The series will be written by Erik Burnham (of Transformers/Ghostbusters and IDWs own Ghostbusters series) with Josh Burcham (IDW Transformers ongoing, Galaxies and the three Wreckers books, and a lot more) on art duties. The series is set to arrive in February 2021 with issue #1. From the looks of it the core Maximal team is set to include Optimus Primal, Rhinox, Cheetor, Rattrap and a new character that looks to have a bat alt mode called Nyx. While on the Predacon side we only see Megatron so far.
There will be four variant covers at launch, three of which you can see below:
Here is the press release in full:
IDW wrote:IDW Celebrates 25th Anniversary of
Transformers: Beast Wars with
New Comic Book Series
Oversized First Issue Debuts in February 2021, with Story and Art by
Transformers Comic Alums Erik Burnham and Josh Burcham
SAN DIEGO, CA (October 9, 2020) – For an entire generation of Transformers fans, their first experience with “Robots in Disguise” was through the Transformers: Beast Wars television show, debuting in 1996 as the cutting edge of computer generated children’s entertainment. In 2021, IDW will honor the 25th anniversary of this monumental moment in Hasbro’s storied Transformers franchise with the launch of an all-new Transformers: Beast Wars comic book series!
Written by Erik Burnham (Transformers/Ghostbusters) with art by longtime Transformers artist Josh Burcham (whose credits include IDW’s ongoing series, Galaxies, the Wreckers saga, and much, much more), the new series will launch in February with a #1 issue containing 30 pages of story and bonus content.
The Transformers: Beast Wars comic series will welcome fans to a future Cybertron populated by scientific-minded Maximals and action-oriented Predacons. When the successor to the Megatron name steals a golden disk and a ship capable of traveling through time, only Optimus Primal and a team of Maximals — Rattrap, Rhinox, Cheetor, and a new character Nyx — can stop them.
“Beast Wars was a wonderful and weird pivot from the Transformers setup to which I was first introduced. Big personalities, unexpected twists, and actual stakes all popped up regularly on the show, and those are tools that I enjoy using to build new stories,” says Burnham. “Best of all, the enthusiasm from everyone involved in this project has been so high that I'm feeling constantly inspired!”
“I'm so thrilled to be a part of this team,” says Burcham. “I was a ‘90s kid and even though I knew about Generation 1, Beast Wars was really my G1. It's still my favorite iteration, and I consider it such a privilege to be able to bring the characters to life in this brand new series. Let the Beast Wars rage on!"
“Beast Wars is a beloved part of the Transformers legacy,” says editor David Mariotte. “That’s why we couldn’t pass up launching a new series in tandem with the 25th anniversary! Erik and Josh are going to take everything that’s beloved about Beast Wars — the characterization, the drama, the jokes — and start fresh with a series that will feel at home for fans of 25 years and first-timers alike.”
Transformers: Beast Wars #1 will be available with multiple cover variants for retailers and fans to enjoy, including Cover A by series artist Josh Burcham, Cover B by Fico Ossio (Optimus Prime), and two Retailer Incentive editions featuring art by Dan Schoening (Transformers/Ghostbusters) and Nick Brokenshire (Star Wars Adventures), respectively.
For information on how to acquire copies of Transformers comic books, please contact your local comic shop or visit http://www.comicshoplocator.com to find a store near you.
About IDW Publishing
IDW Publishing (IDWP), a subsidiary of IDW Media Holdings Inc. (OTC PINK: IDWM), is an award-winning publisher of comic books, graphic novels, art books, trade paperbacks, and tabletop games. IDWP is one of the top four publishers of comic books and graphic novels in the U.S. with a library of world-renowned licensed content and original series. IDWP’s critically-acclaimed imprints include Top Shelf Productions, Artist’s Editions, EuroComics, The Library of American Comics, Sunday Press, and Yoe Books.
About Hasbro
Hasbro (NASDAQ: HAS) is a global play and entertainment company committed to Creating the World's Best Play and Entertainment Experiences. From toys, games and consumer products to television, movies, digital gaming, live action, music, and virtual reality experiences, Hasbro connects to global audiences by bringing to life great innovations, stories and brands across established and inventive platforms. Hasbro’s iconic brands include NERF, MAGIC: THE GATHERING, MY LITTLE PONY, TRANSFORMERS, PLAY-DOH, MONOPOLY, BABY ALIVE, POWER RANGERS, PEPPA PIG and PJ MASKS, as well as premier partner brands. Through its global entertainment studio, eOne, Hasbro is building its brands globally through great storytelling and content on all screens. Hasbro is committed to making the world a better place for all children and all families through corporate social responsibility and philanthropy. Hasbro ranked among the 2020 100 Best Corporate Citizens by 3BL Media and has been named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies® by Ethisphere Institute for the past nine years. We routinely share important business and brand updates on our Investor Relations website, Newsroom and social channels (@Hasbro on Twitter and Instagram.)
What do you think of this news? Will you be getting this series? Will this be your first time with the cast of Beast Wars? Let us know in the Energon Pub and stay tuned to Seibertron for all the latest news and reviews!
