Posted in: Comics, IDW | Tagged: gi joe, hasbro, idw, my little pony, transformers

IDW To Lose GI Joe Comics License In 2022?

Over the weekend at San Diego Comic-Con 2021: Special Edition, there was plenty to talk about the state of the comic book industry as it stands, as well as the many moves that have been happening of late and will be happening in the very near future. And as big publishers chose not to attend the show, it meant that there was much less management of the information that flowed. One such nugget was the news that IDW Publishing, based just up the road in San Diego, is to not only lose their licence to produce comic books based on the Transformers franchise from Hasbro. But also that they would lose the license to GI Joe. I did not hear about My Little Pony, but one could speculate.

Back in August, Bleeding Cool broke the news on IDW losing the Marvel Action kids line of titles, which IDW then confirmed, and the Star Wars All-Ages line – which IDW did not reply to, but that Dark Horse Comics claimed last month.

IDW did not respond to inquiries made earlier today, on this, or a number of related stories. If true, there is also no date as to when this may occur but on current form, I would expect in the summer of 2022.

As a licensed property by Hasbro, G.I. Joe comics have been released from 1967 to present. As a team fighting Cobra since 1982, the comic book history of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero has been covered by three separate publishers and four main-title series, all of which have been based on the Hasbro toy line of the same name. The first series was produced by Marvel Comics between 1982 and 1994, running for 155 issues, and spawning several spin-off titles throughout the course of its run; the second and third series, published by Devil's Due Productions from 2001 to 2008, totaled 80 issues and included several spin-off titles as well. The fourth series has been published by IDW Publishing since October 2008, and various spin-off titles have also been launched.

Ever since the Dreamwave Comics debacle with the Transformers license, which left Hasbro owed millions of dollars, Hasbro has been especially careful as to where their licenses go. Here are last week's current upcoming GI Joe listings for IDW comic books.

GI JOE A REAL AMERICAN HERO #288 CVR A WILLIAMS II
IDW PUBLISHING
SEP210455
(W) Larry Hama (A) Casey Maloney (CA) Freddie Williams II
From loyally serving his country in the Special Forces, to protecting the world as an elite G.I. JOE warrior, he's seen his fair share of triumphs and tragedies. And now, with a new, unknown threat on the horizon, his chaotic past will clash headlong with his precarious present as he prepares to help his fellow JOEs stave off Cobra's latest attempt at global terror. His name is Vincent R. Falcone… and this is SPOTLIGHT: LT. FALCON!
Living Legend Larry Hama and fan-favorite artist Kewbar Baal (James Bond) join forces to share the newest action-adventure of G.I. Joe's resident Green Beret! Also includes the third of five interconnected covers (issues #286-#290) by superstar artist Freddie Williams II (Batman/TMNT)!
In Shops: Dec 08, 2021
SRP: $3.99

GI JOE A REAL AMERICAN HERO #289 CVR A WILLIAMS II
IDW PUBLISHING
OCT210376
(W) Larry Hama (A) Kewber Baal (CA) Freddie Williams II
One is a former Cobra-operative-turned-Joe after being implanted with the memories and skills of the original Snake Eyes. The other is a former victim of child trafficking, who is possessed of a unique set of strategic and war fighting skills… and who has become the Joes' deadliest secret weapon. Together, they are an awesomely dangerous force to be reckoned with. This month, Living Legend Larry Hama and explosive artist Casey Maloney (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, G.I. Joe, The Last Fall), shine the bright lights on two of G.I. Joes' most shadowy operatives in… SPOTLIGHT: DAWN MORENO & AGENT HELIX!
Also includes the fourth of five interconnected covers (issues #286-#290) by superstar artist Freddie Williams II (Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)!In Shops: Dec 29, 2021
SRP: $3.99

GI JOE A REAL AMERICAN HERO #290 CVR A WILLIAMS II
IDW PUBLISHING
NOV210428
(W) Larry Hama (A) Heather Vaughan (CA) Freddie Williams II
They are an Eastern Bloc legend. They've gone toe-to-toe with G.I. JOE and Cobra more than once. They've even stood side-by-side with their American counterparts on occasion. They bring serious heat to the Cold War… in more ways than one. They've celebrated victories and they've suffered losses, but somehow have remained intact. But wait-HOW, after said losses, have they remained intact? This month, Living Legend Larry Hama and upcoming superstar artist Heather Vaughan are going to open the top-secret dossier, remove those pesky redactions, and fill everyone in on long-awaited answers in…
SPOTLIGHT: OKTOBER GUARD!In Shops: Feb 02, 2022
SRP: $3.99

GI JOE A REAL AMERICAN HERO #291 CVR A WILLIAMS II
IDW PUBLISHING
DEC210512
(W) Larry Hama (A) SL Gallant (CA) Freddie Williams II
This is it, folks-the next great G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero event! As Cobra remains busy establishing its corrupt casino operations on Cobra Island, the warriors of G.I. Joe are equally busy attempting to covertly infiltrate their arch-enemy's latest evil scheme. New and classic heroes and villains will fill the pages (including some shocking appearances!) as the fan-favorite creative team of living legend Larry Hama and SL Gallant kick off the Road to Issue #300!
Featuring the first of five interconnected covers (Cover A) by superstar artist Freddie Williams II!In Shops: Feb 16, 2022
SRP: $3.99

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