BotCon 2014 Guest Announcement - IDW Transformers Writers John Barber and Mairghread Scott

Flame ON! pic.twitter.com/jnkcVGxOz2

Hello Everyone!

Sorry this has taken so long to get to you but the BotCon 2014 brochure is finally online at BotCon.com. We have been waiting on the final details for the TRANSFORMERS FAN EXPERIENCE at Universal Studios Hollywood, and we got the green light today! This will be a fantastic event at this year's 30th Anniversary Transformers Celebration! Don't miss it!

Our current plan is to let you ask question for the next couple of weeks and then we plan to start registration sometime the week of May 5th.

Please use the email links at BotCon.com and make sure you read the FAQs before we start registration.

See you in Pasadena!

BotCon Figure Set

They sailed across the inky-black where the heavens can’t be found. No light could show, no wind could blow, no soul could make a sound. Yet each mech aboard, garbed for war, holding a cutlass or a gun… And from the spotter above came the sign – We’re bound for Cybertron!

But Cybertron is not defenseless. Noble, wise, and loyal to the cause, the KNIGHTS OF CYBERTRON are steadfast in their protection of their homeworld. Any villainy that dare threaten the planet will be met with valiant courage, unwavering will, and Cybertron’s greatest warriors!

The BotCon 2014 Convention set - PIRATES VS KNIGHTS! This year’s amazing five-figure set explores a whole new theme while also celebrating 30 years of the Transformers! This is more than just an homage set though, as it brings characters from across the mythos into the Fun Publications “G1 cartoon” universe, while also FINALLY bringing some long time fan favorite characters to life! And our biggest reveal? The centerpiece of our set features the FIRST HEADMASTER Transformer sold in over 20 years! Keep an eye on BotCon.com for ALL the incredible figure reveals!

DECEPTICON PIRATE CANNONBALL – A smarmy, charismatic pirate leader, who rules through charm and subterfuge, rather than force and intimidation, Cannonball is a Bot who’d sooner talk his way out of a fight or into a prize, but is more than capable when he needs to do battle. While he specializes in deception, fraud and even out-and-out impersonation, Cannonball is also skilled with blades and melee weapons – a true swashbuckler.

DECEPTICON PIRATE FERAK – Ferak is a sadist and the Pirates’ maintenance man. He keeps the ship together and can cobble Engines of Terror for casting fear on their victims. He used to be part of an elite Decepticon team called “Squadron X” during the war, but has found adapting to peacetime rather difficult. He is partnered with the diminutive TORNADO, a former member of Squadron X, whose alternate mode is a gun, but an ill-designed gun that jams and threatens to explode if a round of ammunition becomes lodged (it happens a lot – Ferak has the powder burns to prove it).

DECEPTICON PIRATE SCORPONOK – Scorponok is the fusion of machine and a Nebulan named Zarak. Last we had seen of Scorponok, he was flying through space serving as the battleship for the tattered remains of the Decepticon army. Now, however, Zarak has been forced to scuttle much of that battleship, rebuilding Scorponok into a smaller body.

AUTOBOT KNIGHT GINRAI – He is the gruff, pragmatic and
downright paranoid military leader of the Autobots/Maximals. An old-school warrior “Bot of Action”, Ginrai has earned the rank of Knight Commander. A veteran of the old conflicts, he’s not entirely comfortable with the peace, constantly waiting for the “other shoe to drop”.

AUTOBOT KNIGHT DEVCON – A loner and former bounty hunter who holds the rank of Knight Sergeant, Devcon is the Batman to Ginrai’s Commissioner Gordon – the Bot willing to cross the line, bend the rules, shake down an informant. He doesn’t play well with others, but he gets the job done every time.

This offering will be hot, so don’t miss out! Order your Primus or Iacon package today!

Midnight_Fox wrote:So this does take place between A Flash Forward and Termination.

Sabrblade wrote:

Midnight_Fox wrote:So this does take place between A Flash Forward and Termination.

How do you figure? It was said at last year's BotCon to take place after Termination, acting as the finale to the Wings Universe.

Midnight_Fox wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

Midnight_Fox wrote:So this does take place between A Flash Forward and Termination.

How do you figure? It was said at last year's BotCon to take place after Termination, acting as the finale to the Wings Universe.

I believe they said earlier this year that while it IS the "finale"(I believe it was actually stated to be the last story) to Wings, it takes place before. As well, Ginrai's Bio in the brochure says that Cybertron is at peace and protected by the Knights. That doesn't gel with the ending of Termination, where the Autobots were told to leave Cybertron or be exterminated.

Sabrblade wrote:

Midnight_Fox wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

Midnight_Fox wrote:So this does take place between A Flash Forward and Termination.

How do you figure? It was said at last year's BotCon to take place after Termination, acting as the finale to the Wings Universe.

I believe they said earlier this year that while it IS the "finale"(I believe it was actually stated to be the last story) to Wings, it takes place before. As well, Ginrai's Bio in the brochure says that Cybertron is at peace and protected by the Knights. That doesn't gel with the ending of Termination, where the Autobots were told to leave Cybertron or be exterminated.

Yes, but Termination was set in 2013 AD (according to the official Wings Universe timeline). 30 years after the G1 cartoon would be roughly in 2037 AD.

shajaki wrote:so... please forgive my ignorance but i have some questions about registration:

im planning on buying this set whether its straight from the source or aftermarket. theres a non attendee package correct? based on how theyve operated in the past, its just the 5 figure set, but is it only loose bagged or can i get the actual box? what is the price like from the source? will they ship it right to me? would it actually be easier to buy it from the aftermarket?

thanks in advance!

The Iacon Package ($395 for club members or $495 for non-members)
is for those who cannot attend the show and consists of:
• Transformers: Pirates vs. Knights Convention Set: A five-figure boxed
set which includes Decepticon Pirates: Cannonball, Ferak, Scorponok,
and Autobot Knights: Ginrai and Devcon, all presented in an illustrated
display box. Also included with the set is a certificate of authenticity,
tech specs and figure weapons.
• Convention pin.
• Convention program with comic.
• Does not include the bonus attendee figure.
• Items will be shipped three to four weeks after the show to your home
address. (Use the BotCon.com registration link to order this package.)

shajaki wrote:thanks for the info!

but uhhh... holy... 100 dollar difference between member and non member? thats kinda gross. i think ill be going aftermarket on this..

craggy wrote:and if you do sign up to be a member to get the Iacon package, you'll get the free club figure this year as well (which is Protoform X, am I right?) right?

shajaki wrote:thanks for the info!

but uhhh... holy... 100 dollar difference between member and non member? thats kinda gross. i think ill be going aftermarket on this..

Doctor McGrath wrote:The price for as non attendee box set is ridiculous. No way should it be the same price as an attendee package.

Doctor McGrath wrote:The price for as non attendee box set is ridiculous. No way should it be the same price as an attendee package.

ScottyP wrote:

Doctor McGrath wrote:The price for as non attendee box set is ridiculous. No way should it be the same price as an attendee package.

Absolutely agree with that. The attendee package has the Universal event built in, so I became very ok with the price once I learned that (cuz f--k a casino night, don't need that same 'ol noise). My only guess, not knowing a lick about their actual cost, is that they're losing money on Primus sets and offsetting a bit with the Iacon ones.

Or, rather, their margin is something like 10% on a Primus set because of Universal so they want to then have a higher margin on the Iacon sets to help out.

Just throwing darts; as stated, I have no clue at all what their cost is, but indeed I don't get why the non-attendee went up as much as the attending package, given what comes with them besides the toys (Event at Universal Studios vs. shipping costs).

Doctor McGrath wrote:The price for as non attendee box set is ridiculous. No way should it be the same price as an attendee package.

It Is Him wrote:No mention of loose sets? Don't they usually offer extra loose sets to people who buy the Primus package? I kinda would prefer that since I really don't have the space for a box set right now. (Psst - anyone want to hook me up?)

ScottyP wrote:

It Is Him wrote:No mention of loose sets? Don't they usually offer extra loose sets to people who buy the Primus package? I kinda would prefer that since I really don't have the space for a box set right now. (Psst - anyone want to hook me up?)

Only 250 loose sets being produced this year. Those are gonna fly.

ScottyP wrote:

It Is Him wrote:No mention of loose sets? Don't they usually offer extra loose sets to people who buy the Primus package? I kinda would prefer that since I really don't have the space for a box set right now. (Psst - anyone want to hook me up?)

Only 250 loose sets being produced this year. Those are gonna fly.

Doctor McGrath wrote:

ScottyP wrote:

It Is Him wrote:No mention of loose sets? Don't they usually offer extra loose sets to people who buy the Primus package? I kinda would prefer that since I really don't have the space for a box set right now. (Psst - anyone want to hook me up?)

Only 250 loose sets being produced this year. Those are gonna fly.

I do not get the business model here.

ScottyP wrote:

Doctor McGrath wrote:

ScottyP wrote:

It Is Him wrote:No mention of loose sets? Don't they usually offer extra loose sets to people who buy the Primus package? I kinda would prefer that since I really don't have the space for a box set right now. (Psst - anyone want to hook me up?)

Only 250 loose sets being produced this year. Those are gonna fly.

I do not get the business model here.

This is the "we took a ride into the Red with Machine Wars and have to cut costs" business model >:oP

Va'al wrote:The official BotCon Twitter account has revealed a whole slew of guests for the 2014 convention, and they're all part of the Transformers: Rescue Bots cast! Joining the guest list, which you can find here, are Steve Blum (Heatwave and Prime Starscream), Parvesh Cheena (Blades), Jason Marsden (Kade Burns), Shannon McKain (Graham Burns), Elan Garfias (Cody Burns), Nicole Dubuc (Bumblebee, CAT, and writer for both Rescue Bots and Prime episodes), writers Greg Johnson and Brian Hohlfeld - bringing the guset count to seventeen!

BotCon 2014 is coming to Pasadena, CA June 19th-22nd. For the full reveal of this year's 5-figure convention set and general information on the show, be sure to visit http://www.botcon.com. To see two of the exclusive characters in action (Cannonball and Ferak), we have an exclusive preview of pages 3 and 4 from this year's BotCon comic!

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:How many cameos do you spy? I see several:

Big Rescue Force
the potential combined from of the Motorvators
Armada Tidal Wave (really, FunPub? )
FoC Air Raid
Meanstreak
Power Master Ironhide

The last two are really toy-accurate in the locomotion department.

Rated X wrote:Sails on a spaceship is stuipd. I mean REALLY stupid. There is no wind in space. Not to mention it has rocket boosters.

Sabrblade wrote:

Rated X wrote:Sails on a spaceship is stuipd. I mean REALLY stupid. There is no wind in space. Not to mention it has rocket boosters.

Two words: Solar Sails.

Lots of science fiction stories use them. They usually serve the function of an additional power source that absorbs solar radiation from stars, and aesthetically resemble sails for multiple reasons depending on the author(s).

Rated X wrote:Years of people begging for a broadside repaint of the tidalwave mold, and this is how funpub decides to use the mold ? I pray they dont do it...

Sabrblade wrote:

Rated X wrote:Years of people begging for a broadside repaint of the tidalwave mold, and this is how funpub decides to use the mold ? I pray they dont do it...

Well, it is still up in the air as to whether or not they will actually use that mold. Much less remold it to have sails since the Club admitted on their Twitter that, after Cannonball and Devcon, their remold budget was all used up by Scorponok's new tooling.

There's also the possibility of this mold being so old that it might not be available for them to use.

And those colors it has in that page (or what little of them that we can see since most of the ship is cast in shadow) don't look too different from the toy's original Armada colors, so it's possible that it isn't a redeco and just a repurposing of the original toy as it is (for those who already own it). Which would sensible thing to do as it would let people use that mold with the BotCon toys without the Club having to spend more money on an 11-year-old mold of that large size.

Personally, I'm still a bit skeptical about them actually using the Tidal Wave mold and am not expecting them to (and certainly not expecting it to have newly molded sails), but I wouldn't mind them using it as it would be a pleasant surprise.