BotCon 2013 Updates: Matt Frank and Thomas Deer Added to Artist Alley

This is great and all but I wish we would get more news on the toys!! I'm going mad not knowing what other exclusives there are, to be honest I'm starting to think the Termination set is the only thing we're getting this year.

g1grimlock wrote:This is great and all but I wish we would get more news on the toys!! I'm going mad not knowing what other exclusives there are, to be honest I'm starting to think the Termination set is the only thing we're getting this year.

Past years have kept tight lips on what the souvenir sets were prior to the Con. Why should this year be any different?

Only reason any souvenirs got leaked to the public in previous recent years is due to some factory samples having been stolen and sold on auction sites. Or due to some guy on the inside who knew wht they were dropping rumors about them. This year, however, there's been delays at the factories, so any leaks can't exactly happen this time.

Two more artist have been added to artist alley for BotCon 2013, Josh Burcham and Robby Musso.

[quote]JOSH BURCHAM is a comic book colorist/illustrator with over 100 issues to his credit, including: Dreamwave's War Within: Age of Wrath, Transformers Stormbringer, Beast Wars, All Hail Megatron, Last Stand of the Wreckers, Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye ongoing series, and this year's Botcon exclusive Machine Wars comic![/quote]

[quote]

ROBBY MUSSO has worked on various IDW Transformers titles, including the Spotlight titles "Ultra Magnus", "Ramjet", and "Cliffjumper". For Fun Publications, Robby has provided art for a good number of the MTMTE profile pieces as well as handling art duties on the 2010 BotCon comic "Transformers Timelines Issue 5: Generation 2 Redux" and the Club comic story "Transformers: Revelations". Robby will be on hand all weekend doing sketches and selling prints.
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*sigh*

One day, I'll make my best effort to fly, paddle or swim over, and sleep in the location's plant pots. So I can afford all the nice stuff I can commission to all the lovely artists.

The artist stuff is cool, but I really want to know what panel-type guests they'll have. I mean, I guess skipping panels isn't the end of the world, but I do find a lot of them entertaining.

So in trying to quell the "clammering-for-toys" mob — and trying to give the convention guests some of the props and attention due — these guys are some of my absolute favorites for the currently running comics. As I looked through the list... bravo. Great lineup.

I also have to give a shout out to Ramondelli. I've really enjoyed the stylized, painterly art through Autocracy/Monstrosity. I'm glad IDW has "loosened the reigns" a bit to allow for a series or two with a really dark, artistic slant.

As a rule, (unless things are going dark and stylized like those above) I like the robot designs to stick with familiar G1 blocky styles — like MTMTE does for the most part. (Less of a fan of the movie-esque RID designs.) I especially don't like the portrayal of the frenzied assassin Arcee. After growing up with the original movie, it's hard to stomach the 180 switch characters that sometimes show up in the comics.

BotCon has announced four additional artist appearing at this year's Artist Alley: Ken Christiansen, John-Paul Bove, Dan Khanna, and Cally Karishokka.

[quote]KEN CHRISTIANSEN has been working as an illustrator and concept designer for over fifteen years. Starting as a video game concept artist, at Nintendo of America (Ridge Racer 64, Pokemon Puzzle League), then moving to Los Angeles to work in games for the Walt Disney Company (Kingdom Hearts, Finding Nemo). In 2004, Ken started his own company, Bad Flip Productions, working for video game clients like Disney, Warner Bros., Universal, and Activision. After working with Activision on Transformers the Game, and the Revenge of the Fallen game, he began working freelance in media development for Hasbro Inc. (Transformers), doing concept art for their film, tv, book, games, and toy initiatives. That expanded into media development beyond the Transformers brand, including Star Wars, Spider-Man, and more.

Ken’s current work includes the cover runs on the Transformers Prime series (IDW), Star Wars Fighter Pods, and Ultimate Spider-Man Spider Pods. Along with other random bits and pieces, hanging off pegs in the toy aisles, book shelves, and video game departments.[/quote]

[quote]JOHN-PAUL BOVE is a colorist and writer based in the UK. He has worked on a number of titles including Godzilla, Doctor Who, G.I. Joe and Judge Dredd. He is perhaps best known to Transformers fans for his work coloring Transformers Regeneration One for IDW, working closely with Transformers legends Simon Furman and Andrew Wildman. In addition to coloring Transformers, he has also recently been writing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. He'll be at this year's BotCon Artist Alley signing, coloring sketches and generally making a nuisance of himself.[/quote]

[quote]DAN KHANNA has been working as a professional Transformers illustrator for over a decade. He has done concept design, full packaging illustrations as well as color work on many Transformers brand box art illustrations across sever al toy lines for Hasbro Inc. He's worked for various TF licensees over the years including Dreamwave, IDW, Hard Hero, Titan Books/EagleMoss publications and for the Transformers Collectors Club/Botcon Conventions. His current projects includes being one of the pencillers on for the new Transformers Legends smart phone game, and work on TF Prime comic strips for an overseas publication.[/quote]
[quote]CALLY KARISHOKKA is a plushiemaker and crafter behind Cally's Critters Plush Designs. Cally lives in New York City, finds NYC subways to be an adventure of mystery, and manages to become obsessed with snack foods never available in the USA. Rescues puggleformers from their home planets to adopt out in to new homes. Has no known weaknesses.[/quote]

From the BotCon Press Release:

Seibertron wrote:
Pop Culture enthusiasts and Transformers fans of all ages can still register for BotCon 2013 through the BotCon.com online registration system. Fans and Collectors’ who register for BotCon as a Primus package holder will receive the five-figure MACHINE WARS convention set, admission to the Friday private sales room experience, priority seating at all panels and seminars throughout the weekend and admittance to the Hall of Fame Celebration party. Finally, Primus package attendees will also receive a special bonus Transformers Deluxe figure to go along with their convention box set. General Admission for non-registered guests will be available on Saturday and Sunday only.

(emphasis mine)
So, I'm confused. Are they doing the Hall of Fame this year or not? Because when they first put up a brochure, there was no mention of it. Followed by this gem from the BC FAQ dated 2/27: "Question: Are you going to have the Transformers Hall of Fame this year?
Answer: Unknown at this time. If Hasbro does have it, they may do it differently."
I guess if they are doing it, there's no fan choice character? Because there hasn't been a poll. Seems like the annual poll has been replaced by the Build-A-Bot Poll.
Has there been an official statement one way or the other on what's going on here? The Hall of Fame has quickly become one of my favorite parts of the entire weekend, and it'll be a shame if they drop it from the program.

NicholasPrime wrote:So, I'm confused. Are they doing the Hall of Fame this year or not? Because when they first put up a brochure, there was no mention of it. Followed by this gem from the BC FAQ dated 2/27: "Question: Are you going to have the Transformers Hall of Fame this year?
Answer: Unknown at this time. If Hasbro does have it, they may do it differently."
I guess if they are doing it, there's no fan choice character? Because there hasn't been a poll. Seems like the annual poll has been replaced by the Build-A-Bot Poll.
Has there been an official statement one way or the other on what's going on here? The Hall of Fame has quickly become one of my favorite parts of the entire weekend, and it'll be a shame if they drop it from the program.

Initially, when the brochure went up, it did mention the Hall of Fame. However, after the Club was asked about it, they gave the above response and also admitted that the brochure mentioning it was accidentally left in from copying/pasting passages from previous years' brochures into this year's brochure. They promptly removed any mention of the Hall of Fame from this year's brochure afterward.

So... yeah, it's not known if there will or won't be a Hall of Fame event this year. If not, we got the Erector and Swindle fiascos as likely suspects for why they wouldn't doing it this year.

Sabrblade wrote:
So... yeah, it's not known if there will or won't be a Hall of Fame event this year. If not, we got the Erector and Swindle fiascos as likely suspects for why they wouldn't doing it this year.

This is why we can't have nice things.

NicholasPrime wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:
So... yeah, it's not known if there will or won't be a Hall of Fame event this year. If not, we got the Erector and Swindle fiascos as likely suspects for why they wouldn't doing it this year.

This is why we can't have nice things.

Well, it's the fandom's own fault for both the Erector and Swindle cases. One year was a dirty joke, they next year was irate snide.

Also: WOW, I missed all that Swindle stuff last year. I had to go look that up. Some funny bits, but yeah, I totally see why they don't want a fan's choice anymore. A shame, really.

IDW just announced a little something special for the bronies of Botcon - EXCLUSIVE: Prime & Pinkie Pie Team-Up for "My Little Pony" Botcon Variant

o_O

It's too bad. I like the fans having a voice... plus it keeps the whole thing from getting TOO serious. I thought the Erector joke was hilarious in the way Hasbro ran with it. I would have loved to see more funny stuff like that each year.

[quote]We are thrilled to announce that Marcelo Matere will be part of the BotCon 2013 Artists' Alley in San Diego this June. Marcelo has had a huge impact of the Transformers brand, from working on various projects for Hasbro, IDW and Fun Publications. Be sure to see him when you are at BotCon this year!

With the addition of Marcelo, the BotCon Artists' Alley will now feature OVER TWENTY amazing Transformers artists from all over the world! Visit www.botcon.com for all the details. This is one show you don't want to miss!





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Does this mean we'll get a generations Arcee?

As Botcon exclusive?

Yipee!!! -_-

noctorro wrote:Does this mean we'll get a generations Arcee?

As Botcon exclusive?

Yipee!!! -_-

Where'd that come from?

BotCon has announced two additional special guests for this year's event in San Diego, voice director Wally Burr and Transformers Generation 1 Season 5's Jason Jenson! Jenson played the role of Tommy Kennedy in the live action sequences along with an animatronic Powermaster Optimus Prime during the episode bumpers. After disappearing from the fandom he recently resurfaced for an interview back in January, and will now be appearing at BotCon. They join the already confirmed Transformers Prime voice actors David Sobolov (Shockwave)and James Horan (Wheeljack).

BotCon wrote:BotCon 2013 is excited to welcome legendary Voice Director Wally Burr to this years show! Mr. Burr has directed some of the greatest voice acting talents from the past 40 years and he will be on hand during the weekend for panels, autograph sessions and more!

Joining him is the actor who was featured alongside the very first live action Optimus Prime, Jason Jansen! As part of the more intriguing Generation 1 cartoon features, Jason (who played the human character Tommy Kennedy) will be participating in his first ever convention, filling fans in on what it was like to act next to the live action Generation 1 Optimus Prime!

For more details, click the "Guests" link along the left side menu.

Man, I was really hoping to see if Wally Burr was all that the tales had made him out to be. Shame I won't be there this year.

Jason Jenson? seriously?