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Most of the IDW creatives have posted memorializing threads, and the Wiki has been retweeting them. Here are a few.

Editor David Mariotte: https://twitter.com/IDW_David_M/status/ ... r9HWg&s=19

Former editor and writer John Barber:
https://twitter.com/TheJohnBarber/statu ... kSnhw&s=19

Marvel, Dreamwave, and IDW TF writer Simon Furman:
https://twitter.com/SimonFurman3/status ... 3zrjQ&s=19

Writer and real-life inspiration for Rung James Roberts:
https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/ ... gGEsg&s=19

Beast Wars artist and comics colorist Josh Burcham:
https://twitter.com/jcburcham/status/14 ... U3JfQ&s=19

Individual posts

Wreckers artist and co-writer Nick Roche: https://twitter.com/NickRoche/status/14 ... 4HFPg&s=19
https://twitter.com/NickRoche/status/14 ... qjSOw&s=19

Artist Casey Coller
https://twitter.com/CaseyWColler/status ... hZfSA&s=19
https://twitter.com/CaseyWColler/status ... d2o4A&s=19
https://twitter.com/CaseyWColler/status ... Oq51Q&s=19

Artist Andrew Griffith:
https://twitter.com/glovestudios/status ... ZFXUA&s=19

Artist Jack Lawrence:
https://twitter.com/JLawrence_Art/statu ... gotsA&s=19

Just a handful, it was important for me to attach some names and faces to this legacy and the news.

partholon wrote:Good.

maybe whomever gets the license will produce something actually worth buying again.

As long as they don't rehire some of the writers and artists working on it now.

But overall the IDW stuff was pretty good. Everyone has an opinion, but the fact that they were able to stay in business for 17 years with the title means they did some things right.

It's the "End of the Road!" for IDW Publishing when it comes to making Transformers comics, or at least it will be at the end of 2022. Two days ago The Hollywood Reporter first broke this news, which includes a statement from IDW as well as a tease for their plans to conclude their work on Transformers (and G.I. Joe) as the year goes on:

The Hollywood Reporter wrote:“At the end of 2022, IDW will bid a fond farewell to the publication of G.I. Joe and Transformers comic books and graphic novels,” the company said in a statement provided to THR. “We’re exceedingly proud of our stewardship of these titles — 17 years with the Robots in Disguise and 14 years with A Real American Hero — and thank the legion of fans for their unwavering support, month in and month out. We’re also eternally grateful to every one of the talented creators who helped bring these characters to four-color life through our comics.”

The Hollywood Reporter wrote:The monthly Transformers series will wrap up by mid-summer, while the Transformers: Beast Wars series will come to its conclusion this summer, too. That will lead to two new miniseries events. The company will also publish a variety of special one-shot projects spotlighting heroes and villains from across Transformers history.

Several IDW employees, former employees, editors, writers, artists and more have also commented on the news on social media platform Twitter. This includes current editor David Mariotte, former EIC and Transformers writer John Barber, former President and one of the major players in IDW's initial acquisition of the Transformers license Chris Ryall, writers Simon Furman, James Roberts and Erik Burnham, and artists including Casey Coller, Andrew Griffith, Josh Burcham, Nick Roche and Jack Lawrence among others.

Questions remain for several fans such as the ultimate fate of the long-running, slow-releasing IDW Collection hardcover series, which will only reach the beginnings of the Optimus Prime and Lost Light series with its upcoming March release of Phase 3, Volume 2. Whether these collections will ever by completed is yet to be seen. Who - if anyone, for a time - will release Transformers comics beginning in 2023 is also yet to be confirmed, though previous rumors point to Skybound Entertainment.

Whatever your opinion is on IDW's Transformers run throughout the years, it can't be denied that their 17 years creating Transformers stories has had a colossal impact on fans and the brand itself. A heartfelt "thank you" is the least we can offer for all of the creative minds that brought us this soon-to-conclude era of Transformers comics for the fun and entertainment provided over the years.

I hope this new company does a better Beast Wars conic than the travesty that's currently doing the rounds. Something with a consistent art style that doesn't look like it's been drawn by a 7 year old would be a start.

I quite like the new beast Wars comic actually if people were this hung up on art style then Animated/Cyberverse would never have become fan favourites. Though I should point out that only Animated achieved the double punch of show and toyline being favourites, as the Cyberverse toyline was geared to a different audience so of course, people attacked it.

Anyways, what I would expect from the new studio is maybe one ongoing/miniseries at first and then branch from there. Keep things simple. Also learned that these are the folks that have been cranking out lego ninjago comics.

I do wonder if they'll attempt yet another G1 re-imagining or will it be based on the new cartoon heading our way

ZeroWolf wrote:I quite like the new beast Wars comic actually if people were this hung up on art style then Animated/Cyberverse would never have become fan favourites. Though I should point out that only Animated achieved the double punch of show and toyline being favourites, as the Cyberverse toyline was geared to a different audience so of course, people attacked it.

Anyways, what I would expect from the new studio is maybe one ongoing/miniseries at first and then branch from there. Keep things simple. Also learned that these are the folks that have been cranking out lego ninjago comics.

I do wonder if they'll attempt yet another G1 re-imagining or will it be based on the new cartoon heading our way

There's Animated, and there's the awful BW comic.

Look at this awful picture:

-

It's basically worse than anything Animated had to offer. Also, I think Animated toys didn't sell that well, due to the aesthetic, if I recall? The toys were only out for a year, and many were unreleased?

primalxconvoy wrote:

ZeroWolf wrote:I quite like the new beast Wars comic actually if people were this hung up on art style then Animated/Cyberverse would never have become fan favourites. Though I should point out that only Animated achieved the double punch of show and toyline being favourites, as the Cyberverse toyline was geared to a different audience so of course, people attacked it.

Anyways, what I would expect from the new studio is maybe one ongoing/miniseries at first and then branch from there. Keep things simple. Also learned that these are the folks that have been cranking out lego ninjago comics.

I do wonder if they'll attempt yet another G1 re-imagining or will it be based on the new cartoon heading our way

There's Animated, and there's the awful BW comic.

Look at this awful picture:

-

PicsArt_1624570756268~01.png

It's basically worse than anything Animated had to offer. Also, I think Animated toys didn't sell that well, due to the aesthetic, if I recall? The toys were only out for a year, and many were unreleased?

It's not "bad," it's stylized. You don't have to like it, but it's an aesthetic choice. In general I really like Burcham's art style and character designs, I think they have a lot more personality than most Transformers art. It's not for everyone, but that's true of a lot of comic art, especially the best of it.

ZeroWolf wrote:I do wonder if they'll attempt yet another G1 re-imagining or will it be based on the new cartoon heading our way

I'd bet actual money it'll be G1 redone comic version 4.

Personally, I'd love to see just an entirely new thing. Unlike cartoons where budget has a huge influence on new designs, how many characters can be around, how many of them can transform and how often you don't have that restriction in a comic. Great opportunity for a team with the right imagination to just go nuts.

AcademyofDrX wrote:

primalxconvoy wrote:

ZeroWolf wrote:I quite like the new beast Wars comic actually if people were this hung up on art style then Animated/Cyberverse would never have become fan favourites. Though I should point out that only Animated achieved the double punch of show and toyline being favourites, as the Cyberverse toyline was geared to a different audience so of course, people attacked it.

Anyways, what I would expect from the new studio is maybe one ongoing/miniseries at first and then branch from there. Keep things simple. Also learned that these are the folks that have been cranking out lego ninjago comics.

I do wonder if they'll attempt yet another G1 re-imagining or will it be based on the new cartoon heading our way

There's Animated, and there's the awful BW comic.

Look at this awful picture:

-

PicsArt_1624570756268~01.png

It's basically worse than anything Animated had to offer. Also, I think Animated toys didn't sell that well, due to the aesthetic, if I recall? The toys were only out for a year, and many were unreleased?

It's not "bad," it's stylized. You don't have to like it, but it's an aesthetic choice. In general I really like Burcham's art style and character designs, I think they have a lot more personality than most Transformers art. It's not for everyone, but that's true of a lot of comic art, especially the best of it.

Of course it's "stylised", but then again, so too is a picture, drawn in mud, using a twig and we can still say it's "bad" because of it. It's also most certainly not anywhere near the "best" of any contemporary comic art either. It looks like sh*t, IMO and I will be most pleased if the new compsny avoids it like the plague that it truly is.

I hope Furman and Roche (and Tom Scioli) have some input where ever Transformers ends up next.

primalxconvoy wrote:

AcademyofDrX wrote:

primalxconvoy wrote:

ZeroWolf wrote:I quite like the new beast Wars comic actually if people were this hung up on art style then Animated/Cyberverse would never have become fan favourites. Though I should point out that only Animated achieved the double punch of show and toyline being favourites, as the Cyberverse toyline was geared to a different audience so of course, people attacked it.

Anyways, what I would expect from the new studio is maybe one ongoing/miniseries at first and then branch from there. Keep things simple. Also learned that these are the folks that have been cranking out lego ninjago comics.

I do wonder if they'll attempt yet another G1 re-imagining or will it be based on the new cartoon heading our way

There's Animated, and there's the awful BW comic.

Look at this awful picture:

-

PicsArt_1624570756268~01.png

It's basically worse than anything Animated had to offer. Also, I think Animated toys didn't sell that well, due to the aesthetic, if I recall? The toys were only out for a year, and many were unreleased?

It's not "bad," it's stylized. You don't have to like it, but it's an aesthetic choice. In general I really like Burcham's art style and character designs, I think they have a lot more personality than most Transformers art. It's not for everyone, but that's true of a lot of comic art, especially the best of it.

Of course it's "stylised", but then again, so too is a picture, drawn in mud, using a twig and we can still say it's "bad" because of it. It's also most certainly not anywhere near the "best" of any contemporary comic art either. It looks like sh*t, IMO and I will be most pleased if the new compsny avoids it like the plague that it truly is.

You're completely missing my point, but I think we'll have to agree to disagree. Odds are, if you think a comic book from a major publisher looks like it was drawn by a seven year old, that's because you read comics like a seven year old.

AcademyofDrX wrote:

primalxconvoy wrote:

AcademyofDrX wrote:

primalxconvoy wrote:

ZeroWolf wrote:I quite like the new beast Wars comic actually if people were this hung up on art style then Animated/Cyberverse would never have become fan favourites. Though I should point out that only Animated achieved the double punch of show and toyline being favourites, as the Cyberverse toyline was geared to a different audience so of course, people attacked it.

Anyways, what I would expect from the new studio is maybe one ongoing/miniseries at first and then branch from there. Keep things simple. Also learned that these are the folks that have been cranking out lego ninjago comics.

I do wonder if they'll attempt yet another G1 re-imagining or will it be based on the new cartoon heading our way

There's Animated, and there's the awful BW comic.

Look at this awful picture:

-

PicsArt_1624570756268~01.png

It's basically worse than anything Animated had to offer. Also, I think Animated toys didn't sell that well, due to the aesthetic, if I recall? The toys were only out for a year, and many were unreleased?

It's not "bad," it's stylized. You don't have to like it, but it's an aesthetic choice. In general I really like Burcham's art style and character designs, I think they have a lot more personality than most Transformers art. It's not for everyone, but that's true of a lot of comic art, especially the best of it.

Of course it's "stylised", but then again, so too is a picture, drawn in mud, using a twig and we can still say it's "bad" because of it. It's also most certainly not anywhere near the "best" of any contemporary comic art either. It looks like sh*t, IMO and I will be most pleased if the new compsny avoids it like the plague that it truly is.

You're completely missing my point, but I think we'll have to agree to disagree. Odds are, if you think a comic book from a major publisher looks like it was drawn by a seven year old, that's because you read comics like a seven year old.

No.

The odds are, everyone has their own valid opinions as to what they like and dislike. I understood perfectly what you wrote and simply disagree with it. I read and interpret both written and semiotic language and am able to formulate when I think something looks like complete and utter dogsh*t, cheers. If that contradicts your view of things, that's your own problem. I couldn't give a fig.

Western comics have been in a downward spiral ever since the woke cancer started seeping through. IDW was no exception.

My hope is for the Transformers comics to become a manga instead. A manga written and drawn by Japanese artists that have only good stories in mind without any message.

-Kanrabat- wrote:Western comics have been in a downward spiral ever since the woke cancer started seeping through. IDW was no exception.

AcademyofDrX wrote:

Is that all you have to say?

Did you know that the single manga Demon Slayer sold more than the ENTIRE WESTERN COMICS INDUSTRY last year?

There's a reason for that.
Get out of your bubble to find out.

-Kanrabat- wrote:

AcademyofDrX wrote:

Is that all you have to say?

Did you know that the single manga Demon Slayer sold more than the ENTIRE WESTERN COMICS INDUSTRY last year?

There's a reason for that.
Get out of your bubble to find out.

Yes, that's all I have to say to Gaters.

AcademyofDrX wrote:Yes, that's all I have to say to Gaters.

This is you:



But eh, whatever makes you happy. (づ¬◞ ¬)づ

-Kanrabat- wrote:Western comics have been in a downward spiral ever since the woke cancer started seeping through. IDW was no exception.

My hope is for the Transformers comics to become a manga instead. A manga written and drawn by Japanese artists that have only good stories in mind without any message.

Sorry to pee on your parade, onesan, but "woke" (as you called it) culture has already entered Japan:

- https://soranews24.com/2021/01/05/high- ... iner-line/

- https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021 ... tions.html

- https://soranews24.com/2019/11/26/manga ... ntroversy/

- https://soranews24.com/2020/02/11/media ... reviewers/

- https://soranews24.com/2020/02/19/love- ... -in-japan/

- https://nationalpost.com/pmn/entertainm ... -americans

- https://soranews24.com/2020/08/24/artis ... c-comment/

- https://soranews24.com/2020/12/09/petit ... -the-bath/

- https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021 ... proar.html

- https://soranews24.com/2021/11/19/anime ... aboration/

- https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2017 ... icism.html

- https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/ ... ia-protest

- https://theworldnews.net/jp-news/the-bi ... -backfired

Interesting, but I don't think it's mainstream......yet.
You also won't see these wacky ideas suddenly infect established franchises like for example, Goku in Dragon Ball turning gay for no reasons, or Android 18 revealing to be "trans all along" because why not.

No matter what, there is one universal rule: Money talk.

The decline of American comics is real. Along with Hollywood movies. The woke cancer contributed a lot. No one want to be lectured to when reading fantasy. There's also a need of originality that the West can no longer provide with all their sequels and reboots.

There's also YEARS in development involved and what sold 4 years ago no longer sell today. So everything is in some hard decline and we see flops after flops. It will take some years for the West to produce anything good again. In the meantime, Japan with it's constant renewal and original ideas (despite the onslaught of Isekai fast-food) and pure entertainment value rake in the dough.

-Kanrabat- wrote:Interesting, but I don't think it's mainstream......yet.
You also won't see these wacky ideas suddenly infect established franchises like for example, Goku in Dragon Ball turning gay for no reasons, or Android 18 revealing to be "trans all along" because why not.

No matter what, there is one universal rule: Money talk.

The decline of American comics is real. Along with Hollywood movies. The woke cancer contributed a lot. No one want to be lectured to when reading fantasy. There's also a need of originality that the West can no longer provide with all their sequels and reboots.

There's also YEARS in development involved and what sold 4 years ago no longer sell today. So everything is in some hard decline and we see flops after flops. It will take some years for the West to produce anything good again. In the meantime, Japan with it's constant renewal and original ideas (despite the onslaught of Isekai fast-food) and pure entertainment value rake in the dough.

Er, I've just shown you evidence that Japan, and its associated mass-media, is dealing with the same social issues that America and other countries are, although perhaps in different ways. Mainstream cartoons are changing how their main characters are depicted in the bath, governmental tourist and police campaigns are being removed due to complaints about the sexist anime girls used in them, more LGBT+ rights are being given to members of the public, debate on how women are being depicted in anime and manga and much more. I've seen evidence of similar things firsthand via conversations with average Japanese people too.

Many of the "mainstream" things you think are such in Japan, be they specific media or matters of culture might not be as you think...

EDIT: - If you want to see a thumbnail/snapshot into (mainstream?) Japanese cultural views, check out this YouTuber; He often interviews people on the streets of Tokyo and/or checks out what Japanese people are discussing on social media about anime, manga and other aspects of Japanese culture:

- https://youtu.be/jUal46yyI8Y

- https://youtu.be/PlRINntYPmo

- https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KsoN70rzV5o&t=1s

- https://youtu.be/jDwtfXUGiZ4

- https://youtu.be/MhOiRZVEYCo

- https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mEp3tN6ctPo

- https://youtu.be/wvwj2mho8_w

- https://youtu.be/gzIPhntXEuA

- https://youtu.be/VlAxSTenSLs

-Kanrabat- wrote:

AcademyofDrX wrote:Yes, that's all I have to say to Gaters.

This is you:



But eh, whatever makes you happy. (づ¬◞ ¬)づ

What would make me happy is never having to read your cultural warrior drivel in the first place, but they went and put you on staff. So I have to make do.

I think, licensed IP (80's IP's in particular) have a stigma attached to them. They never seem to achieve the sales of original IP's, such as in Manga. Maybe because the license holder wields a tight, creative leash around them. Meaning they can't deviate too far off-script. That coincides with That part of the fanbase. That thinks everything generated by that IP should only appeal directly to their nostalgic tastes. Which also stifles any and all creativity.

Transformers gained a second life via Beast Wars. Which was a radical departure from the original source material. It gained wealth and a wider audience with Bayformers. Which was a less radical. But still, a different enough departure from tradition. That helps with the comics. The Furman run of IDWverse proved that.
Then from All Hail Megatron onwards, G1 crept back in. Then later books forswore the "alien" element altogether and we ended up with talking heads in TF skins and Robo-Sex.

Would Hasbro allow a new departure on that scale? I doubt it. I optimistically hope for it though.

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:I think, licensed IP (80's IP's in particular) have a stigma attached to them. They never seem to achieve the sales of original IP's, such as in Manga. Maybe because the license holder wields a tight, creative leash around them. Meaning they can't deviate too far off-script. That coincides with That part of the fanbase. That thinks everything generated by that IP should only appeal directly to their nostalgic tastes. Which also stifles any and all creativity.

Transformers gained a second life via Beast Wars. Which was a radical departure from the original source material. It gained wealth and a wider audience with Bayformers. Which was a less radical. But still, a different enough departure from tradition. That helps with the comics. The Furman run of IDWverse proved that.

Would Hasbro allow a new departure on that scale? I doubt it. I optimistically hope for it though.

Arguably, in the comics, the Armada Trilogy, in the DW comics at least, was an area that allowed some of the constraints of G1 too be removed, as it was a parallel universe, running in a parallel comic series to the G1 comic at the time.

From what I read in the part work, DW did try some interest and different things with their series. But there currently isn't a Unicron Trilogy parallel right now. So while I'd love a -Ations approach of use-everything-in-the-toybox-in-a-new-way IE Thunderwing as Transformers Hulk. I think the Evergreen thing is too lucrative now for Hasbro to consider putting it aside.