Hasbro: First Strike Reading Order Guide

Last year IDW and Hasbro partnered to bring us a massive event in the form of Revolution, which brought together some of Hasbro’s greatest characters in a big conflict between themselves. While the various groups are now at peace with each other, there is a new threat that threatens the Earth’s stability in the new Hasbro event – First Strike. A group of classic Hasbro villains have banded together, as they believe Earth should not be part of Cyberton’s Council of Worlds. They don’t trust the Transformers, which could possibly lead to catastrophic consequences – including nuclear war.

With tie-ins and comics leading into and out of storylines, sometimes comic book events can be a bit confusing. That’s why I have created the Hasbro: First Strike Reading Order Guide, which gives you everything you need to know in order to make sense of this Hasbro themed event. This guide includes not only the reading order but information on comics that surround the main story, release dates and creative teams.

In a matter of no time you’ll be able to sink your teeth into these comics without any confusion.

Enjoy!

Do I Need To Read The Tie-Ins?

If you don’t want to, no.

First Strike is a self-contained stories which isn’t reliant on the tie-ins to tell the full story. The tie-ins are for readers who are really enjoying the story and want to add onto it with their favourite characters.

Leading Into First Strike

The following comics below will have plot threads that will lead into or hint at First Strike. As many of these are also final issues for the respective series I am going to say that they’re an optional read for those who are dying to know more.

I’m going to go out on a limb and say that thee can be read in any order.

G.I. Joe #9
Written by Aubrey Sitterson. Art by Giannis Milonogiannis.
Available from September 13th.

M.A.S.K. #10
Written by Brandon Easton. Art by Drew Moss.
Available from August 23rd.

Micronauts: Wrath of Karza #5
Written by Cullen Bunn and Jimmy Johnston. Art by Andrew Griffith.
Available from August 23rd.

ROM #14
Written by Chris Ryall and Christos Gage. Art by David Messina, Guy Dorian and Sal Buscema.
Available from August 23rd.

Optimus Prime #10
Written by John Barber. Art by Livio Ramondelli and Kei Zama.
Available from August 30th.

First Strike

First Strike #0 – Read for free

Written by Mairghread Scott and David Rodriguez . Art by Max Dunbar.
Available from now.

First Strike #1
Written by Mairghread Scott and David Rodriguez . Art by Max Dunbar.
Available from August 9th.

First Strike #2
Written by Mairghread Scott and David Rodriguez . Art by Max Dunbar.
Available from August 23rd.

First Strike #3
Written by Mairghread Scott and David Rodriguez . Art by Max Dunbar.
Available from September 13th.

Micronauts: First Strike One-Shot (tie-in)
Written by Christos Gage. Art by Chris Panda.
Available from September 13th.
NOTE: This one-shot continues in ROM: First Strike.

Optimus Prime: First Strike One-Shot (tie-in)
Written by John Barber. Art by Kei Zama.
Available from September 20th.
NOTE: This one-shot continues in Transformers: First Strike.

G.I. Joe: First Strike One-Shot (tie-in)
Written by Aubrey Sitterson. Art by Ilias Kyriazis.
Available from September 27th.
NOTE: This one-shot continues in M.A.S.K.: First Strike.

First Strike #4: A Cover art by Freddie E. Williams II with colors by Jeremy Colwell.

First Strike #4
Written by Mairghread Scott and David Rodriguez . Art by Max Dunbar.
Available from September 27th.

ROM: First Strike One-Shot (tie-in)
Written by Christos Gage. Art by Chris Panda.
Available from October 4th.
NOTE: Continues from Micronauts: First Strike.

First Strike #5
Written by Mairghread Scott and David Rodriguez . Art by Max Dunbar.
Available from October 11th.

M.A.S.K.: First Strike One-Shot (tie-in)
Written by Aubrey Sitterson. Art by Ilias Kyriazis.
Available from October 18th.
NOTE: Continues from G.I. Joe: First Strike.

Transformers: First Strike One-Shot (tie-in)
Written by John Barber. Art by Guido Guidi.
Available from October 18th.
NOTE: Continues from Optimus Prime: First Strike.

First Strike #6
Written by Mairghread Scott and David Rodriguez . Art by Max Dunbar.
Available from October 25th.

After First Strike

There will be a batch of brand new Hasbro series spinning out of First Strike. It appears that most of these will be a consolidation of titles by combining properties.

G.I. Joe: Unmasked #1
Written by Aubrey Sitterson. Art by Nelson Daniel.
Available from November.

ROM and the Micronauts #1
Written by Christos Gage. Art by Paolo Villanelli.
Available from December.

Visionaries #1
Written by Maggs Visaggio. Art by Fico Ossio.
Available from December.

First Strike Collected Editions

Prefer to read the story all at once? Here is the information you need to know about the collected editions for this event.

First Strike
Collects: First Strike #0-6

First Strike: Champions
Collects: Micronauts: First Strike, Optimus Prime: First Strike, G.I. Joe: First Strike, Rom: First Strike, Transformers: First Strike, M.A.S.K.: First Strike.