At San Diego Comic-Con in July, we learned that Common side effects would return in early 2027. Adult Swim made good on that promise by announcing at New York Comic Con that the trippy animated series about a mushroom with miraculous healing powers — and the chaos surrounding it — will premiere its second season on January 24.
Common side effects comes from executive producers Greg Daniels and Mike Judge (king of the hill; Judge also does one of the voices) and co-creators Joe Bennett (Scavengers Reign) and Steve Hely.
When we last saw our ragtag heroes on the Peabody Award-winning show, Marshall (Dave King) and Frances (Emily Pendergast) had just reunited in the California desert — as fugitives on the run. But that certainly won’t last long with DEA agent Harrington (Martha Kelly) in hot pursuit.
Meanwhile, Harrington’s partner, Agent Copano (Joseph Lee Anderson), is recovering from injuries sustained in a raid gone wrong on a farm that secretly cultivates the “Blue Angel”, the mushroom discovered by Marshall that can cure any wound or disease, even death. Of course, there are some… general side effects that will definitely come into play in the second season. The aftermath of that raid, and the interest of anyone who wants to get their hands on the mushroom, are also ripe for exploration.
“At Adult Swim, we always put our faith not only in talented creators who are driven to push animation into new territory, but also in a fanbase that we know will show up in the new without hesitation,” said Adult Swim President Michael Ouweleen in a press release. “The second season of Common side effects continues to make new things possible not only for this series, but for adult animation as a whole.
Bennett and Hely added, “We remain committed to asking important questions, capturing the absurdity of life, telling surprising stories, and, if possible, continuing our long-term mission to heal humanity through mysterious mushrooms. So if you are one of humanity’s ills, know this: your days are numbered.”
Common side effects returns to Adult Swim on Sunday, January 24, at 11 p.m., streaming the next day on HBO Max.
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