New X-Files Series Lands Release Date as Franchise Veteran Returns for Next Major Release

A new X-Files series is coming soon, and a franchise veteran will be returning along with it. One of the most popular science fiction television shows in history, The X-Files brought fringe concepts such as alien abductions and conspiracy theories to the mainstream. The X-Files unnerved a generation of viewers, all while keeping them entertained.

The product of producer Chris Carter, The X-Files quickly rose from its Friday night origins to become one of Fox’s signature shows. It made stars out of its leads, David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson, who played FBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, respectively. Mulder, a true-believer in the phenomenon he investigates, at first clashed with the skeptical Scully, and viewers found this tension compelling on many levels. The X-Files ran for 11 seasons, and spawned two motion pictures. A director’s cut for the second, I Want to Believe, will debut on Hulu on August 14.

As with any popular science fiction franchise, The X-Files crossed over into other media as well, including comic books. The now defunct Topps Comics were the first to produce books based on the television show. The book was as much a hit as its source material, and copies still go for premium dollars on secondary sites. IDW published a handful of X-Files comics to coincide with the franchise’s mid-2010s revival, but all has been quiet since. While fans wait for director Ryan Coogler’s reboot, Dynamite is taking fans back to the classic era of Scully and Mulder.

Dynamite Reminds Fans the Truth is Still Out There in a New X-Files Comic

Dynamite Is Bringing Back An X-Files Veteran to Write the New Book

Today, Dynamite Entertainment announced a new The X-Files comic, which will debut this winter. Dynamite did not release any details on the plot, but was able to confirm that Joe Harris, who penned X-Files stories for both Topps and IDW, will be returning to chronicle the new adventures of Scully, Mulder and their allies. Dynamite also released the cover to the first issue, as well as artist Riley Brown’s character designs for the series’ leads.

Bringing an established franchise veteran such as Joe Harris back to The X-Files was a major priority for Dynamite when putting together this book. Harris was excited to be returning to play in the sandbox, saying:

From my own early TV fandom on Friday and Sunday nights to getting to work on one of the greatest supernatural thriller/science fiction franchises in history, the further adventures of Agents Mulder and Scully have occupied a very special place in my head and career. I am beyond honored to write them and I am absolutely over the moon to work with Dynamite on this new series.

Dynamite did not release any additional information on the book, promising more would be revealed in the days and weeks ahead.

The X-Files return to comics is part of a larger deal between Dynamite and Disney, who holds the rights to the franchise. This partnership has already had great returns for both parties, as Dynamite’s Ducktales Kickstarter campaign performed very well. Furthermore, the publisher has plans to reboot classic Disney shows such as Tailspin. The X-Files will no doubt keep this hot streak going.

The Return of The X-Files Could Not be More Timely

The X-Files struck a chord with audiences in the early 1990s. Viewers might have been aware of conspiracy theories, especially in light of the Watergate scandal. Many Americans did not trust their own government, leading to a number of thrillers such as Three Days of the Condor or The Parallax View. Yet The X-Files brought a creepy and paranoid vibe to these types of stories. The conspiracies seen on The X-Files ran so much deeper than influencing elections: these were about the survival of the human race.

These distrustful emotions are still unfortunately present in the national mood, making the return of The X-Files timely and relevant. Coogler’s impending revival will most likely carry on this tradition, updating it for modern times. Yet the classic adventures of Scully and Mulder are timeless, and laid the foundation for a great franchise. Now, an X-Files veteran is returning to see it in a new era.

The X-Files #1 is on sale this winter from Dynamite Entertainment!