‘Transformers’ Comic to Explore Cybertron Before the War

The war between Autobots and Decepticons will start all over again in 2019, but IDW Publishing’s ambitious Transformers comic book relaunch is, fittingly, more than meets the eye — expanding the franchise in new directions by revealing the origins of the conflict that traveled from Cybertron to Earth and beyond.

The new series, titled simply Transformers, will see writer Brian Ruckley and artists Angel Hernandez and Ron Joseph tell the story of Cybertron before the war, and of the mysterious death that ended an age of peace on the planet. Bumblebee, soon to star in his own movie, will be one of the protagonists of the new title, which will publish twice a month.

“We are eager to begin this new chapter in Transformers storytelling,” Michael Kelly, Hasbro’s vp global publishing, said in a statement about the new series. “We are excited to begin a tale that will be accessible and appealing to readers unfamiliar with Transformers lore, while still providing the depth and drama that our longtime fans expect. It’s a big responsibility, but we’ve got the right team and the right characters to do it.”

Ruckley, a fantasy novelist from Scotland, described writing the series as “a real privilege,” adding, “Just as important, it’s an amazing opportunity for new readers to discover and explore one of the biggest universes — and one of the best casts of characters — that science fiction has to offer, and to get in right at the start of a truly epic saga.”

The first two issues of the series will be available in March, with both issues featuring multiple covers by artists including Gabriel Rodriguez, Freddie E. Williams II and Jeffrey Veregge. Hernandez and Joseph will also provide covers.

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