Ready Player One Returns With An Unexpected Twist That Fans Didn't See Coming

Ready Player One fans have gotten some unexpected and amazing news — the series is set to make its return later this year. An official, full-color graphic novel adaptation is on the way, and it’s already earned high praise from creator Ernest Cline.

The full-color illustrated graphic novel is adapted by Scott Peterson (Batman: Gotham Adventures) and Meredith Laxton (The Crow) from Cline's original 2011 novel. It is set to hit stores on Oct. 6 in the U.S. as a Target exclusive hardcover, with a wider paperback and hardcover set to follow at other retailers in March 2027. Ready Player Two: The Graphic Novel, based on Cline’s sequel adventure, is already planned to follow in 2028.

Original Ready Player One Author Praises New Graphic Novel Adaptation

A press release announcing the graphic novel, shared on Bleeding Cool, included a quote from Cline praising the new project. “It's been an absolute joy working with the [publishing] team at Ten Speed Graphic, and I couldn't be more excited to see Ready Player One take on a whole new life as a graphic novel,” he said.

“From the very beginning, this story has been the thrill of stepping into another world, and Meredith Laxton's stunning artwork adds a whole new dimension to the adventure,” Cline continued. “This adaptation captures the heart, humor, and high-stakes fun of Wade's journey in ways that even longtime fans will find surprising."

Aaron Wehner, Ten Speed Press’s Executive Vice President and Publisher, also talked about bringing the project to life, saying: "From the very beginning, our goal was to honor the spirit of Ready Player One while fully embracing what the graphic novel format does best. This adaptation brings the scale, emotion, and immersive detail of the OASIS vividly to the page."

Ready Player One takes place in the year 2045, with the world in shambles. Young Wade Watts only feels alive when he’s tapped into the virtual world known as the OASIS, where most of humanity passes the time together. When the world’s creator dies, he leaves behind a series of puzzles focused on pop culture, and the one to solve them will end up inheriting control of the OASIS. Wade soon sets out to be the first to solve the puzzles, but he finds himself being hunted by those who will do anything to take control of the virtual world.

Ready Player One’s Story Remains a Hit 15 Years Later

While Cline’s original novel may have come out 15 years ago, his story has only gotten better with age, and the new graphic novel adaptation has quickly proven that fans are still eager to revisit Wade’s adventures in the OASIS. At the time of writing, the graphic novel's pre-order listing is the #1 New Release on Amazon’s Dystopian Graphic Novels chart.

Ready Player One’s popularity has only grown bigger in recent years, with the story being adapted into a blockbuster film directed by Steven Spielberg in 2018. Tye Sheridan starred as Wade Watts, with the rest of the cast including Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn, Lena Waithe, T.J. Miller, Simon Pegg, and Mark Rylance. In 2020, Cline announced a sequel film was in early development, and as of 2024, Spielberg confirmed he would return to produce (but not direct).

Ready Player One: The Graphic Novel is now available for pre-order.