[4][5] In April 2018, it was announced that this shared continuity, the Hasbro Comic Book Universe (HCBU), would end with Transformers: Unicron in November.

Joe series was announced in June 2019, with writer Paul Allor and artist Chris Evenhuis as the creative team.

Allor stated the story is "inspired both by modern warfare – where non-state actors fight vastly overpowered militaries to a perpetual standstill – and World War II, where Great Britain's SOE recruited civilians behind enemy lines.

Joe stands for, and new folks will be attracted to a deeply character-driven tale of hope and humanity, and about the power of resilience in an increasingly unraveling world".

[3] Note: This issue featured the special participation of Patricia Watson (PhD, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs) and Duane K.L.