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Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Seibertron.com

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A Christmas Greeting from David Kaye

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David Kaye wrote:A little Transformers greeting from Beast Wars Megatron, Optimus (animated), Hardshell (TF Prime) and a quick visit from Clank from Insomniac Games 'Ratchet & Clank'
Merry Christmas kids!!!

Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye Ongoing #14 and #15 Covers

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well i got the go ahead from the boss that it was ok to post this up to show off, so thats what i'm doing
this is the lineart for the cover to issue 14 of MTMTE.
this cover is a bit different from the ones i normally do. i had lots of fun with it. basically in the solicitations for this comic, it tells of a characters with needles making the biggest mistake of his life. well if you put 2 and 2 together i think we can work out who the character is.
so we have chromedome and he's doing his special skill on overlord. good idea? i don't think so.
with this cover i wanted to give overlord a very psychotic look. i pleased with how it turned out
the awesomesauce of mr Josh Perez was used to color up this bad boy. i love how it turned out. all i said to him was i want it to look creepy. well i think he did that and more. i can't look at it for too long. it creeps me out
i know one of the things Josh wanted to do is make Overlords eyes greenish yellow instead of the standard red due to what chromedome is doing. his idea was if your haing your mind read, your eyes would be glowing a different color.
i like that idea. i know he added so much more into this cover then that, but i'll let him explain all that he did when he posts it up on his DA page.
well, back to work
enjoy

well this is full on action here
this is the cover to MTMTE 15. its basically everything that could go wrong with overlord on the ship happening. will it play out this way, who will know. you'll just have to pick up the issue to find out
poor ultra magnus. he's not having a good day. a gut punch and an arm ripped off. ratchet will have his work cut out for him. good thing they picked up a few more medics back in issue 5
so this cover has drift impaled by his own sword. brawn has one of his forearms chopped off, but is spoting a nice pair of brass knuckles so he can pay overlord back. rodimus is firing on overlord while skids is trying to hold onto him and get a head shot in. i wounder if he will???? in the background we have crosshairs, pointblank, and boos. i put them in there to show more of the crew of the lost light

this cover was colored by the ever so talented Joana Lafuente. i have to thank her ever so much for doing this. i kinda got this cover done at the last minute and she had to come in and really bust this out. now this is not a cover you want to have bust out in a short period of time, but she did it. she's a real trooper thanks a lot Joana

well, back to work
enjoy

Transformers 4 Casting Rumor - Jack Reynor

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ITFN wrote:Reynor will take over the lead role initially played by Shia LaBeouf, who starred in the original three films, which are based on the Marvel comic series. Reynor is expected to play the love interest of Mark Wahlberg’s character’s daughter.

James Roberts Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye Ongoing #12 Interview

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Q: Hi James. We’re at the end of your first year as writer on MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE. How have you found the experience so far?

JAMES ROBERTS: Thrilling and exhausting! Are we only on issue #12? Haven’t we reached the half-century yet?

Q: You obviously had a game plan from the first issue. Has this been tightly followed over this first year or have you had to deviate from it?

JAMES ROBERTS: I’ve deviated from it twice, most recently when writing issue #15 (which won’t be out until March 2013, but hey). What I’d intended to do with/to a character was no longer appealing because (a) that character’s personality had changed in the course of writing intervening issues, to the point where if he’d done what I’d intended for him to do it would have jarred; and (b) because it would have created a dead end in terms of telling the story. The second reason alone would have been sufficient to think again.

Second deviation: Krok was going to die (along with Flywheels) in #8 but I felt it would’ve been a waste.

I guess the 2012 ANNUAL was a deviation of sorts. We didn’t know it was going to happen until relatively late in the day. The crew was going to reach Crystal City in 2013, and Metrotitan was a late addition brought in consultation with editor and ROBOTS IN DISGUISE writer John Barber when we discussed how to link the two annuals.

Q: With the characters you’re spending time writing on, have you surprisingly found yourself drawn towards some than maybe you weren’t when you started?

JAMES ROBERTS: Oh yeah. Put Swerve and Whirl in that category. Swerve’s fun to write because he shoots his mouth off and forces others to react to him. Same goes for Whirl, come to think of it. Magnus is fun, too.

But I suppose I’m answering the wrong question – I’m saying which characters I enjoy writing. In terms of characters that I’m drawn towards, and feel a fondness for, I’d say Rewind, Chromedome and Tailgate.

Q: Who would you say has been the easiest character for you to write for?

JAMES ROBERTS: Swerve and Whirl are easy–relatively speaking, of course. I found Rodimus tricky in the lead up to writing issue #1, but that was a case of my needing to get a handle on him.

In terms of grappling with characters once the series was up and running, I guess Cyclonus presented some challenges. He’s stern and aloof and self-sufficient, and there’s only so many times you can have him staring moodily into space. But issues #12 and #13 are “his” as much as anyone else’s, and since then I feel I’ve got a proper handle on him – I know who he is now.

Q: Out of the first 12 issues, has there been any one script that you found particularly hard to break into a story?

JAMES ROBERTS: It’s more a case of breaking a story into a script, because most MTMTE stories would comfortably fit an annual. Issue #6 and the conclusion to “Shadowplay” (#11) were… challenging. Oh, and #13—there was so much going on in that one that I had to… well, wait until you read the issue.

Q: From the first 12 issues, which one story would you count has your personal best so far, and is there one you would change if given the chance?

JAMES ROBERTS: Wow, these questions!

I’m proud of the Delphi storyline (#4-5) because there’s material for about four separate stories in there, and I was pleased with how it meshed into one. “Shadowplay” came together pretty well, I thought – I was extremely worried about someone, somewhere guessing the identity of “Senator X” and it spreading across the internet.

But I think I said a while ago that with MTMTE I wanted to tell a good number of proper, self-contained standalone stories, and on that basis I think “Interiors” (from #6) is my favorite.

(By the way, if you’d allowed me to pick 2013 stories I’d have given a different answer.)

What would I change? Oh, lots. I try to make each issue the very best it can be, but I always think of things I wish I’d done differently. I think I’d tinker with #7 the most.

Q: How have you been enjoying the fan reaction to MTMTE when you go and attend conventions/events?

JAMES ROBERTS: It warms the cockles of my heart when I speak to people who enjoy the book – particularly when they’re fond of the characters. The comics and TV series and books I’ve enjoyed over the years have, for the most part, had a passionate and devoted following, as opposed to being quite liked by millions.

I speak to people who are passionate and devoted about MTMTE, and I’m over the moon. It absolutely spurs me on to make each issue, each story arc, better than what went before.

I’m only the writer, though. I was at a convention last August and I was sitting at the guest table between Nick Roche and Livio Ramondelli, both of whom had their wonderful artwork spread out in front of them. In front of me were recent issues of MTMTE. And this young chap – maybe 9 or 10 – loitered in front of me, looking at the issues, and in the end he asked if I’d drawn them. And I’d barely begun to say ‘No, I write them,’ when he’d spun on his heels and joined the back of Nick’s massive, snaking queue.

Q: You’re dealing with a very large cast of characters, and certain ones get more page time than others. We will be seeing more time dedicated to some of the others on the Lost Light crew?

JAMES ROBERTS: For the first year I wanted to focus attention on the core cast. But by the end of MTMTE’s first Transformers UK-style epic, starting in issue #16, there will be – how shall we say? – a few vacancies. There’s not a rotating cast as such, but you may be saying goodbye to some characters and hello to others.

Q: Can you give us one small tidbit, something that we can look forward to seeing during season 2 of MTMTE?

JAMES ROBERTS: If I can pull it off as intended, the aforementioned epic will pull together at least one dangling story thread from each of the first 12 issues.

To give you a more specific tidbit: the story in issue #14 features a prologue entitled, “A Functionist Calls.”

Transformers Spotlight: Orion Pax Creator Commentary with James Roberts

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PAGE 1- Orion Pax, tied to a rocket, is heading towards a city. What was the main motivation for telling this story at this point in Pax’s life?

JAMES ROBERTS: If you mean “this point” as in “this precise moment,” simple: it’s exciting! Nothing like starting off a book with a cliffhanger.

Also… this story takes place after “Chaos Theory” and “Shadowplay” [two James Roberts-written stories that ran in TRANSFORMERS #22-23 and TRANSFORMERS: MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE #9-11, both featuring Orion Pax as a main character] (not that you need to have read those two stories to enjoy this one). To date, while we’ve seen Pax get sucked into adventures, it’s always seemed as if he’s been sidetracked – like all the political shenanigans are a diversion from his day to day job as the Cybertronian equivalent of a police captain. With this SPOTLIGHT issue we jump forward in time a little, and by joining Pax as he’s strapped to a rocket stuck in a death-dive, we hopefully that he’s moving away from his old life and into the role of fully-fledged freedom-fighting action hero.

PAGE 2- Orion is given a new body by Wheeljack, now appearing as he did in SPOTLIGHT: BLURR. Was this a continuity issue you wanted to fix; since Pax has appeared in a different body in other issues set in the past?

JAMES ROBERTS: Sometimes, what appears to be quite a complex continuity problem can be fixed easily and simply. I think this is one of those times.

PAGE 3- Orion is told by Rung and others of possible issues that could arise from getting his new body. And he meets Zeta Prime. This meeting of the Primes—was this pre-planned or something you thought up just for this story?

JAMES ROBERTS: Well, you’ll notice that he’s not meeting Zeta Prime for the first time – he met him as Zeta at the end of a previous story (in MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE issue #11 – check it out, folks!). Having Orion Pax talk to Zeta after he’s become a Prime serves to show that time has passed and that their relationship has deepened. You can see that Pax is in awe of Zeta; he’s very loyal to him. I wanted to convey the depth of their relationship here – or, more specifically, the extent to which Pax trusts Zeta to repair the damage caused by the Cybertronian Senate – because in later stories (TRANSFORMERS: AUTOCRACY), Zeta is behaving irresponsibly – pretty abominably, actually – and yet Pax is slow to stand against him. In this story I suggest a reason for that, namely that he had such high hopes for him.

But enough with the past and future stories! SPOTLIGHT: ORION PAX is absolutely designed to read as a standalone story: a freewheeling, guns-blazing, bad-guy-bashing thrill ride starring the greatest Autobot of all! You need not have read anything else featuring Pax to enjoy this.

PAGE 4- Orion is briefed on his mission, a prisoner exchange with the Decepticons. Having done so much with his past already, how much more have you got worked out in the history of the ’bot who will become Optimus Prime?

JAMES ROBERTS: I intend to continue operating in the space between “Shadowplay” and MEGATRON: ORIGIN, building up supporting characters and staging some famous first encounters between characters. If all goes to plan, there’ll be another pre-war story in the next 18 months.

PAGE 5- Orion meets Alpha Trion for the first time. Is writing for Trion something that’s been burning in your mind for a while?

JAMES ROBERTS: To be honest, no. Until this story I’d never really known how to approach to character. Then I decided to hone in on the part of his personality – the preachy, pious, smarter-than-thou characteristics – that would make certain characters want to punch him. Once I made up mind about that, he was fun to write. In fact, I’d quite like to see him turn up on the Lost Light in MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE…

Aligned Universe Jazz Concept Art

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Hasbro Combines TV, Film and Short-Form Content Under Hasbro Studios President Stephen Davis

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Hasbro Combines TV, Film and Short-Form Content Under Hasbro Studios President Stephen Davis

LOS ANGELES, CA, December 11, 2012-- Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS) announced the integration of all of its content initiatives, including television, film, commercial productions and short-form content, under Stephen Davis, president of Los Angeles-based Hasbro Studios.

Davis, who has overseen global TV development, production and distribution for Hasbro since launching the studio in 2009, will report to Hasbro Chief Marketing Officer John Frascotti to ensure the seamless integration between the entertainment and global marketing teams. Hasbro Studios produces a number of top-rated, award-winning multi-platform shows that are seen in more than 170 countries globally and here in the U.S. on The Hub, a television network for kids and their families that is a joint venture between Hasbro and Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK).

In addition to television, Davis will now lead Hasbro’s Film Group in Los Angeles and the company’s Rhode Island-based studio responsible for producing the company’s commercials and short-form content. Bennett Schneir, SVP Motion Pictures, and Terry Scott, SVP of Cake Mix Studio in Rhode Island, will now report to Davis.

“We are bringing together several of our entertainment groups so that we can fully drive our content development capabilities across our global franchises,” Frascotti said. “Stephen is the perfect choice to lead this important new initiative. In just three years, he has made significant contributions to strengthening the company’s global brands by propelling Hasbro Studios into one of the world’s most successful producers of animation and live-action programming.”

Under Davis’ guidance, Hasbro Studios has produced approximately 750 half-hours of programming, with numerous global successes including Transformers Prime, Littlest Pet Shop and My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.

In his expanded role, Davis will drive the entertainment brand-driven storytelling for the company and oversee a strong multi-year feature slate including Transformers 4 with Paramount, Stretch Armstrong with Relativity Media and Candy Land with Sony.

“We are in the early stages of unlocking the full power of Hasbro brands globally and this new group will capitalize on our talent and creativity on both coasts,” Davis said. “We are now in a tremendous position to expand our content and storytelling more impactfully across all screens around the world.”

Davis has had a significant track record in TV and film production, story development and distribution. Previously he led ITV Studios America-predecessors Granada America and Carlton America; mobile and online digital media company InfoSpace; TV production-distribution company Hamdon Entertainment, a joint venture between Carlton and Studio Hamburg (NDR); and has overseen TV programming, motion picture, live entertainment, new media and entertainment-related M&A activities for entertainer and entrepreneur Merv Griffin’s company, The Griffin Group. He joined Hasbro from Family Entertainment Group, where he was CEO.

About Hasbro

Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS) is a branded play company providing children and families around the world with a wide-range of immersive entertainment offerings based on the Company's world class brand portfolio. From toys and games, to television programming, motion pictures, digital gaming and a comprehensive licensing program, Hasbro strives to delight its global customers with innovative, well-known and beloved brands such as TRANSFORMERS, LITTLEST PET SHOP, NERF, PLAYSKOOL, MY LITTLE PONY, G.I. JOE, MAGIC: THE GATHERING and MONOPOLY. The Company's Hasbro Studios develops and produces television programming for markets around the world. The Hub TV Network is part of a multi-platform joint venture between Hasbro and Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), in the U.S. Through the Company's deep commitment to corporate social responsibility, including philanthropy, Hasbro is helping to build a safe and sustainable world for future generations and to positively impact the lives of millions of children and families every year. It has been recognized for its efforts by being named one of the "World's Most Ethical Companies" and is ranked as one of Corporate Responsibility Magazine's "100 Best Corporate Citizens." Learn more at www.hasbro.com.

Brenton Thwaites and Nicola Peltz Join the Cast of Transformers 4 (Update: Michael Bay States Information is False)

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Michael Bay wrote:Actor announcement on some web sites last night about Transformer cast joining Mark are completely false.

Transformers: Regeneration One #86 Creator Commentary from Simon Furman

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PAGE 1: the Dinobots are being held captive on Cybertron, five years in the past and suffering the after effects of nucleon. Having done so much with the Dinobots, is there more you can do with this group of characters?

SIMON FURMAN: To my mind, there’s always something else you can do with the Dinobots. But seriously, yes, I think so. In this second arc, we push Grimlock way over the fine line he walks on a day-to-day basis, and though it’s kind of a noble instinct, inspired by the others’ predicament, that drives him to the place (of no return?), the lengths he’s willing to go to, the trusts he’s prepared to betray, are going to cost him big time—and irrevocably. I wanted this time around to get right under the skin of this tightly-bonded and often fractious relationship the five Dinobots have, and their relationships both to the other Autobots and to some of their enemies. I intend to draw parallels between Grimlock, an Autobot outsider, with a Decepticon character who was originally painted as an outsider himself.

PAGE 2: Grimlock is facing the other angry Dinobots, observing other side effects of nucleon on other Autobots. Can you remind anyone who may not know or remember what happened with nucleon in previous issues and how these characters came to be where they are now?

SIMON FURMAN: Nucleon’s a kind of wonder-fuel that Grimlock went in search of back in issue #69, but it’s kind of a two-edged sword. It can grant or even boost your powers/natural abilities, but often (though by no means in all cases) there’s a price. So with Grimlock it made him stronger and faster, but it also robbed him of his ability to change modes. Basically, Grimlock (in his naturally blinkered way) ignored all the warnings in order to bring the Dinobots (and a whole bunch of Autobots) back from the brink of death (after Starscream’s Underbase rampage in #50). Inevitably, as with Grimlock himself, there were side effects. Some are tiny, barely noticeable, some though are huge and debilitating and the Cybertronian in question is either driven to the brink of madness by super-enhanced abilities (like Blaster) or become a danger to themselves and others (like Inferno).

PAGE 3: We’re seeing what happened to Grimlock and how he became an Action Master (sacrificing the use of his alt mode). Was this a planned revisitation of the old story thread or something that came up while you were doing research for the series?

SIMON FURMAN: This was definitely one of the story lines that was planned before we knew #80 was the last issue of the Marvel run, but I never got a chance to see through. What changed was the chance to wrap this into another kind of loose end, which was the fate of the heads of the original Headmasters (last seen in their own right back in the HEADMASTERS mini-series). Not sure if I’d have come up with that kind of mutual solution back then or not. And it gave me a chance to bring back one my favourite characters from my original run on the book, but explore him in an all-new way.

PAGE 4: In the present day, Grimlock is being held captive by Scorponok. Last time we saw Scorponok was when he died on Cybertron. Do you have personal bond with the character as you do Grimlock, after using him in previous IDW comics?

SIMON FURMAN: Yes, I like Scorponok a lot. Much as Grimlock, he seems to have his own ideas about allegiance and strategy, that don’t always jibe with the leadership. The Scorponok I inherited back then was the Lord Zarak version, and it was fun to muddy his tyrannical nature with this more conflicted (intrinsically noble) character. And this Scorponok is yet another version, more like the original (because he is the original) but not the same as back then. Because he’s shared a mind in the interim — and evolved. It’s affected him, just in a slightly different way. It’s great, I get to do that whole ‘same but different’ thing.

PAGE 5: Scorponok begins conversing with Grimlock about nucleon and what it’s shown him. It’s sounding like Scorponok is going to send our friendly Dinobots through a few levels of hell to achieve his goals.

SIMON FURMAN: Yeah, much as Scorponok NEEDS Grimlock for his plans, there’s a kind of sadistic relish in the way Scorpy dangles temptation in front of his optics. Scorponok instinctively recognizes a kindred spirit in Grimlock, two outsiders together against the worlds (or worlds), but he’s using him, plain and simple. Is he also underestimating Grimlock? We shall see.