Transformers News

Transformers Generations Titan Class Metroplex SDCC Exclusive?

Date: Saturday, April 27th 2013 10:52am EDT
Category: Toy News
Posted by: El Duque | Credit(s): Robotkingdom

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Transformers Generations Titan Class Metroplex SDCC exclusive? Site sponsor Robotkingdom has updated their pre-order page for the ACG-CON HK Exclusive version with a description that states it's expected to have the SDCC color scheme. This actually coincides with insider info that we were given prior to Metroplex's big reveal at Toy Fair 2013. As we know from past SDCC's Hasbro isn't afraid to bring out the big guns for their exclusives. Last year Transformers fans got the Fall of Cybertron Bruticus box set and they released the massive Avengers S.H.I.E.L.D. Super Helicarrier. No hints as to what the new the deco will be, but the G1 mold did have one repaint as Metrotitan.

Robotkingdom wrote:Description :
Preorder.
Available in September 2013.

This item is expected to have SDCC Style colour.

More Information will be updated on our website and facebook.

Please note these are merely stock images of the retail release from the Robotkingdom pre-order page and not indicative of the potential exclusive.

TFExpo 2013 Updates

Date: Monday, April 22nd 2013 6:02pm EDT
Category: Event News
Posted by: El Duque | Credit(s): TFExpo

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Hey guys--

First of all, we want to thank you for joining us at TFExpo 2012 last summer. We had a great time meeting everyone, and hope you all enjoyed getting to meet Garry Chalk and Matt Frank. You made TFExpo 2012 the success that it was, and for that we're eternally grateful.

Moving forward, we have some exciting things planned for TFExpo 2013 that we want to share with you! The convention will be Saturday, August 3rd at the same location, Holiday Inn at Kellogg and Rock in Wichita. Here's what we have to look forward to:

• Our Guest of Honor this year is none other than Gregg Berger, known far and wide as the voice of Grimlock in the original Generation 1 Transformers cartoon! Gregg recently reprised the role for the Transformers: Fall of Cybertron video game, and has MANY more acting credits to his name. Gregg will be meeting fans and signing autographs throughout the day.
  
• We will also be joined by Flint Dille, writer and story editor for the Generation 1 Transformers cartoon. Flint will be answering fans' questions about his work on G1, as well as his current comic series from IDW Publishing, "Transformers: Monstrosity".
  
• This year, we are pleased to announce Nebula Starship, TFExpo's very first EXCLUSIVE TOY UPGRADE SET! This quality, fan-produced item will upgrade your existing toy into a different character. The only way to reserve your copy is to register at the Ultra and Premium levels. Any remaining sets will be sold at the show on a first-come, first-served basis. For images and further details about the upgrade set, stay tuned to http://www.tf-expo.com in the weeks ahead!

If you're already planning on joining us for the show, join the TFExpo Alliance by registering today! Our Ultra Registration packages sold out within two weeks of being made available, but we still have Premium and Basic levels left! Here's what's included:

Premium Registration: Admittance to all TFExpo Events during the day, EARLY admission to the autograph line and dealer room, admission to the Saturday Night Dinner and Script Reading (includes one plated dinner of your choice), one TFExpo Exclusive Toy Upgrade Set, and one TFExpo 2013 Souvenir T-Shirt. A $120 value, for only $100!

Basic Registration: Admittance to all TFExpo Events during the day, EARLY admission to the dealer room and one TFExpo 2013 Souvenir T-Shirt. Does NOT include admittance to the Saturday Night Dinner and Script Reading. A $40 value for only $30!


We'll be releasing details about the Saturday Night Dinner and Script Reading very soon. Trust us, you will NOT want to miss this event!

To register today, or for more information, go to http://www.tf-expo.com/store/. Also don't forget to "like" TFExpo on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

We'll see you at the show!

Creator Commentary - Transformers: Robots in Disguise #16

Date: Wednesday, April 17th 2013 5:16pm EDT
Categories: Comic Book News, Interviews
Posted by: Va'al | Credit(s): Transformers Facebook, John Barber

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The official Transformers Facebook page has uploaded a five page commentary to today's Transformers: Robots in Disguise #16. For those of you without Facebook access, we've mirrored the interview with writer John Barber below.

TRANSFORMERS: ROBOTS IN DISGUISE #16 hits the stands today, courtesy of IDW Publishing and Hasbro! This is it—the climax of the first big ROBOTS IN DISGUISE story. The fate of Cybertron’s leadership is decided, as Bumblebee and the Autobots battle Megatron’s forces in the city of Iacon. Artist Andrew Griffith—along with inker Brian Shearer and colorist Josh Perez—pulled out all the stops on this one; and we sat down with writer John Barber to talk about this monumental issue. TF:RID #16 is available at comic book stores everywhere and at https://transformers.comixology.com/ or via the Comixology and iBooks apps on your computer or mobile device!

PAGE 1- The might against Megatron continues with Bumblebee and his team. Considering the different factions trying to live together on their home world, was there ever a right or wrong in the decisions he took? Or was it simply that he wasn’t strong enough to hold them all together?

JOHN BARBER: That’s a good question. Bumblebee was trying to do what was right, and here—battling Megatron—it’s clear what needs to get done. But would Megatron have had support, would the Decepticon masses have followed him, had it not been for Bumblebee’s policies? He locked them up, he put in the Identification/Deterrence chips, and even once those were gone, he still clearly didn’t welcome them with open arms. I mean, Bumblebee had reason to be angry at the Decepticons, and reasons to not trust them. So maybe he never had a chance.

There isn’t really a clear-cut answer, as to whether Bee was right or wrong, and that’s one of the big themes of the series. I hope the readers will argue about it.

Was Bumblebee too weak? That’s how he sees himself, and how some of the others see him. Maybe he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, though. Could anybody have accomplished what he set out to do? Again—I don’t mean to evade the question, it’s that the question is the main thing about the series. I don’t want to cop out on anything, but the question is more interesting to me. And hey, if I had the actual answer, I should be ruling the world myself.

PAGE 2- Megatron, Devastator and the other Decepticons pile on the pressure. You think right now Starscream is regretting the things that he has done prior to this issue, and not done what might have previously done before?

JOHN BARBER: Starscream thought he was playing everything correctly for a while—up to issue 11—then he had a crisis of… well, not “conscious,” as this issue will demonstrate… but a crisis of faith in himself. I’m sure that, in his head, he’s running through every action he’s ever taken, but I don’t think he has Bumblebee’s capacity for self-reflection. He’s more likely to see any failure as a failure of circumstance, not of himself. But this was a big fall—he was about to gain control of the city, and then Megatron showed up and ruined everything, so it’s a crushing blow.

Anyway—he definitely doesn’t have Bee’s capacity for beating himself up over his decisions.Actually, his ego probably protects him a little here (like Prowl’s does).
What is why, at this point in the story, even if it doesn’t look like it, he is actively looking for any opportunity amidst all the action.

PAGE 3- Arcee and Sideswipe do their best to carry on the fight back. With Arcee, was the plan always to make her as ambiguous as possible until she was forced into making a decision on where she truly stood?

JOHN BARBER: Yeah—Issue 18 is where we actually get into her head, and see how she thinks. She just approaches things from a way that other Cybertronians don’t. Her worldview is skewed by all the events in her life—I mean, everybody’s is; it’s just that her event are just a little more unusual.

So, yeah, she was definitely keeping quiet about what she knew, who she would side with, all that—until she had an opportunity to strike most effectively. Which, I don’t think exactly worked out—she definitely didn’t want out-of-control Prowl-Devastator running around, so it’s not like she actually succeeded in her plan. But things could have been worse.

Nevertheless, from my perspective, she’d have been better off going to Bumblebee in issue 4. But she didn’t think he’d trust her, and Bee definitely didn’t act like he was looking to trust Prowl’s secret warrior. So she didn’t think that was a legitimate possibility. And now, hey, look what all that mistrust has sown.

PAGE 4- Ironhide and the Dinobots pile in to provide reinforcements? Considering what is happening to his friends, do you think Ironhide is certain that the visions of the future he saw are going to come true, despite the devastation around him? They seem to have been driving his recent actions.

JOHN BARBER: Ironhide has come to realize that, even if he believes what he saw, there are multiple ways of looking at “fate.” He can just sit back and let the future happen, or he can take an active role. And if he takes an active role, he has to be himself. Beyond that—well, there’s more to come.

PAGE 5- Ironhide literally tries to knock some sense into Prowl/ Devastator’s head, and Bumblebee can see the tide of battle turning. This issue marks the end of the current arc in the series. In the grand scheme of things to come, how important are the issues we’ll find within these pages?

JOHN BARBER: Very. I mean, this issue is the close of the first big RID story arc. The story of Bumblebee versus Starscream versus Metalhawk struggling for control of Iacon comes to a close this issue. And however it works out, any one of them (or none of them) “winning” control of the city will change the face of Cybertron. There’s a lot going on in this issue, a lot of stories coming to a close, and it all matters a lot.

But it’s not the end of the series, and there are still going to be big, pointed questions looming. Where’s Shockwave? Why did what happened to the Aerialbots happen—and what’s the status of them now? Not to give anything away, but how does Starscream justify his actions? What’s up with Ironhide’s vision of the future? What does Jhiaxus want with Gorlam Prime? Lots and lots of other questions…

Not everything ends here—we’re back with another issue in a few weeks—but all that comes will be built on what we’ve done here. And there will be impacts felt in our sister series, TRANSFORMERS: MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE, too. But I can’t talk about that without spoiling anything. I can say, that events from MTMTE spill into RID next issue… but if you’ve followed what MTMTE revealed about Shockwave, I don’t think that will be a surprise. Anyway—this comic, RID #16, will have repercussions in the comics—and maybe beyond—for some time to come.

But I do want to thank all the readers who’ve read this series—and read MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE, and all the other Transformers comics, too—from the beginning, or who’ve come in during the run, or who are just joining us. Thanks for being there, hope you’ve enjoyed the ride so far, and it just gets better from here on out.

Transformers: Robots in Disguise #16 Review - Spoilers Within

Date: Tuesday, April 16th 2013 12:33pm EDT
Categories: Comic Book News, Reviews
Posted by: Va'al | Credit(s): IDW, Va'al

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Synopsis
FINAL BATTLE! The leadership of Cybertron will be decided once and for all! It’s all-out war against the forces of MEGATRON! Will the Autobots wrest control from their attackers—or will the DECEPTICON flag fly over Cybertron forever? Heroes will fall, and nothing will stay the same.





Story

Everyone's fighting, robots are fighting, there is some fighting and some more fighting too. So far, mostly fighting. And talking. But no Shockwave. Superion's gone, Prowlestator is on a rampage, things look bad for most characters. Did I mention fighting?



Apparently, this is supposed to be the conclusion to the first story-arc, started in issue 1, after the split from MTMTE. And I guess it does do that, after a fashion. There is a sense of closure for some of the storyline's aspects that started with the series' inception, but not really that much, and some aspects of the plot are just left hanging, in my opinion.



Bumblebee's voice is the narrative thread running through the entirety of the issue, in the usual Barber caption commentary. I understand the need for something other than pure action sequences, but having the little boxes showing up all over gives me the impression of trying to fit too much into one arc/issue/volume.



Mind you, the writing in the captions is good, but some of the scenes in the issue really didn't do it for me. Either too silly, or predictable, I feel. There are some good points, though, like the legacy of other Cybertronians we've seen so far, and a little resolution, plus a set-up for a promising expansion of the setting for the series in the near future. And a good, if not entirely surprising, conclusion, too.


Art

The artwork, on the other hand, is gorgeous. While I have still some concerns with some of the characters' faces, I really enjoyed the details that Griffith, Shearer and Ketcham added to each of the players in the battle: damage, scarring, cracks, creaks, and so on and so forth – no one is as clean as after a Hollywood movie battle scene, and that is an excellent thing.



There are some amazing soundwords too, and the lettering for them is brilliant. Lee has really put himself into these! Additionally, Perez' colours, especially in some of the bigger resolution moments – which I will not spoil for anyone – are gorgeous. And I love the tones of the last pages, especially in the final panel.



So yes, the art-colour-lettering jobs definitely bring up the issue a notch, allowing it, in my judgement, to pass. They're not just aesthetically pleasing, they're well done, and convey exactly what this type of situation would entail in a physical scenario.


Thoughts
Spoilerish ahead

I wasn't a fan of this one, I have to admit. There was the same sense of prolongued fighting as the previous issue, and it tried inserting some tension relief with secondary characters like Swindle and the Dinobots, which may or may not have entirely worked. The conclusion is not entirely unexpected, but pleasing enough, though!



There are some loose ends still to tie up (and where is Shockwave?!), but there are some excellent scenes in terms of artwork, colouring and page-span. There were ups, and as I said, this may lead into something a lot better, but for now, I'm a little disappointed. Here's hoping for better with the next arc.

Fall of Cybertron Grimlock and Blaster Instock at Target.com

Date: Sunday, April 14th 2013 1:01pm EDT
Category: Store News
Posted by: LOST Cybertronian | Credit(s): Target.com

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Still searching for Generations Fall of Cybertron Grimlock or Blaster to fill those holes in your collection? Target has the answer because both figures are listed as instock for $22.99. The listing also includes a $3 off promo code for that little extra something something.

Fall of Cybertron Grimlock



Fall of Cybertron Blaster

Fall of Cybertron Grimlock Redeco / Remold Beast Megatron Prototype Images

Date: Sunday, April 14th 2013 10:59am EDT
Categories: Auctions, Toy News
Posted by: El Duque | Credit(s): toyssir8982009

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Here's another Megatron prototype auction form eBay seller toyssir8982009, this time it's the Beast Megatron redeco/remold of Fall of Cybertron Voyager Class Grimlock. As always we've mirrored the images below. The auction can be found by clicking here.

Creative Roundup, April 14, 2013

Date: Sunday, April 14th 2013 3:50am EDT
Category: Transtopia
Posted by: Burn | Credit(s): Various

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THE HELP DESK

Mindmaster is looking for some help with photoshopping. Help him out if you can!



CUSTOMIZATIONS

Skyfire77 - TFP Autobots | TFP Decepticons | Nemesis Bee
The full(ish) cast from Transformers: Prime!








paulimus1984 - Soundblaster Movieverse Leader Class | Generations Chromedome | Movieverse Galvatron, Cyclonus and Scourge






AutobotCliffjumper - Custom Fall of Cybertron Red Alert




Jin Saotome - Custom Transformers Prime Slipstream




omega666 - DOTM Bumblebee | DOTM Firebust Optimus Prime






Klejpull - G1 Scorponok Replica




MarcusCole1978 - Custom Ironhide



And wulongti is back with his Action Formers - This week, it's Explorer (MTMTE Pipes)!




We have a couple of non-Transformers custom this week too!

omega666 - TMNT Metalhead




BeastProwl - A Little Psycho




KREON KORNER

Seriously, we just can't stop him! Tresob updated his creations again!




-Kanrabat- - Kreo Kreations: Cybertronian Tank Megatron | Transformable Cybertronian Starscream






FAN ARTWORK

Foxfire13795 - Sixshot head



Draconis13 - Masterpiece Soundwave and Devestator



The Seeds of Deception project has also had a couple of updates, go check them out!

PHOTO BLITZ

And finally, a couple of updates (and non-updates) from the ongoing photocomic series.

paul053 - When cat's away the mice will...

Va'al (yes, I can include myself - it's a roundup of all Transtopia content!) - The Amazing Adventures of Dennis and Bruce!

Transformers: Robots in Disguise Ongoing #16 Preview

Date: Friday, April 12th 2013 7:08pm EDT
Category: Comic Book News
Posted by: El Duque | Credit(s): IDW Publishing

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IDW's Transformers: Robots in Disguise Ongoing #16 hits retailers this coming Wednesday, and as always we have a preview to whet your appetite. Be sure to pick up or download the full copy, but for now enjoy the sneak peek below. Full issue review coming early next week.

Transformers: Robots in Disguise #16
John Barber (w) • Andrew Griffith (a) • Griffith, Casey Coller (c)
FINAL BATTLE! The leadership of Cybertron will be decided once and for all! It’s all-out war against the forces of MEGATRON! Will the Autobots wrest control from their attackers—or will the DECEPTICON flag fly over Cybertron forever? Heroes will fall, and nothing will stay the same.
*2 regular covers will be shipped in a 1-to-1 ratio

FC • 32 pages • $3.99


*Variant Covers:
Marcelo Matere variant cover!

Bullet points:
The soul-shattering conclusion to the story began in RID #1!
The beginning of a powerful new direction—if anybody survives this issue!
Heroes will fall—and one shall lead!

IDW July 2013 Transformers Solicitations: Star Saber, Waspinator, Ultra Magnus vs Galvatron and more

Date: Friday, April 12th 2013 12:12am EDT
Category: Comic Book News
Posted by: El Duque | Credit(s): IDW Publishing

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Our friends at IDW Publishing have supplied us with their Transformers comic solicitations for July 2013:

• Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye #19
• Transformers: Robots in Disguise #19
• Transformers Regeneration One #93
• Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters #3
• Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters #3—Subscription Variant
• Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye, Vol. 4
• Transformers Classics Vol. 5
• Transformers: Monstrosity #2 (of 4)

Enjoy the covers and brief descriptions below, naturally some could include spoilers so proceed with caution.

Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye #19
James Roberts (w) • Alex Milne (a) • Milne, Sean Chen (c)
BETRAYAL! The Lost Light may be occupied by enemy forces, but that’s the least of RODIMUS’ problems! As he awaits execution, the one-time Matrix holder realizes how little he knows about the people he once called friends. Is there anyone left he can trust? And where does the legendary STAR SABER fit into all this?
2 regular covers will be shipped in a 1-to-1 ratio

FC • 32 pages • $3.99


*Variant Covers:
Nick Roche variant cover!

Bullet points:
• The game-changing epic REMAIN IN LIGHT continues!
• Major revelations within!

Transformers: Robots in Disguise #19
John Barber (w) • Dheeraj Verma (a) • Verma, Casey Coller (c)
THE DEATH OF A WORLD! Gorlam Prime—the entrance to the so-called DEAD UNIVERSE—holds many secrets… and now ORION PAX—the ’bot who was once OPTIMUS PRIME—pries it’s secrets loose. But will it be too late for CYBERTRON?
*2 regular covers will be shipped in a 1-to-1 ratio

FC • 32 pages • $3.99


*Variant Covers:
Phil Jimenez variant cover!

Bullet points:
• The countdown to the biggest TRANSFORMERS comic ever continues!
• Who is WASPINATOR—and what is his secret?!

Transformers Regeneration One #93
Simon Furman (w) • Guido Guidi (a) • Andrew Wildman, Guidi (c)
BATTLETIDE! Opposing factions and forces meet head on, as the battle for
Cybertron (and indeed the future) begins in earnest. BLUDGEON, SOUNDWAVE, GALVATRON, STARSCREAM, and—caught in the middle—the Autobots, most crucially their greatest warrior ULTRA MAGNUS! And HOT ROD meets his maker. Literally.
*2 regular covers will be shipped in a 1-to-1 ratio

FC • 32 pages • $3.99


*Variant Covers:
Geoff Senior variant cover!

Bullet points:
• Shock follows shock as total catastrophe looms large!
• The entire universe holds its collective breath!

Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters #3
Mairghread Scott & Mike Johnson (w) • Agustin Padilla (a) • Ken Christiansen (c)
THE BEAST WITHIN! After the Fall of CYBERTRON, GRIMLOCK and his DINOBOT allies are tasked with protecting the last remaining Cybertronians from the dangers of the demolished planet. But as time passes, GRIMLOCK grows more and more uneasy with the rage and power that he’s forced to hold back. Can the AUTOBOT leader learn to control his power or will the beast take over?

FC • 32 pages • $3.99


*Variant Covers:
animation art variant cover!

Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters #3—Subscription Variant
Mairghread Scott & Mike Johnson (w) • Agustin Padilla (a) • Michael Lark (c)
For subscription customers only… enlist up at your local comic shop! A variant cover by artist Michael Lark! Only for loyal subscription box customers!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye, Vol. 4
James Roberts (w) • Alex Milne, Guido Guidi (a) • Alex Milne (c)
The journey continues as the crew of the Lost Light confronts a band of rogue DECEPTICONS—with terrible consequences. Plus, a visit to the planet Hedonia—and a chance to put recent events behind them. But all the while, locked in a secret cell underneath the Lost Light, hidden from the crew, a DECEPTICON psychopath is talking...without opening his mouth. And, Rodimus and his crew are confronted by the enemy within—and not everyone will survive the encounter.
TPB • FC • $19.99 • 128 pages • ISBN 978-1-61377-691-9


Bullet points:
• Collects issues #12–15.

Transformers Classics Vol. 5
Bob Budiansky & Simon Furman (w) • Jose Delbo, Jim Fern, Geoff Senior (a) • Guido Guidi (c)
The historic comic book roots of THE TRANSFORMERS are re-presented for maximum Cybertronian enjoyment. Rejoin The AUTOBOTS and The DECEPTICONS as their war stretches across the cosmos. Freshly re-mastered and re-colored, these stories are accompanied by an in-depth introduction as well as select issue notes by Mark W. Bellomo.
TPB • FC • $24.99 • 276 pages • ISBN 978-1-61377-633-9


Bullet points:
• Collects issues #51-62 of the Marvel series.

Transformers: Monstrosity #2 (of 4)
Chris Metzen & Flint Dille (w) • Livio Ramondelli (a) • Ramondelli x 3 (c)
MEGATRON—DEFEATED? Never! The DECEPTICON leader battles through SHARKTICON hordes, while on CYBERTRON, OPTIMUS PRIME struggles to unite his people—and GRIMLOCK and his rogue DINOBOTS go on a rampage!
*3 regular covers will be shipped in a 1-to-1-to-1 ratio
FC • 32 pages • $3.99


Bullet points:
• In print for the first time!

Sneak Peek - Transformers: Robots in Disguise 16

Date: Thursday, April 4th 2013 12:03pm EDT
Category: Comic Book News
Posted by: Va'al | Credit(s): iTunes Bookstore

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The iTunes Bookstore has uploaded screnshots for the first three pages of the upcoming issue 16 of Transformers: Robots in Disguise. The images are as small as always, and mirrored below.

Description
FINAL BATTLE! The leadership of Cybertron will be decided once and for all! It’s all-out war against the forces of MEGATRON! Will the Autobots wrest control from their attackers—or will the DECEPTICON flag fly over Cybertron forever? Heroes will fall, and nothing will stay the same.