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Over at San Diego Comic Con 2017, brand team household names Ben Montano and John Warden were hosting the Hasbro Transformers panel, as Megatron keeps interjecting on screen with #StandWithMegatron messages as hacked by Soundwave. Presentation proper starts with Transformers: The Last Knight toys, followed by a presentation on Power of the Primes.
No full news was really revealed during the session, as most of what we learned was either already known or shown in the story from the breakfast event here. Follow the links below to join the relevant threads for discussion, and stay tuned for visual support soon!
Mega 1-step turbo changer Dragonstorm: showed the Cyberfire gimmick on Turbo Changer line
Leader
Wave 2 - Leader Dragonstorm shown
Wave 1 - Megatron: design concepts and art shown for jet and robot mode's face gimmick
Voyager
Wave 3 - Nitro: was shown
Deluxe
Wave 4 - Cogman: design based on the Aston Martin used in the movie, made into a transtector - inside of the car actually seats two Titan Masters (Ginrai namedropped)
Wave 3 - Bumblebee: 2017 Camaro, details and proportions are incredible, design on transformation is intricate, and Takara Tomy were praised for their work on the toy.
Movie Masterpiece line
Actually a partnership between Hasbro and Takara Tomy, for global release.
Final chapter of the Prime Wars trilogy. Combiner Wars, Titans Return - now going as big as they can get: Transformers Gods. Fan poll (Megatron skit interrupting again) was mentioned, as a candidate in the poll to Optimus Primal (some very cool art shown, including some from the Covenant of Primus). Each Prime has an ability and an artefact, but faded becoming legend - until now.
Mysterious characters called Prime Masters are spark bearers, connecting to others to bestow godlike powers.
Prime Masters
Skullgrin shown, as spark of Liege Maximo. Each comes with a collectable card, 12 in total. Cards are part of the story. Each Prime Master hides in a Decoy Suit (5$ price point), who turn into weapons.
Legends
Beachcomber shown, can hold Prime Masters in seat.
Deluxe
Dreadwind & Blackwing combine into superjet Dreadwing
Jazz
Voyager
Starscream - also has 'secret powers', as seen in previous gallery post.
Leader
Rodimus Prime - able to evolve from Hot Rod to Rodimus Prime, as G1/ 1986 accurate as possible, Matrix can worn inside the chest, can be interchanged with other Leader sparks.
(Megatronus, Amalgamous Prime from Aligned Continuity both mentioned)
Prime Masters are new across the line play system: ride Legends, worn on chest by Deluxes, worn on arms by Voyagers, Matrix by Leaders.
More will be shown at Hascon, but some packaging mock-ups of art shown leading into the Machinima series part of the panel.
Machinima Titans Return
125bln views for Combiner Wars
First new character seen and shown on show will be Trypticon. Nothing new to show yet, but they did reiterate a sizzle reel/teaser trailer from the new cast, as announced here, featuring Jason David Frank, Wil Wheaton, Michael Dorn, MatPat, Peter Cullen, Nolan North, Judd Nelson, Jason Marnocha, Frank Todaro and more!
Ten episodes confirmed, then interrupted by Megatron spoof commercial for Trypticon's Titan Master Crunch, with exclusive poster available during the convention.
Hall of Fame
Favourite TF Character finalists
-Blackarachnia
-Galvatron
-Cyclonus
Favourite TF Movie Character finalists
-Barricade
-Hound
-Optimus Prime
Toy of the Year 2017 finalists
-Titans Return Deluxe Triggerhappy
-Titans Return Titan Class Trypticon
-Titans Return Deluxe Topspin
Winners will be announced at Hascon.
SDCC 2017 Exclusives
Primitive Skateboarding Optimus Prime with Shreddicus Maximus
The Last Knight Voyager Optimus Prime, plus official Western Star tire shard from movies (Megatron interrupts, seems happy to own a piece of Optimus Prime at least)
Q&A
Where is Titans Return Arcee? Hold tight, something might happen in Power of the Primes.
Will Masterpiece Dinobot see US release? Stay tuned.
Are we ever going to get a Bludgeon figure, in Decoy Suit style? Stay tuned.
Which is your favourite toy (kid question)? John: Cogman and Trypticon, I feed him every day. Ben: Leader Megatron.
Any plans for Decepticons in Masterpiece Movie Line? Great things in store, good reception of the line.
No plans for movie line exclusive repaints, like SDCC 2016 Dinobot set.
Any plans for classic Combiners, like Predaking, or IDW characters? Stay tuned, we know they're popular. No more plans for Nautica right now, we're aware of stories and interest.
What is planned for that Power of the Primes Starscream mold? Many, many things in store.
Response to QA issues with Trypticon, and limited distribution of the Titans Return boxsets? May have been isolated incidents, but it has been reported and it is being looked into right now. Warden has been made to do the splits. Same is being done for latter, with possible reissues down the line, but nothing confirmed.
Dare To Be Great The Transformers: The Movie Turns 30 - A Tribute Author: Scotty P | Editor: Counterpunch
Additional Written Contributions from: Burn, Bronzewolf
Special Thanks To: Shout! Factory, Seibertron
With today marking 30 years since the release of The Transformers: The Movie, the fine folks at Shout! Factory (from whom you may Preorder the upcoming Blu-Ray release of the movie by clicking here) posed a question: how did this movie capture a special place in the hearts of millions and kids of the 80s? We'll explore the answer to this by carefully looking at the characters, themes, and imagery of the movie with a bit of input from the Seibertron staff along the way.
Transformers has always been about its characters, not merely robotic automations as seen in other media, but rather fully fleshed out individuals with distinct personalities and stories. The Transformers: The Movie continued this tradition and made new room in the hearts of fans for the characters it introduces even as it takes away some beloved favorites.
This movie introduces around a dozen more icons to an already robust mythos. Hot Rod, Galvatron, Cyclonus, Springer, Kup, Scourge, and even characters that didn't get toys at the time like Arcee, Unicron, and the Quintessons all brought something new to the table. A cavalier Autobot? Not a brand new idea, but never had children seen that element within an Autobot destined for leadership. A sleek futuristic car mode tricked out with flames and attitude to spare and you've got a character designed to capture the imagination of a young audience. For those looking for the stately authority figure, another Autobot introduced by the movie, Ultra Magnus, was around to pick up the slack. Forum Administrator Burn offers his personal story about how Ultra Magnus made him a Transformers fan for life:
Burn wrote:The year was 1986, and The Transformers: The Movie was released on Boxing Day here in Australia. I was 10 years old. I remember going during the day to see it as this could very well have been the very first movie I got to see on my own. It was at "The Airdome Theatre", one of those 'old style' movie theatres with canvas seats, thick red drapes, and even a balcony area. Very old school. (This theatre would be demolished a few years later and the town has been left without a full sized theatre since.)
So there I was, 10 years old, on summer break. I went into the theatre as a burgeoning fan of The Transformers, and I came out an even bigger fan. Oh sure there was that traumatizing moment when Optimus died. But then, there was Ultra Magnus. "ULTRA MAGNUS IS AWESOME!" is all I could think right then. I left that theatre on a high and walked around the corner and up the street a bit to a newsagent, going straight to the comics section and that's where I found it: Marvel UK Transformers #74.
That began my collecting of the Marvel UK comics, which also had a tremendous influence on my life. So on the same day so many years ago, not only had I walked out of the theatre after witnessing what I considered to be the greatest movie ever, but I also became a comic book fan.
Just a few weeks ago, my girlfriend, who is a major Studio Ghibli fan sat me down to begin what my introduction to Studio Ghibli movies, "My Neighbour Totoro". It was one of the first Studio Ghibli movies she saw as a child and wanted to share that with me. So we watched it, and I decided that it would only be fair that I show her The Transformers. She'd never seen it before. She sat there watching, listening some of the greatest lines in cinema history ("Why throw away your life so recklessly?", "One shall stand, one shall fall", "Their defenses are broken, let the slaughter begin", "Megatron must be stopped, no matter the cost"), and it was just wonderful to be able to share something special in return.
To say this movie that is 30 years old had an influence on me would be an understatement. It turned me into a fan of comic books, it made me (and most of you may not even know this), a Ultra Magnus Fanboy and a hater of Hot Rod. As an adult I can watch it and see all the flaws. But I don't care, this movie, like collecting Transformers toys, reminds me of a simpler time in my life where I didn't have to worry about bills and other annoying adult things.
While the impact of new characters from the movie would mark a lasting shift in the franchise, it was perhaps the ones who were taken away that left the biggest mark on the fandom. In most cartoons of the time, if older, established characters needed to step aside to give some screen time to new ones, plot devices would be used more often than not to harmlessly have them go off on another adventure, or disappear ambiguously to set the stage for some future return. Not in Transformers: The Movie. Within the first ten minutes of the movie, the body count begins to add up. Most famously, Optimus Prime falls in battle with Megatron, an emotional moment that was a sad, but somewhat protracted goodbye to the hero that kids had idolized since the series' inception.
There are dozens of accounts and articles about Optimus Prime, but less about other significant characters such as Ironhide, Prowl, Ratchet, Brawn, Wheeljack, and more. Why would the deaths of these characters also lead to emotional moments that made this movie stick in the consciousness of countless fans for years? It was hard to know as a child, but reflecting back, as this was a story about war, even these important characters were killed off in darkly appropriate, anti-climactic, quick, and not really even mentioned again ways. The desperation in Peter Cullen's Ironhide, crying "No!" when he hears of the plan to destroy Autobot City, is then cut off by one of Frank Welker's most ruthlessly delivered lines as Megatron - "Such heroic nonsense." Ironhide then takes a point blank shot to the head from a fusion cannon and is never heard from again. It's quick, it's brutal, then it's over. It's war.
While Transformers had always been a story about a war, it was more or less toy soldiers off to battle, and whatever the result, they would come back next week for you to pull out of your toy box while their adventures continued again on screen. With Transformers: The Movie, some of kids' favorite heroes became disposable, and their endings signified just that. This battle between Autobot and Decepticon was now more real than it had ever been, and the quick establishment of this new paradigm gripped those that weren't crushed, as now, truly, anything could happen.
There was another foreboding presence casting a shadow over the film’s events in the form of a giant planet that devours other worlds: Unicron. This now legendary villain is introduced in a beautifully animated opening sequence, with a slow panning shot revealing the colossal scale of what Vince DiCola's score immediately tells you is a villain to fear. A quick look at the surface on an unknown alien planet, later found out to be Lithone, shows beings very similar in appearance to Transformers on what looks like a peaceful world. Just as your new robot friends go to do some science, they are (mostly) eaten. Yes, eaten alive by the new terror that's been put in front of the audience and there is no room for doubt that the danger to our transforming friends is very real.
Many children could watch the Battle of Autobot City and think in the back of their minds "what happens if that big planet shows up again?” The futility of the conflict finally comes to the forefront when a depleted Autobot crew trying to rebuild receives a transmission from Jazz and Cliffjumper that their moonbase is about to be eaten, but then receive a similar message from Daniel's dad, who was the kid avatar Spike in the earlier TV episodes. Now, suddenly, even the characters intended to represent the captive audience in front of the television was in mortal peril. Before they can act, a rebuilt Megatron, now Galvatron, shows up and chases them away. All of that establishing material, which took away many childhood heroes, was now, ultimately, for naught. The recently defeated Megatron not only immediately returned, he did so rebuilt and strengthened by a galaxy-spanning threat the like of which the Transformers had never seen.
The lessons about the nature of conflict and its brutal consequences are ones that have resonated with the generation that grew up on the movie through the theatres or the various VHS releases. Those consequences are real for the Transformers just as they are in a real war, without the sugar coatings that accompany some of the other TV cartoon movie adaptations of the same era.
Yet among the heavier messages, there's still a childlike wonder to the film that's kept us captivated enough to go back and be able to find those all these years later. The imagery alone, such as a shuttle taking off from a massive Moonbase, Daniel seeing those first glimpses of Autobot City over the horizon, an entire city transforming, Optimus Prime catapulting through the air to stop the Decepticons in his final battle, an underwater minefield of aquatic robot threats on a planet that looks like a corkscrew, and even a planet made of nothing but actual trash painted a picture of a much larger world. The tagline of the cartoon had always been that the Transformers were "More Than Meets The Eye". It certainly delivered on this promise, but The Transformers: The Movie took it to another level.
This wonder also facilitated a necessary escape into a friendly place for many fans, even those born much later than the Transformers franchise itself. Site News Staff member Brozewolf shares a story about why this movie means so much on a personal level:
Bronzewolf wrote:"I'm not an 80's kid, far from it actually, so I didn't grow up with the original cartoon or the original toys, but Transformers is still a big part of my life. I first watched Transformers: The Movie with my brother. We were "Vacationing" to Kansas City at the time due to some issues in our family. It was stressful for all of us, especially my brother and I. We had heard of Transformers before. We had seen a bit of G1, a bit of Prime, we had a few toys, but when that movie came on TV, we both knew we were hooked. It gave us the ability to forget about what was troubling us for a moment and get sucked into a world of action, adventure, cool cars, and awesome robots. It was a world we knew we'd never leave, and years later, we still haven't."
Ultimately, fans keep coming back to watch this movie again and again and buy it repeatedly on different formats because it's not only amazingly animated, composed, and acted, it's also a story about growing up. People change, like Spike, now a father to his son Daniel. We make well intentioned mistakes, like Hot Rod accidentally helping Megatron to deliver the fatal shots to Optimus Prime. Our moments of triumph are sometimes short lived, like Starscream's incredibly short leadership of the Decepticons. But if we take the lyrics of Stan Bush and stay sure to be at our "best when the going gets rough", we can rise above the darkest hours of our lives and become people that can make a difference, at least for a moment.
Arise again, The Transformers: The Movie. Thanks for traveling with us on this journey through life, and hopefully we'll be here to celebrate many more birthdays to come.
This holiday weekend, Space Ape Games is hosting "Decoy Dash," the first in-game event for their hit free-to-play combat strategy game, TRANSFORMERS: EARTH WARS -- now available on iOS and Android. In addition to in-game rewards, "Decoy Dash" will debut two new female Transformers, ARCEE and NIGHTBIRD, as part of the event, adding to an incredible strong lineup of strong female characters in the game.
"Decoy Dash" begins on Friday, July 1 at 10:00am GMT and runs through Monday, July 4 at 10:00am GMT. Players that are at Level 4 and above can collect prizes, gather Battle Points and earn Decoy Crystals for a chance to win two new Transformers characters, ARCEE (AUTOBOT) and NIGHTBIRD (DECEPTICON). Both characters feature the all-new Holo Decoy ability, which places a decoy that distracts enemies and soaks up damage.
You can view the new art and bios for ARCEE, NIGHTBIRD and the other awesome female Transformers in TRANSFORMERS: EARTH WARS including a gallery of art posters and bios by clicking here.
Transformers Earth Wars "Decoy Dash"
ARCEE has been dispatched on a mission by Optimus Prime but ran into trouble when NIGHTBIRD caught up to her. The two have been crossing paths routinely as NIGHTBIRD tries to put an end to ARCEE's do-good acts. However, as the battle on Earth heats up, Optimus has sent a signal for ARCEE to return to the Autobots! After failing to eliminate ARCEE, NIGHTBIRD has been recalled by Megatron to finish the job. Battle to win Decoy Crystals to lock onto their signal using the Space Bridge and recall them back to Earth!
Battle Points can only be earned by being victorious in an Event Battle Zones which are accessed through the event menu. Players can earn more Battle Points, Bonus Experience, and gain Double XP during the Decoy Dash Event.
Arcee
Appearances... can be deceptive. Quick witted and formidable in battle, Arcee is compassionate to her allies but utterly merciless to her enemies. Streamlined bodywork and light alloy construction only mean she's faster, more agile and ultimately deadlier than most of her fellow Autobots. A master of many weapons, from blasters to swords, ultimately Arcee is a living weapon in her own right.
Nightbird
Programmed with the skills of a mighty ninja, the non-sentient Nightbird developed a full meta-processor brain after being implanted with one of Bombshell's cerebro shells, which merged with her own simulated intelligence. Nightbird became one of the greatest threats to the Autobots, even more so when - as Bombshell was reformatted - she gained true sentience and freedom of thought.
Courtesy of our friends from TRANSFORMERS: EARTH WARS, we now have bios and images of 9 Females Transformers characters from the Autobot and Decepticon rosters. Included in this post are Arcee, Nightbird, Windblade, Slipstream, Pyra Magna, Jumpstream, Rust Dust, Skyburst, and Storm Clash. Dust Up is oddly missing from the images and bios. You can click on any of the images below to download Transformers Earth Wars. The bios are written by fan-favorite Simon Furman of Transformers comic book fame.
Female Transformers Character Bios
Arcee
Appearances... can be deceptive. Quick witted and formidable in battle, Arcee is compassionate to her allies but utterly merciless to her enemies. Streamlined bodywork and light alloy construction only mean she's faster, more agile and ultimately deadlier than most of her fellow Autobots. A master of many weapons, from blasters to swords, ultimately Arcee is a living weapon in her own right.
Nightbird
Programmed with the skills of a mighty ninja, the non-sentient Nightbird developed a full meta-processor brain after being implanted with one of Bombshell's cerebro shells, which merged with her own simulated intelligence. Nightbird became one of the greatest threats to the Autobots, even more so when - as Bombshell was reformatted - she gained true sentience and freedom of thought.
Slipstream
Slipstream is as much a puzzle to those who think they know her as those who don't. No one knows who she is or where she comes from, which suits a spy for hire perfectly. She's a blank slate, becoming who she needs to be to fit the mission parameters, and her ability to mask her energy signature lends itself to her line of work. Only Slipstream knows her true agenda, and that's the way she likes it.
Windblade
Windblade is valiant, dutiful and full of conviction... to a fault. The fault being she can be too trusting, too idealistic, almost to the point of naivety. It sometimes drives her closest Autobot allies to distraction, but in a pinch there's no one more committed to the cause or energetic in battle. An experienced swordswoman, she also has the rare ability to communicate with the vast and ancient race of Metrotitans.
Pyra Magna
A product of her environment, the forbidding Sea of Rust, Pyra Magna knows how to make hard choices, and how to turn adversity -- in her case, a water system contaminated by corrosive gasses -- to her advantage...Her Corrosion Cannons can weaken the molecular structure of an enemy's armour and bring their gears to a grinding halt. A great fire burns within Pyra Magna's Spark that powers her relentless will to survive.
Jumpstream
Fiercely loyal, Jumpstream would do anything, risk anything, to protect or defend Pyra Magna. In return, Pyra Magna has done her level best to give Jumpstream the best possible chance of not needlessly sacrificing herself, training her to become a master of hand-to-hand combat. Thankfully, Jumpstream also has the (rare) ability to teleport herself out of trouble. The trick is, convincing her to use it!
Rust Dust
Rust Dust has a habit of acting first and thinking later, tearing off into danger and rationalizing that a moving target is harder to hit. The merest whiff of an enemy heat signature and she's away, more often than not leading the others on a wild scrap chase.She's so imbalanced, her teammates wonder how she manages to stay on two wheels, but often her hair-trigger instincts have proven invaluable.
Skyburst
The yin to Stormclash's yang, Skyburst is a warrior of peace, willing to fight only when all other options are exhausted and when it's for the demonstrably greater good. Unlike her twin sister, there are clear lines she just won't cross, and Skyburst stands tall for justice above all else. There's no doubting her effectiveness as a warrior, but every action is tempered by restraint and mercy.
Storm Clash
Unlike her twin sister Skyburst, Stormclash fights with a vengeance not normally seen among the Autobots, and there are few lines she won't cross. Ruthless and battle-hardened, Stormclash is prone to fits of unchecked aggression and ruthlessness, which makes her more pacifist sister uncomfortable. Nevertheless, Stormclash reserves her most merciless moves for anyone who threatens Skyburst.
Welcome to the latest episode of the Seibertron.com Twincast / Podcast. This special episode has Scotty P and Seibertron's News Administrator Va'al chatting with IDW Transformers comic author Nick Roche.
Episode #129 "Nick Roche Talks Sins of the Wreckers" is available directly and in our RSS Feed and should appear on iTunes and Stitcher Radio within 24 to 48 hours of when you see this news post.
Yes, you read right, this episode is all about the upcoming Transformers: Sins of the Wreckers from IDW Comics, and the author himself joins us to talk about the book and what it might bring readers. First up though, we'll tackle the truly hard questions about hotels and hard "ch" sounds.
Every interview and article with him uses this photo and it's really old but it's a good stock photo and we have to keep the joke alive.
The conception of the book is discussed next, as we learn what might have been in the past had this book come sooner. Why is it coming out now, and how heavy do our expectations weigh on its creator? Answers lie within the show, but we can go ahead and tell you that after this segment, you'll want to pretend it was good even if it turns out otherwise.
It was always destiny.
You may have noticed some familiar characters from other IDW Transformers titles in both previews, covers, and solicitations for Sins of the Wreckers. Nick lets us know what books you should read before, what books you should read during, and even sheds some light on how toys relate to IDW's plans.
Could've left off this black paint if it weren't for con exclusives.
Stakeout, Kup, and Wreckerleaks take center stage next. Why is Stakeout involved, and what might he have been doing all this time in the background? What's a "Wreckerleak" anyway? Does this megalomaniac author have any remorse for the torture of Kup? Find out these answers, plus what Prowl may or may not know already. Whatever you do, be sure to brush up on the IDW iteration of Kup before the release of Sins of the Wreckers.
You mean you didn't read Spotlight: Kup?
It's well known already that one of the most popular human characters from IDW Transformers will make an appearance once again in Roche's upcoming mini-series. Will Verity die? Like he could tell us now if we asked! You will find out more about her involvement, as well as Roadbuster's appearance, Whirl's lack of one, and even a bit about the color work on the book set to come our way from the one and only Josh Burcham.
All her fault? Basically, yeah. Maybe Prowl's too.
The mood of the landscapes in the book comes into play next in our discussion. Everything goes well until John Barber out-Christmases us, so then we just play sing-along with The Audio Knights Theatre and the interview ends. Only one of the things in this paragraphs actually happens, but tuning in will explain the insanity of the rest of it!
The last metroid is in captivity. The galaxy, is at peace.
The Transformers talk starts to wind down, but before we leave it, we ask Nick about his chance to write one of IDW's most complex characters: Arcee. Did he want her around for a reason, or was this just happenstance due to events in other books? Or is it really just a case of picking up Mr. Barber's daughter for the dance? Unlike the last paragraph of this post, the questions posed here do get answered in the show.
We finish out by finding out how you can get the book, as well as who might just have given the first issue a "thumbs up" without bribery being involved.
Fairly sure this wasn't related to this. Fairly.
Oh, and there's even a little talk of the incredible Monster Motors mini-series that Mr. Roche collaborated on with Brian Lynch. Look out world, the Motors are eyeballing heading to an independent theater in limited distribution just like one of Lynch's other art house productions.
There are no Transformers in this book, ok?
Our very grateful "Thank You!" to Nick Roche for taking the time out and appearing on this episode with us. We hope you enjoy the show, and be sure to pick up Sins of the Wreckers from IDW Publishing this November. The Twincast will return in a couple weeks with more of our regularly scheduled programming, and you can be certain more comic book talk will follow then.
Don't forget, the show only gets better if you tell us how. Drop us a review on iTunes and be sure to tell us what you love, what you hate, and what you want to hear!
Not on the show to give your take? Probably not, so don't forget to keep the discussion going on the Seibertron.com Energon Pub Forums by simply replying to this post!
Got a question for the Twincast? We take all of them, we just don't take them all seriously! Leave a question in the Ask the Twincast thread and, if it makes the cut, it may get read and answered on the show.
Via Newsarama, covering pretty much all of the information revealed in today's NYCC 2015 IDW panel, we have an interview with current creative team on The Transformers ongoing series, as they explain what is about to happen in issue #50, and where the stories will lead after that turning point - starting with the All Hail Optimus arc.
There are some spoilers for the current series, so be warned before you continue to read some extracts below, and the full interview right here.
Optimus Prime and the Autobots have always had a peaceful relationship with the people of Earth -- but in 2016 that's going to change.
In a new arc kicking off with February's Transformers #50, Optimus Prime is annexing Earth to be a part of Cybertron's Council of Worlds. Humanity is up in arms, not to mention the Decepticons, in this arc titled "All Hail Optimus."
Announced just before IDW Publishing's New York Comic-Con Panel "IDW & Top Shelf: Best Panel Of All Time", the creators of Transformers talked with Newsarama about this shocking event, from what it means to where it goes for the Robots in Disguise and the humans like you and I.
Newsarama: John, Andrew -- what can you tell readers about Transformers #50?
John Barber: Transformers #50 is the biggest thing we’ve done. It’s called "All Hail Optimus," and Optimus Prime annexes planet Earth to become to become part of Cybertron’s Council of Worlds—he takes control of Earth to protect it from invasion. Meanwhile, Optimus has thousands of Cybertronian followers who view him as the “True Prime”—they see him as having a power above any elected office, above any “normal” being—and now Optimus is using the power they’ve handed to him. And he’s using it for good—at least as far as he sees it. Not everybody agrees with him.
It’s a powerful move on Optimus Prime’s part, and one that there’s no moving back from. The humans know the Cybertronians are there, are among them, and the people of Earth are forced to become part of a cosmic community.
Andrew and I started working together about… six years ago? And we’ve never stopped. Most of that time’s been on this Transformers series, and this storyline brings together everything we’ve started. It’s amazing to get to work on something so big, and get to collaborate with somebody for so long. It’s been a long, great trip—and it’s about to get even better!
Andrew Griffith: Yeah, what's great to me about getting to this point is that while a landmark issue like #50 is usually a climax of a story, in our case it's the start of a new storyline that also serves as natural culmination of events that have been building in both Transformers and Windblade.
And I also see it as a bit of a landmark in my time working with John. So hard to believe we and colorist Josh Perez have made it to #50 as the core creative team along with Livio, Casey, Brendan, Guido, Sara and all of the other contributors to the series. Quite a feat in today's comics industry. And the same can be said of Transformers.
[...]
Nrama: Who's on Optimus' side in all this?
Barber: The team of Autobots on Earth—at least the ones who’ve survived to #50—are all with him, plus a new character named Aileron—she comes from Caminus and is amazing to be around this world of Primes and of grand cosmic events. Victorion—the new female Combiner we introduced this summer will be playing a big role. Is she on his side? That’s a complex answer. Sunstreaker will play a role, and so will the ancient Alpha Trion.
But his biggest supporters are the Colonists who’ve arrived on Cybertron, who’ve lived their whole lives thinking Primes were a myth—and now here they are standing on the same ground as one. And many are willing to do whatever he says—which isn’t something Optimus Prime has been comfortable with in the past.
Griffith: It's always nice to be able to draw familiar favorites like Optimus Prime, Sideswipe and Arcee. But it's even better sometimes to get to work with new characters to our book like Sunstreaker and Victorion. I know Josh and myself are particularly excited to get to help establish new characters like Aerlion, Victorion and the Torchbearers. I'm really happy that our cast can consist of childhood favorites like Optimus Prime while also embracing the newest and most diverse of characters to join the continuity.
Now the important question is: We have Sunstreaker coming up. What about Bob?
[...]
Nrama: John, I noticed Jonathan Hickman is listed as doing a cover. Can you talk about Hickman's involvement in the title and at IDW?
Barber: I’ve known Jonathan Hickman since he started writing comics, and he’s great—I love his writing, but I also love his drawing and his design sense. I talked to him at Comic-Con International: San Diego last summer, and he’d been doing some variant covers, and I asked if he’d do one for Transformers, and he said yes!
That’s all there really is to it, but years ago, I did make him listen to my Transformers plans in a bar. He’s probably blocked that memory out.
Griffith: Jonathan Hickman's doing a cover for our book? How rad is that? Can't wait to see it!
Arcee was only just announced as guest star on the second season of Q Transformers, from Takara Tomy and the DLE Channel on YouTube - and here she is, in the new episode titled ' The Road to Dark but Comedic Transformers '! The cast look at Beast Wars and Beast Machines, and its strange Japanese redub; follow along below if you can.
You might or might not be attending the 2015 edition of San Diego Comic Con on July 8-12, but in either case, a fan of the Transformers franchise in its various incarnation will not want to miss a number of sessions taking place over the course of the event! Take a look below as we've sifted through the full programme to pick out the transforming robot-related panels, featuring IDW Publishing, Robots in Disguise, Activision and more.
Transformers Generations: More Than Meets the Eye
Come see what the Transformers characters are up to as you are entertained with sneak peeks of the all new Activision video game trailers, IDW comic prints, and other special surprises. Then get your collector action on as you get an exclusive glimpse at the latest and greatest Transformers generations combiner wars toys that have yet to hit toy shelves. The Transformers team members will also host a Q&A session to answer your burning questions.
Thursday July 9, 2015 11:00am - 12:00pm
Room 25ABC
Transformers: Robots in Disguise
Roll out with the cast and creatives behind Transformers: Robots in Disguise as they share details of the making of the popular animated series and give a sneak peek into the rest of Season 1, now airing on Cartoon Network. Followed by a Q&A.
Thursday July 9, 2015 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Room 5AB
Women of Transformers
From Windblade and Arcee to Strongarm and the brand-new Combiner making her debut at SDCC, female Transformers characters have finally gotten their due; but behind the page and in fandom, even bigger changes have been happening. Panelists include Transformers comics writers Mairghread Scott and Georgia Ball, artists Corin Howell and Sara Pitre-Durocher, Hasbro's Sarah Carroll, and special guests.
Friday July 10, 2015 1:30pm - 2:30pm
Room 8
IDW: The Best Panel in Recorded History
This is the big one! Join IDW chief creative officer/editor-in-chief Chris Ryall and VP of marketing Dirk Wood lay waste to a room of shocked comic fans. Panelists include Gabriel Rodriguez, John Layman, James Tynion IV, Ulises Farinas, and special guests. Shocking announcements, amazing prizes, and a Q&A.
Friday July 10, 2015 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Room 4
Welcome to the latest edition of the Seibertron.com Twincast / Podcast! This episode features your MC for the evening, ScottyP along with Seibertron, Jon 3.0, Megatronus, Rotorstorm, and RodimusConvoy13!
Episode #118 "Countdown to Botcon 2015" is available directly and in our RSS Feed and should appear on iTunes, and Stitcher Radio within 24 to 48 hours of when you see this news post.
As we begin the countdown to Botcon 2015, in this episode's special segment the Twincast chats with Pete Sinclair of Fun Publications. Sit back and enjoy while we find out what really goes in to putting together one of the premier Transformers conventions. You might even hear a surprise or two
Thank you Pete for taking the time out of your busy schedule to sit down and chat with us!
As we transition now to some toy talk, we'll discuss our thoughts on a new video that has surfaced finally showing how one of the biggest sets of the year will combine. That set you ask is none other than Combiner Wars Devastator!
Images have surfaced of some pretty wild decos of our favorite fembots, Arcee, Windblade, and Chromia! Now revealed as an SDCC exclusive, will we be leavin' on a jet plane to add these ladies to our collections? Guess you'll have to tune in to find out.
Up next, images of the newest member of the Platinum Edition family, Trypticon have been revealed! Will the crew be picking up this big lug or are some of us just not ready to pull the trigger yet.
You can't resist it...It's electric!
Now comes time for one of our favorite segments of the show, another round of bragging rights! Tune in to hear what the cast picked up since the last episode.
It's the simple things in life
Well, that wraps things up for another episode! We really hope you enjoyed listening.
Don't forget, the show only gets better if you tell us how. Drop us a review on iTunes and be sure to tell us what you love, what you hate, and what you want to hear!
Not on the show to give your take? Probably not, so don't forget to keep the discussion going on the Seibertron.com Energon Pub Forums by simply replying to this post!
Got a question for the Twincast? We take all of them, we just don't take them all seriously! Leave a question in the Ask the Twincast thread and, if it makes the cut, it may get read and answered on the show.
IDW Transformers comic book artist Andrew Griffith just showed off some awesome looking artwork he did for SpEditionNYC via twitter! These artwork consists of Combiner Wars Superion with Alpha Bravo and Arcee!
Check out the images we've embedded below and remember keep your optics tuned to Seibertron.com for the latest in news and updates!
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OPTIMUS PRIME Tran ...
Transformers Rise ...
Transformers Bumbl ...
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BLITZWING Transfor ...
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