IDW Publishing and Hasbro announced at Comic-con 2012 that they are currently developing an ongoing comics line based on the hit children’s fantasy serial.

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic has been making waves during its two-season run as a surprisingly smart and compelling show, despite its young target audience. The new ongoing comics line will focus on the same six characters who are featured in the television show as they explore Equestria, overcome great challenges both supernatural and mundane, and frequently learn more about what it means to be a good friend.

Happily, the comics will not be simple retellings of the adventures already depicted in the show. These will be newly-written tales which will follow the same formula, though none of the same creative team will be involved. The comics will even have a slightly different style of artwork thanks to series artist Andy Price. The image at right is his teaser image for the series, showing his take on each of the major characters. The writer of the series is comic industry veteran Katie Cook.

“My Little Pony is a highly successful brand and we’re incredibly excited to have the opportunity to extend the franchise through this collaboration with Hasbro,” said IDW CEO and Publisher, Ted Adams in a recent press release. “We look forward to providing new stories for the fans and launching their favorite ponies into comic book form.”

My Little Pony toys were relaunched almost a decade ago with a new look compared to the toys of the 80’s, but it was only two years ago that the new animated series, created by Lauren Faust (of Power-Puff girls fame) debuted. Soon after it picked up some steam with fans on the internet, including a large community of adult male fans, who—in recognition of the apparent irony of their fandom—call themselves ‘Bronies’. Faust has not been involved in the show since the end of the first season, and is not involved in the comics in any way.

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic #1 will be on shelves in November 2012. The television serial currently airs on The HUB children’s network on Saturday mornings. Keep an eye on Icrontic around that time for a review of the first issue.