IDW’s set to crossover Hasbro-licensed titles “G.I. Joe,” “Transformers,” “Micronauts,” “ROM,” “Action Man,” and “M.A.S.K.” (Mobile Armored Strike Kommand) in a bi-weekly five-issue event series. The title is being co-written by Cullen Bunn and John Barber, with art by Fico Ossio.
“Revolution” will not only see a crossover, but a shakeup in the status quo for each title, which will be getting new #1s out of the event — though they aren’t being rebooted. “We didn’t want this to be what fans have seen from so many others, which is a reboot or a relaunch where you’re asked to forget about all these characters and stories you’ve been following for years,” IDW editor-in-chief Chris Ryall told Entertainment Weekly. “It’s just now everybody will be acknowledging each other in a much greater way than ever before.”
The following teaser image was revealed for “Revolution,” illustrated by Fico Ossio, with colors by Diego Rodriguez:
Describing the event’s plot, Ryall said, “It centers around something called Ore 13, which is an unstable version of Energon, the material that gives the Transformers their power and life. There’s a version of that on earth, that has an adverse effect on tech, which adversely affects ROM, and changes the status of him and his villains, the Dire Wraiths. It affects the Micronauts universe in a way they didn’t expect, and then it also gives birth to M.A.S.K., which is a big new title we’re launching out of this.”
He added, “It’s sort of like the Marvel universe, how Spider-Man’s book can be his own thing but occasionally he may come into contact with the Avengers or the Guardians of the Galaxy. As a kid reading comics, that was actually something I loved, that you could read an issue of Spider-Man and Thor flew by in the background. He had no bearing on the story, but reminded you that there are other gods and heroes in the universe.”
The announcement of the “Revolution” event follows speculation that Hasbro is building a shared cinematic universe with its properties — which many speculate will kick-off with a ROM cameo in 2017’s “Transformers: The Last Knight.”
“Revolution” is set to launch in September.
