This page contains affiliate links. We may earn commissions when readers interact with or purchase items through these links. For more information, see our affiliate disclosures here.

Richard Branson Likeness Removed from Hachette TF Collections

Discuss anything about the Transformers cartoons and comics! You can discuss anything from G1 to Cybertron as well as the comics from Marvel, Dreamwave, IDW and more!

Richard Branson Likeness Removed from Hachette TF Collections

Postby D-Maximal_Primal » Wed Nov 28, 2018 7:42 pm

Motto: "There are no impossibilities in the multiverse, just small minds unable to comprehend the possibilities"
Weapon: Armor Axe
Ready for some strange news from the world of comics? Well, brace yourself, cause we got an interesting one here!

This story begins in the Marvel UK Generation 1 comic, specifically Issue #160 of 332. In this issue, Richard Branson and his likeness show up in the comic as an entrepreneur who was working on removing contamination from the Thames River, specifically Transformer bodies. The art was originally only going to be in the likeness of Branson, but artist Lee Sullivan had some fun drawing a near perfect likeness to Branson for the issue. As a result, Marvel decided to get his approval to name the character in the comic Richard Branson, to which he granted approval.

However, as writer Simon Furman explains in his Twitter post, they had no paperwork proving that the likeness was approved, so they had to recently change the likeness and name of the character, which means Lee Sullivan redrew the panels featuring Branson in the Hachette collection. So while this means that Richard Branson has been replaced by a "Mister Johnson", it does provide the cool news that Lee Sullivan has drawn some recent Transformers artwork!

Check out the quote form Furman below, along with a shot of the panel then and now, and let us know what you think of this wonky tale below!

Note: We thank TFWiki for the images of the original artwork to go with Wilson Jim on Twitter who provided the images of the new comic. Links are included in the photos below.

In the absence of actual paperwork from those dim distant days proving we had Branson's permission to use his likeness, it was decided to err on the side of caution. I did actually try and contact Branson. But in the end we got Lee Sullivan to make art changes... to his own art.


Image

Image

Image

Image
I'm looking for parts, Help Me Out Please!
Wanna talk? Or Rollerblade? Click below and head on over to the D-Max Den!!Image
User avatar
D-Maximal_Primal
Site Moderator
Posts: 24512
News Credits: 1641
Joined: Thu Feb 19, 2015 5:53 pm
Location: Western Pennsylvania
Buy from D-Maximal_Primal on eBay
Alt Mode: Transmetal Spinosaurus
Strength: 5
Intelligence: 9
Speed: 7
Endurance: 7
Rank: 8
Courage: 10
Firepower: 8
Skill: 8

Re: Richard Branson Likeness Removed from Hachette TF Collections

Postby Bumblevivisector » Wed Nov 28, 2018 8:08 pm

I wonder if "Mr. Johnson" is reference to LBJ, because the altered art ended up looking like another U.S. ex-president, Jimmy Carter! Now I can't shake this feeling that Centurion's final fate was to be used as raw materials for low-income housing...and we still don't know what happened to Professor Morris when he somehow gained sentience, do we?

I also realize how lucky we were that #160 got reprinted in IDW's UK Classics before whatever complications arose to prevent publication of the Space Pirates - Time Wars trade.
User avatar
Bumblevivisector
Godmaster
Posts: 1976
News Credits: 1
Joined: Sun Feb 07, 2010 12:29 am
Strength: 7
Intelligence: 8
Speed: 6
Endurance: 5
Rank: 5
Courage: 7
Firepower: 9
Skill: 6

Re: Richard Branson Likeness Removed from Hachette TF Collections

Postby -Kanrabat- » Wed Nov 28, 2018 10:09 pm

Motto: "Love it? GET IT!
It's that simple."
Weapon: Vibro-Axe
THANK YOU ARTICLE 13!


Image
Come see my latest creation, a Galvatron Combiner using 4 SS86 Sweeps as limbs


Image

Also, an update to my old ALL HELICOPER VICTORION!


.
User avatar
-Kanrabat-
God Of Transformers
Posts: 17767
News Credits: 95
Joined: Sun Dec 12, 2010 3:19 pm
Location: Canada, province of Québec
Watch -Kanrabat- on YouTube
Buy from -Kanrabat- on eBay
Strength: N/A
Intelligence: N/A
Speed: N/A
Endurance: N/A
Rank: Infinity
Courage: N/A
Firepower: N/A
Skill: N/A

Re: Richard Branson Likeness Removed from Hachette TF Collections

Postby Samsonator » Thu Nov 29, 2018 3:20 am

Motto: ""Death is the only way out.""
Weapon: Sword of Fury
Richard Branson got the Henry Cavill treatment... looks just as unnatural.
Samsonator: I swear I'm still here! Yes, I know it's been fourteen years...
Toy reviews on YouTube? Don't mind if I do!
I build model kits on Twitch, too!
User avatar
Samsonator
Brainmaster
Posts: 1361
News Credits: 3
Joined: Wed Aug 20, 2003 4:45 pm
Location: Surrey, BC, Canada
Watch Samsonator on YouTube
Alt Mode: Tank
Strength: 5
Intelligence: 7
Speed: 4
Endurance: 6
Rank: 10
Courage: 6
Firepower: 10
Skill: 7

Re: Richard Branson Likeness Removed from Hachette TF Collections

Postby snavej » Thu Nov 29, 2018 10:19 am

Motto: "Follow your instincts and your common sense."
That's a fine Johnson you have there, sir! ;)
snavej
Gestalt
Posts: 2874
Joined: Wed Jul 13, 2005 11:24 am
Location: United Kingdom
Alt Mode: Small starship - able to traverse entire universe.
Strength: 8
Intelligence: 9
Speed: 3
Endurance: 3
Rank: 2
Courage: 9
Skill: 8

Re: Richard Branson Likeness Removed from Hachette TF Collections

Postby blackeyedprime » Thu Nov 29, 2018 12:48 pm

Motto: "Me Grimlock, you slag."
Weapon: Particle Beam Cannon
Can't be any signal on dinobot Island...erm..Virgin Island to give him a call and get his approval.
blackeyedprime
City Commander
Posts: 3415
News Credits: 18
Joined: Thu Jun 29, 2017 5:14 am
Alt Mode: a spoon
Strength: 3
Intelligence: 6
Speed: 5
Endurance: 8
Courage: 9
Firepower: 2
Skill: 6

Re: Richard Branson Likeness Removed from Hachette TF Collections

Postby no-one » Thu Nov 29, 2018 2:06 pm

snavej wrote:That's a fine Johnson you have there, sir! ;)

no-one
Matrix Keeper
Posts: 9520
News Credits: 131
Joined: Tue Oct 16, 2012 2:38 pm

Re: Richard Branson Likeness Removed from Hachette TF Collections

Postby skyshadowprimus » Mon Dec 10, 2018 7:07 am

Samsonator wrote:Richard Branson got the Henry Cavill treatment... looks just as unnatural.


He probably got it done on the NHS, they may have had funding issues after being sued by a greedy millionaire ;-)
skyshadowprimus
Fuzor
Posts: 272
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 4:29 am


Return to Transformers Cartoons and Comics Forum

Registered users: Bing [Bot], Google [Bot], Google Adsense [Bot], MSN [Bot]

Transformers and More @ The Seibertron Store

Visit our store on eBay
These are affiliate links. We may earn commissions when you purchase items or services through these links.
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "JUNKHEAP Transformers Studio Series 86-14 Animated Movie Voyager 2022 New"
JUNKHEAP Transform ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "CLIFFJUMPER Transformers Studio Series Gamer Edition +05 Deluxe WFC 2023 New"
CLIFFJUMPER Transf ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "EXO-SUIT SPIKE WITWICKY Transformers Studio Series 86 Core Class 2022 230131A"
EXO-SUIT SPIKE WIT ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "SHOCKWAVE Transformers Studio Series Core Class Bumblebee Hasbro 2022 New"
SHOCKWAVE Transfor ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "WHEELIE Transformers Studio Series 86 Core Class Hasbro 2022 New"
WHEELIE Transforme ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "KUP Transformers Buzzworthy Bumblebee Studio Series 86-02 Hasbro 2022 New"
KUP Transformers B ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "BUMBLEBEE Transformers Studio Series 100 Deluxe ROTB Rise Beasts Hasbro 2023 New"
BUMBLEBEE Transfor ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "BARRICADE Transformers Studio Series Gamer Edition +02 Deluxe WFC 2023 New"
BARRICADE Transfor ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "NOVAKANE Transformers Studio Series Core Class Terrorcon Hasbro 2023 New"
NEW!
NOVAKANE Transform ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "BUMBLEBEE Transformers Studio Series Core Class Dark of the Moon DOTM 2023 New"
BUMBLEBEE Transfor ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "BUMBLEBEE Transformers Studio Series Gamer Edition +01 Deluxe WFC 2023 New"
BUMBLEBEE Transfor ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "N.E.S.T. BONECRUSHER Transformers Studio Series 95 Buzzworthy Bumblebee Voyager"
N.E.S.T. BONECRUSH ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "JOLT Transformers Studio Series 75 Deluxe ROTF Hasbro 2021 New"
JOLT Transformers ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "SIDEWAYS Transformers Studio Series 88 Movie ROTF Deluxe Hasbro 2022 New"
SIDEWAYS Transform ...
* Price and quantities subject to change. Shipping costs, taxes and other fees not included in cost shown. Refer to listing for current price and availability.
Find the items above and thousands more at the Seibertron Store on eBay
Transformers Podcast: Twincast / Podcast #346 - Gas Station Jamboree
Twincast / Podcast #346:
"Gas Station Jamboree"
MP3 · iTunes · RSS · View · Discuss · Ask
Posted: Saturday, March 23rd, 2024

Featured Products on Amazon.com

These are affiliate links. We may earn commissions when you purchase items or services through these links.
Buy "Transformers Attacker 15 Bania Action Figure" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers: Generations Power of The Primes Solus Prime Prime Master" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Masterpiece Movie Series Barricade MPM-5" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Deluxe 20 Mercenary Action Figure" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers: Generations Power of The Primes Legends Class Autobot Outback" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers: Bumblebee Movie Toys, Energon Igniters Nitro Bumblebee Action Figure - Included Core Powers Driving Action - Toys for Kids 6 and Up, 7-inch" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers: Generations Power of The Primes Leader Evolution Rodimus Prime" on AMAZON
Buy "Cyberverse Warrior Class Windblade" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Generations Titans Return Titan Master Nightbeat" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Generations Titans Return Titan Master Autobot Stylor and Chromedome" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Generations Titans Return Titan Master Monxo and Wolfwire" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers: Generations Chaos on Velocitron 5-Figure Pack" on AMAZON