The Umbrella Academy is an absurdist superhero comic series created and written by Gerard Way and illustrated by Gabriel Bá. It follows a dysfunctional family of adopted superhero siblings with bizarre powers, attempting both to save the world and find their place within it. Published intermittently by Dark Horse Comics since 2007, each story arc is released as a limited series, of which there are three so far. The fourth story arc is set to release in 2025.
The title has garnered a close following and praise from critics and audiences, winning numerous accolades. A spin-off series, Tales from the Umbrella Academy, has being published on a similarly intermittent schedule since 2019, and a successful television adaptation ran on Netflix for four seasons from 2019 to 2024.
Synopsis[]
Premise[]
Characters[]
Story arcs[]
Volume 1: Apocalypse Suite[]
The first six-issue series, Apocalypse Suite, was published between September 2007 and February 2008. It won the 2007 Eisner Award for Best Finite Series/Limited Series, and was adapted into the first season of the Netflix series. It chronicles the origins of the Umbrella Academy and their reunion years later.
Volume 2: Dallas[]
Dallas, the second six-issue series, was published between November 2008 and April 2009. Elements of it were adapted in the first season of the Netflix series, and it was the primary storyline adapted in its second season. It focuses on Number Five's involvement in the Kennedy Assassination.
Volume 3: Hotel Oblivion[]
While it was announced to be in development in 2009, the third story arc, Hotel Oblivion, was not published until October 2018 and June 2019, lasting seven issues instead of six. Elements of it were loosely adapted in the third and fourth seasons of the Netflix series. It focuses on the Umbrellas' separate investigations of the titular hotel, which in actuality is a supervillain prison built on another planet by their father.
Volume 4: Plan B[]
Gerard Way announced the fourth limited series would be titled Sparrow Academy in 2020, though it was later changed to Plan B. It will release beginning in June 2025, lasting six issues. An outline of the story written by Way was the primary inspiration for the third season of the Netflix series. It will follow the Umbrella Academy as they come face-to-face with another superhero team, the Sparrows, who hold mysterious connections to their own origins.
Short stories[]
Numerous short stories have been written in the Umbrella Academy universe, often accompanying the longer story arcs. "Mon Dieu!" and "...But the Past Ain't Through With You" accompanied Apocalypse Suite, and "Anywhere But Here" accompanied Dallas.
Spin-offs[]
Publication[]
| The Umbrella Academy (Dark Horse Comics) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Main characters | Spaceboy • The Kraken • The Rumor • The Séance • Number Five • Vanya Hargreeves | ||
| Supporting characters | Dr. Phinneus Pogo • Mom • The Horror • Inspector Lupo • Dr. Zoo | ||
| Villains | Sir Reginald Hargreeves • Doctor Terminal • The Murder Magician • Orchestra Verdammten • Temps Aeternalis (Carmichael • Hazel • Cha-Cha) • John Perseus X • Medusa • The Sparrows • Mr. Calhoun | ||
| Story arcs | Apocalypse Suite • Dallas • Hotel Oblivion • Plan B | ||
| Spin-offs | Hazel and Cha Cha Save Christmas • You Look Like Death | ||