EXCLUSIVE: Papercutz to Release “Disney Atlantis: The Lost Empire – Curse of Kurok” Graphic Novel This Summer

Papercutz (an imprint of Mad Cave Studios) is ready to release an original graphic novel, titled Disney Atlantis: The Lost Empire – Curse of Kurok, this summer, allowing fans of Disney’s animated movie to join Milo and Kida for another adventure.

With the original animated movie ending with Kida being crowned Queen and Milo standing next to her, the upcoming graphic novel will be set after said events. Things will continue to escalate for Queen Kida as a hidden past gets revealed while she tries to lead her people to prosperity.

Written by Matthew K. Manning (Batman/TMNT Adventures) and illustrated by Christian Colbert (Secret S.T.E.A.M. Society), the narrative has been described as one that will explore Kida’s character as a leader while balancing heart with a dark and dangerous mystery. It is supposed to be a spiritual successor to the animated movie from 2001.

The story will introduce a young boy, bearing mysterious marks, who tells “tales of falling stars”. The boy’s appearance leads to “whispers of an ancient curse” spreading throughout Atlantis. Matters escalate when it’s discovered that the young boy’s brother is missing in the caves that exist beneath the legendary city. To help her people, Queen Kida goes on a mission to find the missing boy. Teaming up with Kida are Milio and the boy’s father, a miner named Brin.

The dangerous mission will test Kida’s resolve. She will need to prove herself as the protector that Atlantis needs as she embarks deeper into “forgotten caverns, where lost legends, family bonds, and a monstrous force threaten the city’s future.”

As someone who enjoyed watching Atlantis: The Lost Empire as a very young teen back in the day, I’m very excited about returning to such a fantastical world. I continue to be part of the Disney fandom that believes that Kida should receive a lot more recognition as an official Disney Princess. She’s cool!

Manning’s also a fan of the property, and that’s why I’m looking forward to what the upcoming graphic novel will bring to the table.

“When Disney Atlantis: The Lost Empire was first released, I remember watching it on opening night at New York’s Ziegfeld Theatre with a dozen or so friends from college,” shared Manning. “Seeing a strange new Mike Mignola-inspired world on the big screen was not something a bunch of cartooning majors was going to miss. When it came to expanding the story in comic form, I wanted to explore more of that interesting environment from the point of view of its inhabitants. So while we see plenty of Milo’s version of heroics, this is primarily a Kida story. As the new queen of Atlantis, how does she protect her people when an ancient curse proclaims she’ll be their destruction? How does she embrace the outside world without devaluing Atlantis’s own history? Atlantis is a large and storied place, and I wanted to really dive into it.”

Artist Christian Colbert added, “Drawing the Disney Atlantis: The Lost Empire – Curse of Kurok for Papercutz felt like playing in a world I love.”

The current art featured on the cover does seem similar to the movie’s original animated style. So, yay to that!

Disney Atlantis: The Lost Empire – Curse of Kurok will consist of 80 full-color pages. It will be available in both paperback (ISBN: 9781545812129) and hardcover (ISBN: 9781545812938).

With a summer 2026 release date, are you excited about Disney Atlantis: The Lost Empire – Curse of Kurok?

Let us know.

And you can read more of our Papercutz coverage here.

You can visit the official Papercutz website here.

Author: Farid-ul-Haq

Farid has a Double Masters in Psychology and Biotechnology as well as an M.Phil in Molecular Genetics. He is the author of numerous books including Missing in Somerville, and The Game Master of Somerville. He gives us insight into comics, books, TV shows, anime/manga, video games, and movies.

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