Transformers meet Star Trek ‘animated’ characters Saturday morning crossover
Shape-shifting robots meet space explorers in the four-part comicbook miniseries “Star Trek vs. Transformers.” Issue #1 hit store shelves on Wednesday.
The series is inspired by two cartoon series: “Star Trek: The Animated Series” (1973) and “The Transformers (1984).”
Here’s how publisher IDW describes the series:
At the edge of Klingon space, the starship Enterprise finds there’s more to the final frontier than meets the eye, when Kirk and his crew come face to face with the strangest life-forms of all: Cybertronians! This unprecedented crossover brings together two of the greatest science fiction universes of all time-in the style of their classic animated series! A five-year mission meets a four-million-year war!
John Barber and Mike Johnson write the tale, which is illustrated by Philip Murphy with color art by Leonardo Ito.
Barber is known for his work on “Transformers” tales for IDW, including the “Transformers: Bumblebee” movie prequel, while Johnson is described by the publisher as the most prolific “Star Trek” comic-book writer of all time.
The Transformers are robots from Cybertron that can change shape into vehicles. The heroic Autobots, led by the staunch Optimus Prime, battle the evil Decepticons, led by the villainous Megatron.
Marvel Comics produced 80 issues of Transformers comic books, as well as spinoffs, in the 1980s and 1990s.
After a run at DreamWave in the early 2000s, IDW gained the license in 2005 and has been home to the characters since.
The animated series continuity differs in small ways from the various comic continuities; this comic-book series draws its inspiration from the characters as they appeared on the animated program.
“Star Trek,” created by Gene Roddenberry, ran on television for three seasons from 19661969. In the series, Captain Kirk and the crew of the starship Enterprise boldy explore space, in search of new worlds and civilizations.
“Star Trek: The Animated Series” followed in 1973, originally airing simply under the name “Star Trek.”
Many of the series cast returned to voice their characters, including William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy. It was the first “Star Trek” series of any kind to win an Emmy award.
The adventures of Captain Kirk and his crew first came to comic books from Gold Key starting in 1967 and running through 1978. DC, Marvel, Malibu and others have held the license; IDW has had the rights to tell comic-book stories of the crew since 2006.