Ready Player One: The Graphic Novel Releasing in October
Reading time: 2 minutes
The Ready Player One graphic novel arrives on 6 October 2026 from Del Rey, an imprint of Cornerstone. The full-colour hardback adapts Ernest Cline's bestselling novel and will retail at £25. Its release coincides with the 15th anniversary of the original book's publication. If you're a fan of the book or film, this is going to be a great addition to your collection.
Scott Peterson adapted the story, while the artwork was drawn by Meredith Laxton. The book is a "full and faithful adaptation created with Ernest Cline's involvement". The hope is that it will introduce a new generation of readers to Wade Watts and his quest.
The story
A world at stake. A quest for the ultimate prize. Are you ready?
In the year 2045, reality is an ugly place. The only time Wade Watts really feels alive is when he's jacked into the OASIS, a vast virtual world where most of humanity spends their days.
When the eccentric creator of the OASIS dies, he leaves behind a series of fiendish puzzles based on his obsession with the pop culture of decades past. Whoever is first to solve them will inherit his vast fortune - and control of the OASIS itself.
Then Wade cracks the first clue. Suddenly he's beset by rivals who'll kill to take this prize. The race is on - and the only way to survive is to win.
The creators
Ernest Cline is a novelist and screenwriter based in Austin, Texas. He wrote Ready Player One and Armada. Cline also co-wrote the screenplay for Steven Spielberg's film adaptation of Ready Player One. His books have been published in more than 50 countries. They have also spent more than 150 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists.
Meredith Laxton is a comic artist and sequential arts professor. Laxton previously worked in indie game design and concept art. Their credits include Wait Till Helen Comes. The Children's Book Council listed it among its Children's and YA Favourites and its Librarian Favourites. MPLS Sound, another of their books, is a Russ Manning Award winner.
Laxton has worked with IDW, HarperCollins, Humanoids and Ten Speed Press. They also co-run Savage Zine Fest, a small festival that highlights independent creators and comic artists.
Del Rey publishes the Ready Player One graphic novel in hardback on 6 October 2026.
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