The Energon Pub

I knew 2 people who practiced Vodou in the service, and they told me it predated contact with Christianity. That only later did they except Bondee(not sure if that's spelled right) as being the Christian God.

As for the zombies. I have no real world experience(wow that sounds weird), only what I have read and seen in movies. I know the Haitian kind actually exist/ed the others are fictional, so I'm basing this off of fiction.
I thought bokors actually reanimated the dead while witch doctors enslaved the living. Are the terms interchangeable, bokor and witch doctor that is? If that's the case though aren't the 2 types of zombies different from each other? I mean ones a corpse the other is a living person.

Here's my guess:

Transformers Prime continuity, Pirates vs. Airachnid and her energon vampire insecticons

I think the Botcon twitter post "5 pirate, 6 pirate, 7 pirate more" is derived from the Banana Boat Song. One of the lines from that song is "Hide the deadly black tarantula" which makes me think of Airachnid.

So here's how I see it. Near the end of Transformers Prime Optimus sent out a message telling everyone to come home. A group of pirates hears the call and comes home (led by Cannonball, of course). For whatever reason they land on the moon and have to deal with Airachnid.

I could see the Generations Waspinator and Kickback mold being used for insecticons (maybe mutated somehow). Maybe deluxe or first edition Bulkhead for Cannonball? And it would be nice to have Rodimus Prime show up but I doubt that will happen.

I'll say it before anyone else does, there is a Cybertron Downshift Vs Cannonball set, they'll take my idea of making Downshift out of either TFP Wheeljack mold. Personally, I think the BH version would look awesome in black and green.

njb902 wrote:I knew 2 people who practiced Vodou in the service, and they told me it predated contact with Christianity. That only later did they except Bondee(not sure if that's spelled right) as being the Christian God.

As for the zombies. I have no real world experience(wow that sounds weird), only what I have read and seen in movies. I know the Haitian kind actually exist/ed the others are fictional, so I'm basing this off of fiction.
I thought bokors actually reanimated the dead while witch doctors enslaved the living. Are the terms interchangeable, bokor and witch doctor that is? If that's the case though aren't the 2 types of zombies different from each other? I mean ones a corpse the other is a living person.

Haitian Vodou originated in the French slave colony of Saint-Domingue. It IS based off of earlier African religious practices, but the actual practice of Vodou came about because of forced conversion to Christianity by the Catholic French. In essence, it was a way to practice their traditional tribal religions whilst still adhering to the law. So some practices(such as witch doctors, who in African traditional are literally doctors who care for the exiled witches of a tribe not healers who use magic) are older African practices of the base religion that Vodou, Voodoo, and Hoodoo are all based on, West African Vodun(which IS occasionally spelled Vodou, but is distinct from the Haitian variety).

Bokors and Witch Doctors aren't the same thing, but they practice many of the same herbal remedies/mixtures. Mostly it's about how they're used, with Witch Doctors practicing healing and Bokors often practicing the darker side of the art as well as practicing magic(whether you believe in magic is up to you, of course).

For zombies, both actually use a powder containing puffer fish venom. Many Bokors have an entire ritual based around preparing and turning zombies to make it appear magic, but they still use the powder, or rather powders, as there's a second powder using dissociative drugs that keeps the subject in a detached, death mimicking state. Watching a Witch Doctor make it would be akin to watching an Apothecary preparing medicines and remedies, really. Bokors also profess to being able to have zombi astral, or part of a human soul they take and keep in a bottle to increase their power. The Serpent and the Rainbow(the book, not the movie) and Ethnobiology of the Haitian Zombie are both good reads if you'd like to know more about the powder from a pharmacological perspective.

I'll further expand on that Africa has several other methods of Zombie creation beyond the Western world's view on the subject, such as the South African belief that small children can turn corpse into them and witches killing someone and possessing the body to force it into slave labor. Viral zombies that spread infection and increase their number through no outside aid are a very American creation(especially considering that often times the "virus" is representative of other things, like Communism or other "enemy" political/religious ideologies of the time), but that's really a subject for another, longer topic(indeed, I've seen two Universities with entire courses on the meanings behind zombie cinema).

The official BotCon Twitter account has announced it will be revealing a lot of news in the following month, and they started out by talking about the TCC Magazine 2014 Club Comic. It appears the story will focuson Protoform X and Transmutate, in keeping with the exclusive 2014 figures and will also show some old favourites - who do you think it'll be? Discuss in the Energon Pub!

• The next month is going to have al KINDS of announcemnets regarding the TCC, the Magazine and BotCon… Let's drop some news today.
  
• The writers for the TCC Magazine 2014 Club Comic are @MSipher and @TrentTroop… The story will focus on Protoform X and Transmutate.
  
• Prologue is being written by Jesse Wittenrich (@RID_NightViper) and Pete Sinclair.
  
• Prologue will feature the very first fictional appearance of some Neo-Classic characters i.e. Beast Era as well as some OLD favorites.
  
• The timeline the story takes place in is one that has been teased thru other stories, but has never gotten a real good look at, until now.

The theme for Botcon 2014 has been announced at http://www.transformersclub.com

Pirates vs. Knights

Fellow Seibertron.com user ScottyP has spotted the Transformers Collectors' Club latest news, in which they confirmed this year's BotCon theme. Ready? It's.. Pirates vs Knights! Check out the information below, head here for more, and discuss your thoughts and opinions in the Energon Pub!

01/29/2014 - TCC Issue 55: BotCon 2014 Convention Set FIRST LOOK - PIRATES VS KNIGHTS!

TCC Issue #55!The BotCon 2014 reveals begin this issue! Pirates vs Knights is the theme, and a selection of amazing characters and molds are what fans will get at this years 30th anniversary celebration! Issue 55 will give fans there first look at Cannonball, Captain of the Star Seekers! Stay tuned to BotCon.com for more details!

In addition to the BotCon reveals, we kick off our “Thrilling 30” coverage with two great pieces, an article by Jim Sorenson and an interview with Flint Dille. We also have the Prologue to the 2014 Club story “Alone Together”. The story will focus on Rampage and Transmutate in a whole new way, in a VERY different universe. We think you will all enjoy this brand new take on these classic characters.

Issue 55 will be arriving next month and if you are not yet a member, don’t miss out any more. Go ahead and Join Today!

I can't wait for the combination of rage and excitement if these "Knights" are the Knights of Cybertron led by a MTMTE-inspired Dai Atlas.

Knights are NOT the natural enemy of the pirate, ninja are.

ScottyP wrote:I can't wait for the combination of rage and excitement if these "Knights" are the Knights of Cybertron led by a MTMTE-inspired Dai Atlas.

That would be interesting! what mold will Dai Atlas use? also who else was on his team of knights? can't remember..

That's outta left field. I'm very interested to see the toy reveals.

Bumblebee was "knighted" in Predacons Rising. There's still hope for BH decoes, right?

Right?

I don't care what theme is about lets see what toys look like impatiently waiting what knights look like pirates not so much

I'm sensing thiiiis moooold in the future...!



(because he has a hook for a hand. Like a pirate?)

I am now very interested. I cannot wait to see what figure are used.

Sounds pretty stupid to me. Almost as stupid as Shattered Glass. Maybe if the characters are G1 inspired I might buy the set. But alot of money has been saved by not going to Botcon.

knights could be exciting. if the designs are done half as nicely as that logo.

rpetras wrote:Knights are NOT the natural enemy of the pirate, ninja are.

Whatchoo talkin' 'bout, Willis? Didn't you ever make your Fisher Price Piratesvseige your Fisher Price Castle?

It's not so much of a theme as a guideline.









Also, Arrrrrgh!!!

Nemesis Maximo wrote:

rpetras wrote:Knights are NOT the natural enemy of the pirate, ninja are.

Whatchoo talkin' 'bout, Willis? Didn't you ever make your Fisher Price Piratesvseige your Fisher Price Castle?

I remember those Fisher Price sets! I didn't have them but it did get me thinking about Pirate vs. Knight battles.

I think they also made some Cowboy figures too. I would think the Cowboy is the natural enemy of the Ninja.