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Frank L. Herbert’s Dune may have started as a novel, but the rise of Paul Atreides and the epic history of the desert planet Arrakis have grown to become one of the biggest epics in science fiction. While it hasn’t always been a household name on the level of Star Wars or Star Trek, Dune has captured the imaginations of legions of fans, as the box office success of director Denis Villeneuve’s Dune and anticipation for its upcoming sequel attest to.
For the most part, the world of Dune has flourished through books and short stories that cover events from thousands of years before and after the original novel, which remains the cornerstone of the franchise. Beyond that, the world of Dune has also been brought to life in the world of comics a few times over the years. Now, we’re taking a closer look at each Dune comic book series and how it fits into the franchise’s somewhat convoluted timeline.
Marvel’s Dune: The Official Comic Book
Long before the age of streaming, comic book adaptations of films were one of the easiest ways to revisit blockbuster films outside of the theater. Based on director David Lynch’s much-maligned Dune in 1984, Marvel published Dune: The Official Comic Book, by Ralph Macchio, Bill Sienkiewicz, Christie Scheele, Joe Rosen and Michael Higgins in 1985.
Released as a three-issue miniseries, a tabloid-size Marvel Super Special and a pocket-size paperback, this comic adapts the ambitious film in its entirety. In addition to being the only complete comic book adaptation of Dune as of this writing, Sienkiewicz’s signature moody art makes this comic stand apart, with a memorably menacing depiction of Arrakis’ giant sandworms.
Frank Herbert’s Dune: The Graphic Novel
Last year, Abrams Publishing released Dune: The Graphic Novel: Book 1, the first volume in a planned three-book series adapting the novel Dune. Written by longtime franchise stewards Brian Herbert — son of Frank Herbert — and Kevin J. Anderson, this Abrams ComicArts volume includes art by Raúl Allén and Patricia Martin and a cover by Sienkiewicz.
Although it’s not a line-by-line adaptation of the original novel, this more accessible adaptation of Dune is the most faithful to the spirit of the densely-plotted original book. However, it should be noted that the book’s first volume covers roughly as much ground as Villeneuve’s Dune. The second volume is set to be released in Spring 2022.
Dune: House Atreides Prequel
In the 1990s, Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson began work on the Prequel to Dune trilogy, which covers the decades before the events of Dune. In 2020, BOOM! Studios began adapting the first novel in this series, Dune: House Atreides, as a 12-issue comic book maxi-series by Herbert, Anderson, Dev Pramanik, Ed Dukeshire and Alex Guimaraes.
This series follows a young Leto Atreides, Arrakis governor Baron Harkonnen and the future Emperor Shadaam as they all rise to power amidst an intricate web of alliances and rivalries. This series also features side stories involving familiar faces like imperial Fremen expert Pardot Kynes and a young Duncan Idaho.
Dune: Blood of the Sardaukar
Early this year, BOOM! Studios offered a new perspective on the Dune Universe with Dune: Blood of the Sardaukar #1, by Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson, Adam Gorham, Patricio Delpeche and Ed Dukeshire. Based on a 2019 short story by Herbert and Anderson, this one-shot special follows Jopati Kolona, one of the Emperor’s Sardaukar soldiers who was sent to aid House Harkonnen.
Against the backdrop of House Harkonnen’s attack on House Atreides and Arrakis, this special sees Jopati interrogate his history with Leto Atreides and explores the traditions of the Sardaukar in a side-story to the original novel. Beyond this comic, Jopati also plays a key role in Herbert and Anderson’s ongoing Caladan trilogy of prose novels, which began last year with Dune: The Duke of Caladan.
Dune: The Official Movie Graphic Novel
Fresh off of the success of 2021’s Dune, Legendary Comics and Rocketship Entertainment are crowd-funding Dune: The Official Movie Graphic Novel through Kickstarter. Written by Lilah Sturges, this adaptation is set to feature art from Drew Johnson, Zid, Niezam and variant covers by Bill Sienkiewicz, Johnson, Zid, John Ridgeway and Tim Sale.
Featuring the likenesses of the 2021 film’s cast, this graphic novel will cover the same ground as the film. Although the Kickstarter is set to run until Nov. 24, it’s already far exceeded its initial goal and offers backers a choice between variant covers and various pieces of Dune paraphernalia at different backing tiers.
Dune: A Whisper of Caladan Seas
Later this year, BOOM! Studios is set to release Dune: A Whisper of Caladan Seas, by Brian Herbert, Kevin K. Anderson, Jakub Rebelka and Ed Dukeshire. Based on Herbert and Anderson’s 2001 short story of the same name, this one-shot is set to follow a group of Atreides soldiers who get trapped in a cave during the Harkonnen attack on Arrakis in the original Dune.
Facing tall odds, this story sees Sgt. Vitt use his storytelling skills to transport his fellow troops back to their lush homeworld until a group of Fremen find something truly unexpected. Dune: A Whisper of Caladan Seas is set to be released on Dec. 29, 2021.
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