IDW Transformers: Combiner Wars - Mairghread Scott on Caminus, Mistress of Flame and More

Holy sweet mother of Camiens. That is fantastic art, and a great, intriguing concept.

Interesting



I'm glad IDW is not afraid to evolve and make history go by just how real life does it.

Pleeease please please give us a figure of that!!!

It's almost as if they are aware of GASP change being the fundamental aspect of a race of mechorganic beings that can change into other things. Surely not though.

Only Alpha Bravo is that awesome.

ThatOneMoose wrote:Pleeease please please give us a figure of that!!!

It would be extremely inaccurate though.



Not that it's a bad thing just something to point out.

So I'm going to guess she's going to be a bit like Doctor Zaius in that whilst leader of the faith and also progression of Caminun society; also she knows some deep terrible secret about the society present. Or Hell maybe she'll be like Father Comstock and might be a leader of a cult of sky racists I don't know at this rate.

SW's SilverHammer wrote:So I'm going to guess she's going to be a bit like Doctor Zaius in that whilst leader of the faith and also progression of Caminun society; also she knows some deep terrible secret about the society present. Or Hell maybe she'll be like Father Comstock and might be a leader of a cult of sky racists I don't know at this rate.

Or she manipulates the faith/cult/power to her own ends. IDWverse has not shied away from showing religion under a negative light (e.g. Star Saber), but this would be the first critique of organised faith systems.

And I would love that. A great addition to the complex world-building at hand in the publisher's output since 2005!

How very drol and NOT Transformers.

MR Optimus Prime wrote:How very drol and NOT Transformers.

Alpha Bravo disagrees with you.

MR Optimus Prime wrote:How very drol and NOT Transformers.

Who are you to decide what Transformers is?




I think I know why Hasbro does not hire fanboys for ideas.

Va'al wrote:

SW's SilverHammer wrote:So I'm going to guess she's going to be a bit like Doctor Zaius in that whilst leader of the faith and also progression of Caminun society; also she knows some deep terrible secret about the society present. Or Hell maybe she'll be like Father Comstock and might be a leader of a cult of sky racists I don't know at this rate.

Or she manipulates the faith/cult/power to her own ends. IDWverse has not shied away from showing religion under a negative light (e.g. Star Saber), but this would be the first critique of organised faith systems.

And I would love that. A great addition to the complex world-building at hand in the publisher's output since 2005!

Well then we're right back to the "The Lord forgives everything, but I'm just a prophet… so I don't have to." territory XD

I don't think so! I think it could be more of a 'I am using all of this knowledge and power because my knowledge is their ignorance, and their ignorance is my power'. If Caminus is almost a theocratic system, a faith leader is immensely powerful, and has to keep that faith running.

And with what looks like a Forge of Solus lookalike in her hands, I'm guessing there'll be more exploring of the recent Barber overseen overlap between Aligned mythology and Guiding Hand.



I am so very stoked.

Va'al wrote:I don't think so! I think it could be more of a 'I am using all of this knowledge and power because my knowledge is their ignorance, and their ignorance is my power'. If Caminus is almost a theocratic system, a faith leader is immensely powerful, and has to keep that faith running.

And with what looks like a Forge of Solus lookalike in her hands, I'm guessing there'll be more exploring of the recent Barber overseen overlap between Aligned mythology and Guiding Hand.



I am so very stoked.

It will be predictable if it ends up like that.

mirageandjazz1197 wrote:

Va'al wrote:I don't think so! I think it could be more of a 'I am using all of this knowledge and power because my knowledge is their ignorance, and their ignorance is my power'. If Caminus is almost a theocratic system, a faith leader is immensely powerful, and has to keep that faith running.

And with what looks like a Forge of Solus lookalike in her hands, I'm guessing there'll be more exploring of the recent Barber overseen overlap between Aligned mythology and Guiding Hand.



I am so very stoked.

It will be predictable if it ends up like that.

Alpha Bravo will make sure it is not.

Va'al wrote:And with what looks like a Forge of Solus lookalike in her hands, I'm guessing there'll be more exploring of the recent Barber overseen overlap between Aligned mythology and Guiding Hand.

I wonder if that's going to come into play like those weird churches in like south Africa that claim they have the ark of covenant; but the won't let anyone see it; but they totes have it yo.

So are all Camiens female, or just part of the population?

Liking the Mistress of Flame. Dare I say she looks...hot?

I hope she just seems to having a passing similarity to Melisande in GOT. I know GOT is drivel, but it's also entertaining, and this concept seems similar to the Red priestess of R'holler. But anyway, cool idea and beautiful artwork.

Firestar Prime?

Mindmaster wrote:So are all Camiens female, or just part of the population?

TMS: Combiner Wars seems like it might offer more of a chance to examine the Metrotitan Caminus and the culture of his planet, being the only Transformers society (in the IDW continuity) to have developed gender. Or is that the kind of thing that might be left until after the event dust settles?

Note: Male is also a gender.

Va'al wrote:

Mindmaster wrote:So are all Camiens female, or just part of the population?

TMS: Combiner Wars seems like it might offer more of a chance to examine the Metrotitan Caminus and the culture of his planet, being the only Transformers society (in the IDW continuity) to have developed gender. Or is that the kind of thing that might be left until after the event dust settles?

Note: Male is also a gender.

So... part of the population is female...?

Mindmaster wrote:

Va'al wrote:

Mindmaster wrote:So are all Camiens female, or just part of the population?

TMS: Combiner Wars seems like it might offer more of a chance to examine the Metrotitan Caminus and the culture of his planet, being the only Transformers society (in the IDW continuity) to have developed gender. Or is that the kind of thing that might be left until after the event dust settles?

Note: Male is also a gender.

So... part of the population is female...?

Yes. I worry about your reading and comprehension skills sometimes.

Va'al wrote:
Alpha Bravo will make sure it is not.

Wonder what secrets lie under that mask



Like Alpha Bravo turning out to be Primus!

Mindmaster wrote:

Va'al wrote:

Mindmaster wrote:So are all Camiens female, or just part of the population?

TMS: Combiner Wars seems like it might offer more of a chance to examine the Metrotitan Caminus and the culture of his planet, being the only Transformers society (in the IDW continuity) to have developed gender. Or is that the kind of thing that might be left until after the event dust settles?

Note: Male is also a gender.

So... part of the population is female...?

I'd assume so, part of the earth's population which has many-a-gender ; (apparently) part of the population has women in it.

My wife pointed out some surprising similarities between the Mistress's frame and Cybertron Ransack:


Transformers Cybertron Ransack (Gasket) Gallery

The Mistress of Flame lacks the wheels, but the shoulders, feet, and waistline loosely fit, suggesting she could have a similar transformation.

The Mrs. also pointed out that the three Caminans we've met so far - a city speaker, a quantum mechanic, and a super-aggressive warrior scream different aspects of Solus Prime, which makes me wonder if we're potentially looking at a theocratically driven caste system comparable to (as Silverhammer suggests) the Planet of the Apes' division between Orangutans, Chimps, and Gorillas.

This also all makes me wonder if Solus is still alive, and if so, what implications that has for the other story-lines. Alpha Trion is running about. Optimus, Galvatron, and Prowl are hunting the Matrix of Combination and have encountered the Onyx "corporation" on Earth, tying that story-line to two Primes, and Brainstorm's quest seems like it presents the possibility of him running afoul of Megatronus. And of course, we're also getting an Armada Megatron toy, so he's probably going to be in the comics somehow (maybe due to temporal shenanigans, perhaps an alternate version of Megatron who's drunk the functionist koolaid), and his enslavement of the disposable class/minicons could tie in with Micronus Prime, who was tight with Onyx, Nexus, and Solus.

Va'al wrote:

Mindmaster wrote:

Va'al wrote:

Mindmaster wrote:So are all Camiens female, or just part of the population?

TMS: Combiner Wars seems like it might offer more of a chance to examine the Metrotitan Caminus and the culture of his planet, being the only Transformers society (in the IDW continuity) to have developed gender. Or is that the kind of thing that might be left until after the event dust settles?

Note: Male is also a gender.

So... part of the population is female...?

Yes. I worry about your reading and comprehension skills sometimes.

Six months later, and I'm still recovering from precalculus. To quote Megatron, "I worry it changed me."

Caelus wrote:Great post of great things.

You and your partner have a good set of minds, right there!

EDIT: Also, I'd really like for the underwhelming fate of Solus Prime in the Covenant to be rectified in the IDW continuity. In Barber/Scott/Roberts I trust.

Oh and also, maybe, may I interject, I totally want a bioshock-y Transformers game based of the IDW G1 continuity. It should follow Alpha Bravo.

SW's SilverHammer wrote:Oh and also, maybe, may I interject, I totally want a bioshock-y Transformers game based of the IDW G1 continuity. It should follow Alpha Bravo.

As we all should.

SW's SilverHammer wrote:Oh and also, maybe, may I interject, I totally want a bioshock-y Transformers game based of the IDW G1 continuity. It should follow Alpha Bravo.

And Barral Roll so we could have Co-op

MR Optimus Prime wrote:How very drol and NOT Transformers.

since G1 there have been many cybertronians that dont transform or look like they transform

Va'al wrote:

Caelus wrote:Great post of great things.

You and your partner have a good set of minds, right there!

Thank you

Va'al wrote:EDIT: Also, I'd really like for the underwhelming fate of Solus Prime in the Covenant to be rectified in the IDW continuity. In Barber/Scott/Roberts I trust.

AGREED.

Really wild speculation - In an attempt to prevent "Megatron" as we know him from existing, Brainstorm ends up killing Megatronus before Solus Prime can be killed. A tad extreme to kill a deity to prevent a despot, perhaps, but Brainstorm would have the means (either by using his Dead Universe research or by, you know, just warning Solus) and when it comes down to it, Solus Prime would have to be Brainstorm's idol - saving her could make Cybertron Brainstorm's ideal home.

mirageandjazz1197 wrote:Interesting



I'm glad IDW is not afraid to evolve and make history go by just how real life does it.

Is this growth in female Cybertronians a bigger deal than I think it is? I know that the Transformers Franchise is pretty sparse of female bots, but I don't feel like this is a big deal (an improvement, definitely).

Anyways...
Dat art work is nice!

Mindmaster wrote:Liking the Mistress of Flame. Dare I say she looks...hot?

Glad to know I'm not the only one .
EDIT: Dare I say she's... smokin'?

mirageandjazz1197 wrote:

SW's SilverHammer wrote:Oh and also, maybe, may I interject, I totally want a bioshock-y Transformers game based of the IDW G1 continuity. It should follow Alpha Bravo.

And Barral Roll so we could have Co-op

I've begun to read IDW and am not too far in yet to phase two. Can you guys explain (spoiler-free please) why alpha bravo's such a b@d@$$? Just curious and want to be in on what everyone else is in on.

starwarrior1227 wrote:

mirageandjazz1197 wrote:Interesting



I'm glad IDW is not afraid to evolve and make history go by just how real life does it.

Is this growth in female Cybertronians a bigger deal than I think it is? I know that the Transformers Franchise is pretty sparse of female bots, but I don't feel like this is a big deal (an improvement, definitely).

Anyways...
Dat art work is nice!

I'm saying that to reference the crybabies who say every new thing is horrible and that transformers is ruined forever.

Va'al wrote:Comics and geek culture website The Mary Sue was also able to have a chat with IDW writer Mairghread Scott about the upcoming Windblade return with the beginning of Transformers: Combiner Wars - and we've copied a couple of snippets below! Read the full story here, and take a look at some preview art by Sarah Stone, too.

TMS: Combiner Wars seems like it might offer more of a chance to examine the Metrotitan Caminus and the culture of his planet, being the only Transformers society (in the IDW continuity) to have developed gender. Or is that the kind of thing that might be left until after the event dust settles?

MS: Combiner Wars is going to be our first real introduction to the planet Caminus (where Windblade is from) and the ‘Bots that live on it. It’s also our first time meeting transformers who are completely unlike the ones from Cybertron. Camiens are proud, devout and desperately in need of help and we see how that affects their dealings with Autobots, Decepticons and Starscream himself.

In fact, we have an exclusive sneak peek at of one of the most important members of Camian society, the Mistress of Flame. The Mistress of Flame is the leader of the only faith on Caminus, The Way of Flame, which worships a female Prime said to be the mother of all Camiens. But fire can be as dangerous as it is helpful and the faith of Caminus burns hotter than any Cybertronian realizes.

[...]

TMS: And finally: Is Windblade combining with anyone in the series? Are we looking at a potential metrotitan combiner (several bots transforming into a single larger bot)?

MS: Now that would be telling. But there will be a brand new combiner in our series. Who it is and how it gets made are things you’ll just have to read to find out.

I am real exited about this whole new setting and all the great stories that can come out of this. I dont like the name Camian, but I guess that already a done deal, bring on the great stories!

That's awesome. I wouldn't mind an entire spinoff series or franchise centered around Caminus and its inhabitors. Instead of just Cybertron all the time. Don't get me wrong, Cybertron is badass. But more aliens is always good. Especially since they're still Transformers, technically. They wouldn't even need to change the name.

ThatOneMoose wrote:

mirageandjazz1197 wrote:

SW's SilverHammer wrote:Oh and also, maybe, may I interject, I totally want a bioshock-y Transformers game based of the IDW G1 continuity. It should follow Alpha Bravo.

And Barral Roll so we could have Co-op

I've begun to read IDW and am not too far in yet to phase two. Can you guys explain (spoiler-free please) why alpha bravo's such a b@d@$$? Just curious and want to be in on what everyone else is in on.

There's no way to explain it without spoilers. Buuuuuuuut because he's not really a major character and dosen't matter, Slingshot dies horribly near the end of the first run of Robots in disguise, before Dark Cybertron. Alpha Bravo takes the mantle left behind by him.

Caelus wrote:

Va'al wrote:

Caelus wrote:Great post of great things.

You and your partner have a good set of minds, right there!

Thank you

Va'al wrote:EDIT: Also, I'd really like for the underwhelming fate of Solus Prime in the Covenant to be rectified in the IDW continuity. In Barber/Scott/Roberts I trust.

AGREED.

Really wild speculation - In an attempt to prevent "Megatron" as we know him from existing, Brainstorm ends up killing Megatronus before Solus Prime can be killed. A tad extreme to kill a deity to prevent a despot, perhaps, but Brainstorm would have the means (either by using his Dead Universe research or by, you know, just warning Solus) and when it comes down to it, Solus Prime would have to be Brainstorm's idol - saving her could make Cybertron Brainstorm's ideal home.

How caught up are you with the comics?

Also, so far the Aligned Thirteen have been mentioned and hinted at, though do not follow the same layout as the Covenant has them in Barber's work. We'll have to see what happens once the concepts are expanded to other series too.

SW's SilverHammer wrote:

ThatOneMoose wrote:

mirageandjazz1197 wrote:

SW's SilverHammer wrote:Oh and also, maybe, may I interject, I totally want a bioshock-y Transformers game based of the IDW G1 continuity. It should follow Alpha Bravo.

And Barral Roll so we could have Co-op

I've begun to read IDW and am not too far in yet to phase two. Can you guys explain (spoiler-free please) why alpha bravo's such a b@d@$$? Just curious and want to be in on what everyone else is in on.

There's no way to explain it without spoilers. Buuuuuuuut because he's not really a major character and dosen't matter, Slingshot dies horribly near the end of the first run of Robots in disguise, before Dark Cybertron. Alpha Bravo takes the mantle left behind by him.

Also, he's totally the coolest. Like, for real.

@MairghreadScott wrote: BTW, TF Fans, yes Mistress of Flame is one seriously tall lady.

I want her as mai Waifu now. I'm kidding but she seems really cool; also she reminds me of Helen Mirren for some reason but to great effect. wat?

Va'al wrote:How caught up are you with the comics?

Also, so far the Aligned Thirteen have been mentioned and hinted at, though do not follow the same layout as the Covenant has them in Barber's work. We'll have to see what happens once the concepts are expanded to other series too.

Last I saw Brainstorm had a gun to Megatron's nascent spark. Should have blacked that out as a spoiler before, I guess.

Also, I've been assuming that, as in the real world, the disparate explanations of the Transformers' origin and prehistory present in IDW reflect differences in what the characters believe, rather than differences between universes or errors in continuity. At some point something did happen, but who, if anyone, has related that story to the audience accurately is unknown. Alpha Trion has even hinted that Cybertronians old enough to personally remember the era in question may have had their memories subverted (by him), creating the ultimate unreliable-narrator problem.

Say, we never did receive any direct confirmation that Flame from the old Marvel comics is dead in the IDW timeline, did we? Hmmmmmmmm...

Va'al wrote:

SW's SilverHammer wrote:

ThatOneMoose wrote:

mirageandjazz1197 wrote:

SW's SilverHammer wrote:Oh and also, maybe, may I interject, I totally want a bioshock-y Transformers game based of the IDW G1 continuity. It should follow Alpha Bravo.

And Barral Roll so we could have Co-op

I've begun to read IDW and am not too far in yet to phase two. Can you guys explain (spoiler-free please) why alpha bravo's such a b@d@$$? Just curious and want to be in on what everyone else is in on.

There's no way to explain it without spoilers. Buuuuuuuut because he's not really a major character and dosen't matter, Slingshot dies horribly near the end of the first run of Robots in disguise, before Dark Cybertron. Alpha Bravo takes the mantle left behind by him.

Also, he's totally the coolest. Like, for real.

I knew that Slingshot died, just wondering what makes him so cool. Is it just the fact that he stepped up to take Slingshot's place?

ThatOneMoose wrote:

Va'al wrote:

SW's SilverHammer wrote:There's no way to explain it without spoilers. Buuuuuuuut because he's not really a major character and dosen't matter, Slingshot dies horribly near the end of the first run of Robots in disguise, before Dark Cybertron. Alpha Bravo takes the mantle left behind by him.

Also, he's totally the coolest. Like, for real.

I knew that Slingshot died, just wondering what makes him so cool. Is it just the fact that he stepped up to take Slingshot's place?

Mostly because reasons. Personally, I adore how it irritates certain parts of the fandom by showing up on *one* panel of *one* issue, and having a toy that might in fact not be a replacement but a hint at a later team and combiner.

Alpha Bravo - because you're worth it.

Flame, anyone? G1 Flame? maybe that´s where they´re going.

Janus Prime wrote:Flame, anyone? G1 Flame? maybe that´s where they´re going.

Flame was already in IDW as an Autobot who was imprisoned for numerous war crimes.



Not saying he can't show up here but just saying Flame has shown up.

at all the love for Alpha Bravo, turning him into a meme is brilliant!

So... uhm... anyone else getting a huge Evangelion vibe here?

This is getting me hyped for the new Windblade series and I can't wait to see the new combiner and what it's theme is.

As for Alpha Bravo, all I can say i: Awesome, he's the first deluxe I'm hunting for since a lot of the stores near me are sold out of him (dragstrip is shelf warming though).

I think IDW should give that patriot his own miniseries then put him in the group that fuses with cyclonus (they both love Cybertron after all)

More weird thinking -

As the blacksmith of the 13, Solus Prime is a maker deity like Hephaestus/Vulcan, and by temperament and necessity she seems to have a particular affinity for weaponry (particularly melee weapons). Given that Transformers are themselves mechanical beings though, the distinction between weapon and person could be seen as somewhat nebulous by Caminans. That is supported by the blurb saying Caminans believe (presumably) Solus Prime is their mother (which may also challenge the presumption that Transformers must be born from hot spots, spark-splitting, or matrix-squeezing).

All that is pretty, 'well yeah', but what occurred to me is that Solus Prime could match up with a traditional earth goddess archetype that emphasizes the entangled ideas of creation and destruction (a stark contrast to the sort of Zoroastrian dichotomy of Primus and Unicron). In particular, she seems similar to the Morrigan.

Although commonly associated with war and death some interpretations of the Morrigan treat her as a goddess or demi-goddess of fertility and sovereignty, a symbol of creation and protective or strategic warfare. This fits with Solus Prime being a maker and a fighter, but not THE fighter. She created weapons and armors to defend Cybertron, just as the Morrigan would have aided threatened kingdoms.

To twist the tale even further, the Morrigan is sometimes described as a trio of goddesses or one deity in three-parts - typically Badb, Macha and Nemain - and many stories involve her transforming into different creatures, her most notable alternate modes forms being a raven/crow, an eel, and a wolf (less notably a cow, but who in mythology hasn't turned into a cow at some point?). It's probably a coincidence, but it does seem surprisingly on target that the three Caminan's we've met so far are a jet, a submarine, and a combat motorcycle.

Oh, and the raven/crow form is associated with Badb, who may "appear prior to a battle to foreshadow the extent of the carnage to come, or to predict the death of a notable person." Which makes me think, 'So... Windblade... interesting timing showing up right before the Combiner Wars begin - who's gonna die?'