Fresh from its first Toy Fair appearance and ahead of New York Comic Con (NYCC) this week, The Nacelle Co. is ramping up an expansion of its publishing efforts.
The multimedia company behind The Toys That Made Us and A Toy Store Near You is extending its reach across toys, animation, and publishing in 2024, and now comics and graphic novels are in the mix.
Nacelle inked a deal with Oni Press to create a co-branded Nacelle/Oni publishing line that will launch next year with Nacelleverse No. 0, a 40-page one-shot from writer Melissa Flores (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers) with art by Diogenes Neves (Realm of X, Suicide Squad) alongside additional artists from upcoming Nacelleverse comic series, including Robo Force, Biker Mice From Mars, Sectaurs, The Great Garloo, and Power Lords. Additionally, the book will have a wraparound cover by Mike Deodato, Jr. (New Avengers, The Flash).
This fantastic partnership with Oni Press helps us expand our storytelling capabilities in a way that we know resonates with fans — through the limitless power of comics and graphic novels. Building upon the rich history of the many fan-favorite toy lines that populate the NACELLEVERSE and building a roadmap for fans to enter the interconnected world of our upcoming animated series, these series will be tailor-made entry point for longtime fans and new readers. Before anyone hits play on one of our series, they’ll know exactly what the events leading up to the first fade are."
All of the properties currently slated for inclusion in the Nacelleverse stem from classic toy lines that have since been relaunched as new offerings from Nacelle’s Consumer Products arm. Nacelleverse No. 0 will be followed by a three-issue Robo Force limited series that “will chart the rise of a scrappy, overworked team of once-thought-obsolete robots who might just be Earth’s last, best chance at survival.” The book will arrive prior to the premiere of the Robo Force animated series.
“Toys and comics have a long and storied history of mutual admiration and cross-collaboration. From Transformers and Micronauts to G.I. Joe and ROM, some of the most impactful comic stories ever told have drawn inspiration from the world of toys,” says Oni Press President & Publisher Hunter Gorinson. “Alongside our partners at Nacelle and our amazing cast of creators, we’re working to craft the next chapter in that time-tested legacy. Having seen firsthand Nacelle’s exciting and ambitious plans for the future, I know toy fans and comic readers alike are going to have a lot to look forward to in the Nacelleverse.”
The Nacelle Co. recently outlined big plans for its animated reboot of Biker Mice from Mars. The series is being created in partnership with Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool, National Lampoon’s Van Wilder), and is currently in development.
