Skylanders Trap Team comic book prequel coming in July

A prequel to the next entry in the Skylanders series, Skylanders Trap Team, will be available in July in the form of the franchise's first-ever comic book, IDW Publishing announced today.

Skylanders #0 is being penned by writer Ron Marz, best known for working on the Green Lantern, Witchblade and Silver Surfer franchises. Mike Bowden and David Baldeon signed on to serve as the comic's lead artists. Readers will learn about the origin of several Skylanders from Trap Team, including new characters to be featured in the game.

"The comic-book series will offer fans a glimpse into the backstories of their favorite Skylanders characters, expanding on the universe that they've embraced so enthusiastically in the franchise's short history," said vice president of global licensing and partnerships at Activision Ashley Maidy. "To explore the world of Skylands beyond the game is an opportunity we know our fans have long been awaiting, and we couldn't be more excited to see this manifested through a comic series."

The comic debuts at San Diego Comic-Con 2014. Skylanders #0 will be available in both print and digital form and includes character guides.

Skylanders Trap Team launches Oct. 5 for Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Wii, Wii U, Xbox 360 and Xbox One.