VOLTRON #0

[MattBrady]

<a href="http://www.newsarama.com/Image/Voltroncoverlarge-V2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/Image/Voltroncoverlarge-V2_t.jpg" width="175" height="269" align="right" border="0"></a>Press Release

In addition to the preview image released on Monday, Devil’s Due has provided Newsarama with a five-page preview of the upcoming Voltron #0, produced by Dreamwave Productions. The preview art features the first ever shot of Voltron before he was separated by an evil sorceress and turned into five mechanical lions.

The Image/Devil’s Due press release reads:

<blockquote>In May of 2003, 1980s favorite, VOLTRON: DEFENDER OF THE UNIVERSE will make its way to comic book shops nation wide courtesy of Image Comics. But while Devil’s Due Studios is moving along with the first issue, Image announced today that the unlikely candidate of Dreamwave Productions has been chosen to handle the art for a twelve-page prequel to the first issue, written by series scribe, Dan Jolley.

The alliance may come as a surprise to many who believe the two fledgling companies to be rivals, but everyone involved acknowledges that their mutual love of the franchise made this one-off collaboration an easy fit.

“As an anime fan, VOLTRON has always been one of those franchises I couldn’t help but love,” remarked Dreamwave President and Transformers: Generation One artist Pat Lee. “It’s got it all: fantasy, monsters, space drama, and of course, the kick-ass robots!"

<a href="http://www.newsarama.com/Image/voltronpage1-preview2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/Image/voltronpage1-preview2_t.jpg" width="165" height="254" border="0" align="left" alt="Voltron #0, page 1"></a> “The deal was the perfect opportunity to play in someone else’s sandbox,” explained Dreamwave CEO Adam Fortier. “It’s the perfect fit for Dreamwave and it’ll be a lot of fun. It’s something that we’re all looking forward to.”

“It was a long shot, but I’m glad I went for it," said Blaylock. "I’ve been reading Dreamwave’s Transformers series since day one and have gotten to know the Dreamwave crew from last year's conventions. It’ll be a blast to see them tackle our ‘big robot’ property.”

Blaylock continued: “We’re compared for being holders of two of the biggest '80s properties, and I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a little friendly rivalry between us, but when it all comes down to it, we’re in this business to have fun and I can’t think of a collaboration cooler than this.”

Dreamwave has chosen penciler Mark Brooks to handle the art on the preview, which will feature inks by Clayton Brown and, of course, the famous Dreamwave coloring, provided by artist “Danimation.”

The VOLTRON #0 will be available for order through the Image Comics section of the March issue of Previews and will ship in May.</blockquote>

Click on the thumbnails for larger sized versions…

<center><a href="http://www.newsarama.com/Image/voltronpage2-preview-3.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/Image/voltronpage2-preview-3_t.jpg" width="150" height="225" border="0" alt="Voltron #0, page 2" hspace="2"></a> <a href="http://www.newsarama.com/Image/Voltronpage3-prev-3.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/Image/Voltronpage3-prev-3_t.jpg" width="150" height="225" border="0" alt="Voltron #0, page 3" hspace="2"></a>

<a href="http://www.newsarama.com/Image/Voltron10and11.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/Image/Voltron10and11_t.jpg" width="294" height="225" border="0" alt="Voltron #0, pages 10-11"></a></center>

[LFKittsteiner]

Can a Voltron/Transformers crossover be too far away...?

But, thinking about it, I hope that doesn´t happen. If the different 80´s properties start to cross over, the concepts will dilute and lose strenght.

LFKO.

[Derek Ruiz]

more Mark Brooks Voltron

<a href="http://www.ledheavy.com/cgi-bin/imagefolio/imageFolio.cgi?action=view&link=Mark_Brooks/Mech&image=mark_voltron.jpg&img=&tt=" target="_blank">http://www.ledheavy.com/cgi-bin/imagefolio/imageFolio.cgi?action=view&link=Mark_Brooks/Mech&image=mark_voltron.jpg&img=&tt=</a>

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<a href="http://www.ledheavy.com/cgi-bin/imagefolio/imageFolio.cgi?action=view&link=Mark_Brooks/Mech&image=mark_Voltronpilots.jpg&img=&tt=" target="_blank">http://www.ledheavy.com/cgi-bin/imagefolio/imageFolio.cgi?action=view&link=Mark_Brooks/Mech&image=mark_Voltronpilots.jpg&img=&tt=</a>


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Check out lead heavy for more info on Mark Brooks
<a href="http://www.ledheavy.com/" target="_blank">http://www.ledheavy.com/</a>

[fistofkhonshu]

If they do a crossover the right way it can actually be cool. I think the only crossover that has ever impacted the characters was the Batman/ Darkness crossover. The darkness was never the same after that. But it can be done horribly and ruin the characters. Lets hope they do it right. As soon as they see projected sales from the possible book. You know they'll do it. I just don't want a GIJOE/ Transformers book. That never made any sense to me. Kind of like a Scooby Doo / Authority crossover.

[Ragelion]

What Bot is that in the pencil page..that is not the lion Voltron..it has its body but not the head..and it has...hands?!?!

[d. emerson eddy]

[quote]Originally posted by fistofkhonshu:
<strong>I just don't want a GIJOE/ Transformers book. That never made any sense to me. Kind of like a Scooby Doo / Authority crossover.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Hey, Scooby would totally kick Midnighter's ass. ;)

d.

[MattBrady]

[quote]Originally posted by d. emerson eddy:
<strong>

Hey, Scooby would totally kick Midnighter's ass. ;)

d.</strong><hr></blockquote>

I think Scoob, Shaggy and the Doctor would have some common ground in their respective pharmeceutical backgrounds...

MattB

[Redmond]

I have to say the art looks quite good. Hopefuly, this will manage to get into the hands of little kids.

[samnoir]

[quote]Originally posted by LFKittsteiner:
<strong>Can a Voltron/Transformers crossover be too far away...?

But, thinking about it, I hope that doesn´t happen. If the different 80´s properties start to cross over, the concepts will dilute and lose strenght.

LFKO.</strong><hr></blockquote>

The crossovers have already started haven't they? Isn't Battle of the Planets crossing over with a couple of properties? Thundercats? (or maybe that is a hallucination).

Wasn't there another Voltron as well? One made up of a dozen or so small vehicles? What's the deal with that guy?

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[ZacWilliam]

The bot in the picture is the fist ever picture of "Voltron before he was split by the evil sourceress into five robot lions" that's mentioned in the article.

Frankly I'm fairly impressed that they remembered that somewhat obscure part of his backstory.

Yes there was a vehicle Voltron team as well, some of whose members were relted to the lion team. I wonder if DD has the rights to them too? (Actually there was also a 3rd different Voltron toy in the 80's as well made of three small robots that combinied together into a larger one, but the anime for that toy was for some reason never aired.)

And yes I would actually really like to see a Voltron/Transformers crossover.

[thebeast]

Gotta say I'm 80s'd out! I checked them all out. Transformers, GI Joe, Thundercats BOTP. Don't get any now.

But...the art for this does look really good!(not sure about the colouring though, all the dreamwave books look really dark. Maybe thats how its supposed to be and I'm missing the point.)

As always I'll probably give it a look and see what it has to offer.

[NotAnIssue]

[quote]Originally posted by thebeast:
<strong>Gotta say I'm 80s'd out! </strong><hr></blockquote>


Me too, but this is the one nostalgia book I've been waiting for!

[ameriskin]

Has anyone released the Voltron series on DVD yet? While I enjoyed He-Man, Transformers, and G.I. Joe when I was a kid, I liked Voltron the most. Perhaps with this new book, we can get some DVD's, too.

[Grendel Prime]

Cripes, I hate the lion Voltron. I have always hated the lion Voltron. I will always hate the lion Voltron. Keep your princess and those stupid mice and the lame-o evil gay dude (c'mon, "Prince" Lotor was totally gay, not that there's anything wrong with that).

However, I really was fond of the vehicle Voltron. Even though, as giant robots go, it looked pretty crappy, and nowhere near as stylish as the lion Voltron. But I liked the explorer/team aspect of the group. And at least the characters were not gag-reflex-inducing.

[Jake Ivers]

Sounds better than Marvel's First Wave news....I'll probably check this out.

[Ash37]

I haven't bought any of the other 80s nostalgia titles, though I've read Transformers G1. Next to TMNT (the new figures are great, by the way), Voltron was my favorite cartoon as a kid, so I'm gonna check this out.

[evilrobo]

Holy...! I know Danimation from DevArt, but I had no idea he was now working with Dreamwave. Seriously cool. That guy is a huge talent, and not just with coloring. I'm sure we'll be seeing a lot more of him. Congratimications, D.

[Ace]

The fact that Allura is suited up to fly the Blue Lion doesn't bode well at all. Sven was easily the best character that the original series had to offer. But still, it's worth a try.

Matt

[Ragelion]

I guess why Voltron II (the unseen Voltron) was never aired in the U.S. but only came in toy form was there was alot of sexual innuendos.

[Paul J. Lavallee]

I can't wait to see the J. Scott Campbell variant cover.

[captain59]

Ace, Sven is my favorite character. I have seen art that does indeed have Sven in the dark-green uniform, so rest assured he will definitely start out in the Blue Lion!

Mark

[Derek Ruiz]

[quote]Originally posted by Paul J. Lavallee:
<strong>I can't wait to see the J. Scott Campbell variant cover.</strong><hr></blockquote>

I can his 80's covers suck bad. He has fallen off in the art department.

Derek

[Paul S.]

I find it somewhat ironic that Voltron's retained a great deal of popularity over the years in the US, particularly with nostalgic Gen-Xers, meanwhile over in Japan Voltron's original form "Super Robot GoLion" has been all but forgotten, while similar Super Robot Shows from the time such as Combator V and Voltres V continue to pop up over the in form of toys, and video games such as the Super Robot War series.

Personally while I'm very glad to see some Mecha titles on comic book shelves, I just haven't been able to get into this 80s Nostalgia kick that's going on.

I'd like to see the folks at Dreamwave get a hold of the rights to a more recent (albeit obscure) Japanese Robot franchise, like Gear Fighter Dendoh or GaoGaiGar. There's plenty of stuff out there besides the obvious 80s Franchises.

Or if they wanted to try something better known how about the various Gundam series? Does anyone besides me drool at the thought of seeing what Pat Lee's rendition of Char's Red Zaku might look like?

[genetic freak]

[quote]Originally posted by Paul S.:
<strong>I find it somewhat ironic that Voltron's retained a great deal of popularity over the years in the US, particularly with nostalgic Gen-Xers, meanwhile over in Japan Voltron's original form "Super Robot GoLion" has been all but forgotten, while similar Super Robot Shows from the time such as Combator V and Voltres V continue to pop up over the in form of toys, and video games such as the Super Robot War series.

like?</strong><hr></blockquote>


I'm really not sure if it was a typo, I hate to sound like an ass but it's Combatler V and Voltes V. The letter V is read as 5. Voltes V is one of the biggest shows here in the Philippines back in the '70s. It had a resurgence back in the late '90s here when the whole country was experiencing '70s nostalgia.

[Paul S.]

[quote]Originally posted by genetic freak:
<strong>


I'm really not sure if it was a typo, I hate to sound like an ass but it's Combatler V and Voltes V. The letter V is read as 5. Voltes V is one of the biggest shows here in the Philippines back in the '70s. It had a resurgence back in the late '90s here when the whole country was experiencing '70s nostalgia.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Spelling has alas been one of my weaknesses... and well, I often have to rely on using the spell-check program on MS Works before I make a post, and well that doesn't much help with obscure mech-show names.

Thanks for the information.

[REMINATOR]

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by ZacWilliam:
<strong>The bot in the picture is the fist ever picture of "Voltron before he was split by the evil sourceress into five robot lions" that's mentioned in the article.
</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">:mad: :mad: Hm...I don't recall...was the original like this too......? I always thought them as robot....I don't recall that the lions were once human.

I like both the Lions and Vehicle Voltron.
And yep it would be awesome to see a xover between them and Transformers.