Dynamite Comics has confirmed the upcoming release of Voltron: Year One, which follows the success of its primary Voltron line.
Votron: Year One will look back at the first days of the Voltron Force – before the team was even assembled – depicting the politics and challenges Voltron faced before becoming a coherent unit.
The Voltron team was first featured in the 1984 animated series Voltron: Defender of the Universe, which tells the story of a team of young men – and one princess – who use giant lion robots of mysterious origin to fight other giant robot animals called the robeasts. The franchise themes are teamwork, community, and the ethics of command.
“Voltron is the ultimate action franchise and these epic stories from Dynamite Entertainment take fans deeper into the adventure,” said Classic Media exec Colin McLaughlin.
“After the success of the first series, we are looking forward to the unveiling of the second.”
Brandon Thomas, who is writing the line, also provided some teasers:
“Finally, one of the greatest (though misunderstood) characters in the entire Voltron mythos gets a chance in the spotlight, as we dig into his time leading Space Explorer Squadron #686, soon to be known as the legendary Voltron Force. In the fateful missions leading up to the rediscovery of Voltron, any and all burning questions will be answered – what’s the real reason Sven’s tenure piloting the Blue Lion was always destined to be a short one?
“What event ensured that Keith and Lance would forever be rivals? Why has Pidge always been the most dangerous member of the team? And the biggest burning question of all – did the Galaxy Alliance send this particular squad of space explorers after Voltron because they thought they would succeed or because they knew they would fail?”
It seems like Thomas is bringing a more adult voice to the franchise, which is welcome, especially after the overly kiddish Voltron Force now on television.
We’ve also got this synopsis of the new line:
Before they were known as the legendary Voltron Force, they were Space Explorer Squadron #686 of the Galaxy Alliance – four young men, led by Commander Sven, tasked with keeping the Earth safe and the skies clear in an increasingly dangerous universe. It was no surprise that central command came to them first with an impossible rescue mission and asked them to face an enemy even they didn’t truly understand – one that threatens the fragile coalition of planets they’ve risked their lives to maintain.
Voltron: Year One #1 will hit comicbook shops in April, 2012.
