IDW FCBD 2015 Transformers: Robots in Disguise #0 Preview

This was actually announced Easter Sunday at Wondercon but the word hasn’t gotten around: I’m writing this series after issue #0. My childhood parked in front of Transformers G1 is now justified. I can bring Starscream back from the dead right?

The latest "Transformers" animated series debuted last month on Cartoon Network, "Transformers: Robots in Disguise." Longtime Transformers license-holder IDW Publishing isn't waiting long to capitalize on the show, with a "Robots in Disguise" #0 issue available on Free Comic Book Day (May 2), and a ongoing series set to debut in July. CBR has the exclusive first details on the ongoing, which will be written by Transformers newcomer Georgia Ball and illustrated by Priscilla Tramontano.

IDW makes the distinction that while the comic series is based on the "Robots in Disguise" TV show, it's not an adaptation of the same stories. "The stories tie into the continuity the show shares with 'Transformers Prime' and what happens in the cartoon will have consequences in the comic," Ball said in a statement to CBR. "But the comic will also feature new villains and explore different themes. There will be squabbles and there will be punching, but the first arc weaves in an element of mystery and betrayal. Bumblebee has to put the pieces together and he may not get them in the right order. I like resolving subplots in one or two issues within the context of a longer ongoing story, I’m not a fan of ending an issue without getting somewhere."

"The stories tie into the continuity the show shares with 'Transformers Prime' and what happens in the cartoon will have consequences in the comic,"

Mkall wrote:I cannot see this becoming confusing with IDW's OTHER Robots in Disguise series.

SW's SilverHammer wrote:

Mkall wrote:I cannot see this becoming confusing with IDW's OTHER Robots in Disguise series.

What other robots in disguise series? There's Windblade, More Than Meets the Eye, and The Transformers (ongoing).

Darth Jumpy wrote:Most of the Prime comics have trouble fitting into the canon anymore

JB: Welcome to Transformers, Georgia! Can you let us know a little about your background? Where you’re from, what comics and books you’ve worked on, all that stuff?

GB: I’m a Cajun Texan who graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design and ended up in Seattle. SCAD awakened my obsession with comics but my professional career started in animation and web development. When my husband Scott and I decided to publish a webcomic (a few years before that was really a thing everyone did) I took on the writing portion because it came naturally and no one wanted Scott to write his own jokes. We self-published Scooter and Ferret for six years until an editor for Ape Entertainment asked me if I would be interested in writing for Strawberry Shortcake.

GB: Since then I’ve written comic stories for Dreamworks, Fruit Ninja, Littlest Pet Shop, Scooby-Doo, and an issue of My Little Pony that’s best remembered as the one that permanently scarred a pony. This is my busiest year yet, with two more all-ages licensed properties in progress, a digital-first horror/fantasy series and featured stories in the upcoming Space Goat anthology Evil Dead 2: Tales of the Ex-Mortis. My output is vacillating between blood and rainbows.

JB: What was your entry into the world of Transformers—as a fan, I mean? Do you have a favorite version of Transformers from over the years?

GB: I was parked in front of every episode of Transformers G1 in the 1980s but I couldn’t convince my mother to buy me any of the toys. She was a huge toy collector and had no problem showering me with Star Wars figures but Transformers just didn’t speak to her. After tons of pathetic begging she bought me one: Topspin, a Jumpsarter who sort-of-kind-of popped onto his feet when you pulled him backwards.

GB: I missed out when the movie was in theaters due to the same lack of parental interest—I saw it years later on TV and turned it off when Starscream died, because without Starscream around I just didn’t see the point. I returned to Transformers with Transformers: Prime, then jumped into the comics and bought my own toys, although my daughter’s plan to “share” the Bumblebee I got for my birthday isn’t working out in my favor. Now if only someone would take nine boxes of Star Wars figures off my hands.

JB: This new TRANSFORMERS ROBOTS IN DISGUISE comic is based on the all-new hit tv series airing on Cartoon Network. But this comic isn’t an adaptation—it’s all-new stories set in that world, but with… well, without giving anything away, some old friends you’re only going to see in the comic, right?

GB: The stories tie into the continuity the show shares with Transformers Prime and what happens in the cartoon will have consequences in the comic. But the comic will also feature new villains and explore different themes. There will be squabbles and there will be punching, but the first arc weaves in an element of mystery and betrayal. Bumblebee has to put the pieces together and he may not get them in the right order. I like resolving subplots in one or two issues within the context of a longer ongoing story, I’m not a fan of ending an issue without getting somewhere.

JB: This comic is aimed at Transformers fans of all ages, and it’ll probably be the first comic for a lot of kids. Is that something you’re thinking of when you’re writing?

GB: My first comics were wrinkled issues of Archie, Casper, and Sugar & Spike handed down from my parents. The art was in primary colors and they were light on continuity but they didn’t simplify the vocabulary or shy away from complex situational comedy. I want my readers to grow with my books, not discard them as soon as they’ve grown out of the target market. I do keep in mind exposition and character names—a friend read my first published comic book and pointed out that I’d never named one of the characters, a rookie mistake I’ve tried to avoid ever since (not to be confused with using names in the dialogue too often). I try to make sure every issue has layers that will mean more as the reader gets older.

JB: Without getting into spoilers, is there anything going on that long-time Transformers fans would be excited about in this series? I’m being coy here—I know there is!

GB: There’s a big surprise in issue #0 that Transformers fans will appreciate. It became my jumping off point for the series, it’s central to the plot later on and it takes advantage of the freedom we have to send the comic in directions that compliment and expand on Transformers Robots in Disguise.

JB: What do you think of TRANSFORMERS ROBOTS IN DISGUISE artist Priscilla Tramontano’s work? Have you two had a chance to collaborate much yet?

GB: This will be my first time working with Priscilla, who I was familiar with mainly for her color work in the comics. I love the somewhat organic feel she brings to the characters that lets them act out their emotions, she’s the perfect choice.

JB: Who’s your favorite Transformers character to write? Anybody particularly hard to get right?

GB: I don’t know if I’ll ever get to write for a series in which Starscream isn’t dead, but since he’s dead in this continuity I’m going to go with Strongarm. Sideswipe’s personality grates on her and I love writing her frustration with him. I left the first villain’s dialogue completely blank until the end, so you could say he was the most difficult to write. It’s always easier to get the feel of existing characters than it is to insert a new character into their universe. The most difficult existing character would probably be Denny; adult humans in the Transformers cartoons always seem to slide into living with giant robots a little too comfortably.

JB: Any other messages for Transformers fans out there?

GB: Transformers Robots in Disguise is accessible to new readers and is all about action and fun. Plus Autobots punching weird Decepticons in the face.

robotmel wrote:Wheres Va'al when you need him?

JB: Welcome to Transformers, Georgia! Can you let us know a little about your background? Where you’re from, what comics and books you’ve worked on, all that stuff?

GB: I’m a Cajun Texan who graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design and ended up in Seattle. SCAD awakened my obsession with comics but my professional career started in animation and web development. When my husband Scott and I decided to publish a webcomic (a few years before that was really a thing everyone did) I took on the writing portion because it came naturally and no one wanted Scott to write his own jokes. We self-published Scooter and Ferret for six years until an editor for Ape Entertainment asked me if I would be interested in writing for Strawberry Shortcake.

Since then I’ve written comic stories for Dreamworks, Fruit Ninja, Littlest Pet Shop, Scooby-Doo, and an issue of My Little Pony that’s best remembered as the one that permanently scarred a pony. This is my busiest year yet, with two more all-ages licensed properties in progress, a digital-first horror/fantasy series and featured stories in the upcoming Space Goat anthology Evil Dead 2: Tales of the Ex-Mortis. My output is vacillating between blood and rainbows.

JB: What was your entry into the world of Transformers—as a fan, I mean? Do you have a favorite version of Transformers from over the years?

GB: I was parked in front of every episode of Transformers G1 in the 1980s but I couldn’t convince my mother to buy me any of the toys. She was a huge toy collector and had no problem showering me with Star Wars figures but Transformers just didn’t speak to her. After tons of pathetic begging she bought me one: Topspin, a Jumpstarter who sort-of-kind-of popped onto his feet when you pulled him backwards.

GB: I missed out when the movie was in theaters due to the same lack of parental interest—I saw it years later on TV and turned it off when Starscream died, because without Starscream around I just didn’t see the point. I returned to Transformers with Transformers: Prime, then jumped into the comics and bought my own toys, although my daughter’s plan to “share” the Bumblebee I got for my birthday isn’t working out in my favor. Now if only someone would take nine boxes of Star Wars figures off my hands.

JB: This new TRANSFORMERS ROBOTS IN DISGUISE comic is based on the all-new hit tv series airing on Cartoon Network. But this comic isn’t an adaptation—it’s all-new stories set in that world, but with… well, without giving anything away, some old friends you’re only going to see in the comic, right?

GB: The stories tie into the continuity the show shares with Transformers Prime and what happens in the cartoon will have consequences in the comic. But the comic will also feature new villains and explore different themes. There will be squabbles and there will be punching, but the first arc weaves in an element of mystery and betrayal. Bumblebee has to put the pieces together and he may not get them in the right order. I like resolving subplots in one or two issues within the context of a longer ongoing story, I’m not a fan of ending an issue without getting somewhere.

[...]

JB: What do you think of TRANSFORMERS ROBOTS IN DISGUISE artist Priscilla Tramontano’s work? Have you two had a chance to collaborate much yet?

GB: This will be my first time working with Priscilla, who I was familiar with mainly for her color work in the comics. I love the somewhat organic feel she brings to the characters that lets them act out their emotions, she’s the perfect choice.

JB: Any other messages for Transformers fans out there?

GB: Transformers Robots in Disguise is accessible to new readers and is all about action and fun. Plus Autobots punching weird Decepticons in the face.

Sabrblade wrote:

Darth Jumpy wrote:Most of the Prime comics have trouble fitting into the canon anymore

Like which ones and how so?

The Prime graphic novel took place prior to season 1.

Rage of the Dinobots was set on Cybertron in the far past.

Beast Hunters was also set on Cybertron during and after season 3.