The Energon Pub

[hinomars19]

I've seen at least one person here argue it's good to have fresh imaginings of characters.

IDW Rodimus is a fresh interpretation of the character. This is a generic black transformer with a name drop.

Thankfully, I'm at the point where I can laugh this stuff off...

So long as black bot with Leah mask face doesn't poison the character in future generations toylines and cartoons.

[Rodimus Knight]

F U Micheal Bay!!

[william-james88]

Thankfully, I'm at the point where I can laugh this stuff off...

So long as black bot with Leah mask face doesn't poison the character in future generations toylines and cartoons.

Is there any precedent to this happening?

Actualy, I thought of one. The movies did have an impact on the cartoon shows and games. Before the films, Peter Cullen was not the go to voice actor for Optimus. He didnt even know of the fan worship. Optimus was played by a variety of voice actors including David Kaye and Gary Chalk.

But once the films came around, forget it, Optimus was Cullen and only Cullen. He became the defacto voice for a whole new generation including every cartoon since along with games, toys and whatever else I cant think of (alarm clocks?).

So I guess you could consier that a major change to the franchise with having a unified voice for Optimus, along with him being a long nose truck (which is still happening).

I dont think anyone minds that, and thats the most I could think of what the movies brought to interpretations of characters elsewhere.

Oh, there is one more, Bumblebee became waaaaay more popular after the films

[SlyTF1]

I don't care what his role is. All that matters is that he's in the movie. That opens up doors for him to be in future movies, just like AOE did for Grimlock and the Dinobots.

Because that worked so well for Sideswipe, Arcee, Jolt, Skids...

That... was a different time. If they're trying to do this whole cinematic universe thing now, it doesn't make sense that they would announce a major character like this to just to do nothing with him.

How do you already know that he's a major character? By his name? Again, you're assuming things without knowing anything about what role he'll play in the movie.

I know you just said that you don't care what role he plays and that what matters to you is that he's in the movie at all, but his merely being in the movie doesn't automatically make him a major character since it's the role he'll that will determine how important (or unimportant) a character he is.

In the Transformers lore, Hot Rod plays a major role. He's an Autobot. People have been asking for him for years. Why would they bring him in just to do nothing with him? Grimlock never became leader of the Autobots. Shockwave didn't destroy Unicron, and Devastator never bore the Matrix of Leadership. Hell, I'm still surprised Galvatron did as much as he did in AOE. If Hot Rod gets just as much screen time as Galvatron did, it will have been worth it.

[build2it]

His alt mode is a Lamborghini Centanario

[william-james88]

Erm....why has Hot Rod nicked Lockdown's vehicle mode

Its a different lambo.

This, to me, very well validates my decision to not support the movie verse after the 3rd movie. They need to get rid of Bay and reboot the whole thing, IMHO!

Thats too badbecause the 4th is probably the most entertaining and hasthe highest robot:human scene ratio.

[Kurona]

Thankfully, I'm at the point where I can laugh this stuff off...

So long as black bot with Leah mask face doesn't poison the character in future generations toylines and cartoons.

Is there any precedent to this happening?

Actualy, I thought of one. The movies did have an impact on the cartoon shows and games. Before the films, Peter Cullen was not the go to voice actor for Optimus. He didnt even know of the fan worship. Optimus was played by a variety of voice actors including David Kaye and Gary Chalk.

But once the films came around, forget it, Optimus was Cullen and only Cullen. He became the defacto voice for a whole new generation including every cartoon since along with games, toys and whatever else I cant think of (alarm clocks?).

So I guess you could consier that a major change to the franchise with having a unified voice for Optimus, along with him being a long nose truck (which is still happening).

I dont think anyone minds that, and thats the most I could think of what the movies brought to interpretations of characters elsewhere.

Oh, there is one more, Bumblebee became waaaaay more popular after the films

There is a bit of precedence. For instance, Bumblebee and Optimus have VERY movie-inspired designs in TF:P.
And if you wanna look at Generations, Bumblebee's had black lines for on his toys for ages now. You could even argue Ironhide was made out of Offroad in CW and not First Aid because he was a pickup truck in the movies.

Really it's not much. And considering those two design changes I just noted are ones I LIKE, I'm not concerned myself.

[Kurona]

Grimlock never became leader of the Autobots.

... actually.
http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Grimlock_(G1)/Marvel_Comics_continuity

[o.supreme]

Before the films, Peter Cullen was not the go to voice actor for Optimus. He didnt even know of the fan worship. Optimus was played by a variety of voice actors including David Kaye and Gary Chalk.

Oh, there is one more, Bumblebee became waaaaay more popular after the films

Actually Peter Cullen knew about his popularity as he had been attending fan conventions for years before the movie. In fact I was at BC 2004 when fans first started asking *if* he was going to be in the *highly anticipated* movie, he had no idea at the time. Fans threatened to protest the film however if he was not given the job. Its just that after the movie, unfortunately he had to start having an entourage, and fans had to have a VIP badges and pay extra to get access to him & autographs (the mad is for the industry, not Cullen himself...)

and yes BB's movie design obviously has influenced the TF: Prime and RiD15 series.

[william-james88]

Really it's not much. And considering those two design changes I just noted are ones I LIKE, I'm not concerned myself.

Yeah, I like those changes too along with the initial choice for the Prime Kup toy to be ironhide which had some movie elements (only the good ones, like twin arm cannons).

[Kurona]

Really it's not much. And considering those two design changes I just noted are ones I LIKE, I'm not concerned myself.

Yeah, I like those changes too along with the initial choice for the Prime Kup toy to be ironhide which had some movie elements (only the good ones, like twin arm cannons).

Yeah, there's some design alterations the movies brought that I like. Like Sideswipe now having swords.

[william-james88]

Before the films, Peter Cullen was not the go to voice actor for Optimus. He didnt even know of the fan worship. Optimus was played by a variety of voice actors including David Kaye and Gary Chalk.

Oh, there is one more, Bumblebee became waaaaay more popular after the films

Actually Peter Cullen knew about his popularity as he had been attending fan conventions for years before the movie. In fact I was at BC 2004 when fans first started asking *if* he was going to be in the *highly anticipated* movie, he had no idea at the time. Fans threatened to protest the film however if he was not given the job. Its just that after the movie, unfortunately he had to start having an entourage, and fans had to have a VIP badges and pay extra to get access to him & autographs (the mad is for the industry, not Cullen himself...)

and yes BB's movie design obviously has influenced the TF: Prime and RiD15 series.

Thanks man, when I spoke to him he was only talking about the part with the fans being why he got the role and it seemed that its only then that he was aware. I guess it makes for a better story

And yeah, the special badges thing ticks me off too.

[JazZeke]

I don't care what his role is. All that matters is that he's in the movie. That opens up doors for him to be in future movies, just like AOE did for Grimlock and the Dinobots.

Because that worked so well for Sideswipe, Arcee, Jolt, Skids...

That... was a different time. If they're trying to do this whole cinematic universe thing now, it doesn't make sense that they would announce a major character like this to just to do nothing with him.

How do you already know that he's a major character? By his name? Again, you're assuming things without knowing anything about what role he'll play in the movie.

I know you just said that you don't care what role he plays and that what matters to you is that he's in the movie at all, but his merely being in the movie doesn't automatically make him a major character since it's the role he'll that will determine how important (or unimportant) a character he is.

In the Transformers lore, Hot Rod plays a major role. He's an Autobot. People have been asking for him for years. Why would they bring him in just to do nothing with him? Grimlock never became leader of the Autobots. Shockwave didn't destroy Unicron, and Devastator never bore the Matrix of Leadership. Hell, I'm still surprised Galvatron did as much as he did in AOE. If Hot Rod gets just as much screen time as Galvatron did, it will have been worth it.

And what makes you think Hot Rod will have the exact same story arc as he had in the 86 movie? Fans had begged for Shockwave for years, and he was billed as a major character, only to merely cameo at the beginning and then die like a chump at the end.

[o.supreme]

Thanks man, when I spoke to him he was only talking about the part with the fans being why he got the role and it seemed that its only then that he was aware. I guess it makes for a better story

And yeah, the special badges thing ticks me off too.

No problem...I'm not sure what Cullen's first public appearance was at a fan convention, but I'm pretty sure it was early on in BC (probably mid 90's). I know the first time YES- He was really taken back, and had no idea of his popularity. By 2004 he was well aware, but was no less humble. Even today, he is still a stand up individual, its just unfortunate that celebrity status has placed restraints on him that I'm sure he is not comfortable with.

And I do partially agree that while he was attending conventions in the 90's and early 2000's, it was the feature film that brought him back to voicing the character after a 20 year absence.

[william-james88]

has placed restraints on him that I'm sure he is not comfortable with.

This is a very funny sentence when read literally and out of context.

Cool tidbit, Peter Cullen is from my home town: Montreal, Quebec!

[o.supreme]

getting a little OT here...but I always told myself. If I had the funds, Pete Cullen would be the one guy I would pay to have come to my home, and if I could just converse with him for an hour. No press, no microphones, no social media, I bet it would be fascinating.

[bluecatcinema]

Now this is a pleasant surprise. The look isn't quite what I imagined, but it has its own charm.

[Equinox234]

From what I got by looking at the color scheme on Hot Rod, make me now indicate that the previously seen images of the Mercedes Benz is actually him and not Drift, if you look carefully and try to match his color scheme to the car, and if you are a look at his chest,you'll notice the hood and front bumper of the car taking form. Now this will keep me in thought as I now wonder, "Then where is Drift?", if this is Hot Rod instead.

[hinomars19]

Thankfully, I'm at the point where I can laugh this stuff off...

So long as black bot with Leah mask face doesn't poison the character in future generations toylines and cartoons.

Is there any precedent to this happening?

Actualy, I thought of one. The movies did have an impact on the cartoon shows and games. Before the films, Peter Cullen was not the go to voice actor for Optimus. He didnt even know of the fan worship. Optimus was played by a variety of voice actors including David Kaye and Gary Chalk.

But once the films came around, forget it, Optimus was Cullen and only Cullen. He became the defacto voice for a whole new generation including every cartoon since along with games, toys and whatever else I cant think of (alarm clocks?).

So I guess you could consier that a major change to the franchise with having a unified voice for Optimus, along with him being a long nose truck (which is still happening).

I dont think anyone minds that, and thats the most I could think of what the movies brought to interpretations of characters elsewhere.

Oh, there is one more, Bumblebee became waaaaay more popular after the films

Thanks Will, that's a reminder of the positives the movies bring.

As already mentioned by someone else, BUMBLEBEE is my main source of irritation with the movies 'poisoning' characters. I like G1 Bumblebee because he's small and chatty. BayBEE is the exact opposite, and the Prime character suffered from that greatly. Now Bumblebee is known as the badass muscle car. Not only his design has changed, but his character, his role in the franchise has changed. Has he gained more popularity? Yes, but to me, it's for the wrong reasons. It's not Bumblebee that's popular, it's the bot carrying his name. I really dislike RiD Bee. We've had him become leader in the IDW verse, and that (to me) nasty Gen. toy (the one turned into Nightbeat and Gold fire) all of these things bug me.
Another thing is now Optimus keeps losing his face plate. I don't know why. Soundwave in TF Prime is a real departure for his physical design, not recognisable at all. As it's been said, it's small things, but it's those small things that sour it for me.

I guess it's down to each persons interpretation of a character.
I'm wary of stepping into movie discussions because they can become a minefield of nonobjectivety, or to put it bluntly 'ass kissing'. It's OK to simply say this is HOT ROD in name only, just like Hound, Skorponok, Wheelie etc. But I get irked when I see people saying 'Oh hey, cool new interpretation, bro.' That's cool for stuff like Bayverse Prime, and yes, faceplate aside, some cool stuff from the movies have evolved into the character in other media but...when something this far removed pops up, I fear any impact it may have on that name afterward, within the brand and the fandom. Nothing bothers me more than people trying to connect dots that aren't there. (Like using RID 2000 Grimlock to validate RiD 2015 being a green Dinosaur..."000 Grimlock is a construction vehicle with a name drop attached... )
HOPEFULLY, it ups the popularity of the name in a positive way, like I feel IDW has.

I'm a big Hot Rod fan, always have been. So y'know, it grabbed my attention.I never wanted him in these movies because we know what happens.

I'm kinder to the movies than I feel I should be. I don't hate them. I like some designs and characters, own some of the better engineered or fun toys etc. I guess I just want them to stay in their own little bubble

This is all me posting my personal thoughts, of course. Just seriously, I don't want Prime Wars Hot Rod to be Black Lambourghini

EDIT-- sorry if this reads like an 8 year old, my typing skills appear to be failing me

[william-james88]

From what I got by looking at the color scheme on Hot Rod, make me now indicate that the previously seen images of the Mercedes Benz is actually him and not Drift, if you look carefully and try to match his color scheme to the car, and if you are a look at his chest,you'll notice the hood and front bumper of the car taking form. Now this will keep me in thought as I now wonder, "Then where is Drift?", if this is Hot Rod instead.

They are 2 different cars man (Mercedes and Lambo), they just share the same colour.

[DedicatedGhostArt]

...wow. NOT what I was expecting for Hot Rod! Looks awesome though! The way the feet and legs look, doesn't it remind anyone else besides me of a Gundam?

[hinomars19]

This is just for fun, folks, please no flamming or trolling

[Kurona]

Another thing is now Optimus keeps losing his face plate.

That's been a thing long before the movies. Beast Wars and Beast Machines had Optimus Primal with a mouth, and then Cybertron (Galaxy Force) Optimus had a retractable mouthplate too. It's good since it allows a little more relatability and expression.

[DedicatedGhostArt]

Another thing is now Optimus keeps losing his face plate.

That's been a thing long before the movies. Beast Wars and Beast Machines had Optimus Primal with a mouth, and then Cybertron (Galaxy Force) Optimus had a retractable mouthplate too. It's good since it allows a little more relatability and expression.

Doesn't anyone notice that Optimus without his facemask looks like Batman? This adds new meaning to "The Last Knight"!

[RAR]

They decided to make Drift look like a Blue Samurai - OK I thought at least that is japanese - and at least he doesn't look like a Thundercat.

Then the made Hound and he resembles Bulkhead - Bit odd I thought - they must have decided to cowtow to the G-whiners (even if that is kinda illogical to do that in that case).

Now they have a robot with colours more like Dead End or Wild Rider and a head like Rattrap and they dub it Hotrod - I am starting to think we are being mocked.

If that design was for a Stunticon then I'd be pretty happy - but it doesn't even have any yellow of gold on it... heck knows what the vehicle mode will look like.

Also why so Black - he ends up looking like a new version of Stinger and he has doors on his back too but they are not even styled to look like the characters iconic wing feature?

'Weird'.

The Rattrap head is the real puzzle though.

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