Thirty years since it debuted on weekday afternoon television, the Harmony Gold produced animated series Robotech continues to hold a special place in the history of anime in North America. Robotech was a combination of three distinct anime series from Japan — Super Dimension Fortress Macross, Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross, and Genesis Climber: Mospeada — combined to tell one epic multi-generational story of Earth defending itself from various alien invasions. For an entire generation, the 85 episodes of Robotech, which originally aired in 1985, were their gateway to the world of Japanese anime and manga.

Now the Robotech story returns in a big way, via British publisher Titan Comics. Announced at C2E2, The all-new Robotech comic series returns to Macross Island, the place where the entire saga began. Series writer Brian Wood, artist Marco Turini and colorist Marco Lesko have crafted a thrilling new tale that’s perfectly accessible to new fans, as well as providing a deeper layer of twists for longtime fans who have been following the saga for over three decades.

In July, the story continues as Titan Comics brings series creator Carl Macek’s original vision full circle. The new comic book will take into account every iteration of the series, including previous novels, roleplaying games, and comics. Robotech #1 casts a fresh eye over classic characters like Rick Hunter, Lisa Hayes, Lynn Minmei, Roy Fokker, Claudia Grant, and Admiral Henry Gloval. While writer Brian Wood and artist Marco Turini take us back to a Macross Island, where the first Robotech war started, and “where nothing can be taken for granted.”

The debut issue comes with stunning covers by amazing talents like Stanley “Artgerm” Lau, Karl Kerschl (Gotham Academy), Michael Dialynas (The Woods), Blair Shedd (Doctor Who), The Waltrip Bros.(Robotech II: The Sentinels) and others. You can see all the covers for the first issue of Robotech down below in our gallery, as well as the first three pages of issue #1.

Robotech #1 hits comics stores on July 26.

Are you excited for the return of the SFDF-1 and the residents of Macross City? Let us know your thoughts down below in the comments.

Images: Titan Comics /Harmony Gold