IDW Transformers #SDCC2018 Comics panel: Unicron and Beyond

Currently from the panel room 29AB at San Diego Comic Con 2018, yours truly is attending the IDW Publishing Transformers comics Unicron and Beyond panel, with David Mariotte, John Barber, Michael Kelly from Hasbro, Livio Ramondelli, Fico Ossio, Mike Johnson, Mags Visaggio, David Hedgecock, and Tom Waltz!


Mariotte introduces the event, and John Barber goes into the idea that eventually lead to Unicron happening - with Shockwave's big twist presence in the Optimus Prime comics series. Talking about the ideas that led to the creation of the event, with personal stories about his life events atthe time that the idea came, and his brainstorming with James Roberts and Mairghread Scott, Nick Roche and others.



The integral work of Alex Milne on the Unicron series, and the amount of detail he goes into, celebrated and taking editors by surprise too, creating the ecology / ecosystem of Unicron.

Mariotte brings in all the names that have been working on Transformers comics until now, doing variant covers. And reintroduces the James Raiz multi-part crossover interlocking cover.



Micahel Kelly and Tom Waltz talking about initial difficulties in deciding on the ending of a continuity that agreed both Hasbro and IDW, writers and creator, with Livio commenting on the importance of fans reading the books for past 13 years.

OPTIMUS PRIME



Issue #22 is going into the ending , leading to Unicron, with ROM the Spaceknight showing up, bridging the gap between Optimus ongoing and the Unicron #0 FCBD comic.

Three part story, caled the Last Empire, dealing with colonists and characters dealing with the shadow and influence of Optimus Prime. 24 and 25 are the capstone in the series, Kei Zama on art, some of the best pages seen so far in the series.

LOST LIGHT



Actual ending for James roberts story, with Jack Lawrence, Brendan Cahill on art, all answers given to all clues dropped in past however many years. We Will Have Achieved Something.

OTHER COLLECTIONS

Mags Visaggio and Fico Ossio talking about TF vs Visionaries, the idea behind Virulina as villain, witha 'comprehensible' murders. Visaggio on how Ossio's art was useful to understand how to write Transformers.

BUMBLEBEE



Michael Kelly talking about the young adult Original Graphic Novel coming out with the movie. How his daughter has been getting into graphic storytelling, so personal stake in the book, and how IDW is working with younger readers with their own books.



From Cybertron with Love with John Barber, 60s setting, something new and unusual, trying to get excitement for the movie into the comics - passion project for Andrew Grifftih too, trying to get a spy story in Transformers for a long time, getting band back together, with Pirscilla Tramontano.


STAR TREK vs TRANSFORMERS

Idea behind series on Prime Directive, and how Optimus Prime doesn't really necessarily follow it. Micheal Kelly talking about how long this project has been in the works. Loooks really good, very animeted styles for both franchises.

GI JOE



Creating new Special Missions one shots with Larry Hama, plus developing a new arc with Helix in Real American Hero and new Snake Eyes character (Silent Option).



Q & A

Why was everything Shockwave's fault? Not everything was, decisions were all the ones of the Cybertronians that actually made the decisions.

Are we to see some Shattered Glass stories if Star Trek mini-series? Not a bad idea!