Writers Talk "Combiner Wars" Event, Transformers Gender Identity & More, Plus Preview Art

Friday, February 27th, 2015 11:56AM CST

Categories: Comic Book News, People News, Interviews
Posted by: Va'al Views: 43,682

Topic Options: View Discussion · Sign in or Join to reply

Courtesy of entertainment website ComicBookResources.com, we have another interview with some of the creators behind the upcoming IDW Publishing Transformers: Combiner Wars event, crossing over current ongoing The Transformers and returning series Windblade. Read some snippets from the full piece - found here - below, in which John Barber and Mairghread Scott touch upon some of what is to come in terms of stories and themes, including some preview art for from Sarah Stone and Livio Ramondelli!

CBR News: This is the first big "Transformers" crossover since last year's "Dark Cybertron" epic. While we understand the basic gist of the crossover, what more can you tell us about "Combiner Wars?" Who, exactly is combining? Who is warring?

Mairghread Scott: "Combiner Wars" starts when Starscream (a rather evil guy and ruler of Cybertron) gains the ability to make a Combiner (a super-powerful giant) and seems poised to build a new Cybertronian empire.

Let that sink in.

Because when we talk about empire in "Transformers," we're not talking a few countries in Europe. We're speaking of whole planets who might be about to bow to the power of one man. Combiners are the ultimate weapons of Transformers, and Starscream can now make as many as he wants.

So you have two very different wars happening at the same time. Windblade and Optimus Prime are fighting a war for influence (Can they get people to see the danger Starscream poses?), while others take a much more literal war with every weapon they have.

John Barber: Meanwhile, on Earth, Prowl is sitting at the head of the up-to-now only really properly-functioning Combiner -- the other attempts have basically failed outright or driven the component people mad -- and he's not keen on Optimus Prime's leadership of the Autobots, or Starscream's ruling of Cybertron.

To put it in a real world setting: It's six issues (one "Opening Salvo" and five actual parts, just like most of the Combiners have) that starts in "Transformers" #39, goes to the new "Transformers: Windblade" #1, back to "Transformers" #40 and alternated until it's done. Mairghread and I are writing it, and the art is by the amazing Sarah Stone and Livio Ramondelli, alternating issues

[...]

Diversity is a big issue in comics -- and everywhere, really -- and something that I know is important to both of you, but how exactly do you promote diversity through stories about giant sexless, raceless robots?

Scott: The term "sexless" is debatable in my view. I want to be clear: There are Transformers who are inherently male and inherently female. That doesn't mean the same thing as it does in humans, but Transformers that call themselves "she" aren't doing it because they like the 'sh' sound. They are female, and we're going to meet a lot more of them.

The term "raceless" is also misleading. Transformers have a long history of racial tension against cassettes, animalistic transformers, headmasters, etc. They are just as noble as humans and we're pushing the envelope to make them at least as diverse as we are. So what can you expect in terms of Transformers in the future? More! More body types, more races, more LGBTQ, more religions and creeds and classes. More conflict about all of the above. Working with robots doesn't stop us from exploring diversity. It offers us the chance to push the boundaries of diversity in a lot of interesting, allegorical ways.

Barber: Yeah, what Mairghread said there. One of the things that non-"Transformers" fans might not realize is how wide-ranging and inclusive the "Transformers" fanbase is. I mean, it's self-evident if you're part of the "Transformers" world, but "Transformers" readers, "Transformers" fans encompass the entire spectrum of people. And it's important to have the characters in the comic be reflective of that.

It's sometimes a complex line to walk, between the out-and-out science-fiction-ness of the "Transformers" universe and its relationship with the real world, but it's important.

Credit(s): CBR

News Search

Got Transformers News? Let us know here!

Most Recent Transformers News

Twincast / Podcast Episode #365 "13 and Me"

Posted 4 hours ago

Leaked Gameplay Footage of Transformers Reactivate

Posted 2 days ago

Transformers #15, Hot Wheels Optimus Prime, SS Swoop, SDCC Death's Head + more @ Seibertron Store

Posted 3 days ago

Pre-order Links for all New Age of the Prime Transformers Toys and Sonic X Over Set

Posted 4 days ago

First Look at Optimus Prime Cab solo Release in 2025 Hot Wheels Mainline

Posted 6 days ago

Official Images for Age of the Primes and Sonic Crossover Reveals

Posted 8 days ago

Holiday Sale, Sectaurs, SDCC Death's Head, new Transformers and more at the Seibertron Store

Posted 9 days ago

More Images and Reveals from Cybertron Con: Star Convoy, Heatwave, Sky Byte, Prima, Solus and More

Posted 9 days ago

Click here to post your comment about this news story!

Re: Writers Talk "Combiner Wars" Event, Transformers Gender Identity & More, Plus Preview Art (1656796)
Posted by MrBlack on February 27th, 2015 @ 12:22pm CST

So who can identify those Camiens? Looks like Hot Shot, a female bot I don't recognize, and...I don't know, Afterburner?

Re: Writers Talk "Combiner Wars" Event, Transformers Gender Identity & More, Plus Preview Art (1656813)
Posted by MisterNewUzer on February 27th, 2015 @ 12:47pm CST

http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Lightbright

Re: Writers Talk "Combiner Wars" Event, Transformers Gender Identity & More, Plus Preview Art (1656817)
Posted by Peridot on February 27th, 2015 @ 12:53pm CST

Hot Shot is a Camien! More diversity! HOLY SLAG LGBTQ TRANSFORMERS! This is excellent, IDW! Keep it up!

Re: Writers Talk "Combiner Wars" Event, Transformers Gender Identity & More, Plus Preview Art (1656818)
Posted by Evil Eye on February 27th, 2015 @ 12:55pm CST

Uhh, Camiens aren't all female. (As far as I know, I've only read The Death of Optimus Prime thus far.)

Re: Writers Talk "Combiner Wars" Event, Transformers Gender Identity & More, Plus Preview Art (1656821)
Posted by griftimus prime on February 27th, 2015 @ 12:58pm CST

great hotshot design

Re: Writers Talk "Combiner Wars" Event, Transformers Gender Identity & More, Plus Preview Art (1656823)
Posted by Va'al on February 27th, 2015 @ 1:01pm CST

Delta Magnus wrote:Uhh, Camiens aren't all female. (As far as I know, I've only read The Death of Optimus Prime thus far.)

If you're referring to Metro Prime's post, I think they were listing a number of excited points.

Re: Writers Talk "Combiner Wars" Event, Transformers Gender Identity & More, Plus Preview Art (1656827)
Posted by Nisus on February 27th, 2015 @ 1:04pm CST

Ok, so am I safe to assume that MTMTE isn't involved in this?

*Nevermind. Just saw the list of issues that are going to be dealing with CW.

Re: Writers Talk "Combiner Wars" Event, Transformers Gender Identity & More, Plus Preview Art (1656832)
Posted by Va'al on February 27th, 2015 @ 1:18pm CST

The second piece of news from Rachel Stevens of Women Write About Comics has some of a crossover with the CBR article we posted earlier, but offers some interesting additions and further developments to that interview, as Mairghread Scott and John Barber answer even more questions about the upcoming Combiner Wars event with IDW Publishing and where the two series - Windblade and The Transformers - will be going from there. Read more here, and some selected quotes below!

If you were to pitch the story to a new reader that hasn’t had the fortune of reading prior IDW Transformers comics, what is Combiner Wars and why should you be reading the current Transformers stories?

Mairghread Scott: Combiner Wars is about a world on the verge of imperial takeover. Cybertron has recently discovered one of a series of long lost colony worlds (this is where Windblade comes from), and they’re reaching out to them once more. But with the rise of the combiners, Cybertron (and more accurately Starscream) has military power no one’s ever seen before. He could easily turn these colonies into conquered worlds, creating a vast empire even Megatron never imagined.

John Barber: If you’ve never read Transformers, you probably wouldn’t guess what the IDW Transformers books are like. I mean, there’s a lot of action, yeah—and Combiner Wars definitely has some serious fighting—but a lot more personal interactions and political machinations go on than somebody might expect. I think word of mouth has spread about what we’re doing in these books, and hopefully something like Combiner Wars will give new readers a good place to take a look at this universe.

[...]

What do you want to do after Combiner Wars? Windblade Returns has been confirmed to not just be a miniseries, but little more besides that has been stated.

MS: That’s by design. Actually, the comic is named Transformers: Windblade; “Windblade Returns” was just a title card put up to announce our comeback. And we haven’t said much about it because Combiner Wars is so linked in with Windblade’s story that saying too much could spoil this event. I will tell you one thing. There’s this old saying I keep thinking of as I write it: “God never gives you more than you can handle.” Windblade is a lot stronger than she was when we first introduced her, but that just means her problems have grown that much bigger with her. I want to believe that Windblade really can build a better future for Cybertron and Caminus. But, as a writer, it’s my job to push her as hard as possible and see if she actually does.

JB: The next set of issues of Transformers deals with the ramifications of what happens in Combiner Wars back on Earth, and the rest of our solar system. With the changes in CW, we’ll see Arcee taking on a new role, and get some good Cosmos stuff, finally. And see what happened to Kup when he was in the Dead Universe. Plus, somebody will return. I won’t say who.

Re: Writers Talk "Combiner Wars" Event, Transformers Gender Identity & More, Plus Preview Art (1656846)
Posted by shockblast2 on February 27th, 2015 @ 2:20pm CST

"There are Transformers who are inherently male and inherently female"

One of the most MORONIC statements I have ever heard from the lips of a human being in general. Robots do not have penises or vaginas, nor do they breed. This ideology just totally baffles me. Nothing more than an excuse to a) add tits to a robots to draw in teenage hormone machines and b) to try to insultingly draw in female Transformer fans for more revenue. Like they never liked the Transformers before Windblade was defecated out of the minds of "transformers fans".

Re: Writers Talk "Combiner Wars" Event, Transformers Gender Identity & More, Plus Preview Art (1656853)
Posted by SW's SilverHammer on February 27th, 2015 @ 2:49pm CST

shockblast2 wrote:"There are Transformers who are inherently male and inherently female"

One of the most MORONIC statements I have ever heard from the lips of a human being in general. Robots do not have penises or vaginas, nor do they breed. This ideology just totally baffles me. Nothing more than an excuse to a) add tits to a robots to draw in teenage hormone machines and b) to try to insultingly draw in female Transformer fans for more revenue. Like they never liked the Transformers before Windblade was defecated out of the minds of "transformers fans".

Yeah, and why does Jazz sound black? Just hasblow appealing to the PC agenda; trying to force African Americans into the lime light; and exploit them when all he is; is a minstral show [-(

(all of that is sarcasm BTWs)

Re: Writers Talk "Combiner Wars" Event, Transformers Gender Identity & More, Plus Preview Art (1656858)
Posted by snavej on February 27th, 2015 @ 2:54pm CST

The most inherent thing about Transformers is their ability to change their body shape, hence the name! It would be more natural for them to change their shape regularly so that they could appear male, female or something else altogether. Different shapes are useful for different activities. They might be seen as true 'gender benders'! It might seem weird to humans etc. but perfectly normal to Transformers. [Lou Reed's 'Transformer' album, anyone?!]

Re: Writers Talk "Combiner Wars" Event, Transformers Gender Identity & More, Plus Preview Art (1656862)
Posted by shockblast2 on February 27th, 2015 @ 3:13pm CST

SW's SilverHammer wrote:
shockblast2 wrote:"There are Transformers who are inherently male and inherently female"

One of the most MORONIC statements I have ever heard from the lips of a human being in general. Robots do not have penises or vaginas, nor do they breed. This ideology just totally baffles me. Nothing more than an excuse to a) add tits to a robots to draw in teenage hormone machines and b) to try to insultingly draw in female Transformer fans for more revenue. Like they never liked the Transformers before Windblade was defecated out of the minds of "transformers fans".

Yeah, and why does Jazz sound black? Just hasblow appealing to the PC agenda; trying to force African Americans into the lime light; and exploit them when all he is; is a minstral show (all of that is sarcasm BTWs)

Sound "black"?

WOW.

Re: Writers Talk "Combiner Wars" Event, Transformers Gender Identity & More, Plus Preview Art (1656864)
Posted by Evil Eye on February 27th, 2015 @ 3:15pm CST

You do know that Jazz was voiced by the very black Scatman Crothers, right?

Re: Writers Talk "Combiner Wars" Event, Transformers Gender Identity & More, Plus Preview Art (1656865)
Posted by shockblast2 on February 27th, 2015 @ 3:15pm CST

snavej wrote:The most inherent thing about Transformers is their ability to change their body shape, hence the name! It would be more natural for them to change their shape regularly so that they could appear male, female or something else altogether. Different shapes are useful for different activities. They might be seen as true 'gender benders'! It might seem weird to humans etc. but perfectly normal to Transformers. [Lou Reed's 'Transformer' album, anyone?!]

Transformers are combat robots. They would have no reason to appear to be male or female. So, it is more "natural" to try to be a certain gender to make yourself "blend in" even tough youa re a 15ft walking and talking robot??? :shock:

Re: Writers Talk "Combiner Wars" Event, Transformers Gender Identity & More, Plus Preview Art (1656867)
Posted by shockblast2 on February 27th, 2015 @ 3:18pm CST

Delta Magnus wrote:You do know that Jazz was voiced by the very black Scatman Crothers, right?

They didn't pick him because he was black or because they thought he liked hip hop or something.........what in the hell???? "Very black"? WTF does that mean???

Some of you have some seriously effed up ideologies that are really based in racism. They chose Scatman because of his musical background and his voice. Nothing more.

Re: Writers Talk "Combiner Wars" Event, Transformers Gender Identity & More, Plus Preview Art (1656868)
Posted by Evil Eye on February 27th, 2015 @ 3:20pm CST

Literally what?

Re: Writers Talk "Combiner Wars" Event, Transformers Gender Identity & More, Plus Preview Art (1656869)
Posted by snavej on February 27th, 2015 @ 3:24pm CST

There are times when Transformers are not fighting. They do perform other tasks. In IDW, the main war is over but some battles continue.

Some Transformers can do 'mass shifting'. Nearly all Transformers are able to attach/detach parts and thus change size in a more conventional way.

With regard to gender, it has been shown that there are many gendered races in the same galaxy as the Transformers. Appearing male, female or other genders is possibly an attempt to curry favour with those races.

Re: Writers Talk "Combiner Wars" Event, Transformers Gender Identity & More, Plus Preview Art (1656873)
Posted by CrankyOldTruck on February 27th, 2015 @ 3:31pm CST

Delta Magnus wrote:You do know that Jazz was voiced by the very black Scatman Crothers, right?

And you did read the fine print at the bottom of his post saying that it was sarcasm, right?
He knows full well what he was getting at and who voiced Jazz?

shockblast2 wrote:"There are Transformers who are inherently male and inherently female"

One of the most MORONIC statements I have ever heard from the lips of a human being in general. Robots do not have penises or vaginas, nor do they breed. This ideology just totally baffles me. Nothing more than an excuse to a) add tits to a robots to draw in teenage hormone machines and b) to try to insultingly draw in female Transformer fans for more revenue. Like they never liked the Transformers before Windblade was defecated out of the minds of "transformers fans".

I can't wait to watch you get thrown into a pit with 50 trans-genders and get your ass kicked.
You so totally missed the point of what they were trying to say that it goes beyond pathetic.
It's obvious that the only thing you are capable of comprehending is the pictures of Giant F'ing Robots blowing sh** up and that anything on a half-way adult level is incomprehensible

Re: Writers Talk "Combiner Wars" Event, Transformers Gender Identity & More, Plus Preview Art (1656875)
Posted by shockblast2 on February 27th, 2015 @ 3:39pm CST

CrankyOldTruck wrote:
Delta Magnus wrote:You do know that Jazz was voiced by the very black Scatman Crothers, right?

And you did read the fine print at the bottom of his post saying that it was sarcasm, right?
He knows full well what he was getting at and who voiced Jazz?

shockblast2 wrote:"There are Transformers who are inherently male and inherently female"

One of the most MORONIC statements I have ever heard from the lips of a human being in general. Robots do not have penises or vaginas, nor do they breed. This ideology just totally baffles me. Nothing more than an excuse to a) add tits to a robots to draw in teenage hormone machines and b) to try to insultingly draw in female Transformer fans for more revenue. Like they never liked the Transformers before Windblade was defecated out of the minds of "transformers fans".

I can't wait to watch you get thrown into a pit with 50 trans-genders and get your ass kicked.
You so totally missed the point of what they were trying to say that it goes beyond pathetic.
It's obvious that the only thing you are capable of comprehending is the pictures of Giant F'ing Robots blowing sh** up and that anything on a half-way adult level is incomprehensible

Yeah, like I would take anything you have to say with any sort of respect. The only time you show up here is to troll this site with your irrelevant rants about how much you hate current transformers. What sort of "point" is made by calling someone "very black" or saying they "sound black". That is racist. Period. There is no sort of glossing over or ridiculous point to be made by saying something like that.

You pop in on this site from time to time to rant like some teenage fan boy, being in your forties, and you call me pathetic? :lol:

Worry about yourself buddy. You obviously have serious issues. besides the fact you have some sort of sick obsession with trans genders, since I never mentioned anything about that. :-?

Re: Writers Talk "Combiner Wars" Event, Transformers Gender Identity & More, Plus Preview Art (1656877)
Posted by SW's SilverHammer on February 27th, 2015 @ 3:42pm CST

Another super racist shocker, Optimus Prime he sounds like a white guy from canada; i think that might be because, last time I checked; Peter Cullen is a white dude from Quebec :-$

Also trans gender people, or any person of the like, they people too.

Re: Writers Talk "Combiner Wars" Event, Transformers Gender Identity & More, Plus Preview Art (1656878)
Posted by That_Guy on February 27th, 2015 @ 3:42pm CST

Looking at the humanistic part of the storyline seems they're adding in topics that are running rampant today. Interesting to see another being mirror our current issues. Also noticed 13 colonies. Hmmmmmmm what started out as 13 colonies that had a large country gives orders from a far thag is currently having issues similar to cybertroon. Or am I reading too much into it? :-?

Re: Writers Talk "Combiner Wars" Event, Transformers Gender Identity & More, Plus Preview Art (1656882)
Posted by Evil Eye on February 27th, 2015 @ 3:58pm CST

CrankyOldTruck wrote:
Delta Magnus wrote:You do know that Jazz was voiced by the very black Scatman Crothers, right?

And you did read the fine print at the bottom of his post saying that it was sarcasm, right?
He knows full well what he was getting at and who voiced Jazz?

I was responding to Shockblast actually.

Re: Writers Talk "Combiner Wars" Event, Transformers Gender Identity & More, Plus Preview Art (1656884)
Posted by shockblast2 on February 27th, 2015 @ 4:05pm CST

SW's SilverHammer wrote:Another super racist shocker, Optimus Prime he sounds like a white guy from canada; i think that might be because, last time I checked; Peter Cullen is a white dude from Quebec

Also trans gender people, or any person of the like, they people too.

Again, trying to gloss over your ideology with silly comparisons will not hide the fact that you are making racist statements.

Re: Writers Talk "Combiner Wars" Event, Transformers Gender Identity & More, Plus Preview Art (1656886)
Posted by SW's SilverHammer on February 27th, 2015 @ 4:11pm CST

shockblast2 wrote:
SW's SilverHammer wrote:Another super racist shocker, Optimus Prime he sounds like a white guy from canada; i think that might be because, last time I checked; Peter Cullen is a white dude from Quebec

Also trans gender people, or any person of the like, they people too.

Again, trying to gloss over your ideology with silly comparisons will not hide the fact that you are making racist statements.

A black guy sounds like a black guy; a white guy sounding like a white guy; and people are people. Look is it putting people in boxes? yeah; but it's true, the same way a mexican guy, likeums myself; sounds like a mexican guy.

Re: Writers Talk "Combiner Wars" Event, Transformers Gender Identity & More, Plus Preview Art (1656889)
Posted by Downbeat on February 27th, 2015 @ 4:17pm CST

God forbid the mechanical alien race that mostly consists of bipedal, humanoid robots with faces, four fingers and thumbs, have other characteristics just like humanity have gender, too.

(Hello, I'm Rachel Stevens, the interviewer for this piece.)

Re: Writers Talk "Combiner Wars" Event, Transformers Gender Identity & More, Plus Preview Art (1656890)
Posted by Bounti76 on February 27th, 2015 @ 4:25pm CST

shockblast2 wrote:"There are Transformers who are inherently male and inherently female"

One of the most MORONIC statements I have ever heard from the lips of a human being in general. Robots do not have penises or vaginas, nor do they breed. This ideology just totally baffles me. Nothing more than an excuse to a) add tits to a robots to draw in teenage hormone machines and b) to try to insultingly draw in female Transformer fans for more revenue. Like they never liked the Transformers before Windblade was defecated out of the minds of "transformers fans".

They (Transformers) don't have human sexual organs, that's true. But having several transgender friends, I can tell you, being inherently male or inherently female goes beyond what you have in your pants. Gender is not all about that. You can be biologically male but actually be female, and vice-versa. A big part of gender is who you see yourself AS, not about who you want to go to bed with (which is what sexuality is).

Debate aside, I'm excited to see more fembots and differently shaped Transformers rather than just the usual humanoids.

Re: Writers Talk "Combiner Wars" Event, Transformers Gender Identity & More, Plus Preview Art (1656894)
Posted by Randomhero on February 27th, 2015 @ 4:37pm CST

All this complaining and yet the only thing I took from this whole interview is Scoop has the enigma of combination and has brought it to Starscream. Well now we know how issue 39 ends.

Re: Writers Talk "Combiner Wars" Event, Transformers Gender Identity & More, Plus Preview Art (1656908)
Posted by Deadput on February 27th, 2015 @ 5:14pm CST

shockblast2 wrote:"There are Transformers who are inherently male and inherently female"

One of the most MORONIC statements I have ever heard from the lips of a human being in general. Robots do not have penises or vaginas, nor do they breed. This ideology just totally baffles me. Nothing more than an excuse to a) add tits to a robots to draw in teenage hormone machines and b) to try to insultingly draw in female Transformer fans for more revenue. Like they never liked the Transformers before Windblade was defecated out of the minds of "transformers fans".

This post right here is some of the most pathetic amounts of fan rage I have ever seen.

I suck at making arguments but you sir baffle me in measures beyond disbelieve.

Not saying you have to like it but the reason your getting angry is just pointing fingers and making up bull based on your opinion.

Re: Writers Talk "Combiner Wars" Event, Transformers Gender Identity & More, Plus Preview Art (1656909)
Posted by Deadput on February 27th, 2015 @ 5:16pm CST

Randomhero wrote:All this complaining and yet the only thing I took from this whole interview is Scoop has the enigma of combination and has brought it to Starscream. Well now we know how issue 39 ends.

Why the hell does Scoop support Starscream again cause I can't remember besides something to do with a prophecy?

Re: Writers Talk "Combiner Wars" Event, Transformers Gender Identity & More, Plus Preview Art (1656927)
Posted by Peridot on February 27th, 2015 @ 6:30pm CST

shockblast2 wrote:"There are Transformers who are inherently male and inherently female"

One of the most MORONIC statements I have ever heard from the lips of a human being in general. Robots do not have penises or vaginas, nor do they breed. This ideology just totally baffles me. Nothing more than an excuse to a) add tits to a robots to draw in teenage hormone machines and b) to try to insultingly draw in female Transformer fans for more revenue. Like they never liked the Transformers before Windblade was defecated out of the minds of "transformers fans".

Claiming that the existence of female Transformers at all, no matter how unsexualized, is solely meant for male teenagers says a lot more about you and your maturity level than it does IDW. Like, do "female" and "woman" automatically mean gratuitous T&A to you? WTH, dude.
And it's not an insult to female fans. It's embracing us and acknowledging us as part of the fandom, which is really great!
I also find it funny that the only time you defend female fans is when their cause just happens to run into your entitlement. It's like FOX News defending gay gun owners. You don't actually care about us. You're using us as a prop to legitimize your complaints.

Re: Writers Talk "Combiner Wars" Event, Transformers Gender Identity & More, Plus Preview Art (1656937)
Posted by Randomhero on February 27th, 2015 @ 7:17pm CST

mirageandjazz1197 wrote:
Randomhero wrote:All this complaining and yet the only thing I took from this whole interview is Scoop has the enigma of combination and has brought it to Starscream. Well now we know how issue 39 ends.

Why the hell does Scoop support Starscream again cause I can't remember besides something to do with a prophecy?

Scoop is just a messed up dude. Probably sides with him the same reason Rattrap does, everyone has an angle

Re: Writers Talk "Combiner Wars" Event, Transformers Gender Identity & More, Plus Preview Art (1656939)
Posted by weebot17 on February 27th, 2015 @ 7:22pm CST

Aww... I was hoping for a Junkion combiner

Re: Writers Talk "Combiner Wars" Event, Transformers Gender Identity & More, Plus Preview Art (1656940)
Posted by SW's SilverHammer on February 27th, 2015 @ 7:25pm CST

Randomhero wrote:
mirageandjazz1197 wrote:
Randomhero wrote:All this complaining and yet the only thing I took from this whole interview is Scoop has the enigma of combination and has brought it to Starscream. Well now we know how issue 39 ends.

Why the hell does Scoop support Starscream again cause I can't remember besides something to do with a prophecy?

Scoop is just a messed up dude. Probably sides with him the same reason Rattrap does, everyone has an angle

Scoop's like the cybertronian equivalent of a bible thumper. Scoop still believes in Starscream's Primus-designated stature.

Re: Writers Talk "Combiner Wars" Event, Transformers Gender Identity & More, Plus Preview Art (1656945)
Posted by Va'al on February 27th, 2015 @ 7:49pm CST

shockblast2 wrote:"There are Transformers who are inherently male and inherently female"

One of the most MORONIC statements I have ever heard from the lips of a human being in general. Robots do not have penises or vaginas, nor do they breed. This ideology just totally baffles me. Nothing more than an excuse to a) add tits to a robots to draw in teenage hormone machines and b) to try to insultingly draw in female Transformer fans for more revenue. Like they never liked the Transformers before Windblade was defecated out of the minds of "transformers fans".

There are ways of disagreeing with points made by other fans, users, posters, creators and people in general. Yours above is an example of how that should not be done.

I would appreciate, as a user and moderator, if you refrained from insulting fans, creators and anyone who is engaging in the discussion by sweeping us all under the term moronic, considering our efforts a 'defecation', and trivialising a part of the fandom in the same sentence. Thank you.

This applies to everyone in the thread. There will be no personal attacks, as stated clearly by the rules (and as the basics of common decency and civility dictate). Any further iterations of this behaviour will result in a warning for the perpetrators.

Re: Writers Talk "Combiner Wars" Event, Transformers Gender Identity & More, Plus Preview Art (1656966)
Posted by steve2275 on February 27th, 2015 @ 8:43pm CST

like i said at cbr
http://community.comicbookresources.com ... y-amp-More

eh i dont care
i just buy em
and watch prime whoop ass

Re: Writers Talk "Combiner Wars" Event, Transformers Gender Identity & More, Plus Preview Art (1656986)
Posted by padfoo on February 27th, 2015 @ 9:44pm CST

SW's SilverHammer wrote:
shockblast2 wrote:
SW's SilverHammer wrote:Another super racist shocker, Optimus Prime he sounds like a white guy from canada; i think that might be because, last time I checked; Peter Cullen is a white dude from Quebec

Also trans gender people, or any person of the like, they people too.

Again, trying to gloss over your ideology with silly comparisons will not hide the fact that you are making racist statements.

A black guy sounds like a black guy; a white guy sounding like a white guy; and people are people. Look is it putting people in boxes? yeah; but it's true, the same way a mexican guy, likeums myself; sounds like a mexican guy.

Wow, people don't sound a particular way because of the color of their skin. It has to do with a whole host of things that I really don't want to get into, such as socioeconomic status, culture....... Transformers were always given certain voice types and accents because they were cool. It was never meant to be a reflection of human society where everyone is in a box.
I love Transformers because they are so alien, and different. You could have a character with only a glowing red dot on a head and one arm talking to another guy who also transforms into a gun who has a full face with two hands and they all work together.
I think we all need to remember the things that make this brand so enduring and fun and one of those has always been diversity. I just want more great stories and awesome toys and hopefully this news will bring more of both.

Re: Writers Talk "Combiner Wars" Event, Transformers Gender Identity & More, Plus Preview Art (1657018)
Posted by Nemesis Maximo on February 27th, 2015 @ 11:39pm CST

shockblast2 wrote:Grrr new ideas different things nerd rage it's not real Transformers ragh

Hey man, if I give you a crazy straw, can you go suck the joy out of some other fandom? Try Power Rangers.

Re: Writers Talk "Combiner Wars" Event, Transformers Gender Identity & More, Plus Preview Art (1657020)
Posted by SW's SilverHammer on February 27th, 2015 @ 11:46pm CST

padfoo wrote:
SW's SilverHammer wrote:
shockblast2 wrote:
SW's SilverHammer wrote:Another super racist shocker, Optimus Prime he sounds like a white guy from canada; i think that might be because, last time I checked; Peter Cullen is a white dude from Quebec

Also trans gender people, or any person of the like, they people too.

Again, trying to gloss over your ideology with silly comparisons will not hide the fact that you are making racist statements.

A black guy sounds like a black guy; a white guy sounding like a white guy; and people are people. Look is it putting people in boxes? yeah; but it's true, the same way a mexican guy, likeums myself; sounds like a mexican guy.

Wow, people don't sound a particular way because of the color of their skin. It has to do with a whole host of things that I really don't want to get into, such as socioeconomic status, culture....... Transformers were always given certain voice types and accents because they were cool. It was never meant to be a reflection of human society where everyone is in a box.
I love Transformers because they are so alien, and different. You could have a character with only a glowing red dot on a head and one arm talking to another guy who also transforms into a gun who has a full face with two hands and they all work together.
I think we all need to remember the things that make this brand so enduring and fun and one of those has always been diversity. I just want more great stories and awesome toys and hopefully this news will bring more of both.

I'ght i'll let you on to a secrety secret; i'm trying to piss off Shockblast by bringing race into this seeing as he's the warrior for social justice. I.E i'm trying to be a dick :-$

Re: Writers Talk "Combiner Wars" Event, Transformers Gender Identity & More, Plus Preview Art (1657144)
Posted by Stumpybot on February 28th, 2015 @ 10:44am CST

SW's SilverHammer wrote:I'ght i'll let you on to a secrety secret; i'm trying to piss off Shockblast by bringing race into this seeing as he's the warrior for social justice. I.E i'm trying to be a dick

Ive got to be honest, Id given up with interacting on any level with this fandom outside my friends, but then this subject popped up...

Personally, I applaud your efforts, thank you.

Sadly some of the other comments here have been so insane I cant believe some of you people exist in the real world.

Personally, I dont care if its female or male, it will be something NEW, so Im fine with it. Combiner wars has entertained me to the point i will support it to the conclusion. And to hell with the people that think it should pump out nothing but G1 accurate combiners one after another with unique molds all round. They have no clue.

But, inspired by Fox news and their false reporting, I would like to throw this in as my 2 cents.

Transformers have no gender

FALSE. It varies from continuity to continuity but there are a LOT of females dotted through the franchise.

This is all part of some kind of feminist agenda

FALSE. I have no words for the dumb.

99.9999999999999% of transformer fans are male

FALSE. theres plenty, and i mean plenty, of women of all ages, they just dont shout their gender from the rooftops every time they post.

This will ruin transformers with its fanwank, equal opportunities propaganda...

FALSE. If this appears in comics for more than an issue I'll be shocked.

Transformers have no child stage (or contextual equivalent)

FALSE. Both Beast Wars, original RID and Animated alone disprove that

I understand that some people round this fandom are just wilfully under educated on the history of the franchise, and that some get SO WORKED UP that they blow things out of all proportion and that is truly sad. But some fans arent wired up the same way and that is ok, you cant reason with them, you cant explain that after 30 years a franchise must evolve, that subtle nuance is sometimes a nice change to BANGBANGSHOOTYEXPLODINGROBOTS!!!!!! Or that G1 was 3 decades ago, stands proud but what happens now in IDW is not raping the franchise or the fans. In fact I dare one of them to make such an argument to a rape victim (sorry, makes me sick when people us that term).

As for women and other ethinic backgrounds in the franchise, its called diversity, its been there since day 1, this is just a new directionwe may take, you may enjoy it, but let it happen, its good for you and its good for others, and if you dont like it, if it offends you so bad... walk away and ignore it. I know you think you cant, but you can.

Theres a tumblr page a friend recently showed me some snippets from fans debating this issue, its truly sad. Moderately horrifying. And we, as a community, need to grow up.

Whatever you own private 'head canon' is, its yours, but transformers arent real, the established fiction can evolve, y'all need to appreciate or ignore, there is no debate needed on that subject.

Re: Writers Talk "Combiner Wars" Event, Transformers Gender Identity & More, Plus Preview Art (1657211)
Posted by Optimizzy on February 28th, 2015 @ 1:53pm CST

Metro Prime wrote:
And it's not an insult to female fans. It's embracing us and acknowledging us as part of the fandom, which is really great!

this^

Re: Writers Talk "Combiner Wars" Event, Transformers Gender Identity & More, Plus Preview Art (1658294)
Posted by snavej on March 3rd, 2015 @ 2:48pm CST

That_Guy wrote:Looking at the humanistic part of the storyline seems they're adding in topics that are running rampant today. Interesting to see another being mirror our current issues. Also noticed 13 colonies. Hmmmmmmm what started out as 13 colonies that had a large country gives orders from a far thag is currently having issues similar to cybertroon. Or am I reading too much into it?

Britain and the USA.
Some say there were 13 tribes of ancient Israel.
Battlestar Galactica also had 13 colonies.

Re: Writers Talk "Combiner Wars" Event, Transformers Gender Identity & More, Plus Preview Art (1658367)
Posted by Va'al on March 3rd, 2015 @ 5:03pm CST

The current use of 13 in Transformers fiction is, however, linked to the Thirteen Primes, as first seen in the Aligned continuity.

Re: Writers Talk "Combiner Wars" Event, Transformers Gender Identity & More, Plus Preview Art (1658391)
Posted by That_Guy on March 3rd, 2015 @ 6:08pm CST

Va'al wrote:The current use of 13 in Transformers fiction is, however, linked to the Thirteen Primes, as first seen in the Aligned continuity.

I.E. I looked too much into it, can't believe I forgot about that. :BANG_HEAD:

Re: Writers Talk "Combiner Wars" Event, Transformers Gender Identity & More, Plus Preview Art (1658612)
Posted by Va'al on March 4th, 2015 @ 7:58am CST

IDW message boards

IDW boards

Hey everyone!

With The Combiner Wars about to begin, I thought I'd open a thread here where I can comment and answer any questions you might have. This will be the only thread that I'll be checking, so if you've got a question for me please post it here!

When a new issue comes out, this thread will officially enter into all-out spoilers for that issue and I'll speak freely about it. But until then, I'll do my best to refrain from anything spoilerish. Also, feel free to ask any lingering questions you might have about Primacy or anything else I've worked on.

Looking forward to chatting with everyone again!

-Livio

There is a bit of an explanation for Menasor looking different. The Stunticons roster has changed, slightly. One new member. Also- it's been so long since we've seen Menasor, and he's basically being created by a completely different source than last time, that I think it makes sense that he might look a bit different.
There's no Galvatronus in Combiner Wars, nor are Galvatron or Cyclonus a part of it. I don't know if something is coming with them in the aftermath, but as for right now they are not part of the main six part Combiner Wars story.
Aside from a brief cameo, the Lost Light doesn't appear in Combiner Wars. Haven't seen that solicit, but it probably refers to something after.
There's one more [Combiner other than Menasor, Devastator, Defensor and Superion], but I can't say who it is yet.
Starscream is a big part of it, but there are a lot of different agendas at play. Prowl is also a gigantic part of it. And a gigantic threat.

Re: Writers Talk "Combiner Wars" Event, Transformers Gender Identity & More, Plus Preview Art (1658623)
Posted by ZeroWolf on March 4th, 2015 @ 8:35am CST

The news of prowl as a gigantic threat pleases me as does the news that cyclonus doesn't combine in this arc at least (maybe he's from GI Joe Transformers mini series)

Re: Writers Talk "Combiner Wars" Event, Transformers Gender Identity & More, Plus Preview Art (1658645)
Posted by Yweggo on March 4th, 2015 @ 9:06am CST

Only one new member? So is it Offroad replacing Wildrider with Blackjack being part of Motormaster? Or is Wildrider still part of the team and Blackjack is the new guy? OR is Offroad Wildrider's new body (and Blackjack is still the new guy?

Personally I'm leaning towards the first option based on the cover art we've seen so far.

Re: Writers Talk "Combiner Wars" Event, Transformers Gender Identity & More, Plus Preview Art (1661102)
Posted by Ironhidensh on March 9th, 2015 @ 8:58pm CDT

I just hope Starscream can finally be a badass.

Re: Writers Talk "Combiner Wars" Event, Transformers Gender Identity & More, Plus Preview Art (1661175)
Posted by Va'al on March 10th, 2015 @ 5:25am CDT

Ironhidensh wrote:I just hope Starscream can finally be a badass.

We was really quite good in Windblade #4!

Re: Writers Talk "Combiner Wars" Event, Transformers Gender Identity & More, Plus Preview Art (1661177)
Posted by Va'al on March 10th, 2015 @ 5:57am CDT

As is by now customary, we have a very brief preview of the first issue of IDW Publishing's Combiner Wars event, via iTunes thanks to Mariel Romero, which takes place in The Transformers #39: Opening Salvo! Check out the pages by Livio Ramondelli below, which we have ancountered already in the sneak peeks we got previously. Are you ready for this storyline?

OPENING SALVO! The Autobots and Decepticons' uneasy peace is threatened by the flames of war! STARSCREAM -- ruler of CYBERTRON -- makes contact with WINDBLADE’S homeworld -- and the only defense against a new CYBERTRONIAN EMPIRE are COMBINERS -- multiple CYBERTRONIANS forming together into huge, dangerous forms! STARSCREAM’s scheming collides with WINDBLADE’s past! OPTIMUS PRIME takes control! Who will be the first Combiner to strike? Continues in this month’s TRANSFORMERS: WINDBLADE -- COMBINER WARS #1

Re: Writers Talk "Combiner Wars" Event, Transformers Gender Identity & More, Plus Preview Art (1661179)
Posted by steve2275 on March 10th, 2015 @ 6:05am CDT

cant wait till next week

Click here to view additional comments about this topic at the Energon Pub Forums ...