Press Release
When the first issue of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic was the best-selling comic in IDW’s history, and went into four printings, it was clear that IDW and Hasbro had a hit on their hands. Now, less than one year into the series, IDW is proud to announce that My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic has reached a monumental milestone of selling over one million copies at retail, and the pop culture phenomenon shows no sign of slowing down. MY LITTLE PONY is an evergreen lifestyle brand that continues to be a worldwide perennial favorite. The “My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic” animated series is created by Hasbro Studios and is currently airing on The Hub TV Network in the United States and can be seen globally in over 170 countries. To celebrate the occasion, IDW and Hasbro have collaborated on a very special promotion.
In an unprecedented move, issue #12 of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, due in stores this month, will boast an extremely rare variant cover that will be limited to twelve copies total! These twelve copies will be dispersed via multiple contests and charity auctions to those fans and retailers responsible for the incredible success of the series. Fans can look for additional details at IDW’s website (http://www.idwpublishing.com/).
“We have a great relationship with Hasbro, one we’ve always been very proud of,” said IDW CEO & Publisher Ted Adams, “so selling a million copies is a really big deal, but to be able to celebrate the achievement with Hasbro makes it even sweeter. ”
“We’re excited to be celebrating this important milestone with IDW,” said Michael Kelly, Hasbro’s Director of Global Publishing. “They’ve understood what MY LITTLE PONY is all about from the start, which is proven by the fact that their comics appeal to fans of all ages, including young girls who traditionally haven’t had many comics directed toward them. Also, we love the fact that we can commemorate this special event by benefiting others in need of the magic of friendship.”
As IDW begins work on the next million copies, it’s obvious there has never been a better time to be a fan of My Little Pony!
About Hasbro, Inc.
Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS) is a branded play company dedicated to fulfilling the fundamental need for play for children and families through the creative expression of the Company’s world class brand portfolio, including TRANSFORMERS, MONOPOLY, PLAY-DOH, MY LITTLE PONY, MAGIC: THE GATHERING, NERF and LITTLEST PET SHOP. From toys and games, to television programming, motion pictures, digital gaming and a comprehensive licensing program, Hasbro strives to delight its global customers with innovative play and entertainment experiences, in a variety of forms and formats, anytime and anywhere. The Company’s Hasbro Studios develops and produces television programming for more than 170 markets around the world, and for the U.S. on Hub Network, part of a multi-platform joint venture between Hasbro and Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK). Through the company’s deep commitment to corporate social responsibility, including philanthropy, Hasbro is helping to build a safe and sustainable world for future generations and to positively impact the lives of millions of children and families every year. It has been recognized for its efforts by being named one of the “World’s Most Ethical Companies” and is ranked as one of Corporate Responsibility Magazine’s “100 Best Corporate Citizens.” Learn more at www.hasbro.com.
About IDW
IDW is an award-winning publisher of comic books, graphic novels and trade paperbacks, based in San Diego, California. Renowned for its diverse catalog of licensed and independent titles, IDW publishes some of the most successful and popular titles in the industry, including: Hasbro’s The TRANSFORMERS, G.I. JOE and MY LITTLE PONY; Paramount’s Star Trek; Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; 2000AD’s Judge Dredd; The Rocketeer; Toho’s Godzilla; Wizards of the Coast’s Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons; and the Eisner-Award winning Locke & Key series, created by best-selling author Joe Hill and artist Gabriel Rodriguez. IDW is also home to the Library of American Comics imprint, which publishes classic comic reprints, Yoe! Books, a partnership with Yoe! Studio, and the multiple award-winning Artist’s Edition imprint.
IDW’s critically- and fan-acclaimed series are continually moving into new mediums. Currently, Jerry Bruckheimer Films and Disney are creating a feature film based on World War Robot; Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Warner Brothers are producing a film based on Ashley Wood’s Lore; and Michael Bay‘s Platinum Dunes and Sony are bringing Zombies vs. Robots to film.
