Mairghread Scott Answers some Windblade questions (
via her husband's Tumblr)
Hey Tumblr TF Fans,
So Mairghread took some time to answer some questions a TFW2005 Windblade Fan Page. Thought I’d copy and paste them here in case any of you don’t read that board. Remember too you can always ask her direct at her tumblr mscottwrites.
And here are the answers I have so far:
Mairghread Scott: Gotten a few asks about Windblade’s “Kabuki” elements. This can’t be answered in too much detail yet, but Windblade’s markings do have meaning and are important to both her and her backstory. However, I have no intention of presenting her in any sort of stereotypical geisha or hand-over-her-mouth-anime-girl role. The first art Hasbro released has her with a rather deadly looking sword and a pretty grim expression. Also, she turns into a military jet, so I’m not really seeing her as a very kawaii character.
You can already read my discussion of what I think about Arcee’s origin on my tumblr (also MScottWrites) and I think I’ve established that I don’t intend for Windblade to originate from the same place. (Plus, I’m pretty sure John Barber would string me up by my toes if I did.) I don’t want to address it more than that because…you know…spoilers, but I can say that I’m much more interested in writing new stories than ret-conning old ones.
Smart money would say IDW did not go to trouble they have to launch Windblade the way they’re doing if she was going to be the only other fembot in all of TF continuity. Just saying.
As to how long we have, I’ll be blunt: We’ve got a 4 issue mini-series that everyone is praying will become an ongoing, but, like every other comic, we have got to prove ourselves from Issue 1. That means we need pre-orders and A LOT of them. Not: ‘I’ll pick it up when I’m at my shop.’ Not ‘I’ll borrow from a friend’ if you want Windblade to keep going the ONLY way to do that is to get your store to pre-order it. Tell them to order lots of it and get your friends to pre-order too. If you don’t have a story, BUY it on Comixology or a similar app, but encourage your friends who do have a store to pre-order and buy. I’ll try to provide a little help when the official solicitation is released to make it easier on those new to the process.
In terms of how Windblade views other transformers and their genders: well, this is a bit spoiler-y, but she’s not exactly going to be shocked that guy transformers exist and since they are all still robots, gender is still going to be a lot less pressing to them than it is to us. Also, you know, it’s Transformers, so I’m pretty sure there are going to be more pressing issues for everyone than ‘date night.’
Anyone looking for a tease in terms of the ‘wrath’ I mentioned. Hmmm… how about TFBH having murder, cannibalism, societal collapse, PTSD, and the (perceived) apocalypse itself? That I wrote ‘Stronger, Faster’ and ‘Hurt’ and can’t even make it through a Rescue Bots episode without putting someone’s life in danger. So, while I am shooting to make TF Windblade a little more hopeful than my normal work, danger and excitement should probably be expected.
Regarding a toy: I’m pretty sure Hasbro made some kind of announcement on this, but that’s really their domain.
In terms of the poll that made Windblade, I’ve never been shown any numbers so I can’t speak officially. Just from my own business sense, I’m not sure why a company would ask people to make the transformers they want to buy and then not go with the most popular option. But, as I said, that would be a question for toy.
Anyway, we’re lining up some good interviews so keep your eyes peeled for more on the book itself, but these should answer some of the more specific questions floating around out there.
'Til All Are One,
Mairghread
A four-issue mini-series, eh?
Ms. Scott is one of the most competent TF writers we've had recent years. Right up there with Roberts and Barber. I think we can all stand to have a little faith in her making Windblade a decent character instead of insta-condemning this thing to death well before it even gets off the ground. Remember, WE fans decided on this character so WE fans are being given what we want, here.
Don't like how the character looks? Fine, but don't try to ruin the look for those who do, as it's like you're trying to take the fun out of it. The above text already addressed her look and explained that there WILL be some importance to it that DOESN'T make her into either a cliche or a stereotype.
Think she's a Mary Sue? Um guys?
She's a fanmade character! One that
WE decided upon. Of
course she's gonna seem a bit Sue-ish to some extent because that's the very nature of fanmade characters! How can a fanmade-turned-official character
not seem Sue-ish in some way/shape/form? It's ridiculous to think that these kinds of characters wouldn't have
something special to them. Why, every time we even
get a new character they always have something special about them in order to sell us on the character. That's the very nature of how new characters are handled. It's no different from back in the beginning of the brand when we got the original 28 new characters back in 1984. Each one of those had something unique and/or gimmicky about them, and the method has continued to this day.
or Tarantulas or whoever to get a new Generations figure, using an elimination bracket style setup.
