstuffed bookshelf. If you have space for a real home library, how lucky for you! If not, do yourself a favor and get a good reading tablet. You'll miss out on the tactile joy of reading, but they make building out a personal library so much more accessible – including books you can read for free without leaving home – and far less messy. We found a few of the best tablets to make reading anywhere a bit easier.

TL;DR - These Are the Best Tablets to Read on:

Reading tablets come with varying capabilities. E-readers, like our top pick, the Kindle Paperwhite, are geared towards book formats, often featuring screens that attempt to mimic pages. These devices are more limited in what they can do – don’t expect to be scrolling socials or streaming shows when taking a break from reading. On the other hand, your more typical tablets, like the iPad Mini, can do a lot more, but the displays may strain your eyes and batteries deplete quicker. Notetaking functionality, like the Kobo Libra Colour offers, is also handy for students or people who like to write freely in book margins. Deciding which is best for your needs is a personal preference.

1. Kindle Paperwhite

The Best Kindle and Best Reading Tablet

2. iPad Mini (7th Gen)

Best iPad for Reading

3. Apple iPad Pro (2024, M4)

Best Tablet for Reading Comics and Manga

4. OnePlus Pad 2

Best Android Tablet for Reading

5. Kobo Libra Colour

Best Reading and Writing Tablet

How to Choose the Best Reading Tablet

Choosing the best reading tablet requires careful consideration of several factors to ensure that the device meets your specific needs. Whether you're an avid reader of fiction, a student reviewing textbooks, or a professional keeping up with all the PDFs your boss keeps sending, selecting the right tablet can significantly impact your reading experience.

One of the main things you have to look into is the display's quality. The screen is where your eyes will spend most of their time, making display quality paramount. Eye comfort is also crucial, especially for extended reading sessions. Tablets with blue light reduction features or e-ink technology, which mimics the appearance of paper, can help reduce eye strain. E-Ink screens are easier on the eyes, but LCDs are more versatile if you want to use the same tablet for multiple purposes.

Long battery life is essential for uninterrupted reading, especially when on the move. Looking into tablets with a solid battery life will ensure that you can enjoy your books, magazines, or documents without constantly worrying about finding the next power outlet.

Lastly, size and weight affect how comfortably you can hold the tablet for long periods. While larger screens provide more immersive reading experiences, they should not compromise the device's portability. A lightweight, slim design makes it easier to carry your tablet in a bag or even hold it with one hand.

Best Tablets for Reading FAQ

What is the best tablet for reading according to Reddit?

If you're hoping to look to Reddit for advice on which tablet is best for reading, users on the r/androidtablets subreddit have point out a few clear winners. The top commenter points out that the Aldocube 50 Mini and Mini Pro are great options for reading due to being lightweight with good screens at a decent size for reading. Other commenters recommended Barnes & Noble's Nook because the e-paper technology offers more of a similar reading experience you'd get from an actual book.

Are tablets good for reading books?

Sure they are, but you’re going to find that regular LCD screens will tire your eyes much faster than an e-ink model. Battery life is also something you’ll want to keep in mind because most standard tablets don’t last as long as a Kindle, for instance, since their hardware is more demanding.

Do you need a Kindle subscription to read ona Kindle device?

You don't need a Kindle Unlimited subscription to read books on a Kindle. There are other ways to downlaod e-books on your Amazon device or you can simply purchase books directly from the Kindle storefront with no subscription required. The benefits of a subscription are more if you plan on reading a lot of books and don't want to purchase them all. This is especially true if you're a fan of LitRPG books, which tend to be included with a subscription.

What is the best tablet for reading outside?

If you're looking to read your tablet on the beach or sitting at the park, the Kindle Paperwhite is what you want. Unlike many tablets, this e-reader features an e-ink display, which acts and looks similar to printed paper. That means battling severe glare, brightness, eye strain, and battery life will be far less of an issue compared to LCD screens. The Kindle Paperwhite is also IPX8 water-resistant, unlike many tablets, so getting splashed poolside or caught in the rain won’t slow the device down.

2026 promises to be a great year for fans of Darth Maul. In March, Lucasfilm is debuting the newest animated Star Wars series, Maul: Shadow Lord. Set shortly after the end of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Shadow Lord reveals how Maul rebuilds his criminal organization and carves out a niche for himself in the era of the Empire.

But if you want the full story, you'll have to turn to Marvel Comics. Marvel will soon release a prequel story called Star Wars: Shadow of Maul, one that stars Maul and several other key characters from the animated series. This limited series is written by Benjamin Percy (Wolverine) and illustrated by Madibek Musabekov (Star Wars: Jedi Knights).

IGN had the chance to speak with Percy via email to learn more about how Star Wars: Shadow of Maul sets up the animated series. Check out an exclusive preview of the first issue in the slideshow gallery below, and then read on to learn more:

Neither creator is a stranger to the Star Wars franchise at this point. Musabekov is coming off a run on Marvel's Star Wars: Jedi Knights series, which was set before the events of Episode I. Percy, meanwhile, has written Darth Maul twice before, in Star Wars: Darth Maul - Black, White & Red and Star Wars: Boba Fett - Black, White & Red. As he reveals, those books were a helpful trial run before really diving into the fascinating protagonist that is Maul.

"I’m very glad I got the opportunity to write both Darth Maul: Black, White & Red and Boba Fett: Black, White & Red before taking on this project. Because they were fun as hell," Percy tells IGN. "But also because those one-shots were like flirtations with the Star Wars galaxy – a way of testing out writing for a galaxy far, far away and figuring out the standards of Lucasfilm. They are running a massive operation—a singular continuity that reaches across film, tv, novels, and comic books. They’re encyclopedias of lore. There’s a lot of zooms, calls, and emails between me, the Marvel editors, and the Lucasfilm folks, so it’s good to already have lines of communication open and a level of trust established."

Percy adds, "And the Maul one-shot was not just a way to test-drive the character; it was a way to push boundaries. I took a horror approach to that story, which isn’t your standard lens for Star Wars. This mini-series takes a tonal leap as well, since Shadow of Maul is very much a crime story, a police procedural."

As for Musabekov, Percy says, "I got really, really lucky, partnering with Madibek. He’s not just great with action and character—he has a true, deep love for and knowledge of Star Wars. And every detail he manifests on the page feels exactly right for that universe. I can’t wait for you to see what he’s been up to."

Shadow of Maul is designed to tie very directly into the animated series. Not only does it focus on Maul himself, this series also hinges on two characters who will shortly become his nemeses - police detective Brander Lawson and his droid partner Two-Boots.

"The prequel ties directly into the series," Percy says. "It’s meant to establish the characters, the world, and the trouble that detonates wonderfully in episode one. You can read the comic book on its own and get a thrill. You can also read the comic book alongside the series and understand how they’re speaking to each other."

Percy offers some added insight into Captain Lawson, revealing him to be an ex-bounty hunter who now struggles to maintain law and order on the chaotic world of Janix.

"I mentioned earlier that this is a police procedural, a gritty, grounded crime book," Percy says. "The stage is Janix, a shadow-soaked, neon-lit city controlled by crime syndicates. Lawson used to be a bounty hunter. Now he’s a cop and a single dad doing the best he can in a lawless territory. He a good man who pushes limits and breaks rules. And he’s joined by his partner, a droid named Two-Boots, who is loyal, warm, and a bit of a stickler."

Percy also teases that the Janix setting should immediately appeal to fans of projects like Star Wars: Andor, as this world carries a similarly dark and gritty vibe.

"Oh, man. I absolutely love the world of Janix," Percy says. "My two favorite Star Wars stories are Andor and Rogue One. And that’s because they’re grounded in realism. We’re taking a similar approach here. And this city is more than a stage—it’s a character in itself. Steam hisses from vents, billowing the air. Neon burnishes the night. Trash dirties the gutters. Lawson pops his collar and shoulders forward through the rain-drenched crowds. It’s all very noir."

What about Maul himself? What is the character's mental state following the end of the Clone Wars and his defeat on Mandalore? Does he smell opportunity in the air, or is he wary of the Empire and catching the attention of his former master? Percy can't reveal much, but he does tease that Maul has a very specific goal in travelling to Janix.

"Hmm. I’m not sure I’m allowed to say much about that. I’ll keep it vague and say he’s got an ax (or, er, a double-sided light saber) to grind—and some folks on Janix are in his crosshairs."

Star Wars: Shadow of Maul #1 will be released on March 4, 2026, a month before the animated series debuts on Disney+. You can preorder the book at your local comic shop.

For more on Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord, check out our breakdown of all the major characters in the first trailer.

Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on BlueSky.

LEGO first released its line of book nook sets back in June of 2025 and they've been very well received. There are currently only three book nook builds available (from Lord of the Rings, Sherlock Holmes, and Harry Potter) and there have been little to no discounts on them until recently. The Lord of the Rings book nook was the first to drop in price earlier this month and now the Harry Potter edition has followed suit.

While the price cut isn't particularly steep, it's still the best price we've ever seen on this set. The Hogwarts Express book nook was already the most affordable of the three builds. If you're looking for a good Valentine's Day gift for the Potter fan in your life, it's definitely worth considering at this price.

The Hogwarts Express Book Nook Drops in Price on Amazon

If you consider yourself a fan of high fantasy, I would be willing to bet that there is a good chance you have at least heard the name "Brandon Sanderson" even if you have never read one of his books. Widely considered one of the most prolific fantasy authors of the modern age, Sanderson is a titan of the industry, having redefined publishing for authors, fought for better contracts for author e-book sales, brought about the conclusion of the legendary Wheel of Time series after the passing of its original author, Robert Jordan, and has basically created his own media empire with Dragonsteel (complete with his own convention). To say that he is a big deal would be underselling it a bit.

All that aside, perhaps what Brandon is best known for is the Cosmere—his universe-spanning interconnected monolith that a majority of his various books and series take place somewhere in. Picture the Marvel Cinematic Universe but as books, and all by the same writer. When a new Cosmere book is released, it's a big deal. This list will give you a basic idea of the (current) chronological order of the books in the scheme of the Cosmere itself, omitting books that we know are coming (Dragonsteel, the future Elantris Books, Mistborn eras 3 and 4, etc) but have not yet been released. With the latest news of Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere universe getting picked up by Apple TV, there's never been a better time to dive into the series.

If you look at the long list of titles that currently take place in the Cosmere, it can feel like a Herculean task to get through some of the books on their own, so consider this more as a resource to help you navigate it a bit, and make connections along the way as you read through the various series. However, just be aware that these can also be enjoyed on their own as smaller self-contained series, without needing to read them in chronological order. Special thank you to the CopperMind (a Cosmere resource kept up to date by the most diehard of fans) for helping me put this list together. Just be careful when you go on there as it is really easy to accidentally spoil things for yourself (speaking from experience, even though they try to mark everything).

It should be noted that as of this writing, there is no official timeline, with Brandon having previously stated that he hopes to have one released before the second Arc of Stormlight Archive releases—tentatively planned for 2031 (no, I'm not joking). The current list was put together thanks to research and input from the Coppermind wiki, Reddit, and YouTube videos

How Many Books Exist in the Cosmere Timeline?

As it stands right now, if you want to read everything the Cosmere has to offer, you will have to work your way through a pile of graphic novels, short stories, novelas, and your standard novels. All told, you are looking at about 24 books to buy (the number gets a little wonky depending on how you count the books that count the collections of stories and such), but here is a list of all the Cosmere titles you will need to read:

• Elantris
• Mistborn Era 1
  • Mistborn: The Final Empire
  • The Well of Ascension
  • The Hero of Ages
• Mistborn Era 2:
  • The Alloy of Law
  • Shadows of Self
  • The Bands of Mourning
  • The Lost Metal
• Warbreaker
• Stormlight Archive 1st Arc
  • The Way of Kings
  • Words of Radiance
  • Oathbringer
  • Rhythm of War
  • Wind and Truth
• Dawnshard (Novella)
• White Sand (Graphic Novels)
  • White Sand Vol. 1
  • White Sand Vol. 2
  • White Sand Vol. 3
• Tress of the Emerald Sea
• Yumi and the Nightmare Painter
• The Sunlit Man
• Arcanum Unbounded (Collection of Short Stories and Novellas)
  • The Emperor’s Soul
  • The Hope of Elantris (free on Brandon Sanderson’s website)
  • The Eleventh Metal
  • Allomancer Jak and the Pits of Eltania
  • Mistborn: Secret History
  • White Sand
  • Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell
  • Sixth of the Dusk
  • Edgedancer

The “Chronological” Cosmere Reading Order

While the following breakdown will take you through the Cosmere as we believe it to exist right now, it isn’t necessarily the “best” way to tackle these books. There are a number of options that people recommend, reading in Publication Order is a common one, knowing how imposing this all is, Brandon released his own “Where do I start?” list that you can check out too. I started with Mistborn Era 1 (Mistborn: The Final Empire) and then into Stormlight Archive Book 1, and had a good time.

White Sand - World: Taldain

Mistborn Era 1 (Vin and Kelsier) - World: Scadrial

The Stormlight Archive Arc 1 - World: Roshar

Misborn Era 2 (Wax and Wayne) - World: Scardrial

What We know Is Coming in 2026 and Beyond

Much like our own universe, the Cosmere continues to expand. Back in December of 2024, Brandon gave his updated PLANNED release schedule up through 2031, and is as follows:

• 2026: Cosmere TTRPG - Mistborn Campaign Setting
• December 2026: Dark One or Isaac’s Cosmere Novel
• February 2026: Isles of the Emberdark (Pre-order)
  • This incorporates and expands on Sixth of the Dusk
• 2027: Dark One or Isaac’s Cosmere Novel
• December 2028: Mistborn Era 3 - Book 1
• Summer 2029: Elantris 2
• December 2029: Mistborn Era 3 - Book 2
• Summer 2030: Elantris 3
• December 2030: Mistborn Era 3 - Book 3
• December 2031: Stormlight Archive Book 6 (begins 2nd Arc)

The Cosmere Movie and TV Adaptations

Brandon Sanderson and Apple TV have officially solidified a deal to bring The Cosmere to the screen. There are no official release dates just yet, but reports have confirmed that Mistborn is being eyed for feature films and The Stormlight Archive is likely to become a TV series. Sanderson took to the Comsere Reddit after the announcements to tell the fans more about the deal, saying he chose Apple TV due to "the level of approvals and control" as well as their track record for high quality content.

The latest update from Brandon Sanderson revealed he's already working on the Mistborn screenplay and will be the co-showrunner for the Stormlight series. He also mentioned that this work would impact his writing schedule, but that fans shouldn't worry.

Scott White is a freelance contributor to IGN, assisting with book and tabletop game coverage. Follow him on X/Twitter or Bluesky.

Apple TV has closed a deal for the rights to Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere books, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The first adaptations being considered are the Mistborn series for film and The Stormlight Archive for TV.

According to that report, Sanderson will "write, produce and consult; and will have approvals" over the adaptations. A recent example of where a lack of this type of creative control can cause tension is with George R.R. Martin and the House of the Dragon showrunner. Martin said in a recent interview with THR that he "would give notes, and nothing would happen."

Brandon Sanderson himself has a massive audience, with over 50 million books sold since he first started writing. The Cosmere series makes up a large chunk of his published works, with 24 books attached to the shared universe. There are a total of seven books across different eras for Mistborn, and five total in The Stormlight Archive series.

According to THR, The Stormlight Archive already has a production company attached to the adaptation: Blue Marble. The media company is run by Theresa Kang, who has also produced the popular Apple TV series book-to-screen adaptation Pachinko.

What Is The Cosmere?

For those not already intimately familiar with The Cosmere, Brandon Sanderson has a brief explainer you can check out on his website. To quickly summarize, The Cosmere is the galaxy in which a large portion of his stories take place. The books that fit into this shared universe often take place on different worlds with completey different societies. The Mistborn series, for example, takes place on a world called Scadriel while the Stormlight Archive series takes place on Roshar.

Sanderson's Cosmere universe is known for having a wide variety of entry points that audiences can jump right into. So even though Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive take place in the same universe, they remain separate from each other with independent plot lines. Some characters do appear across multiple stories, but generally you can read them independently without missing any key details.

Although The Cosmere has never been adapted for the screen, it has seen various tabletop adaptations over the last few years. Just last year The Cosmere TTRPG was released with adventures pulled directly from The Stormlight Archive. Prior to that, Brandon Sanderson collaborated on a Mistborn board game that saw some success. Sanderson is still expanding his sprawling fantasy universe as of 2026 with plans for Mistborn Era 3 and additional Elantris novels.

After the Apple TV news broke, Sanderson himself took to the Cosmere subreddit to add a comment of his own. He said that in May he flew to Hollywood to start looking for a new partner on the Cosmere, something he had done before but not since 2016.

"This time, I got to meet the real decision makers," he explained. "Not just producers or low level executives. And this led to some really tough choices. I got the red carpet treatment, and liked everyone I met.

"The decision to pick Apple was due to two factors. First, the level of approvals and control. Apple wants to be a true partner with me, and they feel like they really get what I want to do. Second, their track record. Apple does fewer things, but with higher quality, than some other studios. I find virtually every thing of theirs I watch is excellent and creator driven."

Sanderson said he will write the Mistborn screenplay himself over the next five months "as my full time work." The goal is for a theatrical Mistborn, then a Stormlight show after. "Focus on doing it carefully and right," he added.

"I promise not to get too distracted to do books. However, if I want this done right, I need to give some real attention and heart to it now."

Sanderson will be hoping The Cosmere adaptations fare better than Amazon's The Wheel of Time Prime Video series, which was canceled after three seasons. Last year Sanderson, who finished author Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time saga, had some choice words for the people making the decisions on the TV show.

Last year, IGN broke the news that the wildly popular web series Murder Drones is making the jump to comics, with Oni Press releasing a graphic novel adaptation of the first season. That comic was successfully crowdfunded on Kickstarter, but now it's making its way to comic shops as it sees a wider release in 2026.

IGN can now exclusively debut an extended preview of Murder Drones #1. Check it out in the slideshow gallery below:

Murder Drones is a collaboration between Oni and animation studio Glitch Productions. The comic is written by Wyatt Kennedy (Nights, Marvel United) and drawn by Jo Mi-Gyeong (Eve, Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance). The comic serves as an adaptation of the first season of the Murder Drones animated series.

Here's Oni's official description of Murder Drones:

In the far future on the desolate exoplanet designated Copper 9, the humans are long gone but the robotic worker drones they created to mine the planet’s resources are still hard at work. Together, they have managed to forge their own makeshift society . . . or so they thought until a previously unknown kind of robot - the dreaded “Murder Drones” - are activated by a long-forgotten possibly-eldritch protocol to disassemble any worker that deviates from its original programming. But when a rebellious young worker drone named Uzi forms an unlikely alliance with two disassembly drones—Serial Designations N and V—can they, together, uncover the secrets of their origins . . . and survive the deep twisted horrors awaiting them?

Murder Drones #1 will be released on February 25, 2026. You can preorder a copy at your local comic shop.

In other comic book news, find out which series was selected as IGN's best comic book of 2025, and see which comics we're most excited for in 2026.

Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on BlueSky.

The comic book industry is nothing if not a volatile place in 2026, particularly in light of Diamond Comics' bankruptcy last year. It falls on smaller publishers to find new and creative ways of getting their books to market, and that's something that Iron Circus Comics has always specialized in. They've built an entire publishing company on the back of crowdfunding, and they'll continue to expand in the new year.

IGN can exclusively reveal Iron Circus' crowfunding slate for 2026. Scroll down to learn about six new graphic novels launching in the coming months, covering everything from fantasy to sci-fi to relationship drama.

Sleeping Wizards

Creative Team: Writer Rusty Marcum, artist Johanna Taylor, and letterer Jodie Troutman

Launch Date: February 2026

A ragtag party of wizards & thieves brave a dangerous dungeon to free themselves and find out what happened to their missing father.

“I’ve always wanted to work on a D&D-inspired fantasy comic, and Sleeping Wizards is the perfect blend of action, adventure, humor, chaos, and imagination! Iron Circus is doing incredible things in the indie comics space, and I’m so excited to be part of it!” -Taylor

Click here to learn more.

Runaway to the Stars

Creative Team: Cartoonist Jay Eaton

Launch Date: April 2026

Find where you belong in the stars - Talita is an alien raised by humans and nothing fits. Her quarters aren't big enough, her food isn't quite right, and she is either walked all over or told she is too scary. All that changes when a rogue AI from a salvage ship wants her help getting back into space.

“RUNAWAY TO THE STARS is the culmination of over a decade of science fiction worldbuilding, character development, hard work, research, and love. I'm thrilled for it to finally be taking flesh as a book with Iron Circus.” -Eaton

Click here to learn more.

The Goblin Throne

Creative Team: Cartoonist Melanie Gillman

Launch Date: June 2026

What forbidden terrors await in the woods? - Looking upon the Goblin Queen will lead to your doom, even if she offers to take you as her bride. For once the deal is struck, she will insist you belong to her sooner or later. It is only a matter of waiting for her.

“Iron Circus has always been an unparalleled champion of weird, horny, queer comics, and I could not imagine a better home for this book — my weirdest, horniest, and queerest comic yet. This is no feel-good gay romance — it’s a bloody adult fairy tale about divorced moms and craven lesbian desire, and the horror of finally having a real, honest love within your grasp, if only a little murder hadn’t gotten in the way first.” -Gillman

Click here to learn more.

Unsounded Vol. 3 & 4

Creative Team: Cartoonist Ashley Cope

Launch Date: August 2026

Ashley Cope’s legendary 15-year webcomic Unsounded has been compiled into a complete and ultimate collection. Continue the journey with UNSOUNDED Volumes Three & Four.

“Thanks to Iron Circus Comics, this marks the first time EVER that this material will be in print. We'll see the climax of the entire Nevergreen arc and the grisly demises and trippy introductions of some of the story's most pivotal characters! Gangsters, snakemen, six-titted bird goddesses, oh my!” -Cope

Click here to learn more.

Rigsby, WI Vol. 3

Creative Team: Cartoonist SE Case

Launch Date: October 2026

S.E. Case’s beautifully drawn RIGSBY WI is a refreshingly genuine tale of life on the cusp of something new, and the saga continues here with Book 3.

“I've been doing RIGSBY WI as a webcomic series for 6 years, so it’s been really cool working with Iron Circus to bring it to print for the first time. The third installment in the series, Flux is a story of bad teen relationships, picturesque walks in the woods, poorly thought out metaphors, and rural queerness — one that I hope offers catharsis to readers who have experienced something similar.” -Case

Click here to learn more.

"I am incredibly excited about our Kickstarter line-up for 2026,” said Iron Circus founder Spike Trotman in a statement. “It's an almost perfect cross-section of what I love about running a publisher like ICC. Unhinged fantasy, hard-sci-fi in its feelings, ultra-relatable slice-of-life. The kind of comics we want to make are stories that stick with you by creators who know how to make you care, and 2026 is us rolling a natural 20 on that. I've never been prouder of a KS line-up."

In other comic book news, find out which series was selected as IGN's best comic book of 2025, and see which comics we're most excited for in 2026.

Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on BlueSky.

2026 marks the 40th anniversary of Transformers: The Movie. Which, on one hand, is terribly depressing for us olds. But on the other hand, it means there are new collectibles in the works designed to capitalize on that milestone. Hasbro is banking big on the 40th anniversary with a new pair of Leader Class figures depicting the iconic final battle between Optimus Prime and Megatron.

IGN can exclusively reveal the first promo images of these two figures. Get a closer look in the slideshow gallery below:

The Optimus Prime figure features battle damage inspired by the movie and includes accessories like a blaster, Matrix of Leadership, and a stake. The figure measures 7.25 inches tall and transforms from robot to vehicle mode in 40 steps.

The Megatron figure similarly has battle damage deco and includes accessories like a fusion cannon, back barrel, beam saber, and blasters. The figure measures 8.5 inches tall and transforms from robot to tank mode in 54 steps.

Both figures are priced at $59.99 and are available for preorder on Target's website, with limited quantities being made available on Hasbro Pulse later. Optimus Prime will be released in Spring 2026, followed by Megatron in Fall 2026. You can find preorder links for both figures below:

For more Transformers fun, check out the Stranger Things-themed Freakwency and 8-Trax set.

Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on BlueSky.

If you've collected any of the Harry Potter books illustrated by Jim Kay over the years, you've likely experienced the pain of an unfinished collection. The last book to get the illustrated treatment was Order of the Phoenix, which was released all the way back in 2022. Jim Kay stepped down from the project shortly after that book was released, and as someone who has slowly been buying up these books for my brother over the years, I was afraid that I'd never actually be able to finish building his collection.

Thankfully, just last year the publisher announced that Levi Pinfold would be taking up the project and finally finish up the illustrated series. According to new product listings, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: The Illustrated Edition is now officially set to release on October 6, 2026. A cover has yet to be revealed, but you can already get your preorder in at any of the major online bookstores.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: The Illustrated Edition

The Planet of the Apes franchise is one with a rich history and sci-fi lore all its own, which makes it a natural choice to be adapted into a tabletop role-playing game. That's exactly what Magnetic Press aims to do with The Role-Playing Game of the Planet of the Apes.

IGN can exclusively debut a new preview of The Role-Playing Game of the Planet of the Apes: Core Rulebook. Check it out in the slideshow gallery below:

The Role-Playing Game of the Planet of the Apes consists of three volumes. Along with the aforementioned Core Rulebook, there's also Planet of the Apes RPG: The Ansa Files Sourcebook and Planet of the Apes RPG: Into the Forbidden Zone. The former focuses on iconic movie characters like Caesar, Taylor, Zira, Hasslein, and Dr. Zaius. The latter features a guided campaign that includes two map posters, 64 reference cards, seven preprinted character sheets, a Game Master screen, punch-out map markers and tokens, 12 dice, and a 96-page campaign adventure module.

The creative team on The Role-Playing Game of the Planet of the Apes: Core Rulebook includes writers Andrew E.C. Gaska and E.L. Thomas and artists Runa I. Rosenberger, Chris Scalf, Shane Molina, and Chandra Free, while Bill Sienkiewicz provided the cover art.

“As you play you can become an intellectual Chimpanzee who seeks to better apekind through science and exploration. Choose an Orangutan statesape whose weapons are philosophical debate, political savvy, and the power of the Sacred Scrolls themselves. Perhaps a Gorilla soldier is more your style—honor-bound to protect Ape City and lead aggressive expansions into new territories. What else, if not an ape? Be a time-lost astronaut struggling to grasp a world gone insane. Become a mute tribal human forced to scavenge for resources as you are hunted by murderous gorillas on horseback. The rules even allow you to play mutant survivors who use the power of their minds to turn their enemies against each other,” said Magnetic Press Founder and Publisher Mike Kennedy in a statement.

Kennedy continued, “Your adventures in this world of madness will take you to the ruins of a world destroyed—see what remains of the Statue of Liberty, the ostentatious Ape City, the foreboding Forbidden Zone, and the mysterious mutant undercity. It is a world defined by the stark contrasts of brutality and civility. Are you ape enough to handle the truth about the world you live in or will you lose your mind to it?”

The Role-Playing Game of the Planet of the Apes: Core Rulebook is priced at $49.99 and will be released on February 3. You can preorder a copy on Amazon.

For more on the Apes franchise, find out how to watch the Planet of the Apes movies in order.

Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on BlueSky.

The Harry Potter books are some of the bestselling novels of all time. Now that it's been almost 30 years since the first book was published, you can enjoy the story in pretty much every form. There's the Harry Potter movies, multiple audiobooks, and a ton of different video games to dive into. But for those just looking to read the original books in a new way, there are also multiple illustrated editions that are great for collectors.

Deciding which illustrated edition set to buy is slightly more complicated than it should be, however. There's the illustrated editions and then there's the interactive illustrated editions, both of which have yet to be fully completed. I have experience buying both as gifts, so I'm here to give you a quick rundown of the differences and what to expect from each series.

The Harry Potter Illustrated Editions

First up, there's the standard illustrated editions. These are illustrated by Jim Kay and began back in 2015. The pictures are vibrant and really do capture the essence of Harry Potter in a way that the movies never really could. There's a nice mix of story and images as you flip through the pages that make these great for reading to kids or just enjoying as an adult fan of the franchise.

One major note about these editions is that there are currently only five available. The Order of the Phoenix was the last book illustrated by Jim Kay before he decided to leave the project in 2022. It wasn't until recently that the publisher announced that the sixth book was being taken up by a new illustrator, Levi Pinfold. The Half-Blood Prince Illustrated Edition is set to be released on October 6, 2026. You can currently preorder it for $54.99.

The Harry Potter Interactive Illustrated Editions

Alongside the normal illustrated editions, there are also the interactive illustrated editions. The first one of these was published back in 2020 by MinaLima. The interactive element here refers to papercraft hidden within the pages. These are essentially illustrations that spin, open up, or can be played with in some way. I own the first three of these and have really enjoyed playing with the interactive elements, but it's clear that they aren't built for heavy use. The illustrations and papercraft here are delightful, but you'll likely start to experience some wear and tear after a few read-throughs. This is doubly true if younger kids are involved.

Similar to the Jim Kay editions, the interactive illustrated editions hit a bit of a hiccup after design studio MinaLima announced they would no longer be working on these books Scholastic continued on with the project and released The Goblet of Fire just last year with a new illustrator and designer. Although we don't yet have a release date for the next book in the series, we do know that work is continuing.

Bonus: Hogwarts Library Illustrated Collection