Bryan Lee O'Malley Returns to Scott Pilgrim with a New Story After 16 Years Away
The news is short but massive: Bryan Lee O'Malley, who wrapped up the Scott Pilgrim series back in 2010, is coming back to write and illustrate a brand new chapter in the franchise. The comic is called Scott Pilgrim EX: Dawn of Metal Scott #1, and it's dropping on November 11, 2026 through Oni Press.
Honestly, I didn't see this coming. It's been 16 years since the original series ended — those six volumes that started back in 2004 with Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life. It felt like Scott and Ramona were going to stay frozen in our memories once the whole "defeat the seven evil exes" thing wrapped up. But O'Malley decided to come back.
So What's This New Story About?
This isn't a direct continuation of the original series. The new comic is actually a prequel to Scott Pilgrim EX, the game that Tribute Games released a few months ago on March 3, 2026. The story takes place in Toronto — the original setting of the whole saga — and follows the rise of a brand new enemy called Metal Scott.
The timeline is clear: after Scott settles down with Ramona and things finally calm down post-evil-exes, but before he has to face Metal Scott as his next big threat. So we're in this weird pocket of peace before everything goes sideways again.
The comic's going to be 24 pages total: 16 pages of main story plus 8 pages of bonus material. It's compact but feels purposeful — this is a serious setup for the game, not just some throwaway side thing.
What Really Blew My Mind
O'Malley himself admitted this is a big deal. He said: "It wasn't until I started writing and drawing that I realized this would be the first new Scott Pilgrim comic in 16 years", and he described returning to Toronto and these characters as "like coming home".
That tells you this wasn't just some cash grab. There's something personal here. This guy's coming back because he actually wants to tell a story that wasn't finished yet.
The Game Itself Was Worth Paying Attention To
To give you context: Scott Pilgrim EX launched on March 3, 2026 across multiple platforms: Windows and Linux on PC, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, and Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. It's a beat-em-up from a side-scrolling perspective — your classic arcade-style fighting game.
Here's the thing that matters: Paul Robertson, the artist who worked on Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game, came back for Scott Pilgrim EX. And Anamanaguchi handled the soundtrack. So this game wasn't random — it was a project that brought back a huge chunk of the original team.
The Announcement Hit at Comic-Con
The news dropped officially at Comic-Con (SDCC) in July 2026. Smart move — there's no better place to get real fans hyped than Comic-Con.
My Take: This Franchise Isn't Dead
Scott Pilgrim could've stayed in the past — a beautiful artifact from the early 2000s. But instead, it looks like everyone involved (O'Malley, Tribute Games, Oni Press) decided there's still life left in this series.
I don't know if there's a new movie in the works — nothing was mentioned. But the comic and the game together? That's a pretty clear signal that a whole new era of Scott Pilgrim just kicked off.
Here's What I'd Recommend:
If you're a Scott Pilgrim die-hard: Read the new comic before or after playing Scott Pilgrim EX. They're telling one story together — the comic gives you the setup, the game gives you the full experience.
If you've never read the original series: Start with book one, Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life. The new comic is a prequel, not a jumping-on point. You need to know who Scott and Ramona are and what actually went down.
If you're only interested in the game: Playing Scott Pilgrim EX is totally enough on its own. The comic's a nice bonus but not required.
