Back to the Future crosses over with Transformers for its 35th anniversary

To celebrate the 35th anniversary of the release of the film franchise, IDW Publishing will cross the time-travel franchise over with Transformers for a four-issue limited series.

No stranger to crossing over its licensed comic books, IDW Publishing has previously crossed over Transformers with G.I. Joe, Ghostbusters, and several other prominent franchises under IDW's banner. In this case, the crossover will focus on a totally new Transformer with his own Back to the Future twist – he's based on a DeLorean, the same car that is turned into a time machine in Back to the Future, thanks to Doc Brown's Flux Capacitor device.

"Marty McFly has just returned to his home sweet home, Hill Valley 1985, and everything's looking up... that is, until Marty and his friend Doc Brown's time machine attracts the attention of the Decepticons!" reads IDW's description of the limited series. "With one small mistake, Marty finds himself thrust into adventure to stop the Decepticon plot in the past, present, and future... all with the help of a new time machine: the Autobot, Gigawatt!"

In addition to appearing in the comic book limited series, Gigawatt – named after Doc Brown's famous "1.21 gigawatts!" exclamation from Back to the Future – will also receive his own Transformers action figure from Hasbro, available exclusively through Walmart.com and limited to 1,985 pieces. A later reissue through Hasbro Pulse is planned for October, with a variant color scheme.

"The figure stands at 5.5 inches in Robot mode and can convert to Time Machine mode in 17 steps, plus it includes a blaster and whip antennae accessories, and features movie-inspired details from the film, including Doc Brown-style goggles, a flux capacitor chest piece, and time circuits," reads Hasbro's description of the figure. "In time machine mode, the gullwing doors open and wheels rotate from vertical to horizontal to produce a hovering effect as seen at the end of the film."

Transformers/Back to the Future #1 is due out October 1.

I've been Newsarama's resident Marvel Comics expert and general comic book historian since 2011. I've also been the on-site reporter at most major comic conventions such as Comic-Con International: San Diego, New York Comic Con, and C2E2. Outside of comic journalism, I am the artist of many weird pictures, and the guitarist of many heavy riffs. (They/Them)