Mere months after it was revealed that Skybound Entertainment would be picking up the reins regarding the creation and publishing of new Transformers and G.I. Joe comic books, another part of the Image Comics extended universe — er, family — has announced that they’re keen to do business with the Hassenfeld Brothers.
McFarlane Toys has announced that they are partnering with Hasbro for a multi-brand licensing agreement that will add the licenses for G.I. Joe, Dungeons & Dragons, Power Rangers, and of course, Transformers to their “Page Punchers” line.
For those unfamiliar, “Page Punchers” are packages which include a reprinted comic book from a specific license, along with one or two related articulated figures measuring at about 3 inches (7.62cm). Shown here is a recently-released Stranger Things “Page Puncher” pack:
According to McFarlane’s press release, the Hasbro-based “Page Punchers” will kick off with our favorite real American heroes and robots in disguise, and will come with two figures. Which comics or characters will be featured has yet to be revealed, though if you look at Skybound’s recent output, you might be able to hazard some guesses.
“Page Punchers is an exciting program for us because it gets comic books into people’s hands, along with a fun toy product, who might not otherwise shop at comic stores,” McFarlane Toys founder, Chief Executive Officer, and namesake Todd McFarlane explained. “Parents enjoy them because they encourage reading and collectors like them because they provide unique and interesting character stories. With articulated figures, plus a full comic book in each Page Punchers item we offer incredible value with this brand.”
For Hasbro’s part, their President of Licensed Consumer Products, Casey Collins, said “From Transformers and G.I. Joe to Power Rangers, Dungeons & Dragons, and others, a number of Hasbro brands are known for their rich history and continued storytelling through comics. Page Punchers is a natural extension of these brands, providing the action and adventure our multi-generational fans have come to expect. We can’t wait for fans and collectors, alike, to get their hands on the first product drop coming out in early 2024.”
The first “Page Punchers” are expected to launch in early 2024. You should be able to find them at both mass market and specialty retailers, but who even knows these days?
Excited for something new to add to your Transformers collection? Is there a particular “Page Puncher” product package of which you’d prefer to partake? We don’t have a thread for it (as of this writing), but you can always start one over in the Transformers Discussion section of our forums!
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