Hasbro Comic Book Universe

Hasbro Comic Book Universe
Publication information
Publisher IDW Publishing
Hasbro, Inc.
Genre Science fiction
Superhero
Publication date October 2005 – October 2018
Main character(s) Action Man
Army Ants
Clue
G.I. Joe
Jem and the Holograms
M.A.S.K.
Micronauts
Rom
Transformers
Visionaries

The Hasbro Comic Book Universe (HCBU) is an American comic book franchise and shared universe created and published by IDW Publishing, based on various properties of the toy company Hasbro.

Publication history

Following the bankruptcy of Dreamwave Productions in 2005, IDW picked up the Transformers comic book license and hired veteran writer Simon Furman to craft a rebooted continuity based on the Generation 1 toy line, similar to what Marvel Comics did through Ultimate Marvel.[1] On May 2008, IDW obtained the G.I. Joe comic book license from Devil's Due Publishing.[2] On 2016, IDW gained the rights of Rom, Micronauts, Action Man and M.A.S.K. That same year, IDW announced the Hasbro Reconstruction campaign, in order to converge those brands in the same continuity, starting with the crossover event Revolution.[3] On 2017, IDW gained the rights of Visionaries, with most of its characters debuting after the crossover event First Strike.[4] In April 2018, IDW announced the Hasbro Comic Book Universe would conclude with the limited series Transformers: Unicron on October 2018.[5]

On August 2018, IDW President Greg Goldstein announced a new reboot for various Hasbro-based comics for an unspecified date on 2019.[6]

Setting

Continuity

IDW has never established a shared continuity between its own Transformers and G.I. Joe comics, even during the crossover event Infestation, where they both exist in separate universes, alongside other licensed franchises. While The Transformers has only participated in Infestation, the miniseries The Transformers: Hearts of Steel, also set in its own alternate timeline, has participated in Infestation 2. On the other side, G.I. Joe participated in both events.

Other brands exist within the HCBU too, e.g. Jem and the Holograms, Clue and Army Ants, but they didn't crossover during Revolution and First Strike due to reasons of tone. IDW's versions of My Little Pony, Dungeons & Dragons, Magic: The Gathering and Stretch Armstrong exist "outside" this universe altogether.

Planets

  • Earth: the planet where humans live, and various events happened.
  • Cybertron: the homeworld of the Transformers, whose habitants are considered as "Cybertronians". Various factions, including the Autobots and the Decepticons, have been in war for millons of years.
  • Caminus: a lost colony of the Transformer species. Its habitants are considered as "Camiens".
  • Elonia: the homeworld of Rom and the capitol of the Solstar Order, where most of its people are recruited to become Space Knights.
  • Prysmos: the former homeworld of the Visionaries, whose factions include the Spectral Knights and the Darkling Lords.

Dimensions

  • The Dead Universe: a universe where the D-Void exists.
  • Microspace: a subatomic dimension where the Micronauts live.
  • The Afterspark: an astral plane that the Transformers denominate as its "afterlife".

Timelines

  • The Hearts of Steel timeline: a timeline where the Transformers fought on Earth during the Industrial Revolution.
  • The Funcionist Universe: a timeline where Megatron never existed, and a fascist council defined a sole function for each Transformer.

First canon series (2005-2018)

2005

Title Issue(s) Start date End date Note(s)
The Transformers: Infiltration 0-7 October 19, 2005 July 12, 2006 N/A

2006

Title Issue(s) Start date End date Note(s)
The Transformers: Evolutions: Hearts of Steel 1-4 July 5, 2006 September 27, 2006 Set in an alternate timeline
The Transformers: Stormbringer 1-4 July 19, 2006 October 18, 2006 N/A
The Transformers: Spotlight 31 (unnumbered) September 13, 2006 May 1, 2013 N/A
The Transformers: Escalation 1-6 November 29, 2006 May 2, 2007 Sequel to The Transformers: Infiltration

2007

Title Issue(s) Start date End date Note(s)
The Transformers: Megatron Origin 1-4 June 20, 2007 October 24, 2007 N/A
The Transformers: Devastation 1-6 October 3, 2007 February 27, 2008 Sequel to The Transformers: Escalation

2008

Title Issue(s) Start date End date Note(s)
The Transformers: All Hail Megatron 1-16 July 10, 2008 October 14, 2009 N/A
G.I. Joe Vol.1 0-28 (1 special) October 2008 February 2011 N/A
The Transformers: Maximum Dinobots 1-5 December 10, 2008 April 15, 2009 N/A

2009

Title Issue(s) Start date End date Note(s)
G.I. Joe: Origins 1-23 February 2009 January 2011 N/A
G.I. Joe: Cobra Vol. 1 1-21 March 2009 June 2009 N/A
G.I. Joe: Cobra Special 1-2 September 2009 September 2010 N/A
The Transformers: Continuum One-shot November 11, 2009 N/A
The Transformers 1-31 November 18, 2009 December 7, 2011 Sequel to The Transformers: All Hail Megatron
The Transformers: Bumblebee 1-4 December 16, 2009 March 10, 2010 N/A

2010

Title Issue(s) Start date End date Note(s)
G.I. Joe: Cobra II 1-21 January 2010 February 2011 N/A
The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers 1-5 January 27, 2010 May 19, 2010 N/A
G.I. Joe: Hearts & Minds 1-5 May 2010 September 2010 N/A
The Transformers: Ironhide 1-4 May 12, 2010 August 4, 2010 N/A
The Transformers: Drift 1-4 September 2010 October 20, 2010 N/A

2011

Title Issue(s) Start date End date Note(s)
The Transformers: Infestation 1-2 February 2, 2011 February 16, 2011 Part of the crossover event Infestation
The Transformers: Heart of Darkness 1-4 March 23, 2011 June 29, 2011 N/A
G.I. Joe: Infestation 1-2 March 2, 2011 March 16, 2011 Part of the crossover event Infestation
G.I. Joe Vol. 2 1-21 May 2011 January 2013 Part of the storyline Cobra Civil War
G.I. Joe: Cobra Vol. 3 1-21 May 2011 December 2012 Part of the storyline Cobra Civil War
G.I. Joe: Snake Eyes 1-21 May 18, 2011 February 6, 2013 Separated inside three stoylines
The Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime One-shot December 21, 2011 N/A

2012

Title Issue(s) Start date End date Note(s)
The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye 1-57 (1 annual) January 11, 2012 September 28, 2016 Issues #56-57 tied to Titans Return
The Transformers: Autocracy 1-12 January 18, 2012 June 20, 2012 N/A
The Transformers: Robots in Disguise 1-57 (1 annual) January 25, 2012 September 28, 2016 Retitled as The Transformers in issue #35; retitled as Transformers in issue #39; issues #56-57 tied to Titans Return
The Transformers: Infestation 2 1-2 February 1, 2012 February 15, 2012 Part of the crossover event Infestation 2; related to The Transformers: Hearts of Steel
G.I. Joe: Infestation 2 1-2 March 14, 2012 March 28, 2012 Part of the crossover event Infestation 2

2013

Title Issue(s) Start date End date Note(s)
G.I. Joe Vol. 3 1-15 February 2013 April 2014 N/A
G.I. Joe: Special Missions 1-13 March 2013 April 2014 N/A
The Transformers: Monstrosity 1-12 March 1, 2013 July 31, 2013 Sequel to The Transformers: Autocracy
G.I. Joe: The Cobra Files 1-9 April 2013 December 2013 N/A
The Transformers: Dark Cybertron 1-12 November 6, 2013 March 26, 2014 Crossover event between The Transformers: Robots in Disguise and The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye

2014

Title Issue(s) Start date End date Note(s)
The Transformers: Windblade Vol. 1 1-4 April 16, 2014 July 23, 2014 N/A
The Transformers: Punishment 1-5 June 2014 (printed on January 21, 2015) Digital comic
The Transformers: Primacy 1-4 August 13, 2014 November 19, 2014 Sequel to The Transformers: Monstrocity
G.I. Joe Vol. 4 1-8 September 2014 April 2015 Retitled as The Fall of G.I. Joe
The Transformers: Drift - Empire of Stone 1-4 November 26, 2014 February 25, 2015 Sequel to The Transformers: Drift

2015

Title Issue(s) Start date End date Note(s)
G.I. Joe: Snake Eyes, Agent of Cobra 1-5 January 2015 May 2015 N/A
The Transformers: Windblade Vol. 2 1-7 March 25, 2015 September 23, 2015 Sequel to The Transformers: Windblade Volume 1; issues #1-5 tied to Combiner Wars
Transformers: Combiner Hunters One-shot July 29, 2015 Tied to Combiner Wars
Transformers: Redemption One-shot October 28, 2015 Sequel to The Transformers: Punishment

2016

Title Issue(s) Start date End date Note(s)
Jem and the Holograms 1-26 (1 annual and 2 specials) March 25, 2016 June 14, 2017 N/A
Micronauts 1-11 (1 annual) April 27, 2016 April 12, 2017 N/A
Transformers: Till All are One 1-14 (1 annual) June 15, 2016 December 13, 2017 Sequel to The Transformers: Windblade; issues #5-8 tied to Titans Return
Revolution 0-5 June 21, 2016 November 30, 2016 N/A
Rom 0-14 (1 annual) July 27, 2016 November 1, 2017 N/A
Transformers: Titans Return One-shot July 27, 2016 Tied to Titans Return
Transformers: Revolution One-shot October 26, 2016 Part of the crossover event Revolution
Transformers: Till All are One: Revolution One-shot November 2, 2016 Part of the crossover event Revolution
G.I. Joe: Revolution One-shot November 16, 2016 Part of the crossover event Revolution
Rom: Revolution One-shot September 21, 2016 Part of the crossover event Revolution
Micronauts: Revolution One-shot September 28, 2016 Part of the crossover event Revolution
M.A.S.K.: Mobile Armored Strike Kommand: Revolution One-shot September 29, 2016 Part of the crossover event Revolution
Action Man: Revolution One-shot October 26, 2016 Part of the crossover event Revolution
M.A.S.K.: Mobile Armored Strike Kommand 1-10 (plus 1 annual) November 30, 2016 October 11, 2017 N/A
Transformers: More than Meets the Eye: Revolution One-shot December 7, 2016 Part of the crossover event Revolution
Optimus Prime 1-25 (1 annual) December 14, 2016 October 31, 2018 Sequel to The Transformers: Robots in Disguise
Transformers: Lost Light 1-25 December 14, 2016 October 17, 2018 Sequel to The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye
Jem: The Misfists 1-5 December 21, 2016 July 6, 2017 Spin-off of Jem and the Holograms
G.I. Joe Vol. 5 1-9 December 28, 2016 October 11, 2017 N/A

2017

Title Issue(s) Start date End date Note(s)
Revolutionaries 1-8 January 18, 2017 September 27, 2017 Team-up between various Hasbro characters
Transformers Annual 2017 One-shot March 9, 2017 N/A
Micronauts: Wrath of Karza 1-5 April 26, 2017 September 20, 2017 Sequel to Micronauts
Transformers: Salvation One-shot June 14, 2017 Sequel to Transformers: Redemption
Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook 1-3 July 14, 2017 October 25, 2017 Featuring various background stories
First Strike 0-6 July 14, 2017 October 25, 2017 Sequel to Revolution
Rom vs. Transformers: Shining Armor 1-5 July 19, 2017 November 27, 2017 N/A
Jem and the Holograms: Infinite 1-6 June 29, 2017 October 19, 2017 Crossover event between Jem and the Holograms and Jem: The Misfits
Clue 1-6 June 29, 2017 November 23, 2017 N/A
G.I Joe: First Strike One-shot September 20, 2017 Part of the crossover event First Strike
Micronauts: First Strike One-shot September 27, 2017 Part of the crossover event First Strike
Optimus Prime: First Strike One-shot October 18, 2017 Part of the crossover event First Strike
Rom: First Strike One-shot October 18, 2017 Part of the crossover event First Strike
M.A.S.K.: Mobile Armored Strike Kommand: First Strike One-shot November 1, 2017 Part of the crossover event First Strike
Transformers: First Strike One-shot November 8, 2017 Part of the crossover event First Strike
Jem: Dimensions 1-4 December 6, 2017 March 7, 2018 N/A
Rom & the Micronauts 1-5 December 20, 2017 May 9, 2018 N/A
Scarlett's Strike Force 1-3 December 27, 2017 February 28, 2018 N/A

2018

Title Issue(s) Start date End date Note(s)
Transformers vs. Visionaries 1-5 January 3, 2018 May 2, 2018 N/A
Rom: Tales of the Solstar Order One-shot April 4, 2018 Back-up strips published in Rom #11-14
Transformers: Unicron 0-6 May 5, 2018 October 24, 2018 N/A
Transformers: Requiem of the Wreckers One-shot May 30, 2018 Sequel to The Transformers: Sins of the Wreckers
Transformers: Historia One-shot December 19, 2018 Guide of all Transformers comics set in the HCBU

Second canon series (2019)

Title Issue(s) Start date End date Note(s)
Untitled Transformers series[6] N/A TBA 2019 N/A N/A
Untitled G.I. Joe series[6] N/A TBA 2019 N/A N/A
Untitled Jem series[6] N/A TBA 2019 N/A N/A

Non-canon series

Title Issue(s) Start date End date Note(s)
The New Avengers/The Transformers 1-4 July 4, 2007 October 10, 2007 Crossover with the New Avengers from the Marvel Universe
The X-Files: Conspiracy: The Transformers One-shot February 26, 2014 Part of the crossover event The X-Files: Conspiracy; related to The Transformers: Hearts of Steel
Street Fighter X G.I. Joe 1-6 February 2016 August 2016 Crossover with Street Fighter by Capcom
Aw Yeah Revolution! 1-3 April 5, 2017 August 23, 2017 Parody of Revolution
Transformers - Bumblebee: Win if You Dare One-shot September 12, 2018 Graphic novel
Transformers - Bumblebee: Go for the Gold One-shot December 12, 2018 Graphic novel; sequel to Transformers - Win if You Dare

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Transformers". Dynamic Forces. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Idw Lands G.I. Joe License". Comicbookresources.com. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
  3. ↑ Whitbrook, James (January 6, 2016). "IDW Is Merging G.I. Joe, Transformers, and Its Other Hasbro Comics Into One Giant Universe". io9. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
  4. ↑ "HASBRO's VISIONARIES Returning In DECEMBER After 30 Years". Newsarama. July 21, 2017. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
  5. ↑ "TRANSFORMERS: UNICRON Event is a 'Grand Finale' to 12 Years at IDW". Newsarama. March 24, 2018. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "ICV2 INTERVIEW: IDW PUBLISHER AND PRESIDENT GREG GOLDSTEIN, PART 2". ICv2. August 6, 2018. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
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