Star Wars Just Changed The Mandalorian in a Surprising New Way

1 day ago 6

Published Jul 21, 2026, 2:00 PM EDT

Sam Fang primarily covers news for CBR, with over a decade of experience writing about entertainment and pop culture and degrees in both journalism and art.

The next chapter of The Mandalorian's story is coming soon with one pretty big tonal shift. Star Wars is taking the character (and his beloved sidekick Grogu) in a more kid-friendly direction.

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu — Danger in the Dark #1 marks the next chapter for Din and Grogu's story, and it will be released by Mad Cave Studios' Papercutz on July 22. Solicits for Danger in the Dark dub it a "high-energy story full of humor and heart." The story seems perfect for younger audiences, taking on a much lighter tone than the action-packed and intense moments in the franchise's recent film counterpart. As The Mandalorian's future remains uncertain, this new direction might be the refresh the franchise needed after the movie's shortcomings at the box office.

Grogu Takes Center Stage in New Star Wars Adventure

The full synopsis of the Danger in the Dark story reveals that Grogu will be at the heart of the action, putting everything he's learned into action. "A hidden danger looms deep beneath the surface of Nevarro, and it’s up to the Mandalorian and Grogu to stop it!"

The Mandalorian will have his own hesitations about letting his sidekick lead the way. "Joined by a courageous crew of Anzellan friends, Din Djarin and his foundling venture into the lava tubes underneath the city to defuse a crashed pirate ship, facing creepy creatures and perilous obstacles along the way. But with the planet’s safety on the line, can Grogu learn to listen to Mando’s guidance? And can Mando balance teaching Grogu with letting the little guys lead?"

Danger in the Dark is written by Delilah S. Dawson and features art by Arianna Florean, Mario Del Pennino and Gaia De Bernardini with letters by Dave Lentz. Main cover art for the new Mad Cave Studios story is handled by Brent Schoonover, with the publisher also sharing a handful of variants highlighting the playful new tone.

It remains to be seen if the new all-ages appeal might help bring The Mandalorian and Grogu back on track. The film became the lowest-grossing live-action Star Wars film upon its release earlier this year, facing criticism for its plot, visuals and action. While Danger in the Dark is a comic story, it may signify a broader shift for the Mandalorian moving forward.

What's Next for The Mandalorian and Grogu?

Following the film's underwhelming run, many Star Wars fans may be left wondering what's next for The Mandalorian and Grogu. Considering Jon Favreau's Disney+ series saw its fourth season shelved, right now there are no concrete plans for Din Djarin or Grogu, but it's very unlikely that fans have seen the last of them.

Even without a Season 4 on the way, it seems likely that the characters might integrate into other parts of the Star Wars universe moving forward. The Mandalorian spin-off Ahsoka was renewed for a second season back in 2024, and it is currently scheduled to premiere on Disney+ in early 2027.

On the comics side of things, the Mandalorian's future is also pretty uncertain at this time. Marvel previously released screen-to-page adaptations of the Disney+ series from 2022 to 2023, but it's been quiet since then.

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu — Danger in the Dark #1 goes on sale July 22 from Mad Cave Studios.