The Wait Is Over, Mega Man’s Next Major Release Launches This September

It’s been a weird time to be a fan of Capcom’s Mega Man series. While the franchise is still intensely popular and carries a devoted fanbase, new entries have become increasingly rare. The last new game release, Mega Man 11, came out in 2018, with only re-releases and remasters arriving in the subsequent years. While many eagerly await the forthcoming Mega Man Dual Override in 2027, a new Mega Man release is actually coming much sooner.

As announced by comics giant and frequent Capcom collaborator Udon, the Blue Bomber is returning to the world of comic books with the forthcoming release of Mega Man: Gear Masters. Created by writer Tavis Maiden and artist Ryan Jampole, Mega Man: Gear Masters will take place during the same era as Mega Man 11 and will see Mega Man battling a new slate of Robot Masters.

The plot tease released by Udon seems to suggest that Gear Masters could be a straight-up adaptation of Mega Man 11, as it mentions Mega Man receiving the Double Gear system upgrade from Dr. Light. Regardless of whether it’s a retelling of Mega Man 11 or a new story set during that time period, the greater focus on story in the comic will surely delight fans of Mega Man’s rich lore and history.

Udon is launching Mega Man: Gear Masters #1 in September with a host of variant covers, including an Udon Store exclusive variant cover depicting indie game icon Shantae dressed like Mega Man, an Iron Man poster homage variant from artist Jeffrey Cruz, and artist Genzoman’s variant cover homage to the infamous American box art for the first Mega Man.

Mega Man Is Coming Off A Nearly Decades-Long Rough Patch

While reviews for Mega Man’s numerous remasters and legacy collections have been positive, it’s easy to understand how the long gap between new Mega Man games could be a point of frustration for many fans of the series. 2018’s Mega Man 11 not only reviewed well, but sold well too, as even Capcom confirmed that it had sold over 1.6 million copies and was the highest-selling Mega Man game yet.

Given 11’s warm reception both from fans and critics, the steady sales for the legacy collections, and the general sense of nostalgia for Mega Man among Millennials, it’s been confusing that Capcom hasn’t done more with the franchise. With the next mainline entry, Mega Man Dual Override, coming nearly a decade after the last new game, the hunger for more Mega Man has only grown.

This even translated into the world of comics. While Mega Man’s relationship with Archie Comics was long and fruitful, it only lasted till 2017. Udon then started publishing Mega Man Mastermix in 2018, coinciding with the release of Mega Man 11, but that comic was put on hiatus in 2019 and never returned. Unfortunately, fan reception to BOOM! Studios’ Mega Man: Fully Charged series was mostly tepid.

Mega Man’s Dark Ages Are Finally Over

Luckily, all signs point to the dark age of Mega Man being done. Mega Man returned to the world of comic books in 2025 with Udon’s Mega Man #0 and more than a few Mega Man comic titles have been published since then.

Notably, one of the few video game franchises to get its own Secret Level episode was Mega Man, bringing more attention to the franchise.

While these might not exactly be the grand series revival some fans were hoping for, all of it points to a new concerted effort by Capcom to get Mega Man out there and tell new stories with the series’ beloved cast of characters. Capcom has explicitly said that they want to regrow Mega Man into one of their top IPs. With Mega Man: Gear Masters coming in September and Mega Man: Dual Override launching in 2027, fans have good reason to be cautiously optimistic about the Blue Bomber’s future.

Created by

keiji inafune

First TV Show

Mega Man

Latest TV Show

Mega Man: Fully Charged

First Episode Air Date

September 11, 1994

Cast

Ian James Corlett, Vincent Tong

TV Show(s)

Mega Man, Mega Man: Fully Charged, MegaMan: NT Warrior, Mega Man Star Force

The Mega Man franchise, originating as a video game series developed by Capcom, has expanded into various media, including animated TV shows and an upcoming live-action movie. The franchise is known for its iconic blue protagonist, Mega Man, who battles rogue robots and their creators to protect humanity. Over the years, Mega Man has become a significant cultural icon in gaming and animation.