Supernatural’s New Dean Winchester Series Is The End Of The Jensen Ackles Era

Published Oct 15, 2026, 2:26 PM EDT TJ Mills is an editor on ScreenRant's Comic team, where she combines her lifelong passion for DC with her analytical background as a former Intelligence Analyst. Since joining ScreenRant in 2023, she has specialized in covering major DC storylines, character evolutions, and industry developments. Six years ago, Supernatural came to an end after an impressive 15 seasons and 327 episodes. Over the course of the series, dozens of beloved characters met their end, including Jensen Ackles’ Dean Winchester, who died in the series finale. With such a definitive ending and no official news of the show’s return in six years, it seemed as though this chapter of the franchise, led by Ackles and Jared Padalecki, was closed for good. Now, however, that feeling has been solidified with the launch of Supernatural’s new Dean Winchester series, which pushes the franchise forward while leaving Ackles behind. Supernatural has made several attempts to return to the TV screen, including the ill-fated The Winchesters, which lasted just one season before being canceled. There were also Supernatural: Bloodlines and Wayward Sisters, both of which received backdoor pilots that aired while Supernatural was still running but never got picked up as official series. There were likely several contributing factors behind why these series failed to take off. One thing they all had in common was the absence of Dean Winchester and Sam Winchester. However, the franchise has now returned with a new, canon-compliant Dean Winchester series. And while the series technically lacks Jensen Ackles himself, it stays true to the actor's likeness and captures the character's personality perfectly. You might be wondering how that would be possible without Ackles, and the answer is that, instead of bringing the series to the TV screen, it's been brought to life in the pages of comics. While this change in medium might turn some fans off, they truly should give it a shot because it's a 10/10 return to Dean Winchester that perfectly captures the show's spirit and Ackles' portrayal. And if that doesn't convince you, then maybe the fact that Dean spends the first half of the inaugural issue rocking a pair of tighty-whities will. Supernatural's New Dean Winchester Series Exceeds Expectations, Even Without Jensen Ackles Main Cover by Marguerite Sauvage for Supernatural: Dean Winchester #1 (2026) Dynamite is responsible for bringing Supernatural to the pages of comics, and while the publisher has previously released a 10-part Supernatural series written by Greg Pak, it has just launched a brand-new era for the Winchester brothers. This new chapter separates Sam and Dean, giving each brother his own solo title. Both series are connected, but each is brought to life by a different creative team. Despite Sam and Dean being apart in these two series, both stories take place at the same time and feature the looming reason behind the brothers' separation in the background of each narrative. (Tip: Read Supernatural Special: Wayward #1 to discover why the brothers have gone their separate ways.) Fans will be pleased to know that both series take place within official continuity, essentially telling an untold chapter set somewhere between the show's early seasons. For the best reading experience, we recommend reading Supernatural Special: Wayward #1, followed by Supernatural: Sam Winchester #1 and then Supernatural: Dean Winchester #1. Speaking as a Supernatural die-hard myself and a Dean Winchester stan, my expectations were more than exceeded with this first issue. Writer Chuck Brown and artists Rapha Lobosco, Elton Thomasi, and Pedro Estouco really hit this one out of the park, capturing Dean's charm, personality, and likeness, along with the overall vibe of an early-season Supernatural episode. One of my favorite things about Dean is that he's a lovable hot mess, especially when his brother isn't around, and the creative team absolutely nailed this in the opening pages. Dean is passed out in his tighty-whities in a motel room, surrounded by empty bottles, before chaotically running around town in his underwear. The monster and hunt introduced in this issue also perfectly recreate the intrigue I felt watching the early-season Supernatural hunts. Truly, 10/10 from me. No notes. So, while the launch of this series feels, in some ways, like another nail in the coffin for the Supernatural franchise moving forward without Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki leading the charge, Supernatural: Dean Winchester is an epic addition to the franchise and one I can't wait to keep following. Supernatural: Dean Winchester #1 from Dynamite is now available to read! Supernatural