The Energon Pub

Well there's a lot to take in here...some I agree with others not so much.

Idw post-reboot definitely need to find a new approach, though I'm betting on them starting with siege and then going from there. I think they need to take a few more risks with the storytelling as they are the only media that can.

I think I've said often enough now that I want an anthology series every so often where idw let new writers and artists go wild doing stories not in continuity (or in continuity if they want) ando showcasing their talent.

Fenir did sw really affect you that much that you have to bring it into every thread. Listening to the fans is a double edged blade all in itself. While you want to please the maximum amount of people you can, not all the ideas fans have would be fantastic for the brand. Case in point, some of the ideas I want to see would upset some people I mean making Alpha Bravo head of the Autobot Air Divison is a risky move

ZeroWolf wrote:I mean making Alpha Bravo head of the Autobot Air Divison is a risky move

I don't know what you're talking about. I'd be ecstatic to see that.

Skritz wrote:If corporate mishandling of a franchise and misunderstanding what the majority of fans wanted is what pass for bigotry I wouldn't want to even imagine what word you'd use to call countries where people are actually murdered for their ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation.

Yeah yeah, I know, franchises can't stagnate and need to try new things. Unfortunately, franchises also walk the tight rope called 'not alienating people'. Its a very peculiar situation where you need to be able to keep things fresh, interesting and unique unique without needing to throw aside the old fans unless they know they can secure new ones. Which has, in fact, been an issue with Star Wars as the cast and crew expressed vitriol at people who expressed dissatisfaction with some directions the franchise has taken.

The best thing to do is mix the new and the "iconic" together which basically means do new things with old premises (and only the premise not necessarily the story)

Alpha Bravo is king. Or queen. Who am I to judge.


But as a general reply to points that have deserved one: consumers and fans do get a minor say, sure, and vote with your wallet is indeed an evil of the type of media reality we inhabit. On the other hand, we also don't have the entirety of those numbers (IDW probably has, but no publisher ever fully shares them with general audience - I should ask).

What I'd rather focus on is not the negative reaction that a lot of this work has been receiving from a very vocal, very narrow section of online feedback pools - but the positively exquisite and optimistic feelings of belonging that the IDW Transformers comics have elicited in SO MANY MORE people out there.

Venture on Tumblr, venture on Twitter, take a look at discussion groups outside of the major ones on Facebook, especially outside of the US and Anglosphere - fans are asking for these comics to make it into their own language or at least properly imported so that we can contribute to their sales instead of reading scans (let's not even go there). Or, maybe more impactful because it's personal: go to a fan meeting or convention. See how much IDW TFs are praised and have become the first port of call for so many new generations of fans.

We may not be able to judge how important these stories were until THE CANON of time establishes it in an entirely arbitrary way, but for now at least, I'm choosing to see how much good work these books have done, and what their legacy might be with the people who enjoyed them.

ZeroWolf wrote: Case in point, some of the ideas I want to see would upset some people I mean making Alpha Bravo head of the Autobot Air Divison is a risky move

That would be a really good idea!


As an ending or later stage for that character, climbing his way up the ranks but starting as a recruit who has anxiety around his fellow flyers due to a fear of being unable to catch up.

(Honestly the Autobot air force is something I would love to see expanded, the 5 main Aerialbots would still be the best of the best but an army can't just have those 5 and Jetfire)


I just mostly want more Rotf Breakaway (not to be confused with any Getaways this guy is a seperate character altogether) in media, he's like the Jazz of flyers and his face and body shape is unique.

Deadput wrote:

ZeroWolf wrote: Case in point, some of the ideas I want to see would upset some people I mean making Alpha Bravo head of the Autobot Air Divison is a risky move

That would be a really good idea!


As an ending or later stage for that character, climbing his way up the ranks but starting as a recruit who has anxiety around his fellow flyers due to a fear of being unable to catch up.

(Honestly the Autobot air force is something I would love to see expanded, the 5 main Aerialbots would still be the best of the best but an army can't just have those 5 and Jetfire)


I just mostly want more Rotf Breakaway (not to be confused with any Getaways this guy is a seperate character altogether) in media, he's like the Jazz of flyers and his face and body shape is unique.

I would have always put Jetfire in working with Wheeljack in a research and development division. You're right though, you could even do a top gun style story with the aerialbots and an Air Division in general.

@Va'al that's a good point, I don't travel in many circles that deal with positives of the IDWverse. I've seen the sales figures from recentish issues but I do have to ask, has all sales been on a downward spiral since Dreamwave first debuted their #1?

Va'al wrote:What I'd rather focus on is not the negative reaction that a lot of this work has been receiving from a very vocal, very narrow section of online feedback pools - but the positively exquisite and optimistic feelings of belonging that the IDW Transformers comics have elicited in SO MANY MORE people out there.

You can't have the positive without the negative.

You knew these reactions would occur when you wrote this piece, unless it's outright bigotry or abuse, then it has to be allowed.

ZeroWolf wrote:@Va'al that's a good point, I don't travel in many circles that deal with positives of the IDWverse. I've seen the sales figures from recentish issues but I do have to ask, has all sales been on a downward spiral since Dreamwave first debuted their #1?

I don't have all the numbers at hand, but there is a disappointing trend in the entire comics market - not helped by the likes of Marvel and DC doing their thing with variants, reboots, and marketing **** - which, however, also doesn't consider digital sales, trade paperback sales, secondary market, only the direct market.

That is something IDW have been noting, for the past two years at least, in their reports, too.


(inb4 anyone saying diversivfefe is killing blahblah - just, miss me with that silliness, and look at the sales numbers for Ms Marvel. Also, if your only way of calculating worth for a piece of media is how much money it makes, I feel very sorry for you.)

Burn wrote:

Va'al wrote:What I'd rather focus on is not the negative reaction that a lot of this work has been receiving from a very vocal, very narrow section of online feedback pools - but the positively exquisite and optimistic feelings of belonging that the IDW Transformers comics have elicited in SO MANY MORE people out there.

You can't have the positive without the negative.

You knew these reactions would occur when you wrote this piece, unless it's outright bigotry or abuse, then it has to be allowed.

There's is something to look at though at why negative gets more focus. Is part of human nature to try and please everyone? So we take abroad every criticism, regardless if it's just inane? Or is it just the nature of the Internet where negativity is magnified and appears louder. Or is it a mix of both? Is it simply people like to complain?

@Va'al thanks, I knew there was a downward trend in comics as a whole but I didn't know the scale of the problem. Though I also know comparing the likes of Detective Comics to the likes of Lost Light is a fools errand.

Va'al wrote:look at the sales numbers for Ms Marvel.

Good book. Easily the best female-centric book Marvel is putting out.

But then again, when you're up against Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, it's not hard to be good.

Burn wrote:

Va'al wrote:What I'd rather focus on is not the negative reaction that a lot of this work has been receiving from a very vocal, very narrow section of online feedback pools - but the positively exquisite and optimistic feelings of belonging that the IDW Transformers comics have elicited in SO MANY MORE people out there.

You can't have the positive without the negative.

You knew these reactions would occur when you wrote this piece, unless it's outright bigotry or abuse, then it has to be allowed.

Yes criticism which while it can be done in a very negative way and most certainly in those cases should be toned back to be less emotional and more logical is a very healthy thing for all media and media creators. (Yeah I know I should practice what I preach more often)

Nothing can "improve" if nobody ever pointed out the flaws of the art pieces.

ZeroWolf wrote:I would have always put Jetfire in working with Wheeljack in a research and development division. You're right though, you could even do a top gun style story with the aerialbots and an Air Division in general.

You know what? This reminds me of another thing I would like to see in general.

Autobot civilians (or just general non combatant guys) they wouldn't necessarily be pacifists, weak or neutrals but I think it would really flesh out the world if some Transformers didn't fight on the battlefield and either worked out behind the scenes and had regular jobs like constructibots or mail bots (Not to be confused with male bots), negotiators, or Energon snack makers-wait what?

Even Decepticons would have them presuming this continuity would retain the whole Decepticons originally having much more noble intentions thing, they would not necessarily be less violent or anything but they would be more likely to defect to the Autobots in general...depending on the individual of course.

This gives both sides much more to fight for, it would no longer be just a war over the planet or the universe but a war to protect and benefit their civilians. (This works more for the Autobots then Decepticons who have them for work and to be loyal to the cause since again war is political thing too)

Burn wrote:

Va'al wrote:What I'd rather focus on is not the negative reaction that a lot of this work has been receiving from a very vocal, very narrow section of online feedback pools - but the positively exquisite and optimistic feelings of belonging that the IDW Transformers comics have elicited in SO MANY MORE people out there.

You can't have the positive without the negative.

You knew these reactions would occur when you wrote this piece, unless it's outright bigotry or abuse, then it has to be allowed.

Oh of course! I meant that I personally prefer focusing on the positives. As you say, debate with disagreement is encouraged - bigotry and discrimination are not.

ZeroWolf wrote:There's is something to look at though at why negative gets more focus. Is part of human nature to try and please everyone? So we take abroad every criticism, regardless if it's just inane? Or is it just the nature of the Internet where negativity is magnified and appears louder. Or is it a mix of both? Is it simply people like to complain?

The latter most definitely, but there's a difference between complaining about something you don't like (or even that you like) and being a jerk. Again, negative reactions are most definitely allowed, but as soon as you start saying things that have been said in this thread, you're disqualifying yourself from the conversation.

Deadput wrote:Yes criticism which while it can be done in a very negative way and most certainly in those cases should be toned back to be less emotional and more logical is a very healthy thing for all media and media creators. (Yeah I know I should practice what I preach more often)

I disagree: criticism can indeed be emotional, and the distinction between logic/emotion is a false one. Media affects people. It's neither a product of a vacuum nor does it exist in one. Emotions are going to be elicited, encouraged, expected. But as I said above, and as many many of us say repeatedly (Burn especially, in the movie threads, for example), there's a difference in saying 'I don't like this because it made me feel poopy' (e.g. my reaction to the Megatron redemption in MTMTE, or Getaway's whole deal) versus saying 'I felt ****, so it's ****, so if you like it you're ****, and the authors are ****'.

Va'al wrote:I disagree: criticism can indeed be emotional, and the distinction between logic/emotion is a false one. Media affects people. It's neither a product of a vacuum nor does it exist in one. Emotions are going to be elicited, encouraged, expected. But as I said above, and as many many of us say repeatedly (Burn especially, in the movie threads, for example), there's a difference in saying 'I don't like this because it made me feel poopy' (e.g. my reaction to the Megatron redemption in MTMTE, or Getaway's whole deal) versus saying 'I felt ****, so it's ****, so if you like it you're ****, and the authors are ****'.

I agree, I guess I worded myself wrong.

I meant more so people should think before they post, not that you shouldn't factor in emotions or anything since being emotional about something is fine and all.

But yeah don't be a gear-hole about the criticism and leave proper feedback basically.

I'm not happy it's ending.

Mostly-speculation-tinged-with-hints-of-knowledge: this was the lazy way out. It seems to me the creative teams are ready to move on, and as a professional in financial technology I can respect that immensely. Working on the same project or software for years at a time can get plain boring. However, I don't see why there's a need to mark it as such a definitive "The End" - we know how that tends to go over the long haul anyways. Add to that some of the parallel timelines/realities explored in the actual books and it just seems haphazard to say "over, finished!"

I know the Hasbroverse didn't work out. Hasbro is as much to blame for that as IDW, if not moreso for rushing the implementation anywhere from 6 months to a year ahead of schedule. That said, you can undo it in a variety of ways: time travel, universe hopping, some new villain wipes out Hasbro properties, they were Cybertronian all along, they were Unicron heralds all along, hell have Ian Noble and Arcee's time displaced love child create a paradox that only Brainstorm's snark can fix through a metabomb, but you have to have Perceptor take him out to a nice dinner first. Call it Dinnerquest: The Series, and boom, now you can relaunch into Beast Wars and cash in on 90s nostalgia.

My point is not that Dinnerquest is possible, or even remotely a good idea, or even something I should have written down, but that it seems to me to be way more fun to leave it open, press stop, and go about whatever new thing as its own thing. I'm sure that will give a few unwelcome flashbacks to All Hail Megatron, but if the creative trust wanted to say goodbye and mean it they can still do so without closing their toy box, locking it, and throwing away the key.

tl;dr Brainstorm's briefcase made all the other continuities anyway so... it never ends!

Also Botanica is the harbinger of the end of continuities.

The simple fact that most of what you just said is feasible in this current narrative universe, and its 'continuity', just makes me want to see entirely new stuff.

I can see what your saying scotty, and to am extent I would like to have left to door open for more stories if writers wanted to tell them. However, I want to see new takes on characters, just like Animated did back in 07/08. That version of Sentinel Prime is now the first I think of whenever I hear the name. Reboots and out of continuity can help to create memorable versions of characters we're familiar with and give new life to characters we've never heard of.

Va'al wrote:The simple fact that most of what you just said is feasible in this current narrative universe, and its 'continuity', just makes me want to see entirely new stuff.

ZeroWolf wrote:I can see what your saying scotty, and to am extent I would like to have left to door open for more stories if writers wanted to tell them. However, I want to see new takes on characters, just like Animated did back in 07/08. That version of Sentinel Prime is now the first I think of whenever I hear the name. Reboots and out of continuity can help to create memorable versions of characters we're familiar with and give new life to characters we've never heard of.

We agree on this. New stories, characters (or interpretations thereof), and concepts are what gives Transformers its longevity. I just think there's room to say "we're ending our stories and have no current plans to return to this fictional universe" instead of the very definitive "it's over for good" message that's been conveyed so far.

ScottyP wrote: We agree on this. New stories, characters (or interpretations thereof), and concepts are what gives Transformers its longevity. I just think there's room to say "we're ending our stories and have no current plans to return to this fictional universe" instead of the very definitive "it's over for good" message that's been conveyed so far.

I mean when you stop writing for it at one point why would you go back to it later? Is there anything else worthwhile to add to the narrative?

I personally think that besides slight extensions to the endings being made for a less rushed conclusion I don't think there is anything left for this continuity, I genuinely can't think of any stories or conflicts that could come after Unicron.

Deadput wrote:

ScottyP wrote: We agree on this. New stories, characters (or interpretations thereof), and concepts are what gives Transformers its longevity. I just think there's room to say "we're ending our stories and have no current plans to return to this fictional universe" instead of the very definitive "it's over for good" message that's been conveyed so far.

I mean when you stop writing for it at one point why would you go back to it later? Is there anything else worthwhile to add to the narrative?

I personally think that besides slight extensions to the endings being made for a less rushed conclusion I don't think there is anything left for this continuity, I genuinely can't think of any stories or conflicts that could come after Unicron.

Unicron's destruction has created a black hole threatening to consume Cybertron and beyond. Now, Optimus Prime and his fellow Autobots, including Hot Shot, Landmine, Jetfire, Scattershot, and Vector Prime must find the four Cyber Planet Keys to save the galaxy and stop Megatron and his Decepticons from using them for evil.

Wait a minute...

Great article va'al, but the resulting thread is a bit scary....

Thank you Va'al for allowing this thread to exist. I too am glad the IDW Universe is ending. I don't think I can express an opinion as to why that already hasn't been stated, but I need to clarify. Normally I'm a fan of something going on for as long as possible. I am exited when I see old TV shows coming back (not as *reboots*, but actually picking up where they left off, no matter how much time has passed). I'm excited to see things like Action Comics #1000! (though DC has rebooted, they have retconned as well, for good or ill to try to bring everything together).

But when things go so far in a direction that they become unrecognizable, then, it's just not fun anymore. I look at the art of IDW, I read the dialogue, but I don't know most of these characters, (as in, they don't fit the personalities I have known them for prior to IDW) aside form the obvious- Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Starscream etc..

It's odd because I know most people want it to end for a variety of reasons (continuity is too messy etc...). But what we all want form the next series is probably something different.

But oddly enough, want I want is something more basic *back to formula*. I know I'll get a lot of people saying that this would be boring, and we've had too much of that...and that's fine, but I think IDW was basically one big long run of "being different", (at least phase 2 was) and we see how that turned out. Now of course, I know there are endless ways of taking a comics series in a new direction, but most of them, sadly, are not for me. I'd actually be ok if IDW decided to give this property a rest, or even try to sell it to another publisher, but I guess we are getting something new in 2019, though I did not see the discussion, so I have no idea what it is.

The last statement I have to make, is probably the most controversial, but here it is...After 13 years, and it coming to an end, I can with 100% confidence say- that I prefer Dreamwave to IDW. Yes I know DW only lasted a little over 2 years, and had no proper ending. But if you can look past the criminal that was the company head, the world building that was going on, I believe was a lot more compelling in 2 years, than what we got out of 13 with IDW. IDW became more of a *chore*. I supported it because I wanted it to be successful, and every time I was about to bow out, they would hook me back with an intriguing story element, but that would usually end in disappointment. I actually had fun reading those DW stories though, and looked forward to getting them each month. I lament DW abrupt end, and my only wish would be, -If Marvel can get a proper ending with "Regeneration One" (whether it was liked or not), I'd love for the loose threads of DW to be picked up and continued, with the knowledge that all contributors would not have to worry about not getting paid, or having their ideas impeded, or artwork *forced* to fit a certain styling.

It's really all I would ever want from Transformers comics. I know it's never going to happen, and I know I'm probably the only one, but I figure I just had to let it be known. I guess the main reason why I'm glad IDW is ending, is because now I feel no obligation to continue. I can finally cut ties, and that honestly feels good. And worst case scenario, if by chance what comes in 2019 is compelling enough for me to want to read it, I can begin purchasing the books digitally, or perhaps read the trades, both of which are more economical than purchasing the books on a monthly basis.

hinomars19 wrote:Great article va'al, but the resulting thread is a bit scary....

Nah its about normal when IDW is mentioned

If the posts/things said in this thread are enough to scare u or cause u to raise claims of bigotry and whatnot, then I hate to see how u handle just walking down the street in everyday real life.

Marvel Comics: 1984-1991
-80 Issues plus the additions of Marvel UK and Regeneration One

Sunbow Cartoon: 1984-1987
-98 Episodes plus TFtM

Japanese G1 (Headmasters through Zone): 1987-1989
-130 Episodes plus various TV Magazine entries


IDW Transformers: 2005-2018
-400+ issues and counting

This particular extension of storytelling and world building has been the longest lasting, best coordinated, and most fan-oriented Transformers canon we have ever had. It is second only to the G1 cartoon in level of impact (or perhaps Marvel UK for those who grew up with it).

There have been ups and downs. There have been points where even the hardest of the fanbase has questioned the stories or decisions made. But let's not pretend that any of those moments or points are any worse or any less noticeable than the myriad of faults in the other branches of story.

To anyone quibbling about politics, gender or otherwise...your arguments mostly sound utterly petty in the face of this run's scope and presence. What I hear from many of those making these kinds of arguments is that the material is just too much for your consideration and a bowl of cereal and a cartoon from 1984 would better suit your tastes. Have at it.

To focus merely on that ignores 10+ years of incredible world building, character development, and thoughtful movement of the franchise. From the early days where we get a look at how Transformers infiltrate a world, Spotlight issues directly building up characters, Cybertronian society and history, the implications of a post-war Cybertron, the rationale for Megatron's war, and imperfect Optimus...to ignore all that for a narrow complaint, justified or not, means to me one of two things:

1. You just chimed in to make a pre-determined argument about something mostly unrelated to the books.
2. You never actually read the books and just jumped in to make a point related to #1.

There's plenty to dislike over the run. There have been times when I've been confused, bored, or just put off with the direction. But that happens over a thirteen year run. Ultimately, the whole scope of the continuity is on a positive bend and there is far more favorable to say about it than not.

I want to be clear about something as I close. If you didn't like the run just because it didn't work for you. That's fine. I take no issue with that because personal preference matters in how we engage fiction.

If your dislike of the run stems from some narrow, isolated viewpoint related to "politics" as your coding of the issue; your opinion is scrub tier and in the game of discussing content, isn't even one of the pieces that made it to the board.

Outside of Fuman's treatment of Arcee most of the 'politics' stuff people have objected seems like they came around in the last quarter of the ongoing IDW universe when, at that point, the serie had already seen many high points, many low points and was starting to feel like old chewed and stretched caramel. At this point it seemed more like later writers trying to prove a point or struggling to find a new identity to a serie once it got more and more past the classical Autobot vs Decepticon struggle which formed the core identity of the franchise early years.

From what I have read of the later years was often very hit or miss, especially in pacing, with entire stretches of vacuous dialogues trying desperately to add more depth than needed to a franchise about toy robots. Not that you CAN'T add depth, just that some writers are better at it than others. The 'political mouthpiece' moments seemed less like some over arching evil new world order agenda and more a desperate writer trying to figure wtf he or she had to do to try to keep the franchise and ongoing comics 'relevant' and have something to do for them. It was a symptom of problems, not the source.

The franchise and the comics are fatigued.