(Photo: Dark Horse Comics)

At New York Comic Con 2015, DreamWorks Animation and Dark Horse Comics announced a series of How to Train Your Dragon graphic novels

Releasing in 2016, How to Train Your Dragon: The Serpent’s Heir begins hours after the events of How to Train Your Dragon 2, as Hiccup and Toothless are thrust into their new roles as chief and alpha. The graphic novels will offer the first look into what happens to the riders following the conclusion of the second film.

The How to Train Your Dragon graphic novels will be co-written by Dean DeBlois, writer/director of the How to Train Your Dragon films, and Richard Hamilton, writer on Dragons: Race to the Edge.

(Photo: Dark Horse Comics)

“How to Train Your Dragon was an instant animation classic,” said Dark Horse president and publisher Mike Richardson in a press release. “We couldn’t be more excited to work with Dean, Richard, and DreamWorks Animation to help continue the adventures of these great characters.”

“I am excited to be writing this next chapter in the How to Train Your Dragon universe,” said DeBlois.

“Dark Horse is a perfect home for these new original stories and Richard and I are thrilled to know they will be in the hands of our incredible fans very soon.”

How to Train Your Dragon: The Serpent’s Heir will release in 2016.