New-Gen Universe, Inc. is unveiling its inaugural line of consumer products at the San Diego Comic-Con, featuring a unique set of collector’s trading cards created in collaboration with Cryptozoic Entertainment. This initiative celebrates the company’s comic series distributed by Marvel.
Only 300 exclusive boxes will be available at the event from July 23 to 26, marking them as some of the rarest “New-Gen” collectibles ever released. These cards are specifically designed for the convention and help set the stage for the forthcoming 3D CGI animated series “New-Gen Nanobot Heroes.”
In the storyline, twin brothers Sean and Chris discover their bodies have been upgraded with nanotechnology, leading them into a battle against the antagonist Deadalus in a futuristic setting where technology and nature coexist.
Created by J.D. Matonti, Julia Coppola, and Chris Matonti, “New-Gen” has expanded from its origins as a Marvel-distributed comic into a franchise that includes publishing, animation, and consumer products. The Comic-Con trading cards provide fans with a tangible connection between the original comics and the upcoming animated series.
The initiative is being led by Debra Joester, president of the Joester Loria Group, who is driving the expansion of New-Gen’s consumer products segment.
“We are excited to partner with Debra Joester and Cryptozoic Entertainment on this initial New-Gen consumer products effort. We foresee many more creative opportunities as we collaborate with Joester Loria Group, Toonz Media Group, and top-tier talent to bring our New-Gen Nanobot Heroes narrative to audiences of all ages,” stated J.D. Matonti, the creator of “New-Gen.”
Each box contains 13 collectible cards: 11 base cards featuring artwork from the comic series, one rainbow foil card, and an autograph card signed by either Matonti, voice actor Molly Fahey, or voice actor Tony Oliver. The autograph cards are hand-signed with a limited edition of 100, and some base and foil cards are crafted as unique one-of-one pieces.
Convention attendees will also be given a complimentary “New-Gen” graphic novel with a foreword by Mark Hamill, detailing the origins of the franchise.
“We are thrilled to team up with J.D. Matonti, Toonz Media Group, and the remarkable talent behind New-Gen Nanobot Heroes,” expressed Debra Joester. “Fans are eager for the next evolution of superheroes, and J.D. has crafted the captivating storytelling, engaging characters, and rich, imaginative world that satisfies this desire.”
Attendees can preview new artwork for “New-Gen Nanobot Heroes” before its animated launch on the franchise’s website, showcasing the heroes arriving in their utopian setting by spaceship. Additionally, a separate giveaway offers fans a chance to win a graphic novel signed by Hamill.
The card set release also adds momentum to “New-Gen Nanobot Heroes,” the forthcoming 13-episode, 22-minute 3D CGI series by writer-director Matonti, represented by Evan Anglin and Eric Williams at Zero Gravity Management. New-Gen Universe and Toonz Media Group are co-producing the show, with Chris Matonti, Julia Coppola, Brad Heisman, and J.D. Matonti as executive producers.
The writing team includes Brent Friedman, known for “Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” and Eugene Son, who contributed to “Avengers Assemble,” along with four other writers. Toonz Media Group is handling international distribution, while Ketchup Entertainment manages the domestic release.
The voice cast features Finn Wolfhard, Nick Wolfhard, Anya Chalotra, Luke Wilson, Henry Rollins, Taylor Gray, Molly Fahey, Lena Headey, and Tony Oliver, with John Loeffler composing the score.
New-Gen Universe is a transmedia company centered on the New-Gen intellectual property and other ventures. Its advisory board includes the creators of New-Gen, alongside former Marvel CFO Ken West and Bonnie Arnold, a producer of “How to Train Your Dragon.” Co-producer Toonz Media Group has been in the animation industry for over 25 years, producing approximately 5,000 minutes annually of CGI and 2D content, with previous work on “Wolverine and the X-Men” for Marvel, “Speed Racer: The Next Generation” for Lionsgate, and “Mostly Ghostly” for Universal.
