Transformers News

Movie Inferno, Mudflap & Universe Blaster on Ebay

Date: Tuesday, May 6th 2008 11:08pm EDT
Category: Toy News
Posted by: Down_Shift | Credit(s): Scaleface & eBay

Discuss This Topic · Permanent Link
| Views: 5,042

Two new Transformer Movie repaints and one new Transformers Universe repaint have shown up on eBay.

In the fall Toys-R-Us will be releasing a number of exclusives. Among them are Transformers Movie Voyager figures Inferno and Mudflap. These two figures are repaints of Armada Red Alert and Cybertron Mudflap

Universe Blaster is a repaint of Cybertron Soundwave

To see these listings yourself click on the listings below:

All Spark Power Inferno

All Spark Power Mudflap

Universe Blaster

Botcon Bagged Sets Bios

Date: Friday, April 25th 2008 1:32pm EDT
Categories: Event News, Toy News
Posted by: Air Commander Starscream

Discuss This Topic · Permanent Link
| Views: 19,130

Here are the bio specs for the 2 additional figure sets that you could purches at Botcon. Megatron, Rodimus and Divebomb came in a pack for $112 and Sideswipe, Blurr and Rampage came in a pack for $73. To view the images please visit the front page news story.





Megatron
Decepticon Leader

Strength 9
Intelligence 9
speed 9
Endurance 9
Rank 10
Courage 9
Fireblast 9
Skill 8

"Peace will come for all Cybertronians"

As a young mathematician, Megatron lectured at one of Cyberton's most prestigious universities. During the course of his studies, he had developed a set of equations that could predict social trends in a given society. He was alarmed when these trends pointed to a Civil War on Cybertron. His colleagues dismissed his work as the paranoid ranting of a lunatic. He saw them as simply misguided and he retreated underground to prepare for the coming war. When Optimus Prime began his march across Cybertron, Megatron was ready. He had developed the art of transformation, refashioning his own body into one capable of converting to an aerial vehicle of tremendous power. While Optimus spread the gospel of destruction and conquest, Megatron championed compassion, courage and freedom. His Charisma and humor in the face of a war helped him form a united front against the Autobots. Though Megatron is a pacifist at heart, he has the soul of a warrior as many have discovered time and again.





Sideswipe
Warrior

Strength 8
Intelligence 7
Speed 9
Endurance 7
Rank 8
Courage 9
Fireblast 8
Skill 8

"There is only one rule now; revenge!"

Once part of Prime's elite seeker unit, sideswipe was feared as the most ruthless of the trio. French, the teams leader, believed that there should be a balance between a stern hand and compassion. Though there was a difference in philosophy between the two, there was also a mutual respect. However, for Optimus, these were not traits he found appealing in his sub-commander and when the opportunity arse, he had drenched killed. Sideswipe, though ruthless, was loyal and did not agree with the fate that had been dealt to his fallen leader. Sensing a conflict in Sideswipe's "loyalties," Prime let Sideswipe walk into a staged ambush in which he and a fellow Autobot were left to die. Though the companion, who was there by mistake, was killed, Sideswipe survived and ended up being accepted into the ranks of the Decepticons. While Sideswipe fights for different reasons than his his new comrades, he fights nonetheless. As a tribute to his former commander, Sideswipe has taken the colors Drench once bore as a constant reminder to Prime that vengeance is coming.





Divebomb
Aerial Combat

Strength 6
Intelligence 7
Speed 9
Endurance 6
Rank 5
Courage 8
Fireblast5
Skill 8

"Soar above those who would bring you done."

Divebomb was a daydreamer who would often come up with brilliant theories as he stared happily as the sky. When the war came, his only escape from it's horrors would be to dream of a better time, both in his past and future, when destruction would not be a part of his every day existence. There is a deep sadness inside Divebomb's Ember that he masks with a cheerful exterior. He understands his importance in the Decepticon/Autobot conflict and never wants his personal sorrow to a affect anyone else. The only time he will let his true feelings show are when he is alone, soaring above the world in the sky that he could one dream about touching.






Rampage
Gunner

Strength 7
Intelligence 9
Speed 7
Endurance 7
Rank 3
Courage 9
Fireblast 8
Skill 9

"Thought preceding action equals success."

Rampage's mind is always working furiously. During his time as one of Razorclaw's students, he would often begin on a new assignment before finishing the previous one. The war did not diminish his enthusiasm; it allowed him to simply reorient his focus on warfare. He would often destroy twice as many Autobots as Razorclaw or Divebomb by constantly trying out new and more efficient ways of dispatching with his enemies. Watching alien transmissions tends to clam him down. It was Rampage who presented Razorclaw with transmissions showing Predators that became the basis for the alternate mode designs for the Predacons when they joined the Decepticon Army.

Transformers Universe Legends Starscream Auction

Date: Tuesday, April 22nd 2008 1:02pm EDT
Categories: Auctions, Company News, Toy News
Posted by: tigertracks 24 | Credit(s): Ebay seller hardcoretf

Discuss This Topic · Permanent Link
| Views: 22,872

Yes, yes, I'm sure you're thinking to yourself, "Didn't we already have a Legends size Starscream using the Cybertron Starscream style, and hasn't that already been repainted at least 3 times?"

The answer is yes, but in an odd twist of Transformer's karma, the Cybertron Thundercracker Legends mold has been repainted as Universe Starscream (Legend size).

You can check out the auction here showing Starscream in his packaging.







At this point, Universe Legend Starscream joins only Universe Legends Red Alert (a repainted Cybertron Legend Hot Shot) and Onslaught (Cybertron Legend CDT Red Alert) as others we have seen so far.

You can view the Toy Fair 2008 galleries here featuring more pictures of ALL the CLASSICS/UNIVERSE toys that will be available this Fall!

The Counterpunch Articles: Why I love Transformers Part4: Cybertron

Date: Wednesday, April 9th 2008 7:54pm EDT
Categories: Reviews, Site Articles, Site News
Posted by: i_amtrunks | Credit(s): Counterpunch

Discuss This Topic · Permanent Link
| Views: 37,696

This series of articles will focus on what was good about certain toy lines of figures, focusing on the positive, rather than the negative: Transformers Cybertron

I thought the Armada article would be hard to write. Convincing people that Armada was genuinely a good series of toys was set up to be a challenge. The cool thing about that one was that there were all these cool little aspects of Armada that were largely glossed over. So, in pointing them out, and establishing the ‘Ah-HA!’ type moments, it was relatively easy to explain why I thought the series was great. Now I get to Cybertron and quite frankly, don’t know what to say. It very nearly goes without saying, in fact, that the Cybertron line is outstanding. Cybertron is a refinement of Energon, a technological leap above Armada, and draws a line in the sand between the New School and Even Newer School of toys (Movie & Animated).

I know, whether or not you as a fandom out there admit it, that you guys love this toy line. I know this, because the spreadsheet I keep for my collection shows that the secondary market value of Cybertron shows an approximate 100% increase in the value of these toys when compared to the retail value. What has that happened in, like 2-3 years?

Somewhere along the way, Cybertron became the newest collector’s line. While we all marveled at how wonderfully full the shelves were during its tenure in stores, apparently we failed to notice that those shelves were sold out by the end of the wave. To top it off, there weren’t a whole lot of repeat performances of figures in later revision waves. One board-member said it best when they described the situation as resulting from a discrepancy between when the characters actually appeared ‘on-screen’ and when they were released in stores. See, the toys always made their store appearances long before their TV ones. By the time we as collectors had gotten our fill of Scourge and Leobreaker, kids were now seeing these guys on TV and making them permanently disappear from the shelves. Hence, Scourge will now run you between $60-80 new and Leobreaker $40-60. Shelf-warmers my ass.

I can’t say that high prices are what makes me like this line, but what I really do think is fun about Cybertron is the near universal acceptance we grant to it. (well, as universal as Transformers fans can get…) Due to the nature of the fiction, we’ve got 5 different planets by which character design can wrap around.

Like those Beasties? We’ve got mechanical ones, just like in G1.
Are you weird enough to have enjoyed the post 86’ movie? We’ve got futuristic designs, just like G1.
Like those City Bots? We went and got you some Metroplex. Remember him from G1?
Realistic Alt Modes? Oh, there’s a few. If you’re into that kind of thing, I’d check out some G1.
And of course, there’s Primus. Thank Primus. (He was shy in G1… but still there.)

It’s almost as if, well, it’s almost like someone, somewhere went and, I don’t know…listened to Transformers fans? If only these toys had loads of articulation and avoided being flimsy…

Right, right…yes, I suppose they do all that too.

Transformers Cybertron is literally the most expansive TF line since G1. It is essentially gimmick free in that Cyber Planet keys are about as non-offensive as you can get. Add into the mix that we got some of the very coolest TFs ever from Cybertron and it is little wonder why we have a modern day collector’s dream.

Why I like this line essentially boils down to one fact: Everything we as fans disliked about Armada and Energon was done away with while providing us with more detail, articulation, and variety than ever before. Everyone knows that Primus, Optimus Prime, and Starscream (Galaxy Force version here, sorry Hasbro…) are simply outstanding. These three epitomize excellence in the series. I’ll go over 5 toys you might have glanced over, just to show how expansive this line is.

5. Metroplex
The toy actually has two distinct robot modes, essentially a short and tall version. Both are quite excellent and help to scale him depending on the situation. Metroplex may be the best articulated toy for its size in all of Transformers displaying a Marvel Legends style range of movement. The biggest critique of Metroplex is his alt mode, as apparently, it looks like “nothing”.

http://www.asnee.com/blog/wp-content/up ... Mover1.jpg

Metroplex would like an apology from many of you.


4. Ransack GTS
A neat little repaint here and counterpart to the very popular Dark Crumplezone. Ransack GTS sports a surprisingly cohesive black, gold, and green color scheme. The figure itself is no different than the original release, but is instead indicative of how great the Cybertron repaints were in bringing out the beauty of some otherwise hidden details in the original releases.



3. Scourge
Has there ever been a dragon Transformer you wanted to get in a fight with…less? Scourge is a big dragon and an even bigger robot. Sure, his force chip gimmick is weak, but his big ass axe sure isn’t. Lots of Transformers bring their energon swords and spears to a fight. Scourge brought a giant axe. That’s a pretty good trick right there…



2. Mudflap
Personal bias be damned, this is a good toy and it was an undeserving shelfwarmer. Mudflap retains that old school boxy style while still displaying a full range of motion. His transformation is nearly kibble free and neither mode suffers for the other. Mudflap’s crane sits firmly under his arm as a melee style weapon. If only he had been painted neon green, someone would have loved him…



1. Cannonball
Yar…I don’t think Pirates are particularly cool, but Cannonball is for a variety of reasons. Cybertron did something very creative with this figure. They gave him a deco and back-story that made everyone notice an otherwise vanilla release. For those that don’t know, Cannonball is a space-pirate who uses his proceeds from villainy to purchase expensive deco schemes. Why he doesn’t just steal those too is a mystery of piracy. Cool thing about him, is that like the Dread Pirate Roberts, he ain’t the first. Oh yea, Hasbro did it, they gave genuinely cool back story to a random repaint character. He even has fiction over at the TF CC site.



Cybertron was an outstanding close to the trilogy. Love or hate the last 6 years of Transformers, you’d be hard pressed to ignore the leaps that Cybertron made in every regard for TF toys. There is enough in Cybertron alone to create your own modern day G1-ish population of Transformers. I like that a lot. The series was huge and full of redecos. All the same, it was a fun ride and it seems that no matter which camp of TF collector you fall into, something in the mass of releases in Cybertron was meant for you.

July 2008, crammed with IDW Transformery Goodness

Date: Sunday, April 6th 2008 8:56pm EDT
Categories: Comic Book News, Company News, Press Releases
Posted by: i_amtrunks | Credit(s): comicnewsi.com, tfarchive

Discuss This Topic · Permanent Link
| Views: 40,124

IDW Publishing's July 2008 Solicitations have been released over at Comicnewsi.com, and it looks to be one of the busiest months of the year, in terms of Comic releases.

Joining single issue releases, such as "Spotlight: Hardhead" and "Reign of Starscream #4", July will also see the launch of "All Hail Megatron #1", "Movie Prequel UK #1" and the continuation of the "Classic Transformers" and "Ark Character Design" books.

Check out all the release information below:

Transformers Spotlight: Hardhead
Simon Furman (w) • Robby Musso (a) • E.J. Su, Nick Roche (c)

The Revelations Cycle continues here! This time, the spotlight falls on the AUTOBOTS’ thick-skinned, no-nonsense “problem-solver,” HARDHEAD! As the Expansion draws ever closer, NIGHTBEAT seeks to solve the mystery of his own missing memories, and he needs Hardhead’s help. But as they retrace NIGHTBEAT’s last steps on Gorlam Prime, HARDHEAD is forced into the worst kind of no-win situation—and one that neither of them are likely survive! By veteran Transformers scribe Simon Furman and new rising star Transformers artist Robby Musso!

*2 regular covers will be shipped in a 1-to-1 ratio.
*Retailers: See your order form for a special incentive
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Transformers Movie Sequel: The Reign of Starscream #4
Chris Mowry, Chris Ryall (w) • Alex Milne (a) • Alex Milne, James Raiz (c)

The official continuation of the blockbuster TRANSFORMERS movie continues here!
Co-writers Chris Ryall (Transformers Movie Prequel) and Chris Mowry, along with artist Alex Milne (Transformers Movie Adaptation), continue their look at the latest machinations of STARSCREAM. The new cube nears completion. But what are the strange energy spikes coming from the construction site? Can it actually mean that STARSCREAM’s plan might work and CYBERTRON… will be reborn?

*2 regular covers will be shipped in a 1-to-1 ratio.
*Retailers: See your order form for a special incentive
FC • 32 pages • $3.99


Transformers Movie Prequel UK #1
Simon Furman (w) • Geoff Senior, Nick Roche (a); Roche (c)

From across the pond comes a special presentation of the U.K.-only TRANSFORMERS movie comics! These special stories, set before IDW’s all-new Movie Sequel, are penned by the TRANSFORMERS stalwart Simon Furman, and feature art by some of the best and brightest in TRANSFORMERS history. At last accessible for a U.S. audience, these stories-within-the-stories further expand upon the new movie universe, going beyond even what was seen in the IDW Prequel! This issue: get the in-depth lowdown on OPTIMUS PRIME and MEGATRON in the build up to/aftermath of the launching of the ALLSPARK into outer space, all adorned by an all-new Nick Roche cover.

*2 regular covers will be shipped in a 1-to-1 ratio.
*Retailers: See your order form for a special incentive
FC • 32 pages • $3.99


[b[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron #1[/b]
Shane McCarthy (w) • Guido Guidi (a) • Klaus Scherwinski, Trevor Hutchinson (c)

The DECEPTICONS have won, the AUTOBOTS are defeated, and the time for conquest is at hand! Or is it? This all-new series written by Shane McCarthy and featuring art by Guido Guidi picks up one year after the Revelations saga, and finds the DECEPTICONS alone and triumphant on Earth, with not an AUTOBOT in sight. With no one to stand in their way, how will the planet survive? And what of the missing AUTOBOTS? The biggest, most epic TRANSFORMERS storyline ever starts here! Klaus Scherwinski presents a shocking cover image, and Trevor Hutchinson offers an equally striking variant image.

*2 regular covers will be shipped in a 1-to-1 ratio.
*Retailers: See your order form for a special incentive
FC • 32 pages • $3.99


[b[The Transformers: The Ark, Volume 2[/b]
Jim Sorenson, William Forster (w) • Nick Roche (a)

TRANSFORMERS: The Ark, Volume 2 picks up where the first volume left off, making available for the first time hundreds of rare images chronicling the evolution of TRANSFORMERS in Japan. This volume covers all of the classic Japanese series material: HEADMASTERS, MASTERFORCE, VICTORY, ZONE, BATTLESTARS, and OPERATION COMBINATION. TRANSFORMERS, humans, aliens, ships and weapon models decorate this 208-page volume. If you love animation designs or ever wanted to know more about the TRANSFORMERS Anime, this book is for you.

TPB • B&W • 208 pages • 8.5” x 11” • $19.99 • ISBN: 978-1-60010-180-9

Classic Transformers, Volume 2
Bob Budiansky (w) • Don Perlin, Herb Trimpe (a)

Continuing IDW’s re-presentation of the beginnings of the TRANSFORMERS’ comics lore. Join the original G1 characters as the ongoing war continues between the AUTOBOTS and DECEPTICONS. In this second collection, including issues #17-30, the AUTOBOTS create OMEGA SUPREME, SHOCKWAVE cedes command to MEGATRON, and the cast of mechanoids on Earth grows. Includes classic stories such as “Plight of the Bumblebee,” “Command Performances,” “Showdown,” “Funeral for a Friend,” and more.

TPB • FC • 340 pages • 6.625” x 10.187” • $19.99 • ISBN: 978-1-60010-185-4

The Transformers Animated, Volume 4

More action from the TRANSFORMERS animated series! Read along as the heroic AUTOBOTS battle the evil DECEPTICONS as the story of their new adventures continues to unfold. Using actual still frames from the series itself — The Transformers Animated series puts new TF action in your pocket.

TPB • FC • 5” x 7” • $7.99 • 96 Pages • ISBN: 978-1-60010-217-2

Transformers Best of the UK: Space Pirates #5
Simon Furman (w) • Will Simpson, Tim Perkins (a) • Dan Khanna (c)

Continuing the reprints of the best TRANSFORMERS sagas from across the pond! The aftermath of the classic Space Pirates saga concludes with a stunning set-up for the upcoming epic, Time Wars! The wheels are now in motion for a legendary tale that sends the story across the galaxy and through time itself. From longtime TRANSFORMERS scribe Simon Furman, with a new cover by Dan Khanna.

*Retailers: See your order form for a special incentive
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Simon Furman Q&A Online!

Date: Friday, December 14th 2007 9:24pm EST
Categories: Comic Book News, Interviews, People News
Posted by: Raymond T. | Credit(s): simonfurman.wordpress.com, www.idwpublishing.com

Discuss This Topic · Permanent Link
| Views: 96,654

Last year IDW gave fans the chance to submit questions for Transformers writer Simon Furman. The best 20 were picked out of the litter and were answered by the Transformers guru himself. This year, fans were again able to ask the writer their burning questions. The best 20 questions were put together and are online in the second Simon Fuman IDW A&Q session. The first 15 on the IDW forum and the last 5 on Simon Furman's Blogpage.

The following 15 questions have been taken directly from the IDW Forum:

1) Character-wise are there any aspects of a character ie: role, alt. mode, character that you haven't had an opportunity to explore but you still would like to either through an original character or through the expansion on an existing one?

SF) What I feel I used to do well but (in the new IDW/TF-verse) haven’t done much of recently is take a little used character and really kind of escalate/advance them into terms of motivation, role and overall story impact. I’m thinking of the likes of Bludgeon, Thunderwing and Carnivac, where characters with little or no depth ended up virtually carrying whole story arcs. The closest I’ve come of late is with Razorbeast, in Beast Wars (Gathering/Ascending), where a toy/character who otherwise came and went without much of ripple has become quite pivotal (even collectable!). So far, with the Spotlights, I’ve largely focused on already A-list characters (or the likes of Nightbeat, a character I'd already got to grips with in a previous incarnation). Moving forwards, what I’d like to do is bring in a character or two from the ‘B’ or ‘C’ list and really go at them from scratch, bring them thundering into the ‘A’ list in terms of the IDW/TF-verse. Sixshot more or less fits those criteria, but I found there were limitations with a ‘living weapon.’ I’m looking forward to doing more with the likes of Doubledealer, Banzaitron and Jhiaxus. Right now, I’m searching for ways to confound expectation, so pretty much every character I tackle in an IDW comic comes with a fresh coat of paint, so to speak. Whatever established profile/tech spec/biog the characters already have, I’m using that as a loose template and taking it in different directions, without necessarily reinventing the wheel. It’s a very exciting way of working, as it seems to really let the creative side of me loose.

2) In your years working in the comic industry how much does it differ today to when you broke into the industry (art, story and the general production of a comic)? How do you see it in the years to come? And what is your favourite part of working in that industry?

SF) For me, the main difference is structure. Everything now is about the trade (paperback). With that in mind, stories are pretty much always arcs, be they four or six or more issues. I kind of miss the more rambling, unfolding nature of an ongoing comic. When we came to do the Titan reprints of the Marvel Transformers series, it was a challenge to break up the storyline(s) into cohesive (vaguely standalone) volumes. And, in fact, it often didn’t work. If you look at All Fall Down and End of the Road, there’s a distinct ‘To be continued…’ at the end of the first of those volumes. And I think because of distinct story arcs, there’s a natural tendency not to make single issues as self-supportive as they used to be. Which is also a shame. It’s why I love the Spotlights so much. They seem to hark back to a different era, where, as well as being part of a larger structure, each single issue also had to be semi-complete in and of itself. What I don’t miss about the ‘good old days’ is thought bubbles. It’s weird how old-fashioned they seem now. I much prefer narrative captions. They seem, to me, more grown-up (in a good sense of the word). Because, and this is a shame, comics are just no longer pitched at (or as accessible to) kids. Even ‘kids’ comics are just more sophisticated. I think back to the (Marvel) UK Transformers stories and compare them to the (Titan) UK stories of today, and there’s a big creative gulf. The one is not necessarily better than the other, just different. It’s no point getting misty-eyed with nostalgia, as a writer you have to move and evolve with the times, which I hope I’ll continue to do (wherever, and in whatever form comics go/take). The best bit is just being IN the industry. They’ll have to take me out in a box!

3) What one change would you make to the Transformers history you've created? (eg. do you wish maybe you hadn't made Magnus quite so scared of Galvatron? Do you wish you hadn't killed off Cyclonus? Not used Unicron in a particular story, etc).

SF) It sort of depends which Transformers history is being referenced. And even then, the only places I’d maybe want to go back and change/revisit are where external circumstances (such as imminent or sudden cancellation) dictated that either a story not go the way it was originally intended or not be completed at all. Certainly, the IDW/TF-verse is too new and still evolving to be the subject of retroactive second-guessing. New opportunities and avenues to explore are plentiful and ongoing there, and it’s probably the most well thought out/cohesive long-term structure I’ve ever had the luxury of working within. If I had to pick points to revisit, it’d be: with the original Marvel UK stories, I’d have loved to be able to play out the Ultra Magnus/Galvatron ‘rematch’ as originally set up. But the imminent change to black & white 5-page stories meant that Time Wars pretty much had to wrap up everything (and with two Primes in the mix, Ultra Magnus kind of got sidelined). With the Marvel US stories, I’d love to have been able to do the full post-Unicron storyline I had mapped out, with wasteland Cybertron and the quest for the Last Autobot unfolding over multiple issues (instead of, like, one). But again, it wasn’t to be. Once I knew issue #80 was our last, everything had to be condensed/accelerated (to an ultimately unsatisfying degree). I wish I could have continued Transformers Energon, I wish I could have wrapped up War Within v3, but really these things were just not meant to be, I guess. Largely, I try not to look back, only forwards. What’s out there already is out there, end of story. Truthfully, I’m not sure I’d want to tamper even if I could.

4) Will we be seeing more of the Micromasters in the future? (ie. why they are small and such and related to the Dead Universe?)

SF) Definitely more Micromasters in Revelation (and beyond)! This time around, in the IDW/TF-verse, I’m trying to apply thought and logic to concepts that previously were maybe just thrown into the mix without much due care and attention. If it’s Pretenders, it’s well why would Transformers need an outer shell? As a disguise element it always seemed slightly redundant to me in the original storylines. If it's Headmasters, what is it about a human/Transformer hybrid that makes them special? Why bother unless the end product is markedly better, and it cuts both ways (after all, it’s a kind of symbiosis)? I’m asking myself all the tough questions that were maybe skipped over in the rush of new product lines, and the same applies to Micromasters. Why is small better? What new, interesting abilities do pint-sized Transformers bring to the mix? And, as always, who is responsible? What’s their bottom line? The whole Jhiaxus/Nemesis Prime/Dead Universe storyline is about to explode, big time, and Micromasters are an integral part of what’s to come.

5) It's a very loose term, though. Can you define "brothers" in a TF sense? Is it merely some trivial notion of 'created around the same time' or 'somewhat looky-likey designs', or that they share some E.S.P., or what?

SF) What defines a ‘brother’ is going to feed into and be explored in two ’08 storylines. In the ‘ongoing.’ Sideswipe is about to step up and make his presence felt, most notably when he meets Sunstreaker again and realises he’s no longer just Sunstreaker! There is a bond between lots of characters, it’s just that in some cases it’s more pronounced, and the pair (or more) of characters in question are aware of it (even if it’s purely subliminal). Then, in a kind of standalone (but, of course, very connected) series, we’ll start to understand exactly where that link/bond came from. It’s connected to the lineage idea introduced in Spotlight Optimus Prime and to the eventual concept/realization of Combiners. Whatever it is, in some Transformers the bond is very strong, almost like in twins, in others it’s so watered down they don’t even know it’s there. A lot of ‘fundamental’ stuff, in terms of what makes a Transformer tick, is planned for next year.

6) If you were to radically reinvent the concept, allowing you to disregard anything and everything, for a one-off ‘Evolutions’ type story, what would it look like?

SF) It would probably not be terribly different to what we’ve done for the IDW/TF-verse. In many ways, it’s a reinvention/update of the classic G1 era, cutting out some elements, making others more contemporary, dropping in new ideas/designs/rationales, etc. So if I was handed carte blanche to do an Evolutions-style story, I’m not quite sure what I’d do with it. Even with Beast Wars, where I thought the abrupt leap into Beast Machines missed major storytelling opportunities, I got to drop The Gathering and The Ascending into that mix (and maybe more to come). The idea of just taking a different era and setting Transformers (G1) there doesn’t greatly appeal to me. Trying to re-do or re-style classic G1 stories doesn’t greatly appeal either. I feel (strongly) Transformers (as a whole) needs to keep moving forwards, evolving, in a way that doesn’t limit it to hardcore fan appreciation. That’s why I was so pro the new movie makeover. The quickest way to kill it dead would have been to make it a retro G1 piece, harking back entirely to the 80s (either in look or sensibilities). What I did enjoy recently was doing the ‘classic G1’ mini-comic for Madman’s DVD release of the entire animated series. That, in essence, ‘plugged a hole’ if you like, between the end of the animated show and the animated movie and felt more pertinent. Mostly, though, it’s my preference to keep looking upwards and onwards.

7) Given that you're well-known for taking obscure characters and breathing new life into them (Bludgeon, Nightbeat, Thunderwing etc.), are there any underdeveloped Transformers you'd like to give the same treatment in future?

Yes. And, assuming the Spotlights continue, I hope to do just that. The IDW/TF-verse is just so brimming with potential right now, I feel there is this vast pool of characters waiting for their chance to shine, to step out from (often limited) profile/tech specs, or simply just to be completely re-thought/re-made from the ground up. I think it's important that the main players have been established, either as the title character in a Spotlight or the main supporting character in a Spotlight (such as Ultra Magnus/Scorponok), but that done it’s time to move other, maybe more minor characters into major roles. After the trio of Blaster, Arcee and Grimlock Spotlights, I’m involved (rather than outright writing) in one more Spotlight (in what will be volume 3). That one definitely feels more in the spirit of minor character given due credit, gravitas and screen time. And, as always with the Spotlights, it plays into something much bigger. Can’t say any more at the moment, but I think it’ll surprise a few people.

8) What exactly does it take to kill a Transformer in IDW continuity? The amount of damage a TF can take before dying has always seemed to be fairly inconsistent to me, and so I'm curious as to what your take on the matter is.

SF) I think if I have played fairly fast and loose so far in the IDW/TF-verse, it’s with the actual mechanics (literal and otherwise) of how much injury a Transformer can sustain before it becomes critical. The two key elements to me are neural processor (brain) and Spark core (‘soul’). Take out either one of those, and you’re dead, gone, etc. Mind you, both are heavily shielded. Even a headshot (such as in Spotlight Ultra Magnus) might not necessarily destroy the processor. In Escalation #5, Megatron digs his hand into Optimus Prime’s chest cavity and squeezes his Spark core, meaning to crush it. Had he followed through, Prime would be dead. We have to assume that when Megatron shoots Starscream (in Infiltration #6) he misses (or fails to destroy) his spark core. EJ made it more graphic (and a much bigger torso hole/wound) than I’d maybe anticipated (in the writing), and so a certain degree of dramatic license may have to be applied there (especially if we ever actually place the Spark core specifically in some kind of internal cross-section). Though presumably there’s some room for manoeuvre here, what with different sizes and shapes of Transformers and all. Though we haven’t shown it as such, in the case of disembodied heads (such as Sunstreaker in Devastation), I’m working on the principle that the head is still hooked up to the Spark core (which has either been removed to a place of safekeeping or the original body preserved). The one can’t function without the other. I do mean to pay stricter attention to the physical limits of Transformers in upcoming arcs and series.

9) Now that IDW has the licence to produce Doctor Who comics, do you want to write for the series again? If you could, what elements would you explore, like in Axis of Insanity you explored the Doctor's curiosity and the dynamics between Peri and Erimem.

SF) I’ve always had a soft spot for the Doctor. Over the years I’ve done a fair few Doctor Who stories, whether in Doctor Who Monthly/Magazine (in the 80s) or in audio drama. And I’m currently doing some new (junior) Who for the UK (more details on my blog as and when I can trumpet this officially), as well as some Torchwood comic work (again, watch my blog for more details). So the short answer is yes, I’m always up for more Who. And, in fact, I have talked to Chris Ryall about doing some IDW-Who. But if I do, it’ll be later rather than sooner in 08, as story arcs (by other creators) are already in progress or upcoming (and I’m snowed under right now). What would I do, story-wise? I’d like to put the Doctor in a situation where he’s just totally and utterly out of his depth. Sometimes I feel the just always seems to know what’s what and what to do about it. I think if I get to do an IDW arc, I’d put the Doctor completely out of any kind of comfort zone, in a situation where he’s got to more or less think/act on a wing and a prayer. I loved the Human Nature/Family of Blood two-parter in series 3 of the new TV show. It showed the Doctor in a refreshingly new light. It’s that kind of thing I’d like to tap into any story I might write. Beyond the companionship, why does he have a companion? It’s for situations exactly like that.

10) What are some of the best experiences you’ve had working with artists? Any particular issues, old or new, where you were especially blown away?

SF) Too many ‘blown away’ experiences to list. Some notables would include: my very first strip work (a ‘Library of Death’ story in UK comic Scream), drawn by (of all people) Steve Dillon. What a way to start out. Story was truly dire, by the way, but hey, it looked good! Transformers UK #113: Geoff (Senior) was forever blowing me away with his artwork, and in fact #113 isn’t his best TF work (I’d reserve the likes of Target: 2006 pt 8 and Edge of Extinction in US #75 for that distinction), but it was inspirational inasmuch as it pretty much pushed me into rethinking what was supposed to be a minor (disposable) supporting character (Death’s Head) and turning him into what’s become, I guess, my signature creation. For all the wrong reasons, I remember a Dan Reed UK job where he was so late with the pages I thought I was going to have to run with a reprint filler story. He had to physically bring the pages (from Paris, where he was living at the time), at which point he lost the splash page (in customs) and had to redraw it with me standing over him looking at my watch. I still shudder to this day. The first page of Transformers (US) #56 is another of what I’d call personal landmarks. It wasn’t just my first page of Transformers US, it was my first work for Marvel US (something I’d always dreamed of). Good, bad or indifferent (art-wise), that page was always going to be special. My collaborations with Andrew Wildman have always been memorable, not least because we actually developed our own IPs. Some of the ones that got away, like the (proposed) Neo-Knights series, I remember vividly. Again, for all the wrong reasons, I remember working with Pat Lee and how kind of disappointed I was to find how little of the art was actually him. He gave me an original art page of Armada, and there’s so little art on it! The good side of Dreamwave was my first collaboration with Don Figueroa on War Within v1. His art blew me away (in terms of its amazing detail and dynamism) and then blew me away again (because this was when I first realized that the new generation of TF artists were utterly passionate about the work).

11) In 2008, are there any plans for a mini-series of Primus and Unicron story and fit the core continuity?

SF) I shall restate categorically what I’ve said before. No Primus. No Unicron. I’m just not going there (outside of Beast Wars, and then not directly). BUT, that’s not saying we won’t at point start poking and prodding around the pre-history of the Transformers and begin to ground what’s happening in the present with stuff that goes all the way back to the very beginning. There’s stuff I’ve laid into the IDW/TF-verse already that pays into the timelost roots of the Cybertronian race and I don’t intend to let that mystery drag on too long. The Dead Universe wasn’t always dead. That’s all I’ll say for the time being.

12) Marvel G1 question: whatever happened to Professor Morris? I believe the last we saw of him was when Centurion was beheaded by Galvatron. Later, when Wheeljack rebuilt him, Morris was never mentioned again. So was he trapped in his underground bunker when Centurion was sent to the bottom of the Thames or what?

SF) OK. This question sent me scurrying back to my collected editions of the UK stories (and de-archiving the original issues that featured ‘Ancient Relics’ the Transformers/Action Force crossover). We last see Professor Morris (in person) in issue #102 (‘Fallen Angel pt 2’), when he mentally communicates with Swoop, asking permission to mind-share again (following on from events in The Icarus Theory in UK #45/46). We ‘assume’ that’s him communicating through Centurion later in ‘Ancient Relics’ (though I confess it’s not clear). However, it’s still something of a loose end, as we never really know if Morris was ever extracted from that bunker (after Centurion disappeared into the Thames… to be extracted later in ‘Salvage pt 1’ in TF-UK #160). Let’s assume so, eh? Maybe Swoop was feeling charitable and (after the events of ‘Ancient Relics’) freed him. Or maybe Triple III finally broke in or RAAT got involved. Whatever the case, let’s hope Morris got out somehow. He only had enough food and water for a year!!

13) Have you ever considered that maybe all the various storylines from all the previous companies (Marvel, DW, Club exclusives, etc) could be brought together in a huge storyline that could redefine the future of Transformers and use all the characters from all the comics, toys, manga and anime available (G1 to Galaxy Force, Beast Wars, and back), just like DC is actually doing in their Countdown comic series?

SF) Some kind of big ‘Crisis on Infinite Transformers’ was considered (and then rejected) when IDW first picked up the license. Chris Ryall and I discussed several options, of which that was one. Another was a way of running G1 and Cybertron comics in tandem, with a sort of crossover story that simultaneously launched both titles (the original pitch for which can be seen as an ‘extra’ in the Best of Simon Furman book). Both were ultimately rejected in favour of the complete reboot of the G1 line that now forms the IDW/TF-verse and I believe it was the right way to go. Even if we’d gone the ‘Crisis on Infinite Transformers’ route and effectively cleaned house, it would still have been a confusing and off-putting (especially to new readers) way to start. Though part of me still loves the idea of doing something on that scale I don’t think (this far on and in) it’d be something IDW would ever consider.

14) You have been involved with Transformers more or less since the beginning. How do you feel about how the line has grown and evolved since its inception? Has it improved, degraded, remained true to the original vision, forgotten it, reshaped it for the better?

SF) I think, as with all properties that have been around as long as Transformers has, there have been both highs and lows. The great thing about Transformers as a whole is how easy it is to ‘transform’ itself for each new generation (whether they be young kids or adults, fans or newbies) without losing the core concepts and ideals that underpin it. I’m not going to get into what I feel those highs and lows are, but I do think that even 23 years on from when it first hit toy shops in the west, Transformers is still delivering across a wide variety of media. Whether it's the IDW/TF-verse, the new movie franchise, Transformers Animated, the passion the creators and toy designers and moviemakers bring to each is undiminished by time. In fact, I’d go as far as to say we’re in something of a golden age right now, where the sheer momentum delivered by the first (new) movie is pushing everyone involved to be that much more on their game when it comes to new product. There will always be those who hanker for what they see as the original and best, the G1 of the 80s (be it toy, comic or cartoon), but clearly the main reason Transformers has survived and thrived is because things haven’t stopped still, haven’t remained stuck in the nostalgia era. The long-time fans are incredibly important, but it’s even more important that new generations are given an easy access point into what otherwise could be a daunting and off-putting 23-year (and counting) history.

15) When writing dialogue for the Transformers, do you imagine it being spoken by the voice-actors that played the respective characters in the cartoon?

SF) Sometimes, but increasingly not. I pretty much always write dialogue for Optimus Prime with Peter Cullen in mind as I do so. He’s just so completely attached to the character in my opinion. But when it comes to the IDW/TF-verse, I try not to go in with any vocal preconceptions, because it may subliminally make me write a given character as if its their classic G1 equivalent (which it’s not). However, when I write Beast Wars characters in comic form I absolutely do think of their voice actor counterparts. How can you not think of David Kaye (“Yess”) when writing BW Megatron or Scott McNeill with Rattrap? So it depends. The (new) movie voice cast didn’t really have enough screen time (or make enough impact on me) to affect the way I write any surrounding prequel/roll over movie comic material. So, strangely, those I do tend to base more on their original animated counterparts. (New) movie Starscream I write just like his G1 counterpart. I have Chris Latta’s whiny, shrill delivery in mind when I write him. Mostly, though, when it comes to writing dialogue for Transformers, I try to approach each character as I’ve previously set them up (with any accompanying vocal tics) and not be too influenced by ‘outside’ sources. That said, while writing Torchwood stories recently, I had each of main actor’s voices nailed to my subconscious.

The following last five questions were taken directly from Simon Furman's Blog.

16) How does the Matrix work in the IDW universe (i.e. power of Primus, souls of all the Transformers, sacred battery, etc)?

SF) Well, we’ve yet to actually meet the Matrix in the IDW/TF-verse. So we may be getting ahead of ourselves here. What do we know about it so far? Well, according to Spotlight Galvatron, the Matrix was (and maybe is) “carried” by Nova Prime, and he (Nova Prime) disappeared into the Dead Universe (along with the Matrix, we assume). Nova describes a bottomless well and a resonant tug on the Matrix. What happened next we don’t know (yet). But what is the Matrix (hm, that sounds familiar somehow)? Not telling. Not yet. But ’08 holds the answers: what it is, where it came from, what is does (then and now!). The Matrix (and what it’s become) will figure large in all that happens post-Devastation. The Matrix has been gone from the IDW/TF-verse for a long time, and its return will not necessarily be a thing of celebration.

17) Was it always the intention to introduce Acree to the IDW-verse, or was it as case of being suddenly struck with a workable idea? If so, what inspired the idea and story?

SF) I think once the nature of IDW/TF-verse Jhiaxus started to properly take shape, so the idea of doing an Arcee story became both workable and desirable (in the context of both a Spotlight and the larger story). To an extent, I wasn’t willing to go anywhere near Arcee (as a character) until I had worked out the whys and wherefores (in the IDW/TF-verse) of quote-unquote female Transformers and the whole issue of gender. Back when I was writing the first clutch of Spotlights, the idea of Arcee started to germinate. The Nightbeat Spotlight opened a door, and the involvement of Hot Rod just somehow made me want to get Arcee in there too, somehow, even though the two aren’t linked in the IDW/TF-verse. But even then I didn’t really have all the answers I needed (for myself) to properly introduce/write the character. I’ve been vocal about my resistance to the idea of gender in Transformers, so if Arcee existed (and she was a she), then I really needed to know exactly why that was (and how she and others react to that fact). Arcee, Combiners and Micromasters all have a common point of origin, in terms of forcing the evolution the Cybertronian race. Once I had that in mind, Arcee just seemed to work (and I had the motivation on both sides) as both a concept and a character.

18) As more people chip into building this new IDW/TF-verse continuity, are there any guidelines for what creators should/shouldn’t include to avoid clashing with other books?

SF) My main rule of thumb has always been (and remains), if it’s been done that way before, don’t do it again. It applies equally to me and, I hope, the other writers contributing to the IDW/TF-verse. Mostly, other than looking at what’s been established so far in the ‘ongoing’ arcs, the Spotlights and so forth and making sure new story elements don’t blow it all (in terms of the over-arcing story) out of the water, it’s just a matter of continually thinking outside of the box, and not falling back on classic G1 (knee-jerk) story/character traditions. Defy expectations. Turn characters on their heads. Assign them roles and functions that don’t necessarily match their classic G1 counterparts. And try and keep the story rolling onwards, rather than keep dipping back into what’s gone before (or if you do go back, make sure it has some present day/future resonance/pay off). On the IDW forums there’s a great thread, which painstakingly details who’s appeared, when and where. It’s very helpful, not least to me. The great thing about the way the IDW/TF-verse is set up is there are stories to tell that don’t necessarily have to be set on Earth. It’s been established that the war is spread out across many worlds, many frontiers, and that there are disparate groups of Decepticons (Infiltration units) and Autobots (Tactical Response units) involved, and that the ‘staged’ process established in Infiltration, Escalation and the like is underway on those other worlds too. So it’s reasonably straightforward to assemble a cast on some far-flung world and tell whatever kind of story you want to tell.

19) What goes into writing a new character who’s not been featured before? With, say, Sixshot was there a process involved in how he would act or did you look at tech specs or previous appearances in other mediums to get a basic idea?

I do at least start with the tech specs. Then, largely, I look for whatever it is in that character that interests or intrigues me, or seems to open the door to some kind of dramatic conflict (and if it’s not there, then I’ll start to rethink or flesh out the character more) and subsequent resolution (to a degree). With the Spotlights in particular I look for a way to give the reader an almost instant insight into what makes the character tick, and why we should care about or empathise with them. Good guy or bad guy, it’s necessary that the reader become involved with the character quickly. So if there’s nothing much there in terms of tech specs or previous appearances to start with, I’ll introduce something to lift the character out of a kind of template role. Taking Sixshot as an example, having divined that he’s this ‘living weapon,’ I thought, so what does that mean? (Both to us and to him.) Why should we care? How does he view himself? Is he happy being a living weapon? Might he, if given a way out, take it? And so forth. When addressing any character, I’m continually asking myself questions about them. First job really is to get myself interested. Once I am, it’s that much easier to get other people interested. Sometimes I actually prefer it when there’s little or nothing already there in black and white and I can just build the character from the ground up.

20) In Spotlight: Shockwave, did Shockwave beat the Dynobots or did he just destroy their organic covering forcing them into stasis lock? Any chance of a rematch?

SF) I think the answer to the first part of this question is that Shockwave beat the Dynobots by destroying their organic covering, at which point they went into stasis lock. Did he beat them? Yes. Would he, if they too had been resistant to the high levels of energon? Hard to say. Maybe, maybe not. Grimlock, clearly, had foreseen the possibility of losing and planned an appropriate no-win scenario before ever setting foot on the planet. So maybe he won. Either which way, we do have something of another grudge match in the offing. Only this time it’s the Dynobots versus… ah, but that’d be telling. Whatever the case, stuff is set in motion in Spotlight Grimlock that will have huge repercussions. Will Shockwave figure in any of this? Maybe. Are the Dynobots coming back in 08? Definitely.

Episode List Transformers Animated Released!

Date: Monday, December 10th 2007 9:08pm EST
Categories: Cartoon News, Company News, Media
Posted by: Raymond T. | Credit(s): www.cartoonnetwork.com

Discuss This Topic · Permanent Link
| Views: 84,984

The official Cartoon Network Transformers: Animated site has been updated to include a complete cartoon episode list. The following is the episode list. Be warned of spoilers...

Episodes 1, 2 & 3: Transform & Roll Out!
Optimus Prime & his small crew of Autobots come into possession of the AllSpark, a powerful Cybertronian artifact that actracts the attention of their long-forgotten enemies the Decepticons and sends them crashing to a strange & distant planet known as Earth.

Episode 4: Home is Where the Spark is
The Autobots settle into their new home base - an abandoned automobile manufacturing plant but the ancient assembly line machinery seems to have developed a mind of its own.

Episode 5: Total Meltdown
A bio-engineering genius experiments with some of Bumblebee's hydraulic fluid & accidentally transformers himself into Meltdown, whose corrosive touch can melt anything - including Autobots!

Episode 6: Blast From the Past
Professor Sumdac Upgrades a trio of animatronic dinosaurs from a local theme park, but the creatures develop minds of their own & become rampaging Dinobots, bent on destroying the Autobots.

Episode 7: Thrill of the Hunt
While Autobots encounter a mysterious muscle car creating havoc in Detroit, Ratchet keeps flashing back to his "tour of duty" in the Great Autobot-Decepticon Wars.

Episode 8: Nanosec
Bumblebee's self-proclaimed title as "fastest thing on wheels" is threatened by Nanosec, a super speedster crook on a deadly mission that could destroy all of Detroit.

Episode 9: Along Came a Spider
Bumblebee & Bulkhead's first Halloween turns even spookier when they encounter a giant spider that turns out to be the deadly Decepticon Blackarachnia.

Episode 10: Sound & Fury
Sari's new toy musical robot seems to have an evil streak - and the ability to control other machines - but Bulkhead is the only on who sees it.

Episode 11: Lost & Found
The Autobots clash with Decepticons Lugnut & Blitzwing, who come to Earth searching for their missing leader Megatron.

Episode 12: Survival of the Fittest
Sari is kidnapped & the evidence points to the Dinotbots. So Prowl & Bulkhead head to a mysterious island to investigate - with a highly suspicious Captain Fanzone on their tail.

Episode 13: Headmaster
A disgruntled Sumda employee seeks revenge & profit by taking control of one of the Autobots & sending him on a rampage.

Episode 14: Nature Calls
Prowl, Bumblebee and Sari get more than they bargained for when they head out to the remote woods to investigate a mysterious energy signal.

Episode 15: Megatron Rising, Part One
Prime begins to doubt his leadership abilities as the Decepticons mobilize for a big invasion of Earth.

Episode 16: Megatron Rising, Part Two
The Autobots are decimated by the Decepticon invasion, but still must rally to prevent the AllSpark from falling into their clutches.

Episode 17: The Elite Guard
The Cybertron Elite Guard arrives on Earth to retrieve the AllSpark & relieve Prime & his crew of their post, but they prove less than adept at blending in with the human world.

Episode 18: Return of the Headmaster
Optimus Prime is forced to team up with his rival Sentinel Prime after Sentinel has a humilliating - & potentially fatal - encounter with the Headmaster.

Episode 19: Mission Accomplished
Convince there are no Decepticons left on Earth, the Elite Guard prepares to take Optimus Prime & his crew back to Cybertron - unaware of the increasing Decepticon activity taking place uner their very noses.

Episode 20: Garbage In, Garbage Out
AllSpark energy turns junk pile into a sentient robot who tries to help the Autobots, but ends up doing more harm than good.

Episode 21: Velocity
Investigating a mysterious race car, Bumblebee gets involved with an illegal underground street racing circuit, which also captures the attention of the Decepticons.

Episode 22: Rise of the Constructicons
Bulkhead befriends a pair of construction vehicles brought to life by AllSpark energy. But the Decepticons have their scanners set on the duo for their latest construction project.

Episode 23: A Fistfull of Energon
Prowl goes off on his own to capture the fugitive Starscream, but finds some competitions in the form of a Decepticon bounty hunter.

Episode 24: S.U.V. - Society of Ultimate Villainy
Aided by a mysterious benefactor, Detroit's B-level villains team up to take down the Autobots once & for all.

Episode 25: Autobot Camp
On the trail of an escaped Autobot traitor, Bumblebee flashes back to a previous encounter with the traitor when he first met Bulkhead in Autobot Boot Camp.

Episode 26: Black Friday
Blackarachnia enlists Prometheus Black - aka Meltdown - to aid her with a dangerous experiment, while Prime & Dinobot Grimlock are force to team up to stop them.

Episode 27: Sari, No One's Home
Left along in the Autobots' home base, Sari must defend it against an intrusion by the Constructicons.

Episode 28: A Bridge Too Close, Part One
The Decepticons kidnap Bulkhead to aid in Megatron's ultimate plan to take over Cybertron.

Episode 29: A Bridge Too Close, Part Two
The fates of Cybertron & Earth lie in the balance as Optimus Prime & his Autobots battle Megatron & his Decepticons in a fight to the finish.

IDW's Press Release for new Transformers DEVASTATION

Date: Friday, September 7th 2007 10:43am EDT
Categories: Comic Book News, Press Releases
Posted by: Seibertron | Credit(s): IDW

Discuss This Topic · Permanent Link
| Views: 16,506

The Transformers saga erupts in Devastation

IDW Publishing’s latest Transformers title chronicles the third chapter in the series about the hidden war between the Autobots and the Decepticons.

San Diego, CA (September 6, 2007)—The Transformers’ secret war on Earth continues in IDW Publishing’s latest blockbuster, The Transformers: Devastation, the first issue of which hits comics shops in September. In Devastation, factions on Earth launch into bold and decisive action. With both the Machination and Skywatch poised to strike, both with Cybertronian technology and inside knowledge of the Transformers, the Autobots have no choice but to retreat. But the arrival on Earth of the Decepticon living super-weapon Sixshot promises only one thing: Devastation.

“We’ve been telling an ongoing saga, first with Infiltration, then with Escalation,” says Chris Ryall, publisher and editor-in-chief of IDW Publishing. “This continues the epic that we started a year and a half ago. This is where plot points and characters converge, where everything expands and the story blows up more than ever before.”

Devastation pulls in a range of characters, including those who appeared only in previous Transformer spotlight issues. Characters like Hot Rod and Sixshot both play major roles in Devastation, and fans will discover the startling fate of Hunter, one of the epic’s central human characters.

Devastation, like Infiltration and Escalation, features story and script by veteran Transformers writer Simon Furman, with art by fan-favorite E.J. Su.

In Infiltration, the Autobots struggled to prevent an Armageddon on Earth instigated by Decepticon, with the planet’s secret mechanical defenders relying on the unlikely aid of three misfit human allies. In Escalation, Optimus Prime and the Autobots confronted the impending menaces Megatron and Ore-13, only to see the Machination strike—with shocking and tragic consequences. And now, in the third series, those consequences go from dire… to devastating.



About IDW Publishing

IDW PUBLISHING, a division of Idea and Design Works, LLC, is a publisher of comic books and graphic novels. IDW’s titles range from 30 DAYS OF NIGHT and FALLEN ANGEL to Hasbro’s THE TRANSFORMERS, Fox’s ANGEL, Paramount’s STAR TREK, and many more. 30 DAYS OF NIGHT film will be released by Sony Pictures in October 2007. More information about the company can be found at www.idwpublishing.com.



ABOUT THE HASBRO PROPERTIES GROUP



The Hasbro Properties Group (HPG), the intellectual property development arm of Hasbro, Inc., (NYSE:HAS), translates one of the industry’s richest portfolios of brands into a world of fun and excitement for children and adults globally. Through a host of publishing, digital media, lifestyle and entertainment platforms, HPG is able to surround fans worldwide with consumer products that expand Hasbro’s core brands, such as TRANSFORMERS, LITTLEST PET SHOP, MY LITTLE PONY, MONOPOLY, G.I. JOE, TONKA and PLAYSKOOL.



TRANSFORMERS is under license from Hasbro Properties Group, the intellectual property development arm of Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE: HAS).

IDW's Press Release for new Beast Wars miniseries "The Ascending" plus new info about BW S

Date: Tuesday, August 14th 2007 3:02pm EDT
Categories: Comic Book News, Press Releases
Posted by: Seibertron | Credit(s): IDW

Discuss This Topic · Permanent Link
| Views: 35,250

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Creators of Transformers: Beast Wars: The Gathering Are Back!

IDW Publishing to release a new Beast Wars miniseries by Furman and Figueroa, in addition to an all-encompassing Beast Wars Sourcebook

San Diego, CA (August 14, 2007)—Transformers: Beast Wars fans have a lot to celebrate this month. IDW Publishing will publish a follow-up to the first-ever Beast Wars miniseries, “The Gathering,” by the same fan-favorite creators. In addition, IDW Publishing is unveiling the first issue of a long-requested, comprehensive character guide to all Beast Wars characters.

Furman and Figueroa Collaborate on Beast Wars: The Ascending

Writer Simon Furman and artist Don Figueroa have teamed up again to follow-up their acclaimed Transformers: Beast Wars: The Gathering miniseries. This next chapter will be a four-part miniseries entitled Transformers: Beast Wars: The Ascending. The previous miniseries launched in early 2006 as a celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Beast Wars animated series, and left fans clamoring for more.

“The re-pairing of this beloved writer and artist is exactly what fans have been wanting to see,” said Chris Ryall, editor-in-chief and publisher of IDW Publishing. Since their first Beast Wars collaboration, “there has been a steady stream of requests for the return of these fan-favorites,” said Ryall. “The demand for this pairing has just grown over time. And this comic book has even more appeal because people know what they are in for.”

The Ascending spirals out of events in The Gathering. Magmatron, a disembodied entity that exists out of time and space, is witness to Cybertron’s unchecked descent into chaos and madness—all a prelude to its complete and utter destruction. Powerless to directly affect this terrifying apocalypse, Magmatron’s last desperate recourse is to try and bring his greatest enemy, Razorbeast, together with fellow Maximals Lio Convoy and the pack.

Hitting comic stores in August, The Ascending #1 is the first chapter of this new four-part miniseries.

Transformers: Beast Wars Sourcebook Released

Also from IDW Publishing, Furman has teamed with Ben Yee, a consultant for the Beast Wars TV series, to present an all-encompassing, unifying resource about Beast Wars. From Air Hammer to Wolfang, the Sourcebook highlights the characters, worlds and technology from all generations and incarnations of Beast Wars. The Sourcebook details who each character is, what side they are on and what their abilities are. It features all-new art from a host of the greatest Transformers artists, including Don Figueroa, Guido Guidi, James Raiz, Nick Roche and Rob Ruffolo, as well as many more. This special series will be comprised of four bi-monthly, 48-page, ad-free editions.

About IDW Publishing

IDW PUBLISHING, a division of Idea and Design Works, LLC, is a publisher of comic books and graphic novels. IDW’s titles range from 30 DAYS OF NIGHT and FALLEN ANGEL to Hasbro’s THE TRANSFORMERS, Fox’s ANGEL, Konami’s METAL GEAR SOLID and many more. 30 DAYS OF NIGHT film is in development and will be released by Sony Pictures in October 2007. More information about the company can be found at www.idwpublishing.com.

Furman Update on U.K. Transformers #6

Date: Friday, July 20th 2007 1:35pm EDT
Categories: Comic Book News, People News
Posted by: Hotrod | Credit(s): Simon Furman

Discuss This Topic · Permanent Link
| Views: 11,399

Once again Simon Furman has updated his blog. In this latest entry Furman talks about finishing U.K. Transformers #6. Here is what Furman posted:

"Here we go again, and this time the topic for discourse (in as spoiler-free a way as possible) is Transfomers (UK) #6. This issue wraps up the first story ‘arc’, though as I’ve mentioned before each is a self-contained, single character-led entity. Here, the focus falls on Jazz, the last of those ‘lost in space’ after events in issue #2. I had two distinct things to accomplish here: one, present a story that draws out Jazz’s unique personality (like his G1 equivalent, he’s a culture vulture and wishes to experience as much universal diversity as possible), and two, bring the Autobots together again for a rousing, all guns blazing finale. The first, main strand revolves around a planet that seems too good to be true (and, of course, is), and its parasitic like effect on Jazz, who’s decided to hang up his guns for good as the story opens. This one also features a Cybertronian flashback and a guest star or two, one of which does appear in the movie, one of which doesn’t (but is in the toy line). The second strand involves the efforts of Ratchet to reunite with his comrades-in-arms, but will he and Ironhide be in time to save Jazz… from himself? This won’t be out until late November/early December, but trust me, it’ll be worth the wait. No word yet on artist. Keep an eye on whatever discussion thread this blog entry engenders. Once I know more, so will you!"

Remeber you can get new on the latest Simon Furman updates and other Transformers comic news in the Seibertron.com Comics Section.