The long-running television phenomenon Supernatural continues to expand its universe beyond the screen, with the franchise moving forward through a brand-new comic book series centering on Sam Winchester. The first issue of the new run, titled Supernatural: Sam Winchester #1, officially hit store shelves on October 7.
Set during an undisclosed period in the earlier seasons of the television show, the narrative follows Sam into the Appalachian region, where he encounters Eldritch-type horrors. Despite his extensive fifteen-season history portraying the character on television, Jared Padalecki is not actively involved in the new comic book series, though his likeness is utilized in the publication alongside a photograph featured on one of the variant covers.
This follows a similar pattern established earlier in the year with the release of Supernatural: Dean Winchester #1, which left Jensen Ackles out of the creative process while using his physical likeness for the publication. The ongoing expansion of Sam Winchester’s story in the comic medium is scheduled to continue with the release of Issue #2 on November 4, 2026.
While the original television run concluded in 2020 after spanning 15 seasons and 20 years across networks including The WB and The CW under showrunner Eric Kripke, the broader franchise maintains a robust presence across various media and streaming platforms. All 15 seasons of the original television series are currently available for streaming on both Prime Video and Peacock, following a departure from Netflix last year.
Meanwhile, original cast members continue to pursue major television projects. Jensen Ackles, who famously portrayed Dean Winchester, recently appeared in Prime Video’s The Boys as Soldier Boy, returning for the series’ fifth and final season. Ackles is also slated to star alongside Aya Cash in the upcoming Boys spin-off series, Vought Rising, scheduled for release on Prime Video in 2027. His other recent television ventures included leading the crime drama Countdown, though that series was canceled after a single season.
Despite ongoing rumors and discussions surrounding a potential television reboot of Supernatural, industry observers and fans generally agree that insufficient time has passed for a reimagining to capture the necessary nostalgia required to successfully relaunch the property on screen.
