Welcome back to Jurassic World. Universal Pictures, in something of a surprise release, has revealed the first episode of a new motion comic series that will serve as a prequel to the events of Jurassic World 3. Titled A Rising Tide, this is a canon story that will help to fill in the gaps between what happened after Fallen Kingdom leading up to the finale of the trilogy, which hits theaters in 2021.

This first episode focuses on the events teased at the very end of 2018's Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. Specifically, the shot of the mosasaur getting ready to make a surfer's day into a nightmare. Without spoiling it, the mosasaur isn't done just yet. The episode kicks off with a reporter named Rebeca Ryan covering the events that unfolded. Universal released this brief synopsis for A Rising Tide.

"It's a new world as humans and dinosaurs are forced to coexist. An unwelcome contestant enters a surf competition in Hawaii."

The episode ends with a "to be continued" promise. This is said to be the first in a four-part series and, based on what we're seeing here, it looks like this will help tee up the ball for dinosaurs and humans co-existing in the real world, which is what we'll be dealing with in Jurassic World 3. While many of the dinosaurs were wiped out on Isla Nublar when the volcano erupted, quite a few were brought to the mainland, ultimately making their escape. This is, as the motion comic shows us, going to be a challenging transition, to say the least.

Universal has been experimenting with additional Jurassic content leading up to Jurassic World 3 as of late. They also released a fully-produced live-action short, Battle at Big Rock, complete with animatronic dinosaurs and everything. That short also focused on the ramifications of dinosaurs and humans learning to co-exist. Whereas Fallen Kingdom was met with a mixed response at best, Battle at Big Rock was widely embraced and provided hope that the next entry in the franchise can turn the ship around. It certainly doesn't hurt matters that Jeff Goldblum, Sam Neill and Laura Dern will reunite as Ian Malcolm, Alan Grant and Ellie Sattler for the first time since the original Jurassic Park.

Colin Trevorrow, who helmed the first Jurassic World, returns to direct the third entry, with Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard returning as Owen and Claire, respectively. Filming is expected to begin early next year, with Jurassic World 3 set to hit theaters on June 11, 2021. As for when the next issue of the Jurassic World motion comic will arrive? That hasn't been determined, but fans do have that to look forward to while we wait for the next big screen dino-filled adventure to come our way. Be sure to check out A Rising Tide from the Jurassic World YouTube channel for yourself.