© Hasbro

The official magazine for the animated TV series Transformers: Rescue Bots will launch next week in the UK (19th May 2017).

Transformers: Rescue Bots is a toyline, story book series, and animated television series based on toy manufacturer Hasbro’s Transformers franchise, the successor to Transformers: Robot Heroes. Rescue Bots mainly focuses on educating children regarding hazards and safety and stars Rescue Bots Chase, Heatwave, Boulder and Blades, along with the iconic Transformers characters Optimus Prime and Bumblebee.

Published by Signature Publishing under license from Hasbro, the new magazine is aimed at the pre-school market, based on Tiny Pop’s second strongest programme title. Transformers: Rescue Bots has averaged over 17,000 viewers across 600 plays on the channel, a huge +76% above the channel average and has reached 1.5 million kids since launch (more than any other title on Tiny Pop).

Overall the show is contributing a fifth of Tiny Pop’s overall ratings (on par with My Little Pony).

“The Transformers franchise just keeps growing, with the launch of the latest blockbuster movie in June, while younger fans are engaging with the hit animated cartoon Rescue Bots,” enthuses Danny Morris, Signature’s Managing Director.

“We are therefore delighted and honoured to be the first publisher, worldwide, to launch a standalone magazine for this fantastic extension to Hasbro’s Transformers brand where, as always, storytelling is at its heart,” added Morris. “With the viewing figures and toy sales for Transformers Rescue Bots speaking for themselves, this new magazine is sure to be a huge success!”

Aimed at children aged 3-5 years every issue of Transformers: Rescue Bots will come with a unique, bespoke gift. The first issue, on sale from 19th May 2017, is priced at £3.99 and comes with a Chase car stunt set and a 4-roll sticker box.

• More about the title at www.signaturepl.co.uk/transformers-rescue-bots

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Star Trek Explorer (previously known as Star Trek Magazine) and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War and “Dan Dare”. He’s the writer of "Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies" for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.

Categories: downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Magazines

Tags: Adventure Comics, downthetubes News, Signature Publishing, Transformers: Rescue Bots, Young Children's Comics and Magazines