More IDW Transformers Nominations - James Roberts and Tom Scioli

Remember when we posted that IDW Publishing's Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye had been nominated for the Comics Alliance Continued Excellence in Comics Award? Well, be ready to rejoice, as the following of the smash series has definitely leant in on this one - it won! Read more on it below, and here!

Winner: Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye

If you had told me even a year ago that the single best comic on the stands was not only a Transformers comic, but the Transformers comic where the entire cast just sort of goofs around in space without ever getting any closer to accomplishing the goals that are nominally driving the book, I would've laughed you out of the office. And yet, here we are, in a world where I've read every issue of More Than Meets The Eye and can't wait for the next one.

The character work and astonishingly clever setups in this series have taken a franchise I never cared about and made it one that I'm deeply invested in, with heartbreaking drama and thrilling action just underneath a surface of comedy that's very hard to pull off.

It is, quite simply, The Best. [Chris Sims]

Awesome news! So glad MTMTE is getting this kind of publicity!

It is just that good

If you had told me even a year ago that the single best comic on the stands was not only a Transformers comic, but the Transformers comic where the entire cast just sort of goofs around in space without ever getting any closer to accomplishing the goals that are nominally driving the book, I would've laughed you out of the office. And yet, here we are, in a world where I've read every issue of More Than Meets The Eye and can't wait for the next one.

Kind of sad how far the franchise has fallen.

really this won? obviously the people behind the award do not read comics

For those naysayers... shut yo mouth! This comic series is excellent and has made me really enjoy the writing like no other TF series. And I can say that as not just someone who reads comics, but who has written comics. So :-p

In addition to the announcement over on Comics Alliance about Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye winning their Excellence award, we also have its author - James 'Peerless Jim' Roberts - receiving the award for Outstanding Writer for 2015! Check out the blurb below, and pats on the back all round.

Winner: James Roberts

A great comic can come from anywhere, even a property built to sell toys, which has been through enough reboots to make DC Comics go “well, hold on now.” Nothing is better proof of this than Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye, a comic canonized as a minor miracle by Pontifex Prime (what the Popemobile turns into) due largely to its writer, James Roberts.

Roberts humanizes the Transformers like never before, keeping every detail of their massive backstory alien without being alienating, spinning a story where a minor detail from three years back can snowball into a revelation today, and unafraid to be funny, sentimental or heartbreaking, with breathtaking skill at all of these. That this is his first professional work is stunning, and I hope it’s far from his last. [Charlotte Finn]

Black Bumblebee wrote:For those naysayers... shut yo mouth! This comic series is excellent and has made me really enjoy the writing like no other TF series. And I can say that as not just someone who reads comics, but who has written comics. Fan fiction So :-p

Sorry I have a different opinion. Sorry I liked Transformers, when you know...it was about TRANSFORMERS... not gay robot drama. But I know I am the exception, and that's ok, I can keep rereading the small sample of past Marvel, Dreamwave, and IDW content that I consider well written and entertaining TF lore.

o.supreme wrote:

Black Bumblebee wrote:For those naysayers... shut yo mouth! This comic series is excellent and has made me really enjoy the writing like no other TF series. And I can say that as not just someone who reads comics, but who has written comics. Fan fiction So :-p

Sorry I have a different opinion. Sorry I liked Transformers, when you know...it was about TRANSFORMERS... not gay robot drama. But I know I am the exception, and that's ok, I can keep rereading the small sample of past Marvel, Dreamwave, and IDW content that I consider well written and entertaining TF lore.

Of course! The current batch of writing and writers may not appeal to everyone, and that is the beauty of it. The stories that were told once are still there to be re-read, and there is plenty of fan work that allows for those stories to keep evolving.

No one is, or should be, attacking anyone else over how they enjoy this corner of the universe.
I will have none of that on the boards, thank you.

After 30 years of a never-ending war, boring as hell fight, and the same old character beats like Optimus Prime moping around like a angsty teenager, the constant power struggle between Megatron/Shockwave/Starscream, fascist Grimlock, crazy Galvatron, and so on.

I'm actually THRILLED that IDW has the balls to take both the franchise and fans way out of their comfort zones and show what they can really do something that is new and different with these characters and that it's actually AWESOME to read a TF comic that doesn't insult my intelligence. So sign me up for more. It's also about damn time that Roberts and MTMTE get some long overdue attention for it.

I think should Roberts try his hand at super-heroes he will be in the same league as Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman, Warren Ellis, Peter David, Mark Waid, and Kurt Busiek because he is simply that damn good and we're getting the chance to see that at the beginning is something special.

Congrats James! So nice to see him getting some respect in the industry.

o.supreme wrote:
Sorry I have a different opinion. Sorry I liked Transformers, when you know...it was about TRANSFORMERS... not gay robot drama. But I know I am the exception, and that's ok, I can keep rereading the small sample of past Marvel, Dreamwave, and IDW content that I consider well written and entertaining TF lore.

You act like the focus of MTMTE is gay robot relationships when it's not it's a subplot for a few issues but it's never been the main plot.


What's wrong with gay anyways their robots calm yourself it's no more stupid then straight relationships like Optimus and Elita-1.

o.supreme wrote: Sorry I liked Transformers, when you know...it was about TRANSFORMERS

What is Transformers? You act as if their is a definition to Transformers.




I say MTMTE deserves it's reward for its good writing.

I'm really glad that Roberts has got thus achievement, he's one of my favourite writers currently and I like how he can juggle characters, he's not perfect at it but I know from personal experience that it's quite hard to do when using a large and varied cast.

So here's to you, Roberts

mirageandjazz1197 wrote:

o.supreme wrote:
Sorry I have a different opinion. Sorry I liked Transformers, when you know...it was about TRANSFORMERS... not gay robot drama. But I know I am the exception, and that's ok, I can keep rereading the small sample of past Marvel, Dreamwave, and IDW content that I consider well written and entertaining TF lore.

You act like the focus of MTMTE is gay robot relationships when it's not it's a subplot for a few issues but it's never been the main plot.


What's wrong with gay anyways their robots calm yourself it's no more stupid then straight relationships like Optimus and Elita-1.

o.supreme wrote: Sorry I liked Transformers, when you know...it was about TRANSFORMERS

What is Transformers? You act as if their is a definition to Transformers.




I say MTMTE deserves it's reward for its good writing.

I had already addressed the difference in opinion, and this type of antagonising tone is not welcome.
Thank you.

I'm happy to see Transformers comics finally receive recognition. I believe the fandom had a large part in putting MTMTE and Roberts over the top to win. So kudos to all of us that voted and supported them as well.

As for the "gay robots" thing.

The comics, shows and movies are about an alien race of transforming robots. I can not believe transformers are gay because robots are not defined by gender. I understand and appreciate the perception of gender because of the male voices on t.v. and movies as well as physical appearances. The concept of holomatter avatars reflecting a Transformers psyche feeds into the perception of gender as well. I would like to caution Roberts against taking these relationships farther. (Like portraying two Transformers "plugging" into each other. Sorry for the crassness). It would make headlines followed by accolades from the media and Hollywood if Optimus Prime was perceived/portrayed as "gay" and I hope JR is not trying to obtain that type of publicity. At that point the previous posts describing this comic as about "gay sad robots" becomes accurate and that is not why I read this book. I read this book because it is about cool transforming alien robots fighting an intergalactic civil war. The plots and character development is mostly great.

I want to see more Transformers battles. More Transformers actually transforming in battles. Less mushy stuff.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

Well done, Mr Roberts. Living the dream and fully deserved.

Va'al wrote:

I had already addressed the difference in opinion, and this type of antagonising tone is not welcome.
Thank you.

Wait I was aggressive?


Not the intention but I apologize regardless.


He was also antagonizing as well just saying.

o.supreme wrote:

Black Bumblebee wrote:For those naysayers... shut yo mouth! This comic series is excellent and has made me really enjoy the writing like no other TF series. And I can say that as not just someone who reads comics, but who has written comics. Fan fiction So :-p

Sorry I have a different opinion. Sorry I liked Transformers, when you know...it was about TRANSFORMERS... not gay robot drama. But I know I am the exception, and that's ok, I can keep rereading the small sample of past Marvel, Dreamwave, and IDW content that I consider well written and entertaining TF lore.

you are not alone man... G1 was about friendship, loyalty, transformers as a family helping each other and protecting our planet and the universe... this "new" comics are about gay-drama, crazy faces, unstable personalities trying to impress everybody, over reacting... I pass too.

To be fair they do have that kind of thing in the other transformers comic. MtMtE is a more character driven piece which friendship does play a big part in as sometimes that's the only bond keeping them together.

and another award won!! excellent job and well earned. MTMTE Is a great comic and it definitely is well written and organized. Well done to all working on it and I look forward to more!!

MtMtE and the writers & artists have shown to be rather talented. Alot of the story weaving and how they lead us readers to know and care for the characters is "really quite excellet" (to quote Cyclonus). And keeping the readers engrossed with the story's pacing as well.

Much of the storytelling is quite good. Won't ever be able to understand the LBGT push in the comic however. When Transformers were first reintroduced by IDW it was non existant.

This is a story about robots trying to fathom and wade through the post war years and find out what life holds for them. Maybe even find the Knights along the way. The LGBT undertones appears more like a societal statement than anything else. I know there are those who disagree with this view as much I disagree with theirs.

But like I said from the start MtMtE has had some pretty good storylines/arcs and still does. It's more a matter of discerning which issues carry the good ole fashioned Transformers charm in a post war era.