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Once again, Seibertron.com is bringing you exclusive content first. This time, we got an chance to review the upcoming IDW Publishing release of Transformers Ongoing #1, the newest Transformers story arc to be published by the comic book producing company.
WARNING!!! SPOILERS AHEAD!!!
Written by Mike Costa and heralding the return to the Transformers Universe for fan favorite artist Don Figueroa, Transformers Ongoing #1 is everything that the Transformers catch phrase "More than Meets the Eye" encompasses.
It is two years after the end of the Great War. The human race spends its time rebuilding Earth from all the destruction unwillingly brought upon it by the Transformers, refusing the help of Optimus Prime and his band of Autobots, instead forcing them into hiding. Though it is believed that Megatron is dead, Optimus Prime feels that the Autobots must remain on Earth to protect it from any possible Decepticon attack. But the only threat that seems to confront the Cybertronian warriors is not that of the Decepticons, but of the humans!
Led by Major Spike Witwicky, the human force known as Skywatch has only one mission objective: apprehend and deactivate all Transformers.
One thing that I can tell you for certain is this: none of the previews that you have seen for this first installment of the Ongoing Series will prepare you for the outcome. Mike Costa and the team at IDW Publishing are taking our beloved Robots in Disguise into a completely new era to the likes of which we have never thought of. The story presented by Mr. Costa captures the true essence of the Transformers being, albeit from the Autobot perspective, and adds a twist that may leave you scratching your head saying "What?!".
As a Transformers fan before anything, I can say this: This story may leave you with a bad taste in your mouth. I can see that IDW is trying to venture out of the norm, away from the usual Autobot VS. Decepticon battle after battle, but if you're the type of fan that doesn't like being taken out of your "Transformers comfort zone", Transformers Ongoing may not be right for you.
Aside from the story, the new art style being used is also a hard pill to swallow, as evidenced by the ongoing debates right here on Seibertron.com's forums. The fusion between the G1 remeniscent Classicsverse and the newer style Movieverse Transformers seems to take the worst of both styles and mashes them together. The one problem that I see, and many Seibertronians here seem to agree, is that the facial construction of the Transformers makes it look like all of them are evil, regardless of faction. I don't know if Don got bit by the "Twilight" bug, but I just don't get some of the Transformers looking more like "Cullens" than Cybertronians, and this is coming from a fan who loves his Transformers art. To say that this book is different is far from an understatement.
Its great to see the presence of some fan favorites such as Prowl, Wheeljack and Hot Rod but painful to see the demise of a hero in Ironhide. Even a popular Stunticon makes an appearance in a very popular Classicsverse alt mode. It seems like Mike and Don really tried to connect with the hardcore G1 fanbase with the presence of so many of the original Transformers, but may lose them with such a radical take on their forward direction.
Overall, the book makes for a very interesting read. This isn't your old school Transformers kiddies, this is a whole new era, seperate from the Transformers of yesteryear and the current movieverse. Be prepared to accept a new universe, a new direction and a new style of Transformers.
Transformers Ongoing #1 is due to hit news stands this Wednesday November 18th, 2009. Prepare to have your perspective on the Autobots and Decepticons Transformed.
Date: Tuesday, November 10th 2009 6:07pm CST Categories:Cartoon News, Press Releases, People News Posted by:Delicon | Credit(s): Sharon Dean (Appearances Coordinator for Michael McConnohie)
Michael McConnohie, best known to Transformers fans for voicing Tracks and Cosmos in the G1 Sunbow Cartoons has now landed a new acting role. We'd like to thank Sharon Dean, Michael's Appearances Coordinator for sending us the following press release.
MICHAEL McCONNOHIE, veteran voice actor (TRANSFORMERS Tracks, Cosmos, Hotshot, Ironhide and currently WoW's LICH KING - see selected credits below) is a regular on the new sci-fi web series FRONTIER GUARD.
Just released - a new "Faces of the Guard" vignette featuring his character, alien Professor Walt Kellogg:
MICHAEL McCONNOHIE's extensive credits include TRANSFORMERS (Tracks, Cosmos, Hotshot, Ironhide), G.I. JOE (Cross Country), VISIONARIES (Ectar, Lexor), THE BIG O, DIGIMON, WORLD OF WARCRAFT (Lich King, Uther), DIABLO II, CRACKDOWN, FINAL FANTASY, PARAWORLD, STAR TREK (games), MONSTER, ARGENTOSOMA, TENCHI MUYO!, BOBOBO-BOBOBOBO, CODE GEASS, ROBOTECH, DRAGON BALL MOVIE 3, STAR WARS ROGUE SQUADRON, POWER RANGERS, TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES, HARE + GUU, LENSMAN, VAMPIRE HUNTER D ("D"), NARUTO, BLEACH, FIST OF THE NORTH STAR, TEKNOMAN, ERGO PROXY, PARANOIA AGENT, COWBOY BEBOP, DISGAEA, RUROUNI KENSHIN, BLUE DRAGON, LAST EXILE and many others.
Our good friend Jim Sorenson contacted us today with the following message that we'd like to pass along.
Howdy, intrepid Seibertronians! I wanted to let you know that I've updated Disciples of Boltax (boltax.blogspot.com) with some new G1 character models. This week, it's the landscapes (and spacescapes) from the episode Blaster Blues.
For those of you who are newer fans, "Blaster Blues" was an episode of the G1 Transformers cartoon produced by Sunbow. These same cartoons are now available in stores as we speak, thanks to Shout! Factory. Blaster Blues is part of the Season 2, Part 1 set.
As usual, Jim has permitted us to excerpt part of the image, but to check out the full sketch (and a lot of other goodies as well), please visit his blog.
Seibertron.com - The Ultimate Transformers Resource!
A new listing has been posted over at Amazon.com for what may be a movieverse related hardcover book for the Transformers.
Transformers: Exodus, authored by Alex Irvine and published by Del Rey Books, is the latest known addition to Transformers literature. Not much is known on what the book will actually be based on, but given the publishers previous release of the Tranformers Movieverse prequel book Transformers: Ghosts of Yesterday, we can only assume that it will somehow fit in between the end of Revenge of the Fallen and beginning of Transformers 3 (Official Title not yet known).
Details that are available for the book are as follows:
* Hardcover: 352 pages
* Publisher: Del Rey (June 22, 2010)
* Language: English
* ISBN-10: 034551985X
* ISBN-13: 978-0345519856
* Shipping Information: View shipping rates and policies
* Amazon.com Sales Rank: #126,795 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)
Check out the listing for this book by clicking here.
Seibertron.com, your Ultimate Transformers Resource!
Andrew Wildman, classic Transformers artist, has updated his page at wildwords with his cover for the upcoming IDW Transformers ongoing series (interior art and regular cover penciled by Don Figueroa, and written by newcomer Mike Costa) with some commentary reflecting on his Generation One work.
"What tickles me about this is that for many years people have commented on the fact that I used to make the Transformers very ‘human’. I would draw them with expressions and teeth and sometimes saliva. Of course it was never saliva but oil. Well, to take that a step further I decided at the colouring stage to show Rodimus Prime’s breath in this chilly environment."
Take a look at the very human-like Rodimus on the variant cover for IDW's Transformers ongoing series #3, set to be released early next year!
Well done, Mr. Wildman.
Seibertron.com for all of your Transformers news and resource needs.
With Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Blu-ray and DVD discs flying off the shelves this week, Michael Bay's live action Transformers movie franchise shows absolutely no signs of slowing down. Of course, it won't be long at all before the attention shifts off of ROTF and further onto Transformers 3.
Right now there's very little that we DO know for sure about TF3. Of course, we do now know the official release date of the film, which is July 1st, 2011.
As we reported a few weeks ago, the other big piece of information so far has been the announcement that writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, who worked on the first two films have decided not to return for the third.
IGN.com recently interviewed Orci and Kurtzman and of course that topic did in fact come up.
Below is an excerpt from the interview.
IGN: Why did you decide not to do Transformers 3?
Kurtzman: I think it was largely a matter of the fact that we have a couple other movies on their feet and some television things happening now, and didn't feel we could responsibly do it and give it what it needed. Cowboys & Aliens is a very full time job right now and we should be focusing on that, because it took awhile to get it on its feet.
Orci: And the second one we didn't think we could responsibly do, and that's why we were so happy to team up with Ehren Kruger, who was amazing. This time, I think even teaming up with him, we wouldn't be able to give him what would be fair. And it's really a matter of time, but again, the best idea should win, and they need an idea now. We don't have one right now, so…
IGN also asked the two writers about the controversial Skids and Mudflap characters as well as about many other topics including Star Trek, Xena and Fringe.
You may view the complete interview by clicking here.
Seibertron.com - Orci and Kurtzman might not be there for TF3, but we certainly will be!
Jim Sorenson updates his blog with another animation design sheet...the weapons of the Destron Headmaster Juniors...so get your 'head on' and check 'em out.
Another week, another set of models. This week I bring you the weapons of the Destron Headmaster Juniors.
Unlike the Cybertron Headmaster Juniors, this trio remains armed to the teeth, even in their alternate modes. No namby-pamby rescue vehicles these, instead we get vicious crab/cobra monsters, a winged wolf thing, and mighty bull. While Cancer and Bullhorn get pretty cool weapons, Wilder just holds his regular gun. Boo! And yet they made him the leader.
As we first reported in early September, SPIKE TV is airing its 4th Annual "Scream" awards on Tuesday, October 27th at 10PM PST/EST. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen as you might suspect drew heavy consideration when nominations were decided and was actually nominated in 11 different categories.
Can't wait to know how many it won? Well, you don't have to.
The actual awards show was taped last night, and ROTF did very well, earning 3 awards. Megan Fox won for "best sci-fi actress", Isabel Lucas won for "breakout performance - female" and the movie itself was deemed to have the best special effects.
Of course, with ROTF hitting shelves everywhere in a mere matter or hours, fellow Seibertron.com News Crew member Blurrz had compiled a comprehensive list of the various DVD and Blu-Ray special editions that the various retailers are releasing, You may check that out by clicking here.
Seibertron.com - The Ultimate Transformers Resource!
Back in August, we reported that Stephen Davis had been appointed the new President of Hasbro Studios, which will create programming for the new Hasbro-Discovery joint venture network.
Today, thanks to Yahoo Finance's business wire we have news that two more senior executives have also been hired by Hasbro Studios.
PAWTUCKET, R.I.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE:HAS - News) announced today the appointment of two senior executives at the company’s newly formed Hasbro Studios, which is based in Los Angeles. Well regarded entertainment industry executives, Lisa Licht and Linda Steiner will be stepping into leading roles at the Studio, working closely with Studio President Stephen J. Davis.
Linda Steiner, a veteran of Warner Bros., Cartoon Network and ABC Entertainment, has been named head of girls and preschool programming. Lisa Licht, who has served for two years as general manager of entertainment and licensing at Hasbro, has been promoted to general manager, Hasbro Studios.
Steiner joins Hasbro Studios from Warner Bros. Animation where she was senior vice president of creative affairs. While at Warner’s, Linda was responsible for overseeing development and production of some of the most high profile and highly rated animation programming on television including, The Batman, for which she won an Emmy Award, Legion of Super Heroes and Teen Titans. Steiner joined Warner Bros. in 1998 as vice president, development. Previously she held senior positions at ABC Entertainment in the network’s Children’s Entertainment division.
Prior to joining Hasbro, Lisa Licht held several senior-level posts at Twentieth Century Fox including executive vice president, global marketing, and senior vice president, feature film promotions and field operations. She was senior vice president of marketing at Mattel where she managed the worldwide BARBIE brand. Licht has spent the past two years growing Hasbro’s licensing business and helped play an integral role in developing the company’s TV strategy. Recently, she has been a member of the executive team responsible for the integration efforts for the Hasbro-Discovery Joint Venture. Moving to the studio, Licht will have broad responsibilities within the Studio which will include working along side Davis on strategy, operations, and coordinating the activities between the Studio and the new television network created by the joint venture between Hasbro and Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA - News, DISCB - News, DISCK - News), that is planned to debut Fall 2010.
Stephen Davis commented, “Lisa and Linda represent very significant additions to the executive team at Hasbro Studios. Both have held key positions at some of the most successful companies in the children’s entertainment arena and are well respected for their leadership and accomplishments. They will make substantial contributions as we shape the iconic Hasbro brands along with other emerging and existing properties into new forms of visual entertainment.”
Hasbro Studios’ productions will feed all platforms, domestically and globally, including television, the Internet and mobile. New programming is planned based on brands such as ROMPER ROOM, TRIVIAL PURSUIT, SCRABBLE, CRANIUM, MY LITTLE PONY, G.I. JOE, GAME OF LIFE, TONKA and TRANSFORMERS, among many others.
In addition, the “virtual” studio will produce programs from top third party content creators. Many of these shows will run on the new Hasbro/Discovery JV television network as well as on multiple channels in international markets.
Simon Plumbe of the UK based Transformers convention Auto Assembly has dropped us a note of a new update for the scheduled event due to take place in August 2010. Here's what he had to share:
Auto Assembly 2010 is proud to announce that Garry Chalk, the voice behind Optimus Primal in Beast Wars and Beast Machines and Optimus Prime in the Unicron Trilogy, will be attending Auto Assembly 2010 as it's first confirmed guest of honour. With a staggering 14 seasons of Transformers under his belt, Garry is the most prolific voice actor to have played the role of Optimus.
With Garry joining us for his first ever Auto Assembly convention, and a second voice actor to be announced soon, joining our existing line-up of comic guests Auto Assembly 2010 is set to be the biggest convention ever seen in Europe taking place on Friday 13th - Sunday 15th August 2010 at The Holiday Inn Birmingham City Centre, Birmingham, England.
Tickets for the weekend are on sale now through the website for £45 for the weekend for adults and £35 for children, students and senior citizens, with under 5s admitted free. Single day passes will be made available for sale closer to the convention.
For more details on the convention, to see a full list of all the guests and activities taking place over the weekend, or to book your tickets, visit the website at http://www.autoassembly.org.uk
For a rather special announcement about Garry's appearance at the convention, check out this video here on the official Auto Assembly Youtube Channel:
We hope to see you all in August 2010.
The Auto Assembly 2010 Team
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