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IDW's Chris Ryall Talks "Infestation 2"

Posted by El Duque Oct 14, 2011 at 3:11pm CDT 47,795 views
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CBR caught up with IDW's Chief Creative Officer and Editor-in-Chief Chris Ryall to discuss their recently announced "Infestation 2", which will introduce Lovecraftian mythos into the now magic free IDW universe. "Infestation 2" will also mark IDW's return the "Hearts of Steel" timeline. Click here to read the full interview.

The Transformers story, we were actually able to do something fun. One of the first things we did when we got the Transformers license in 2006, I wanted to do these series of miniseries called "Evolutions," which were basically like Transformers Elseworlds. The first one we did was with Chuck Dixon, set back in the 1800s, and was sort of a steampunk take on Transformers. Then that turned out to be the only one of those series that we ever did, for various reasons. But now we're able to go revisit that. I've had people asking me for five straight years, are we ever gonna see that version of those characters again, we really like what you did. And up until now, I've always had to say no, but now we've found a way to bring them back, as well. So it's nice that something people have been wanting for the last half-decade is now able to surface again.

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Re: IDW's Chris Ryall Talks "Infestation 2" (view post)
Comment by Bumblevivisector Oct 14, 2011
So the Transformers might literally meet H.P. Lovecraft, huh? Well, Lovecraft's monsters sort of blurred together our ideas of aliens and demons before pop-culture distinctions between Horror and SciFi were well defined, and TFs would also be somewhat indistinct from Lovecraft's ancient, incomprehensible beings, so it's worth a shot.

What I hope for most, is that this story firmly introduces Quintessons into the IDWverse (I'm about a year behind on the comics; this hasn't happened outside of hints in Spotlight: Wheelie, has it?) I've long suspected their egg shape and 5-point radial symmetry was based on the Elder things, and that Flint Dille was drawing from 'In the Mountains of Madness' when he gave Rodimus Prime the unwelcome revelation that Transformers were created by the Quints in '5 Faces of Darkness'. Also, 'The Dweller in the Depths' plays like a full blown Lovecraftian Transformers episode, even if there's no actual mythos name dropping, so hopefully someone at IDW has studied it (and a few other Season 3 eps) very carefully.
Re: IDW's Chris Ryall Talks "Infestation 2" (view post)
Comment by El Duque Oct 14, 2011
Bumblevivisector wrote:So the Transformers might literally meet H.P. Lovecraft, huh? Well, Lovecraft's monsters sort of blurred together our ideas of aliens and demons before pop-culture distinctions between Horror and SciFi were well defined, and TFs would also be somewhat indistinct from Lovecraft's ancient, incomprehensible beings, so it's worth a shot.

What I hope for most, is that this story firmly introduces Quintessons into the IDWverse (I'm about a year behind on the comics; this hasn't happened outside of hints in Spotlight: Wheelie, has it?) I've long suspected their egg shape and 5-point radial symmetry was based on the Elder things, and that Flint Dille was drawing from 'In the Mountains of Madness' when he gave Rodimus Prime the unwelcome revelation that Transformers were created by the Quints in '5 Faces of Darkness'. Also, 'The Dweller in the Depths' plays like a full blown Lovecraftian Transformers episode, even if there's no actual mythos name dropping, so hopefully someone at IDW has studied it (and a few other Season 3 eps) very carefully.


So far the only Quint reference is the one you mentioned in Spotlight Wheelie, and I agree with your points.
Re: IDW's Chris Ryall Talks "Infestation 2" (view post)
Comment by Heavy B Oct 14, 2011
DAMN IT, I thought chris was gonna apologize for the first infestation. and Shane McCarthy
Re: IDW's Chris Ryall Talks "Infestation 2" (view post)
Comment by Stormrider Oct 14, 2011
Lovecraft and Hearts of Steel - two of my favorite mythos/storylines. I may have to check this out even though I am not a big fan of multi-universe cross overs.


Bumblevivisector wrote:So the Transformers might literally meet H.P. Lovecraft, huh? Well, Lovecraft's monsters sort of blurred together our ideas of aliens and demons before pop-culture distinctions between Horror and SciFi were well defined, and TFs would also be somewhat indistinct from Lovecraft's ancient, incomprehensible beings, so it's worth a shot.

What I hope for most, is that this story firmly introduces Quintessons into the IDWverse (I'm about a year behind on the comics; this hasn't happened outside of hints in Spotlight: Wheelie, has it?) I've long suspected their egg shape and 5-point radial symmetry was based on the Elder things, and that Flint Dille was drawing from 'In the Mountains of Madness' when he gave Rodimus Prime the unwelcome revelation that Transformers were created by the Quints in '5 Faces of Darkness'. Also, 'The Dweller in the Depths' plays like a full blown Lovecraftian Transformers episode, even if there's no actual mythos name dropping, so hopefully someone at IDW has studied it (and a few other Season 3 eps) very carefully.



That's a great idea.
Re: IDW's Chris Ryall Talks "Infestation 2" (view post)
Comment by El Duque Oct 14, 2011
Optimus Prime vs. Cthulu? It's unlikely that this fantasy battle has popped up in the minds of many fans, but apparently that's what IDW's "Infestation 2" has in store for us. As we know from the interview with IDW's Chris Ryall that was posted earlier today "Infestation 2" will introduce Lovecraftian mythos into the IDW universe, which will include the Transfomers "Hearts of Steel" timeline. Now artist Guido Guidi has treated fans with a sneak peek at one of his "Infestation 2" covers featuring Hearts of Steel Optimus Prime vs. Cthulu. Check out the awesome black and white cover art mirrored below from Guidi's deviantART page.


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Re: IDW's Chris Ryall Talks "Infestation 2" (view post)
Comment by griftimus prime Oct 15, 2011
very nice
Re: IDW's Chris Ryall Talks "Infestation 2" (view post)
Comment by Jaw Crusher Oct 15, 2011
El Duque wrote:Optimus Prime vs. Cthulu? It's unlikely that this fantasy battle has popped up in the minds of many fans, but apparently that's what IDW's "Infestation 2" has in store for us. As we know from the interview with IDW's Chris Ryall that was posted earlier today "Infestation 2" will introduce Lovecraftian mythos into the IDW universe, which will include the Transfomers "Hearts of Steel" timeline. Now artist Guido Guidi has treated fans with a sneak peek at one of his "Infestation 2" covers featuring Hearts of Steel Optimus Prime vs. Cthulu. Check out the awesome black and white cover art mirrored below from Guidi's deviantART page.


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I wonder if this means that HOS Optimus will actually have a role in the story. I mean, besides taking a nap. :roll:
Re: IDW's Chris Ryall Talks "Infestation 2" (view post)
Comment by Stormrider Oct 15, 2011
Sweet. I imagine this is going to be set in the Victorian era. Perhaps Arkham, MA will be used as the setting.
Re: IDW's Chris Ryall Talks "Infestation 2" (view post)
Comment by Lord Manhammer '74 Oct 16, 2011
I was thinking since Mr. Dille was also behind the creation of one of my favorite Hasbro franchise, the Inhumanoids, which looking at some the characters, Tendrill, the Langastoids, and the whole series draws its inspiration from Lovcraft's works. That it would be a good time to revive them for IDWverse Transformers books. Even last year's zombie INFESTATION, the Inhumanoids' very own Undead Horror, D-Compose, would've fit nicely into the event.
Re: IDW's Chris Ryall Talks "Infestation 2" (view post)
Comment by Lord Manhammer '74 Jan 21, 2012
The preview for the opening bookend to INFES2ATION, hitting the comic shelves next week on January 25.
http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=preview&id=11219
Re: IDW's Chris Ryall Talks "Infestation 2" (view post)
Comment by Lord Manhammer '74 Jan 21, 2012
The preview for the opening bookend to INFES2ATION, hitting the comic shelves next week on January 25.
http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=preview&id=11219
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