New Jersey-based Dynamite Entertainment has announced the return of Voltron, Defender of the Universe, in the brand’s second comic book series Voltron: Year One, which will be released worldwide in April.
The new series is a prequel of sorts that depicts how the series’ young heroes, Sven, Keith, Lance and Pidge, were originally called Space Explorer Squadron #686 of the Galaxy Alliance before they became Voltron Force and pilots of a battalion of ultra-high-tech Robot Lions.
On board for Voltron: Year One is Brandon Thomas (writer), Craig Cermak (illustrator), and Admira Wijaya and Jonathan Lau (covers).
The brand, owned by World Events Productions and represented by Classic Media, started as a television series based on the Japanese anime properties Beast King GoLion and Kikou Kantai Dairugger XV that first aired on US television in 1984 . An updated version, Voltron Force, debuted on NickToons in June 2011.
The new comic book deal expands the IP beyond an already extensive licensing and merchandising program which includes apparel, toys, video games and a proposed movie deal.