There are very few characters who can say they’ve explored just about every career imaginable, traveled to fantastical worlds and experienced adventures spanning everything from fairy-tale kingdoms to outer space. But then again, Barbie has never been one to limit herself to the ordinary. For generations, the iconic doll has encouraged children to imagine a world where possibilities are endless, whether that means becoming an astronaut, discovering a magical kingdom or stepping into an entirely new adventure alongside familiar friends. And while Barbie has certainly experienced her fair share of extraordinary adventures over the years, her next journey might be one of her most unusual yet. Because this time, she’s not simply exploring another world. She’s traveling through time!
Dark Horse Comics and Mattel have officially announced Barbie: Together in Time, a new six-issue comic book series that will send Barbie on a science fiction-inspired adventure through the timestream in search of a missing Ken. The upcoming title was revealed during New York Comic Con on October 10, marking the first new Barbie comic series announced following Dark Horse Comics’ publishing partnership with Mattel earlier this year. And considering the unusual circumstances surrounding Ken’s disappearance, something tells us this isn’t going to be an ordinary rescue mission.
The story begins when Ken mysteriously vanishes following an accident involving a supercollider. With his whereabouts unknown, Barbie and her friend Barbie must venture into the timestream itself to find him, setting the stage for an adventure that takes the familiar world of Barbie into some rather unexpected territory. Of course, traveling through time presents an entirely different collection of challenges than those Barbie might encounter during her usual adventures. After all, when someone disappears during an experiment involving a supercollider, finding them isn’t quite as simple as searching the neighborhood or retracing their last steps. And with two Barbies setting out to find Ken, there’s certainly plenty of room for an imaginative story filled with unexpected discoveries and unusual situations.
While additional details about the different eras or destinations the characters might encounter have not yet been revealed, the premise alone introduces an interesting new direction for the franchise. Barbie has spent decades demonstrating that she can become just about anything she imagines, so why shouldn’t that include becoming a time-traveling adventurer? It’s a concept that feels particularly fitting for a character whose stories have never been restricted to one particular setting or genre. Whether she’s exploring magical kingdoms, taking on extraordinary careers or embarking on adventures alongside her friends, Barbie’s world has always been shaped by the possibilities of imagination. And now, with an entire timestream waiting to be explored, those possibilities are becoming even more expansive.
Barbie: Together in Time is being written by Ben Kahn, with artwork by Natalie Nardozza, colors by Heather Breckel and lettering by Frank Cvetkovic. The first issue will also feature variant covers from artists including Bowen McCurdy, Laia López, Gretel Lusky and Paulina Ganucheau, offering fans and comic book collectors several different interpretations of Barbie’s newest adventure. And for longtime followers of the franchise, the announcement carries another particularly interesting distinction, as the upcoming title marks Barbie’s return to her own serialized comic book series for the first time since 1996.
Although the character appeared in graphic novels published by Papercutz during the 2010s, it’s been three decades since Barbie last had her own traditional comic book series. That’s quite a milestone for a character whose history extends across so many different forms of entertainment, particularly considering how frequently Barbie has reinvented herself for new generations. Since her introduction in 1959, the iconic doll has grown far beyond the toy aisle, becoming a recognizable part of popular culture through animated films, television series, books, games and countless other creative projects. And while many fans might immediately associate Barbie with her dolls or animated adventures, comic books offer another opportunity to explore the character through a different storytelling medium.
There’s something particularly fitting about that, especially when considering how closely Barbie’s identity has always been connected to imagination. For children, playing with Barbie often means creating stories of their own, developing characters, inventing unexpected situations and imagining worlds where almost anything can happen. Comic books embrace many of those same creative possibilities, bringing characters to life through illustrated panels and adventures that unfold one page at a time. With Barbie: Together in Time, that imaginative freedom is taking the franchise into the world of science fiction, introducing a story that could appeal to longtime Barbie fans while also capturing the attention of readers who enjoy time-traveling mysteries.
It’s also an interesting opportunity to introduce younger Barbie fans to comic book storytelling while giving longtime collectors something new to discover. For readers who enjoy the franchise’s animated adventures, the series offers another way to follow familiar characters through an original story. Meanwhile, comic book enthusiasts who might not ordinarily pick up a Barbie title could find themselves intrigued by the time-traveling premise and the creative team bringing it to life. And let’s not forget that there’s something wonderfully amusing about Ken becoming the center of a mysterious scientific accident. After all, Barbie has spent years exploring countless professions and extraordinary situations, but this time, it looks like she’ll have to put those problem-solving skills to work on a rather personal mission.
The new series also arrives during a period of renewed interest in Barbie across entertainment and publishing, with Mattel continuing to explore different opportunities for its iconic brands. Following the cultural impact of the 2023 live-action Barbie film, the character remains a recognizable figure whose stories can appeal to audiences across different generations. Through its partnership with Dark Horse Comics, Mattel is introducing another format for creative teams to explore the imaginative possibilities surrounding Barbie and her world. And considering the variety of stories that have already been told throughout the franchise’s history, a science fiction adventure involving time travel feels like another natural extension of a character who has always encouraged audiences to dream beyond the expected.
Barbie: Together in Time #1 is scheduled to arrive in comic book shops and on digital platforms on February 10, 2027, beginning the six-issue adventure. For longtime fans, the release marks a return to a part of Barbie’s publishing history that hasn’t been explored through a serialized comic book in decades. And for younger readers, it’s an opportunity to discover another side of the iconic character through a story filled with mystery, science fiction and the excitement of an unexpected adventure. Of course, the biggest question remains: where exactly has Ken disappeared to, and what will Barbie and Barbie discover as they travel through time to bring him home?
We’ll have to wait until February to begin uncovering those answers, but one thing is already certain. From dreamhouses and fairy-tale castles to the farthest reaches of space, Barbie has never been afraid to explore somewhere new. And now, with an entire timestream waiting to be discovered, it seems her next adventure is going to take that idea to a whole new level.
Look for Barbie: Together in Time #1 when it arrives February 10, 2027, and get ready to join Barbie on a journey where even time itself can’t stand in the way of an extraordinary adventure!