The Energon Pub

Hi all, I remember collecting the UK G1 comics and absolutely hating 2 things about them - one being the lack of colours in the later UK strips and the other being Andy Wildman's art. I absolutely hated it! I thought it was messy and 'organic'. Looking back at it more recently, I now love it. The detail in some of his panels was amazing. His style was very distinctive and you can definately pick his work out with ease. I remember when Starscream came back as a 'zombie', he even wrote words onto the various wires protuding from Starscream's ruined face. As for the black and white strips, I have also learned to love them too, they were expertly inked and added a brooding quality not seen in the colour strips.

This all got me to thinking whether anyone else has revised Transformers over the years and have grown to really appreciate something that they were indifferent about at the time, or even fallen out of love with anything? Let's hear your stories

i stopped hating beast machines with a burning passion. its actually not bad

still dont like the A/E/C series'

Powermaster Optimus Prime. He was the first TF toy I ever got, and back them, I was thinking "WTF am I gonna do with this brick?"

Now, due to him being the Prime in the US Marvel comics, my favorite series, he's cool. He just stands there "protecting" my comics on the shelf (i.e. bookend ) but it's appropriate.

Powermaster Prime. WIN.

I used to own God Ginrai with the Godbomber armor, but it was so damn ugly I had to sell it.

Beast Wars. At first I happened to spot it on TV and thought it blew. I didn't recognise any characters and was very G1 minded (this was years before I got back into TF's). Later I sat down and started watching the episodes. Great show indeed.

I love Transformers!

That said, when I was a nipper, scratch that, a teen (yes, I know, this may be 'frowned upon' (as Ross Geller might say) by some)), I had a few mixed era 'bots 'n 'cons (all gone now) but still own a full run, acid free bagged, set of the UK Transformers comic and, of course, a full run of the US Comic which I intent to take to my grave!

Lee Sullivan, Geoff Senior and Andy Wildman's art was totally awesome, of whom I have met a number of times at UK comic shops and conventions, with (almost) all their respective issues signed (and quite a few sketches too (Wolverine vs Robocop by Lee... anyone, anyone (lol)))

I got older, sold all my old G1 figures (car boot sales and the rest donated to charity shops), along came girlfriends, music, alcohol, girlfriends, parties, accomodation, DJing, LIFE!

These days I find myself with a renewed interest in all things Transformers, juggling my disposable income between the trouble 'n strife, vinyl records, american comic books/art/hardcovers and Transformers figures again!

Cut to the chase, I have gained a somewhat (un)reasonable dislike to chunky, brick-like, mis-shaped, gawd damn awful G1 figures, the less said about G2, and what the heck goes on with Beast Whatever?

BUT... when I see the work 3rd party companies are putting in to update those old school Transformers, with a sprinkle of nostalgia, I have an all new love for bunch of G1 figures, in particular DEVASTATOR!
I have ordered the 3rd party Devy upgarde kit by CHMS/X-Transbots via Ebay (to the UK, only £25.80 from trainee007 with free shipping) and shopping round for a G1 Devy (probably the cheap KO around £16..?).

I have my eye on RID Optimus and Magnus now as their combined 'Omega Prime' form looks great!

Maybe I have softened in my old age or being older, I have discovered that most Transformers, no matter what era are not all bad?

I'm off to build my Maketoys Battle Tanker with RTS G2 Laser Prime now...!!!

Till all are one!

I use to buy basics,but now i don't anymore.

Tidalwavex wrote:I use to buy basics,but now i don't anymore.

This is the shortest post you must have ever made and yet it so perfectly sums up all the other stuff you posted.

robotmel wrote:Lee Sullivan, Geoff Senior and Andy Wildman's art was totally awesome, of whom I have met a number of times at UK comic shops and conventions, with (almost) all their respective issues signed (and quite a few sketches too (Wolverine vs Robocop by Lee... anyone, anyone (lol)))

I'm planning to dig out some old UK issues that hopefully Simon Furman will sign at London Super Comic Con in february

breastforce wrote:

robotmel wrote:Lee Sullivan, Geoff Senior and Andy Wildman's art was totally awesome, of whom I have met a number of times at UK comic shops and conventions, with (almost) all their respective issues signed (and quite a few sketches too (Wolverine vs Robocop by Lee... anyone, anyone (lol)))

I'm planning to dig out some old UK issues that hopefully Simon Furman will sign at London Super Comic Con in february

I have a flyer for that show which must be a little old as it doesn't mention Simon Furman!
I will check their website for the latest new guests announced!

I wish the folk behind any UK convention could schedule the start date around the start of the month rather than near the end as I am reasonably sure most folk in the UK on a monthly wage get it at the END of the month? This falls 2 days before I get paid and as much as I would love to go, I am not gonna have the cash to make it to London, let alone spend my hard earned on the odd missing back issue or new Transformers figures?

I used to be such a fanboy in the 90's, having two awesome comic shops in my town, both of which I used to work at, Outer Limits & Comics Unlimited.

I have a habit of asking writers to "do me a sketch please" which usually gains many an 'rolling eyeball' and "I'm a writer NOT an artist, tut", where I pull out a sketch pad and say "I know, THAT is why I'm asking...!"
I have quite a few sketches from non-artists which are soooo cool in an awesome-no-one-else-thought-of-this sort of way!!! Alan Moore (Maxwell The Magic Cat), Neil Gaiman (Wolverine), Andy diggle (a cat(although he did used to draw))!

I wish Collectormania in Milton keynes has a couple of tables for comic writers & artists...?

I've changed my mind about TF's all together. I'm just bored with them right now. I've collected almost everything i want and the only people putting anything out of much interest is 3rd party products and even that's a bit weak right now. Just upgrade stuff. The Devastator figs are too pricey for me so i've passed on them all together.

There isn't any interesting official releases comeing out for me either. Sure BlackShadow and Junkheap are cool but there never going to be seen in any stores in my town anyways.
I need more hype to keep my interest peeked these days and it doesn't seem like much is on the radar for official stuff.

I'm not interested in any of the Prime or Movie stuff.

I reckon i'll just save my cash for Hexitron. If a buy only one TF this year....then i reckon he'll be the one i buy.

monstergrotusque wrote:There isn't any interesting official releases comeing out for me either.

Agree with this - I want all the following if Hasbro is listening

Deluxe

Trailbreaker
Hoist
Skids - maybe a retool of ironhide/ratchet?
Blitzwing - I NEED this guy, he was so cool

ALL of the minibots as scout class as well
ALL the gestalts as scout class but with the 'classics' aesthetic, not just repurposed older figures/combiners