Transformers Comic Book News on Seibertron.com

Spotlight: Megatron Coming in February 2013

Discuss This Topic · Permanent Link
Views: 18,579

MY BLOODY VALENTINE
Retailers and readers...SPOTLIGHT: MEGATRON - written and drawn by me - coming this February.

So swears Megatron.
Posted by Nick at 1:12 PM
Labels: February 2013, Script and Art: Nick Roche, Spotlight Megatron

Cover and Traycase Preview of the First IDW Limited Transformers Book

Discuss This Topic · Permanent Link
Views: 17,171

Q&A with Hasbro Director of Global Publishing Michael Kelley

Discuss This Topic · Permanent Link
Views: 45,049

Q: Hi Michael! How is going there at Hasbro?

MICHAEL KELLY: Hello! Things are really busy here at Hasbro: lots of interesting things going on in our publishing department!

Q: The Transformers brand has been going from strength to strength these last few years. How much are you enjoying the comics that IDW are making?

MICHAEL KELLY: I think they are brilliant, and only getting better. The current series written by John Barber and James Roberts, Robots In Disguise and More Than Meets The Eye, are really breaking new ground. And not just in the dramatic aspects of the return to Cybertron and the political maneuvering, but also in the humor. I don’t recall laughing out loud as often as I do now when reviewing manuscripts. Both writers have really unlocked the inherent “humanity” of these characters, and I find it extremely entertaining. And that’s just the writing. Artists Andrew Griffith and Alex Milne complete the storytelling with their work, each providing the perfect characterizations, mood, and environment for their respective books. This team delivers.

Q: When you started out in your position as Director of Global Publishing, are any plans you made where you thought they would be now or have they been exceeded?

MICHAEL KELLY: Ha! Well, if you’ll allow me to paraphrase an old military saying, no plan survives contact with a bunch of creative people. What was important to me when I started managing Hasbro’s publishing business was to ensure that we were maximizing the talents of the creative people our publishers bring to the table. I made it clear to IDW from the start that I wanted them to push the envelope, to shove me out of my comfort zone. If you start with a plan that takes you from point A to point B, and stick to it no matter what, you may never realize that a side trip to C is really worthwhile. Mind you, that doesn’t mean I haven’t had to reel them back in from time to time: the integrity of the brand is always first and foremost. But you can’t stifle creativity from the outset; sometimes you have to let the story take you where it wants to go.

Q: You oversee the comics that IDW make for Transformers. Are you constantly surprised by what the material you are reading?

MICHAEL KELLY: Well, “surprised” probably isn’t the right word exactly, because I’m involved in development from the concept right through to production, so I always know where we are going. I would say that I’m constantly impressed by the ability of our creative teams: the editors, the writers, inkers, and colorists, who manage to tell new and compelling stories month in and month out. After 30 years of TRANSFORMERS stories, there’s always a risk of repetition. But these talented people keep finding new and unique situations for our characters to confront, and that makes for seriously engaging reading.

Q: Is there any IDW book that has been made that you feel stands head and shoulders above all of the others?

MICHAEL KELLY: I added our comics business to my overall publishing responsibilities about one third of the way into the All Hail Megatron run, so that series will always have a place on my list. Honestly, though, it isn’t an easy question to answer, because there’s such diversity in what IDW has done, and so much of it is interesting and entertaining for various reasons. But certainly Last Stand of the Wreckers looms large, and I enjoyed the digital project Autocracy for its unique view of Optimus before his ascension to Prime as well as its remarkable artwork by Livio Ramondelli. And I can’t say enough about how much I’m enjoying the current run of Robots In Disguise and More Than Meets The Eye. Those are both just plain fun.

Q: Have there been many instances where you’ve had to veto a story that IDW wanted to make?

MICHAEL KELLY: In all honesty, no. First of all, IDW has been a fantastic steward for our brands. I can rely on John Barber (and Andy Schmidt before him) and all the guys on the team to present stories that are meaningful and faithful to the tenants of our characters, and to always have imaginative and innovative ideas. So much fun working with everyone at IDW.

Second, I don’t view it as my job to respond to an idea with a simple “yes” or “no.” Instead, if there is something that doesn’t quite fit, or maybe takes the story in a direction that may not work over the long run, I look at it as the starting point of collaboration with IDW and the creators. We develop what works, and we discard what doesn’t. In the end, I like to think we come up with a better result that drives the story forward. I’d be disappointed in myself if I just rejected something outright.

Q: Any favourite character arcs that have leapt out for you from the last 7 years worth of IDW stories?

MICHAEL KELLY: One of the challenges about writing for TRANSFORMERS, in my opinion, is that it can be easy to slip into simple character types. The nature of the underlying story lends itself to black & white comparisons, good vs. evil, honorable vs. deceitful, etc. What I enjoy most is when creators give genuine depth to the characters. Nothing is all good or all evil; everything has elements of both. So my favorite character arcs have always been the ones that show that inner conflict. I love what IDW and the creators have done with Thundercracker’s reflection and self-doubt, Bumblebee’s reluctant leadership, and even the inner struggles of both Optimus and Megatron. These are 3-dimensional characters, and I’m really pleased that the creative team embraces that, because the characters are at their most compelling when they are relatable.

Q: Are there any other Hasbro brands that IDW do comics of that really stand out for you?

MICHAEL KELLY: The first project that I managed from the very beginning was the re-launch of G.I. JOE back in 2008. That series, and in particular the COBRA books, have my fingerprints all over them. I’m immensely proud of what we did together on those books.

And just wait until you see the new My Little Pony comics. Sheer awesome.

I can’t comment on the Dungeons & Dragons and MAGIC The Gathering comics IDW produces, because the creative process for those is managed by my colleagues at Wizards of the Coast. But I hear great things, which doesn’t surprise me given the people involved.

Q: In overseeing all of the comic’s material that you do, what is greatest challenge is making sure everything is right for the different brands?

MICHAEL KELLY: The real challenge comes in keeping the various continuities within each brand straight. At any given time, I’m reviewing as many as 4 different TRANSFORMERS continuities and 3 separate G.I. JOE continuities. So it takes a lot of attention to detail to ensure that I’m not carrying one storyline over into another. It isn’t hard to fall into the trap of “hey, didn’t that guy die in issue 7?” Keeping all of that in line takes a lot of real estate in my brain. But so far I haven’t had the problem of wondering why Pinkie Pie isn’t planning Bumblebee’s birthday party. Though come to think of it, that would be an epic party.

Q: Where do you see things with the Transformers brand a few years down the road?

MICHAEL KELLY: There are so many stories still to tell in this franchise; I mean it when I say we are just getting started. We’ve got a great thing going on in IDW’s interpretation of our Generations line, and of course we’ve got a ways to go before Regeneration One wraps up. I expect a lot of twists and turns there. And remember, we’ve only scratched the surface of the PRIME continuity, which has a lot of rich storytelling still waiting to be discovered. We’ll start to see a lot more from that storyline in 2013 and onward.

Q: Michael, thanks for taking the time to do this Q&A. The last thing I wanted to ask was, out of all the Hasbro properties, which one would you personally like to bring into comics, which currently aren’t being published?

MICHAEL KELLY: Well, I’d be tipping my hand if I gave a direct answer to that question. Let’s just say that we’ve got a lot of things in the works right now, at various stages of development. Keep an eye out; you never know when we’ll be announcing the next big thing from Hasbro publishing.

Transformers: Regeneration One #85 Creator Commentary with Andrew Wildman

Discuss This Topic · Permanent Link
Views: 41,674

PAGE 4: We’re starting a little late in the issue with this commentary, so as not to spoil a shocker earlier on… we get to Optimus Prime and Megatron fighting it out, just as they’ve always done. Did you find it hard to get back into drawing the classic characters like them again? Did you have to re-teach yourself how to do it?

ANDREW WILDMAN: No. I have been drawing these two guys a lot over the years in the form of sketches at conventions so they still feel very familiar. Cool bit about this scene is that I had the opportunity to start knocking chunks off of them

PAGE 5: How much free reign are you given to draw a particular panel? Do you always follow what is specified in the script or break away from that if you feel it would look better?

ANDREW WILDMAN Simon and myself have had a long creative relationship and we understand each other’s way of working. It is always clear to me that Simon has this all very well worked out in his head. It is rare that anything is not clear in the script. That said, occasionally I feel that something needs to be staged slightly differently. We discuss it and just work out what is the best solution. Our experience in TV is showing up a lot as well. Simon’s scripts often read more like a TV script and my art is looking more and more like a series of storyboards. But I like all that. I think it is giving it a more cinematic feel.

PAGE 6: With Kup struggling as the battle continues—how long would this page have taken you to draw? And did you go through many revisions on it before you came to how it looks now?

ANDREW WILDMAN: Very few revisions. Don’t have time for that. As soon as I read it I get an image in my mind as to what the page will look like. I then do a quick thumbnail on the script itself and then just draw it up full size. The majority of these pages take the same amount of time i.e. two pages a day. I often find that if you ponder a page for too long it loses life. trust your instincts and get it down quick. That way it retains more life and vibrancy

PAGE 5: Prime and Megatron continue their battle while Auntie poses a bigger threat... Did you go back and look at all of their previous fights to get an idea of how to approach this one?

ANDREW WILDMAN: Nope. Just piled in.

PAGE 6: At this stage, can you see yourself penciling every issue in Regeneration One or having some other input if another artist should come in?

ANDREW WILDMAN: I have been asked that a lot. Will have to see. Couldn’t possibly say

Transformers: Regeneration One #85 Preview

Discuss This Topic · Permanent Link
Views: 24,914

Transformers: Regeneration One #85
Simon Furman (w) • Andrew Wildman (a) • Wildman, Guido Guidi (c)
ONE WILL FALL! As the first Regeneration One arc concludes, two Transformers legends clash—for the last time! This one’s so packed with triumph, tragedy and
everything in between, we can’t say much more. If you’re a fan of titanic, all-out action, this is the one for you. If you're of a sensitive disposition—look away now!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

*Variant Covers:
Geoff Senior variant cover!

Bullet points:
• Legends Simon Furman and Andrew Wildman rock you like no one else can!
• A story so powerful, it should come with a warning!

Megatron and Shockwave Sketches from IDW Limited Transformers Volume 1

Discuss This Topic · Permanent Link
Views: 24,740

Transformers: Regeneration One #85 Script (W)rap

Discuss This Topic · Permanent Link
Views: 29,305

Simon Furman wrote:This was always going to be a difficult one. As regular readers of this blog know, it’s my habit (pre-release) to uncover some of the inner workings that led to the creation of a given comic issue. I try and be as spoiler-free as possible. Just teasing/tantalising with a few details or thought processes/decisions that contributed to the finish item. Well, with Transformers: Regeneration One #85 (out this coming Wednesday, November 7th), the climax of the Loose Ends story arc, the amount I could reveal about the issue and not spoil it dwindled to next-to-nothing. Pretty much everyone now knows it features what I hope is the most titanic and revealing Prime/Megatron clash ever.

Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye Ongoing #10 Creator Commentary with James Roberts

Discuss This Topic · Permanent Link
Views: 35,062

PAGE 1: We’re getting more into the politics of Cybertron with Senator Proteus, the rise of the Decepticons and how to deal with them. How far in advance did you have these kinds of political games worked out, and who would benefit from them?

JAMES ROBERTS: With “Shadowplay”—particularly Part 2—I’m trying to move MTMTE into “political thriller” territory. Well, a political thriller with some old-fashioned conspiracy tropes thrown in. This isn’t the first time I’ve explored the socio-political infrastructure of pre-war Cybertron—“Chaos Theory” (which can be found in the trade paperback of the same name), laid a lot of the groundwork upon which the plot of “Shadowplay” rests.

Structurally and hierarchically, ancient Cybertronian society has parallels with our own—there’s apartheid, civil rights, democracy (of a sort), classism, etc; to counterbalance that I wanted to bring something uniquely Cybertronian to the fore—namely the fact that these creatures are blessed (or cursed) with a second shape that determines their lot in life.

As for how far in advance I had these political games mapped out… far enough. Far enough to extend beyond this particular story.

PAGE 2: Chromedome gives chase to the bot who threw the body in front of him and Prowl from the last issue. Did you give specific designs on the sky bike and the craft he is pursuing as well as the Translucentica Heights?

JAMES ROBERTS: I certainly wanted Prowl and Chromedome’s sky bikes to be reminiscent of Action Master Prowl’s motorcycle. Just because.

The key thing about Translucentica—as the name (from “translucent”) suggests—was to make it look like it was entirely made of glass. Issue 9’s script said, “Translucentica is visible in the distance, a cluster of shimmering glass skyscrapers, sculptures, monorails, all of it tinted blue.” That was easy for me to write—the ever-talented duo of Alex Milne and Josh Burcham—had the difficult task of bringing that sentence to life.

PAGE 3: Chromedome loses his quarry and meets up with Prowl. Why put these two characters together for this story and not another pair?

JAMES ROBERTS: The simple answer is: I love Prowl and I wanted him in MTMTE.

Way, way back I pitched a story to IDW—a Prowl Spotlight set on pre-war Cybertron which had him tracking down a Transformation-Cog-stealing serial killer against a background of Decepticon rioting. Obviously that story was never written, but I was attracted to the idea of Prowl working for this CSI-type unit called the Mechaforensics Division.

PAGE 4 and 5: Prowl and Chromedome meet Red Alert and find the ’bot they are looking for. As all three of these characters have quite a bit of history to them, will we be seeing some of their actions catching up to them in future issues? Maybe across Robots in Disguise with Prowl as well?

JAMES ROBERTS: Your question reveals a universal truth about MTMTE: every character has a past, and everyone’s past will catch up with them. We’re not jumping back to pre-war Cybertron at random: events that take place during the run-up to war will have lasting repercussions on our present day crew.

IDW Limited Transformers Mega-Giveaway

Discuss This Topic · Permanent Link
Views: 17,805

• Transformers: Target 2006 1-6
• Transformers Movie Adaptation 1-4
• TF Regeneration 1 (#81)
• TF Heart of Darkness #1
• Beast Wars The Gathering 1-4
• Best of UK Dinobots 1-5
• TF: Ironhide #1
• TF: Robots In Disguise Sketch Cover

Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye Roller Concept Art

Discuss This Topic · Permanent Link
Views: 37,425

Since this book will be out tomorrow, and the preview is already up online I thought I would just share this design of Roller with you.
it was a lot of fun to come up with his look for issue 10 of MTMTE. When going over what he should look like with James, he mentioned he wanted him to transform into a prisoner transport. With that in mind I started to really think about how big he should be. Finally I decided that he needed to be bigger then Orion Pax. He has a few similar design aspect as pax has. I wanted that since they are a team/partners at the police station.
Well, I must get back to MTMTE, enjoy