The Energon Pub

Okay so now that issue zero is done and the positive response has been HUGE i've gotta start looking towards the next issue.

First thing I should point out is that I am hoping for it to be monthly and that each issue will be released at the end of each month. As such Issue 1 will NOT be released in two weeks or so, but rather the end of May. That gives us 6 weeks or so to compile a super sized Issue One!

So what do I need?
I need stuff to include. Whatever you can do just hit me up with it and we'll try to fit it in. But I need a couple of things, the biggest of which is someone to do the Letters Page.

Letters Page
I need someone to "get into character" and to use one of their own characters to answer letters. Similar in style to to Marvel UK's G1 letters page (Grim Gram's for example). Now I do have someone in mind and she (Sustain) has basically agreed to it, and no insult towards Sustain is intended, but i'd like to see someone else have a go. Specifically someone that is NOT a Decepticon. This is your chance to shine! Or we just let Sustain add another job to her already large HMW resume.

Interviews
I've done 'em, Mkall's done 'em, and i'm betting he's like me and a little busy to do them. So if anyone thinks they can conduct interviews pm me. If you're unsure of how previous HMW interviews have been conducted contact me and i'll explain them. You could probably also contact Mkall but i'm guessing he's busy sorting out HMW code so it might be best not to bug him.

MTMTE Bios
You all saw how Tammuz did his. Sustain has the MTMTE template if people need them and someone is bound to be able to help you make them if you ask (just not me, 'cause I don't know how)

Fanfics
I don't care how long or how short they are. As long as they're HMW related. They can be just about your team or they can be a full fledged fic or even just a mission log turned into a short story. If you can write and want it featured then submit away.

Artwork/Kitbash
If you've some how created your own rendering of your own character be it drawn or kitbashed or photoshopped (if you don't want to go to the effort of a MTMTE bio) or whatever and would like it featured, then submit it!

Teh Funnies
100% jAam free I swear. I've got two offers from people willing to take a crack at creating the artwork necessary for a comic but I don't have a writer! So if you've got a sense of humour (so that rules most Autobots out ), have your finger on the pulse of HMW and what goes on in the forums and can write and think you'd like to take a crack at a HMW comic strip then again, submit away!

FEEDBACK

SIZE
Okay this one is important. Originally I was going to make the pages twice the size of what they are but opted for a smaller scale. Looking back i'm thinking it might be better to go for the larger scale. This will make the downloads larger and may also mean it can't be hosted at ImageVenue (have to look into that) which will leave people the option of Zip or CBZ files.

Would people prefer a larger size if it means making the writing more clearer as well as squeezing more in?

FONTS
I used the standard "comic book" font. Are people okay with that? Would they prefer the font to be different or bigger?

Okay that's about all I can think of now (need lunch!). Your feedback will be very much appreciated and your contributions even more so.

Thank you all for welcoming this little project so well. It proved more popular than I expected.

2 MAY 2008 UPDATE
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR PAGE

Okay so it's time I announced this so you can all start sending your "letters to the editor" in. One of the ideas tossed around was to have different people/commanders each issue.

However one person stepped up to offer their services. Some may know him, some may not. Personally I consider him one of the most hilarious people on this entire site, and he has the mugshots to back it up! He also has a team actually stupid enough to pull this off.

That man, and that team, is Me,Grimlock! and The Ineptibots!

Ask a serious question. Get a stupid answer.
Ask a stupid question. Get a stupid answer.

Either way, I truly believe you will be entertained by his answers. And yes, when Narcoleptic Stuntcar takes over the answering, we have plans in place in case he falls asleep.

So start bombarding Me,Grimlock! with your Letters to the Editor, and i'll make it even easier by providing you with a direct link to pm him!

As for other things, i've had a few submissions but i'm always wanting more!

I'm good for a chuickle, I can maybe crank out a few funnies. I'm also working on the last few sections of "Spotlight: Vos", and hope to cap it off with a profile of Shotmaker, an influental figure in the history of Vos. If anyone wants to have a go at illustrating Shotmaker, I see him as G1 Gutcruncher (only with an alt mode this time, though there's a lot of leeway there). I'll gladly write a similar text profile for other characters if anyone has suggestions, both in-game and in the vision of Cybertron I'm attempting to build. I'm also open to the idea of conducting interviews, though I don't want to be taking up too much space here.

I'm in the process of completeing the fic I started a while ago-- school's really gotten in the way now, so I've been working on the last chapter off and on for the past couple weeks, and hopfully I can have it finished soon. And I've always wanted to do MTMTE profiles for my Autobots, so I can always do those (pending some re-working of my character pics).

Loved the first issue and congrats to everyone that was involved.
As far as your request here is a link to my team story. stratacons part 1 I definetly could flesh it out more if you like. Also by no latter then thursday i could pm some artwork to you one is a very primary color work of one of my team the other is a early pencil sketch based off of IDW publishing Megatron origin cover b. If this intrests you just pm me or post back here or i'll plug away till i get something that might fit.

I'm in the process of re-writing a character bio that I will flesh out into a full-blown fic, so I'd like to submit that. I would like to have a go at doing MTMTE Bios so I guess I'll need to get in touch with someone that has them and ask relevant details. Do you have a submission date yet?

Also, if too much fanfic gets submitted then I would like to do an article called 'On The Merits Of Using Canon Characters In HMW'. I promise nothing too heavy

Just want to congratulate everyone who worked on the previous issue, and the way things are going this issue promises to be even better

I liked the comic font, I say keep that, and I don't really care how big the pages are, the last few were big enough if you ask me.

I'd be happy to dab my hand at interviews, after being in Frontline and pretty much having a strong will to do it, I think I could do a good job.

And yes, although I'm busy, I can find the time (easily) to get an interview set up, ask the questions, and do it in a style that's both unique, and expendable (so interviews can be comical, serious, jokey etc.).

Burn wrote:Letters Page
I need someone to "get into character" and to use one of their own characters to answer letters. Similar in style to to Marvel UK's G1 letters page (Grim Gram's for example). Now I do have someone in mind and she (Sustain) has basically agreed to it, and no insult towards Sustain is intended, but i'd like to see someone else have a go. Specifically someone that is NOT a Decepticon. This is your chance to shine! Or we just let Sustain add another job to her already large HMW resume.

Perhaps Decepticon one month Autobot another?

If you want, I can try out the Letters Page (image a frat party-themed Bubbatron page), a fanfic or two, and Teh Funnies. I'm also up to make a MTMTE bio if you still have room.

As for the size, I'm up for a large one, but is it a lot of trouble to offer both sizes for people? And the Comic Sans MS font is fine. Anything simpler looks drab, and anything more complicated gets illegible.

So Sustain, where do I get this template, Autobot style? And any tips on where to get the pics to use for the characters? Cuz an artist I ain't.

is this puck's MTMTE profile?

cos i'd quite like to get a copy of it again...

Tammuz wrote:is this puck's MTMTE profile?

cos i'd quite like to get a copy of it again...

Sorry its is not.

would anyone have a template in beast flavor

bad wolf has some interesting templates....

I was thinking about some jokes that'd make you cringe today, but I don't have the art skill to pull them off.



I definetly recommend getting a new letter-anwserer (bad grammar, eh? ) every issue. Adds a bit of spice to it!

Wait, why am I not allowed in the funnies?

That's where I'd love to contribute...

JaAm wrote:Wait, why am I not allowed in the funnies?

That's where I'd love to contribute...

How many times am I going to have to explain this to you.

You're not funny!

Well, I do know TF jokes other than my username, so If you need a gag, drop me a line.

As a man with qualifications in writing drama, I'd like to point out your biggest mistake. This might be a transformers-based fanzine, bur limiting your humour to being based on transformers does exactly that - limits it. Keep things open. Any joke can be respun to varying degrees of success, whether it's a universal joke or one based on specific regional knowledge or cultural heritage, or even shared experience with a franchise.
I have an onld adage I usually use to refer to women, but it works for most things. When God closes a door, he opens a window. Which is a stupid idea, cause women don't come throw windows, moths come through windows. Women come through doors. Hence, keep as many doors open as possible!

So basically take real life jokes/scenarios and give them a HMW spin?

I have a fic on Darkmount if you want to use it

Okay see I just need to make a point clear here.

Don't say stuff like "i have this here if you want to use it".

I'm not going to hold people's hands. You submit it, 99% of the time it will go in. Plain and simple. The only times it won't get in is if it's bloody atrocious and I haven't really seen anything from HMW players over the years to reach that level.

I don't want people saying stuff along the lines of "I can do this if you want", I don't want saying "I have this over here". I have enough to do without chasing after people.

So please, if you want in just submit!

Burn wrote:So please, if you want in just submit!

With that being said...

I am open to interview someone or two (that's simultaneously) if you want to volunteer yourself, otherwise I'll just pick someone (PM me first).

You have until this friday to put yourself forward.

If you want to feature fan fiction in this "fanzine," here a work of mine you can use, even if you want to do it one chapter a month.

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3799643/1/Recovery

So how big are you planning on making this next issue Burn?

Hollow One wrote:

Burn wrote:So please, if you want in just submit!

With that being said...

I am open to interview someone or two (that's simultaneously) if you want to volunteer yourself, otherwise I'll just pick someone (PM me first).

You have until this friday to put yourself forward.

Possible candidates: Metroplex, Sustain, Dynamax, Evolution Prime, Mkall, Rat Convoy, Bun-Bun, SymbioteSpiderman, Sunstar, High Command or Redimus.