The Energon Pub

Lol...it's all good, DB. If it's any consolation, I'm gigging for about 5 hours at a festival on Saturday...I'll be lucky if I remember my own name by the end of it...

FYI, Nova Prime's design was originally a new Optimus Prime Concept I did for Hasbro a few years back. if you notice on the original sketches on the back, he had a much different head.

How often have you done concept drawings for Hasbro? In terms of technicalities and details of drawing, are they tougher to do than comic pages?

DonFig wrote:FYI, Nova Prime's design was originally a new Optimus Prime Concept I did for Hasbro a few years back. if you notice on the original sketches on the back, he had a much different head.

It's proving to be pretty popular! I'm glad you went with it here. It's really neat looking.

Doctor Reggae wrote:How often have you done concept drawings for Hasbro? In terms of technicalities and details of drawing, are they tougher to do than comic pages?

I do it once in a while. I find it easier than comic pages actually. but not everything I do gets used or see the light of day, like Nova and Prim-lock (that wierd Grimlock concept I posted recently) for example

DonFig wrote:

Doctor Reggae wrote:How often have you done concept drawings for Hasbro? In terms of technicalities and details of drawing, are they tougher to do than comic pages?

I do it once in a while. I find it easier than comic pages actually. but not everything I do gets used or see the light of day, like Nova and Prim-lock (that wierd Grimlock concept I posted recently) for example

Well, I hope HASBRO reassesses your designs here. Nova Prime has proved to be quite a hit with many who have read it.

I'd like to know where in the world you get the inspiration from to create these guys. You can see Gundam Wing tendencies in Nova Prime, kind of mixed with a Sixshot/Tigerhawk design style.

Keep it up, and we'll just keep eating up the designs...and drooling, and wishing, and cursing HASBRO, and thanking HASBRO...

Thanks Don. You Josh and Simon (et al) keep up the fantastic work. I am quite pleased with the literary fiction/designs that you guys are creating for Transformers.

Cool...thanks for the answer, Don...and Prim-lock was wikkid bad, I say.

Now you'll have to bring Simon to these boards so we can pick his brain too.

I just re-read it and looked at the designs for the 'older' version. I see some Energon Rodimus in it, and some RID Prime designs as well, and he happens to be one of my favorites ever.

I find it hilarious that this thread focuses more on Nova than Optimus.

He has a cape made of guns, it was only common sense people would talk about his awesomeness.

See there were not any surprises about Optimus. We knew he's a good warrior, a reluctant leader, idealistic, and that he attempts to always do what is right.

Finding out that others are flawed in their efforts, simply makes him more reluctant, because I am sure he now faces those same fears, that he is flawed and that he may be leading his Autobots in a way that will be looked back upon in a certain way.

He is attempting to avoid making mistakes by learning from the mistakes of others, but he needs to know what those mistakes are first, thus, he needs to know more about the Prime's before him, especially Nova, who seemed to have more Decepticon qualities than Autobot...he's beginning to realize.

I believe that Prime is looking for self-reflection through past knowledge, and this is just the tip of the iceberg in this whole insecurities with himself, and the direction of the cause, the appearances of the cause to others, etc.

There now that I've talked about Optimus....

[chants]Nova Prime, Nova Prime, Nova Prime!!!![/chants]

I think Nova Prime is an interesting new character that people are identifying with. We are really finding out that Autobots and Autobot leadership, may not have been as pure as the current leadership.

From what we know of them, Sentinel and Nova each seem to be flawed in ways that make them very similar to Decepticons... Sentinel Prime is very no nonsense, strong, and violent...(Megatron-at the beginning, winning allies through shows of brute strength and violence) Nova Prime seems to be into expansion and the fact that Transformers themselves are better than many other races and thus, should rule them if that is the case, and expand to their areas...(Megatron--"Peace through tyranny.")

Perhaps Prime is seeing that Megatron is not so far off in the way he does things compared to former matrix guardians, and he feels quite worried about this. In fact, it seems comparted to WHAT WE KNOW of these last two Prime's, Megatron seems to line up with their ideals quite nicely...

It is quite interesting when you really start thinking about it.

The interesting thing about Optimus as well, in IDW's continuity, is that he's a lot more detached from his usually-portrayed, sometimes over-the-top pandering towards humans. Hell, he told someone at the start of Escalation (Prowl?) not to focus on the humans too much, because they might not be able to save their world. It came across as regrettable-but-oh-well...

I actually like that Prime's more focused on the war, has more of a kick-arse attitude, and seemingly less altruistic towards the humans. It's a fresh take on him, but also gives more weight towards him being the experienced, dedicated, but conflicted Commander In Chief that he should be.

The one thing I feel sorry towards good old OP, at least in his current G1 form, is how Sentinal and Nova Prime's look so much more powerful and badass that OP does. Wouldn't like to bet money on our Prime facing off against either of the others.

The design for Nova also seems to borrow a bit of inspiration from Powermaster Prime/ God Ginari, at least in terms of the trailer and base section. He does look excellent though.

Nobody has commented on poor old Wheelie's appearance in this issue. Seems even Prime ignores him assuming that the bubble saying is anybody reading me (or words to that affect) would seem to be attributed to him.

jdwals wrote:Nobody has commented on poor old Wheelie's appearance in this issue. Seems even Prime ignores him assuming that the bubble saying is anybody reading me (or words to that affect) would seem to be attributed to him.

I don't see how any of those messages could be from Wheelie, becasue they don't rhyme in an annoying way or whine about anything. Although I could live happily without ever seeing him again in a comic it was interesting that he was brought in that way. I wonder what he's doing...

Novacron wrote:I don't see how any of those messages could be from Wheelie, becasue they don't rhyme in an annoying way or whine about anything.

Well, given how Prime's speaking to an audience that includes Hound (whom we know is in a high level position from the Galvatron Spotlight, the reference to Sideswipe being an immediate giveaway), Ultra Magnus (who references Scorponok, and by extension the events of his Spotlight) and Springer (who mentions Kup, and thus references his Spotlight), who else is likely to be saying "Are you recieving me? Anyone?"

tigertracks 24 wrote:I think Nova Prime is an interesting new character that people are identifying with. We are really finding out that Autobots and Autobot leadership, may not have been as pure as the current leadership.

From what we know of them, Sentinel and Nova each seem to be flawed in ways that make them very similar to Decepticons... Sentinel Prime is very no nonsense, strong, and violent...(Megatron-at the beginning, winning allies through shows of brute strength and violence) Nova Prime seems to be into expansion and the fact that Transformers themselves are better than many other races and thus, should rule them if that is the case, and expand to their areas...(Megatron--"Peace through tyranny.")

Perhaps Prime is seeing that Megatron is not so far off in the way he does things compared to former matrix guardians, and he feels quite worried about this. In fact, it seems comparted to WHAT WE KNOW of these last two Prime's, Megatron seems to line up with their ideals quite nicely...

It is quite interesting when you really start thinking about it.

It really is, and I gotta thank you for pointing out all of this issue's good point, tiger. It's for all of those reasons and more that I enjoyed it, too.

I wish Omega didn't get his butt kicked. And I wish he didn't talk so *smart* like.

Nova was indeed cool, and those bonus sketches were a treat for sure.

Well, after double checking the Galvatron Spotlight I feel a bit better - Galvatron refers to "Prime", not "Optimus Prime" as I had remembered, dodging a big continuity error, and he does in fact mention the Matrix.

We still don't know that the Matrix is tied to an actual physical relic though, it may be that 'carriers' or Primes, are tied to this spiritual realm without passing this relic from one generation to another - explaining how Sentinel Prime became Sentinel Prime. In that case, Optimus and Nova would both be connected to the Matrix at the same time, which appears to be the case.

On the other-hand, if there is a physical "Matrix of Leadership", Sentinel may have gotten the title of Prime in order to maintain stability on Cybertron. He would be the first leader without a Matrix, potentially explaining the senate's rise to power and Sentinel's sort of two dimensional, brute force, approach to problems. In that case, Optimus would also be without quasi-mystical powers, making him 'just' an exceptional guy.

As far as the Matrix being in the Dead Universe, I doubt that it would have been wholly corrupted, if at all. Since the beginning I've imagined the Dead Universe to be a realm of maximum entropy - a void that has sucumbed to heat-death (of course, the problem with that theory is I don't see how that would qualify as a source of ultimate power, in fact, it would be quite the opposite).

If the Matrix resides in such a place, the Matrix would be the only source of energy in that universe. The explorers would starve or freeze to death for want of Energon. In past tales though, the Matrix has been able to grant new life and revive the near-dead.

If that continues to be the case, Nova Prime would have complete control over the only thing keeping his crew alive in the Dead Universe. And, after countless years of starvation, being held alive only by Nova's will, how alive would they truly be? Their sparks would be bound to their bodies not by regular functioning of vital systems, but by Nova's domination over them. I mean, at that rate, you could probably blow one of the crew's head off and he'd keep going.

A good read. The wheelie getting ignored was a nice touch, considering his 'love' in the fandom. Though because of the positioning of the speech bubbles, I had Springer saying can anyone hear me and wheelie reporting on Kup. After all, I got the feeling Kup Spotlight was a year or two before Infiltration. I have no basis in fact for that, and feel free to correct me if you can provide evidence.

As I expected from Stormbringer, the art was mindblowing. This art team and the team who did the Magnus Spotlight are 5*.

Not to take anything away from EJ or the others mind you, they do excellent work as well.

I would like to know what Omega was doing though. He clearly wasn't guarding Monstructor, as they were on a ship and followed Prime to Omega.

Nova Prime is an interesting person. Proof that some autobots are autobots in name only. Some questions answered, and more to reveal. Want to see the interaction between him and Galvatron. And I guess I finally have my proof that Prime was on the Ark 1.

I am dissapointed that my favourite combiner, Devestator, does not exist in this universe. Yet, anyhoo.

Jetfire and the Technobots seem to be CSI: Transformers.

Insurgent wrote:After all, I got the feeling Kup Spotlight was a year or two before Infiltration. I have no basis in fact for that, and feel free to correct me if you can provide evidence.

Springer mentions to Siren that the Wreckers were "at the other end of the universe dealing with the real big bad" (or words to that effect), placing it sometime after "Stormbringer", which was set during "Infiltration". Going by the Galvatron Spotlight, the events of this happen before that, given that Ratchet tells Sideswipe that Prime's off doing something. And since "Escalation" was pretty much continuous, it's probably a good bet that he and the others, despite their events taking place in the past (so to speak) are only getting around to talking to him now.

I think Omega was just chillin' out and that was his home away from home. I can't recall him being mentioned any other issue.

Oh they should do a Spotlight on him. Ohhh yeah!

Briggs wrote:I think Omega was just chillin' out and that was his home away from home. I can't recall him being mentioned any other issue.

Omega and Trypticon both had cameos in one of the flashback sequences in Stormbringer.

And since Don's looking in on this thread - You mentioned a change in the head design on Nova from your original design. Was the final comic design a deliberate nod to the head from Big Convoy/Universe Nemesis Prime?

Darth Bombshell wrote:

Insurgent wrote:After all, I got the feeling Kup Spotlight was a year or two before Infiltration. I have no basis in fact for that, and feel free to correct me if you can provide evidence.

Springer mentions to Siren that the Wreckers were "at the other end of the universe dealing with the real big bad" (or words to that effect), placing it sometime after "Stormbringer", which was set during "Infiltration". Going by the Galvatron Spotlight, the events of this happen before that, given that Ratchet tells Sideswipe that Prime's off doing something. And since "Escalation" was pretty much continuous, it's probably a good bet that he and the others, despite their events taking place in the past (so to speak) are only getting around to talking to him now.

Yes, but Springer went aboard the battleship whateveritwascalled, with the other Wreckers when they got pulled out of whatever that planet it was in Stormbringer. Unless by 'Big Bad' you mean Thunderwing. But Springer was present at that battle so he couldn't have been referring to that.

The way I figure it was Springer left the planet from Stormbringer to find Kup, then went back there and then Stormbringer happened. So maybe not as much as a year before Infiltration, but certainly before it.

Insurgent wrote:The way I figure it was Springer left the planet from Stormbringer to find Kup, then went back there and then Stormbringer happened. So maybe not as much as a year before Infiltration, but certainly before it.

The first issue of Stormbringer features a reference to a message sent from Prowl's detachment on Earth, a message Ironhide sent in issue 3 of Infiltration. In addition, the close of issue three of Stormbringer features a conversation between Razorclaw and Megatron, which is explicitly shown in Infiltration Issue 4. Finally, Optimus arrives on Earth at the end of Infiltration, having departed to there from Cybertron at the end of Stormbringer.

Therefore, Stormbringer happens at the same time as Infiltration, with the Kup Spotlight taking place right after it...or before it. Whichever.

I finally got to read the spotlight, I really liked it.

And I'm pretty happy about the fact that Jhiaxus got mentioned

Wow Nova Prime is a d*ck...

Nice to see Autobots thast are just as ruthless as the Decepticons.