The Nightmare before Christmas prequel to be released in 2023

After almost 30 years of waiting, we finally have an update regarding the ‘The Nightmare before Christmas’ prequel! It’s officially coming in 2023 in a form of a comic book. Read on to find out which characters it will feature, as well as what it will be about.

‘The Nightmare before Christmas’ prequel details

TOKYOPOP, the famous manga publisher, released a statement on Halloween of 2022 in which they reveal the release date of the comic book. It will tell the story between Jack Skellington and Oogie Boogie, the main hero and enemy characters from ‘The Nightmare before Christmas’. It will be published under the title ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas – The Battle for Pumpkin King’. 

Prior to this ‘The Nightmare before Christmas’ prequel, TOKYOPOP also collaborated with the writer Dan Conner in order to create the novel ‘Mirror Moon’, which followed Sally’s story, as well as ‘Zero’s Journey’. 

‘The Nightmare before Christmas’ prequel, photo by Disney

The graphic novel itself will be in full color, and it will have issued in 5 parts. These five issues will have 160 pages altogether, and the cost will round up to only $20 bucks. The first issue of ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas – The Battle for Pumpkin King’ is going to hit sales on March 13, 2023, and each new issue will come every next month until July. The full graphic novel will be available on September 19, 2023. 

The storyline between Jack Skellington and Oogie Boogie 

The events of this ‘The Nightmare before Christmas’ prequel will take place around a year before the 1993 movie. Jack Skellington is preparing his best performance for Halloween when he finds out Sally was kidnapped by Lock, Shock, and Barrel. The three devils were sent by Oogie Boogie to kidnap Jack, because Oogie was upset that Jack is scarier than him. This leads Jack and Boogie to a heated argument over who is going to rule Halloween. 

About ‘The Nightmare before Christmas’

The initial animated movie ‘The Nightmare before Christmas’ was released back in 1993 just days before Halloween. Tim Burton, creator of ‘Edward Scissorhands’, ‘Beetlejuice’, ‘Sleepy Hollow’, and ‘Corpse Bride’ is the one who wrote the story ‘The Nightmare before Christmas’.

‘The Nightmare before Christmas’ tells the story of Jack Skellington after he became the Pumpkin King. Jack was out of ideas for the upcoming Halloween, and in order to find some inspiration, he wonders with his dog Zero around the forest. The two find several secret doors which lead to specific holidays, for example, Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving! They hop through the Christmas door, and find out a unique world full of happiness, and laughter. It’s ‘a place where no one is dead’, as Jack says. 

Upon his return to the Halloween town, Jack unsuccessfully tries to show Halloween folks all the wonders of Christmas. Oogie Boogie finds out about all of this and decides to take matters in his claws! As it’s Halloween season, you must not miss this classic. 

‘The Nightmare before Christmas’ Jack Skellington, photo by Disney

‘The Nightmare before Christmas’ Potential Sequel 

Fun fact: Apart from the prequel stories, Disney Press also published the sequel titled ‘Long Live the Pumpkin Queen’, which tells the story of Sally and her life with Jack, the Pumpkin King. 

And surprisingly enough, Tim Burton and Henry Sellick are also enthusiastic about a potential sequel. “The idea of a short has never come up in the past… I think that Tim might be open to a short. Perhaps a short about Sally! Or a short that’s about Zero… his viewpoint of the world or a day in his life. I think that’s a fantastic idea. And doable. I predict Tim would back up this idea as well”, Sellick said in a 2022 interview. 

Obsessed with anime, all-things magical, collecting rare editions and funko pops, Natalija is a young writer who strives to read every comic and manga out there!