Its been quite a while since the Diamond Select Toys scooped up the Battle Beasts rights in 2009. They have released a few variations of an exclusive Crocodile Battle Beast to gain excitement and showed off some new sculpts at SDCC 2010, but thats about it. No plans or announcements had been made.

Recently, however, a countdown site went live at http://www.diamondselecttoys.com/battle-beasts.html. It has been counting down for over a month and will end tomorrow. Tomorrow also marks the beginning of C2E2 .

Fortunately for us, IDW broke the news before Diamond Select’s countdown has finished. A new comic fleshing out a new story for the Battle Beasts franchise is on its way from IDW Publishing. Not only that, but they have put up a website showing off some comic art and design art for the ram-like character, Vorin. An exclusive translucent red version of Vorin will be available as a convention exclusive at C2E2. Vorin was not among the new sculpts shown at SDCC 2010.

More info after the jump!



Details on the plot are light with the exception of this excerpt:

Ancient words are spoken. A deadly weapon is activated…

And from across the galaxy comes a race of beings who are at once familiar and unlike anything the Earth has seen. Why have they come to Earth? What do they seek? Why do they fight? The answers lie in the hands of one of the only people on Earth who understands them, and if she doesn’t survive this onslaught, all hope may be lost.

Here is one more additional quote:

The mini-series is written by Bobby Curnow (Godzilla Legends, Night of 1000 Wolves) and penciled by Valerio Schiti (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Donatello, Dungeons & Dragons: Eberron). It focuses on a group of renegade Beasts who return to Earth to protect the ultimate weapon (and the human who activated it) from an armada of their violent brethren. The ashcan will reprint the first eight pages of issue #1 in full color, and fans will be able to get a free translucent Minimate of the ram Vorin while supplies last. Both will be given away during C2E2 by DST at booth #311.

The first full wave will be revealed at SDCC 2012 (July 11-15) with the actual toy release happening in late fall. The figures will be sold in two-packs. I’m sure more details on the toy line, itself, will come to light tomorrow. We will continue to bring you the news as we hear it!