Preview of IDW M.A.S.K. Annual 2017

TCJHU? I chuckled, well done

Well it's nice to see Astrotrain made it back to Esther alive...kinda...sorta...maybe

..........I hate these Transformer crossovers with books that only have humans. The premise is always the same.

-Heroic Autobots going out of their way to save stupid, ungrateful, humans.

-Decepticons with ongoing connection with humans become big dumb oafs who have turned a new leaf.

OR

-Sunstreaker, Ramjet, Dirge, Blitzwing, SkyWarp and now Astrotrain becoming some uninteresting human Tyrant or boring team of human's new pet weapon's plot, in order to...blah, blah, blah!

I get that it's Earth and you can't rule out humans completely but this was crap that put people off during Costa's era, making RID and MTMTE based on cybertron and outer space a breath of fresh air.

Now they're back on Earth and overdoing it with crossovers with human characters I couldn't care less about killing or picking apart popular Autobots and Decepticons characters I actually do like!

To be fair Sunstorm died on Cybertron. Shame, really.

And while I generally share the same view a lot of the time, I actually feel that RiD/Transformers/OP is handling things in a very interesting way since there are humans who are legitimately in favour of Optimus and the Autobots... and those that do have concerns mostly have them for very good reasons considering both AHM and the sort of person Optimus has become and is becoming.

The biggest problem has been just how forceful the Revolution event was, but I think OP has handled it in the best way so far - essentially just using G.I.Joe as a way to give some identity to the military that inevitably gets involved; and absorbing their own staple human characters (Talon, Spike etc.) into those G.I. Joe ranks along with a couple actually established Joes. It makes it feel less like a forced crossover and more just, "this is what our military interacting with Optimus is like now and you can find out more about them in their own book".

At least it doesn't feel the need to have Jetfire or Stormclash say "Look, guys! We've got the CROWN JEWEL OF THE HASBRO UNIVERSE incoming!"

Kurona wrote:At least it doesn't feel the need to have Jetfire or Stormclash say "Look, guys! We've got the CROWN JEWEL OF THE HASBRO UNIVERSE incoming!"

Just you wait.

Va'al wrote:We may not be offering full coverage of the Hasbro Universe over at IDW,

Thankfully we have the IDW Hasbro Wiki to help out with that.

Amelie wrote:I can't say I'm at all happy about the whole Hasbro Universe being one thing. I really have an intense dislike for ROM, M.A.S.K and Micronauts and can't say I'm in love with GI Joe enough to want it in my Transformers, either.

Though I'm of a similar disposition when it comes to a lot of other comic books as well - once things become a cooking pot of several titles it just feels like any suspension of disbelief gets tossed out the window as a merry-go-round of heroes carousel around the story.

This!!!!

Sabrblade wrote:

Va'al wrote:We may not be offering full coverage of the Hasbro Universe over at IDW,

Thankfully we have the IDW Hasbro Wiki to help out with that.

You misunderstand. We have a database with everything in it, I just cannot be arsed to review all of it because it really isn't good enough to warrant it.

It's just not worth any effort.

I haven't read an IDW GI Joe comic in a long time and this preview reminds me why. Utter garbage.

Well, somehow Astrotrain's head made it back. funny how the head has become the popular thing to find nowadays.

I also agree with the HU stuff. I don't like GI Joe much, have no interest in Micronauts, ROM, or MASK, and they still have Blitzwing, Skywarp, and now Astrotain. lame.

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:Well, somehow Astrotrain's head made it back. funny how the head has become the popular thing to find nowadays.

I also agree with the HU stuff. I don't like GI Joe much, have no interest in Micronauts, ROM, or MASK, and they still have Blitzwing, Skywarp, and now Astrotain. lame.

To be fair those three are essentially bit-players.

Oh, sure, they were always on Megatron's main little squad; but they never really got any focus or character. For what it's worth, MASK and GI Joe might as well have gotten Rippersnapper or Slog or G2 Volt.

Kurona wrote:

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:Well, somehow Astrotrain's head made it back. funny how the head has become the popular thing to find nowadays.

I also agree with the HU stuff. I don't like GI Joe much, have no interest in Micronauts, ROM, or MASK, and they still have Blitzwing, Skywarp, and now Astrotain. lame.

To be fair those three are essentially bit-players.

Oh, sure, they were always on Megatron's main little squad; but they never really got any focus or character. For what it's worth, MASK and GI Joe might as well have gotten Rippersnapper or Slog or G2 Volt.

Yeah, but Skywarp was getting a decent background storyline throughout the RiD season 2, Astrotrain is my favorite G1 con, and Blitzwing is still just strung up. I want them back with the Transformers, not in the other stories, because I just don't care for those stories.

I am thoroughly enjoying Revolutionaries though, mainly cause of Action man and Kup

Astrotrain's head? Ok, I'm in. I'll be buying this one.

Could this relate to headmasters in some way?

Microraptor wrote:Could this relate to headmasters in some way?

Most likely relates to the Titan Masters

When MASK does a better job GI Joeing than GI JOE.

Ebonyleopard wrote:When MASK does a better job GI Joeing than GI JOE.

Ha!

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:

Kurona wrote:

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:Well, somehow Astrotrain's head made it back. funny how the head has become the popular thing to find nowadays.

I also agree with the HU stuff. I don't like GI Joe much, have no interest in Micronauts, ROM, or MASK, and they still have Blitzwing, Skywarp, and now Astrotain. lame.

To be fair those three are essentially bit-players.

Oh, sure, they were always on Megatron's main little squad; but they never really got any focus or character. For what it's worth, MASK and GI Joe might as well have gotten Rippersnapper or Slog or G2 Volt.

Yeah, but Skywarp was getting a decent background storyline throughout the RiD season 2, Astrotrain is my favorite G1 con, and Blitzwing is still just strung up. I want them back with the Transformers, not in the other stories, because I just don't care for those stories.

I am thoroughly enjoying Revolutionaries though, mainly cause of Action man and Kup

Wait. They have Skywarp? Who has Skywarp? How and when did they get Skywarp?

So now that's two triple changers gathered by the humans. I wonder if that's coincidence?

lowman_x wrote:

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:

Kurona wrote:

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:Well, somehow Astrotrain's head made it back. funny how the head has become the popular thing to find nowadays.

I also agree with the HU stuff. I don't like GI Joe much, have no interest in Micronauts, ROM, or MASK, and they still have Blitzwing, Skywarp, and now Astrotain. lame.

To be fair those three are essentially bit-players.

Oh, sure, they were always on Megatron's main little squad; but they never really got any focus or character. For what it's worth, MASK and GI Joe might as well have gotten Rippersnapper or Slog or G2 Volt.

Yeah, but Skywarp was getting a decent background storyline throughout the RiD season 2, Astrotrain is my favorite G1 con, and Blitzwing is still just strung up. I want them back with the Transformers, not in the other stories, because I just don't care for those stories.

I am thoroughly enjoying Revolutionaries though, mainly cause of Action man and Kup

Wait. They have Skywarp? Who has Skywarp? How and when did they get Skywarp?

So now that's two triple changers gathered by the humans. I wonder if that's coincidence?

Skywarp turncoated and agreed to help Blackrock escape in one of the last issues of Transformers (before the OP name change) likely because of extreme abuse from Galvatron but not wanting to go over to the Autobots and/or Soundwave. He was secured as an 'asset' of the government and promptly picked up by G.I. Joe where he now cameos shows up occasionally really feels like he's only there and given a couple token panels to give the illusion of a wider universe stars in their book; working with them in exchange for getting his Teleportation power working properly again.

Should've just named Micronauts "Diaclone" and given them driver suits and some vehicles. I've posted this before, I realize.

On the other hand, I had an epiphany this week that the three TF ongoings really aren't affected by any of the Hasbro stuff right in this immediate moment. If you think the GI Joes in OP prove that, you're either not reading it or don't remember much from exRiD/TF or the Costa run.

Put another way, I understand being put off my their larger marketing approach but if you cut through the hype there's not much to be sour about. I think there's a pretty good balance of stuff leaving other stuff be.

Upset about a character? Understandable, but it's a big world even with just TFs and consider the alternative of them getting out up on a shelf only to get pulled out for a bit role twice a year at best. Skywarp fan that hates his current role? Upset that Kup is pals with Action Man? As a big fan of Grimlock let me play my tiny violin for you. Five issues in five years now? ;_;

Hasbro doesn't really interfere with IDW until the start of a new line - so the starts of Thrilling 30, Combiner Wars and Titans Return were the only times it was visible. Even Bruticus, Sky Reign and Galvatronus don't feel like IDW needed to do it to appease Hasbro, but just something they wanted to do and saw the opportunity for.

Sometimes it works out happily. Thrilling 30 worked out almost perfectly; the whole point of the story at the time was that so many characters were returning to Cybertron and there'd be new main characters to deal with. Thrilling 30 essentially just told them which characters those were - and even better, this was easily one of the most diverse lines in years as it drew on all different areas of the franchise. Even other things like Starscream looking like Armada Starscream worked out because it's friggin' Starscream, of course the narcissistic fuck would get a new body as soon as he's crowned king.

... and then, sometimes, it's Combiner Wars. But I've rambled on enough for one post; I'm not sure I need to explain why what happened with Devastator and Prowl was not a smooth transition and clearly wouldn't have happened if not for the toys.

If you've been following promotional material, you'll know that The Crown Jewel of the Hasbro Universe is due for another issue this week, as IDW Publishing releases issue #4 of G.I. Joe - now featuring extra Skywarp! Check out below a full sparkling preview, and let us know if you're reading the series what you think of it so far.

G.I. JOE #4
Aubrey Sitterson (w) • Giannis Milonogiannis (a) • Aaron Conley (c)
Outnumbered and outgunned, the G.I. Joe field team hits the road with a captive and ranting Crystal Ball, but the Dreadnoks are hot on their heels! Meanwhile, Lady Jaye & Gung-Ho, with their cover blown, struggle to fight their way out of Athens. And a terrifying new threat rears its head in the Crown Jewel of the Hasbro Universe! From the explosive creative team of Aubrey Sitterson (Street Fighter x G.I. Joe) and Giannis Milonogiannis (Prophet).
FC • 32 pages • $3.99
Bullet points: 
Variant cover by Ben Marra!

Go joe news on transformers site did I miss something this would usually appear on hisstank not seibertron

dragons wrote:Go joe news on transformers site did I miss something this would usually appear on hisstank not seibertron

Simple - Skywarp's in it.

Surely we gotta have news on "The Crown Jewel of the Hasbro Universe" right? I mean, you see G.I. Joe stuff everywhere, right?

It's gotta be the least supported Hasbro product they have. "Crown Jewel" indeed.

The real jewels are the 10 year running comics line. You know, the ones with an award winning comic book? No? Silly me.

dragons wrote:Go joe news on transformers site did I miss something this would usually appear on hisstank not seibertron

Because Skywarp is literally a Joe. You indeed missed the following, I suppose -

The Transformers comics are now canonically taking place in the same universe as the following Hasbro franchises: G.I. Joe, Rom, M.A.S.K., Micronauts, Action Man, Jem and The Holograms (The Misfits too by association), and they've hinted strongly at Visionaries and Inhumanoids joining the party by year's end.

Oh and TF: Hearts of Steel is somehow involved too.

It's a brave new world. Some of the books are good, some are terrible, but if they can get this scheduling backlog sorted it may just ramp up into one hell of a ride.

ScottyP wrote:The Transformers comics are now canonically taking place in the same universe as the following Hasbro franchises: G.I. Joe, Rom, M.A.S.K., Micronauts, Action Man, Jem and The Holograms (The Misfits too by association), and they've hinted strongly at Visionaries and Inhumanoids joining the party by year's end.

Spoilers, as of G.I.Joe #4 that last one is no longer a "by the year's end" thing. Anyone else looking forward to some hot combiner-on-kaiju action..?

..and yes, I AM aware its design is based on a Fluffy from "Pyramid of Darkness" and is even called out as "Fatal Fluffy" in the back of the book...the Fluffies were also never subterranean or building-sized in the cartoon, so I'm reasonably sure Metlar's been doing some recruiting since the 80s.

Coming up this week from IDW Publishing is another instalment of the Crown Jewel of the Hasbro Universe - GI Joe #5! Given Skywarp's more significant than usual involvement, we'll also be trying to cover this issue in review form as well, so keep your optics tuned to Seibertron.com once the book is out.

G.I. JOE #5
Aubrey Sitterson (w) • Giannis Milonogiannis (a) • Aaron Conley (c)
MONSTERS! G.I. JOE has fought Cobra, the Dreadnoks and more, but never before have they faced a threat like this: Gigantic, heaving abominations crawling up from the depths of the Earth itself. As teams of Joes struggle to respond to the unpredictable attacks, Scarlett must decide what to do with the enemy in the team's midst. Plus, the G.I. JOE leader reveals a troubling secret to her second-in-command, Roadblock.
FC • 32 pages • $3.99
Bullet points:
New storyarc!
Variant cover by Tom Neely!

Well... Skywarp is still Skywarp.
Y'know, it kinda makes sense for Skywarp to be 'fighting for freedom', seeing as that was the original Deception sentiment.

If it is the Crown Jewel of the Hasbro Universe, why don't they use a better artist?

Nik Hero wrote:If it is the Crown Jewel of the Hasbro Universe, why don't they use a better artist?

I don't think the art is necessarily bad. It's just cartoonish, which I think works for a book where a parrot is wearing a scuba diving helmet while a giant robot fights an aquatic Minotaur.

ricemazter wrote:

Nik Hero wrote:If it is the Crown Jewel of the Hasbro Universe, why don't they use a better artist?

I don't think the art is necessarily bad. It's just cartoonish, which I think works for a book where a parrot is wearing a scuba diving helmet while a giant robot fights an aquatic Minotaur.

Whatever the art can be called, it does no favors for Skywarp's face.

When I first read the solicits for the issue, I was hoping for the hideous monsters from beneath the Earth to be another specific Evil That Lies Within from the Hasbro pantheon ? Although I'm glad to see king sized Fluffies.

"Crown Jewel of the Hasbro Universe".

Did I miss something? Does it genuinely sell better than other Hasbro-based properties? My guess is no. I'm sure I'm a bit biased, but when IDW has been publishing their TF comics/G1 universe for almost 12 years now, and had two ongoing titles for nearly 5 years each.....and GI Joe has had a spotty publication history over that same time period....

When you self-promote by referring to your book as "The Crown Jewel" of the shared universe, then you're not what you claim you are. At all.

So why do many doubt that GI Joe is the "Crown Jewel of the Hasbro Universe"?

Maybe because it's because they created a superfuel that just about everyone is going af- No, no, wait, that was Shockwave that created the Ore-13, a Transformer.

Well, maybe they had a space adventure that has expanded the univ- Crap, no. The Transformers, a highly advanced race with spacefaring capabilities have been doing that for years.

Hey, maybe they inspired the creation of advanced military tech like the M.A.S.K. ve- Halt. Nope, that was mainly in response to the multiple Transformers conflicts that took place on Earth.

Wait! Maybe, just maybe, they fought Cobra in a war the killed off hundreds of millions o- Dammit, that large death count (something I wouldn't even want to advertise for the "Crown Jewel" though) was a consequence of an invasion by a Transformers faction.

Maybe it has to do with the fact G.I. Joe's book have been going non-stop with multiple books ongo- Ah, blasted it all. That would be the (wait for it) Transformers. G.I. Joe's books kept getting cancelled, while Transformers have kept going on strong.

Soooo... wait, there is absolutely no good reason for IDW to label the series as such? Well, now I get it.

Bounti76 wrote:"Crown Jewel of the Hasbro Universe".

Did I miss something? Does it genuinely sell better than other Hasbro-based properties? My guess is no. I'm sure I'm a bit biased, but when IDW has been publishing their TF comics/G1 universe for almost 12 years now, and had two ongoing titles for nearly 5 years each.....and GI Joe has had a spotty publication history over that same time period....

When you self-promote by referring to your book as "The Crown Jewel" of the shared universe, then you're not what you claim you are. At all.

You type so much faster than me. I didn't see your comment when I began typing.

I don't know why they call it that, but I guess they just do. I swear Va'al said something about it previously, but he is off for the next several days still, so yeah. YO JOE!

In a sense, G.I. Joe is the line that started every single thing. Without it, there would never have been Transformers at all:

G.I. Joe was the basis for Takara's Henshin Cyborg, which lead to Microman. Later, Microman inspired Diaclone and the two would lead to the foundation of Transformers.

I'll let you guys figure out how the rest of the lines relate to all this.

Sorry, comic books relate to art, and this art, the self proclaimed "crown jewel of the IDW Universe," is not impressive at all. Heck, it's pretty bad, in my opinion. Very kiddish, and the monster looks like it's drawn by s kid . Sorry

For the "Crown Jewel of the Hasbro Universe: GI Joe sure doesn't get the top notch artist. No offense to the artist team, but...Well...I've seen better in many black and white Indy comics.

Oof! Sorry but that art is pretty brutally bad. Not a fan.

GI JOE #5 Review

Previous:
Seeming sorcerer supreme Crystal Ball and the always destructive Dreadnoks have been causing trouble. The Joe team has been infiltrating different cults and anarchic organizations investigating how the growing world anarchy events tie together, and if they involve dire wraiths, Rom, Cybertronians, or *GASP* the rise of Cobra again. Now the Joe team has taken Crystal Ball prisoner, but only after he seems to have magically unleashed some nasty creatures from under the Earth.

This Issue:
The Joe team, which also consists of Decepticon Seeker Skywarp, attempts to learn more about the monsters and to drive them back to where they came from before they can do some serious damage. Skywarp, luckily, is about the size of these menaces, so he’s getting more front line action. Rock ’N Roll’s guilt becomes the focus for Crystal Ball, Doc faces her heritage, and Scarlett shares a big secret with Roadblock, who shares it with someone else…

Brought to you by these hard working creative types:


The Art:
As you’ve probably noticed if you own the issue, or have taken a look at the preview, the art takes center stage here, with artist Aaron Conley along with colorist Lovern Kindzierski taking over the duties for the issue over regular Giannis Milonogiannis. Milonogiannis' style has been something for a reader to get used to, as it’s pretty different than what has been done in the past -much more stylized, but still fairly realistic.

With Conley in, we get something even more stylized, and perhaps maybe even more jolting to Joe readers. Conley’s style seems to be inspired by Christopher McCullough’s animated show, ‘The Venture Brothers’. This style may feel more jarring to some, others may welcome the change, or the reference to the show’s style. It seems very stylized and un-realistic, but GI JOE has become much less realistic and much more SCI FI as of late as it intertwines with the HASBROverse’s aliens, robots, and other properties. It’s also only a one off mission, so Giannis will be returning next issue, although Conley will still continue to do covers and other IDW series.


Didn't know Brock Sampson was on GI JOE too, did ya'?


And it's Roadblock's birthday. Time for cake!
Yay!



My take (GI JOE fan):
There’s a lot for a GI JOE fan to like. It’s nice to see some underutilized characters appearing, like Stretcher, and to see that the book’s cast will not only be the small group that we were initially introduced to. The addition of Skywarp, and the push towards much heavier sci-finess may be too much at the moment, especially with the art, but this new Joe mag is still trying to figure out where it fits within the HASBROverse -as its Crown Jewel.

There’s some heavy humanity as Doc wrestles with her and her dad’s alien history, some downright creepiness with Crystal Ball’s sorcery and interactions with Rock N’ Roll, and moral and humane lines involving prisoners. These are balanced off with some silliness as the good guys' banter- which even Skywarp seems to be learning to enjoy. With the giant inner-Earth creatures being the more violent form of Sunbow’s old favorite Fatal Fluffies (albeit much bigger), it’s overall a fun issue. The art to me betrays some of the serious feelings incumbent in the issue. Is it what Joe fans really like? I’ll have to ask some… but this Joe fan is mostly tolerating it, albeit willing to continue to give it a chance.


In the show, cute turned into...


...RWOARRRRR!!!!!!!

My take (Transformers fan):
If I were a big Skywarp fan, I know I would have to tune in much more to this book. This issue contains probably the most we’ve seen of the bot in a long time. He’s almost fully operational, but does not currently seem to be able to teleport. His addition to this team as the only Transformer, and one pushed into being an ally mostly against his will, seems awkward for him-true to his previous character. You can tell he’s not a fan of humans - still bearing the same smugness and holier-than-thou attitude toward the ‘insects’- but he seems like he ’s beginning to feel somewhat better about his predicament- less of a prisoner.

He seems to have some grudging respect for a few members of the team, and plays nicely with most of the rest. He also seems like he’d like to jet (pun intended) at the first opportunity - or does he? At this point, he does not seem to do much reflection on the past, or his relationships with the Decepticons and seems almost content in his new role.


You can tell, Skywarp does really like them. They're still alive.

One wonders if more interaction with the other Cybertronians is in his future (how can it not be?)… will he at some point have to confront Thundercracker? Will he be willing to escape if given the opportunity? Where would he turn if he did — Starscream and Cybertron?





Final:
I cringe somewhat when asked to do GI JOE-related reviews. I feel like I represent a fandom that I do not know that well anymore. I’m such a Sunbow cartoon GI JOE fan first, and that’s where most of my love for the franchise came from. I apologize if I ever misrepresent any GI JOE group. Like Transformers fans, Joe fans have their passionate and yet different kinds of fan cliques.


The right of might...wow!

I hope Joe fans are giving this comic a try. I’m fairly certain it won’t be a ‘purist’s’ (GI Joe geewunner) first choice, but it may provide enough so far to garner some interest and possible support to see in what direction it’s headed. The spread of Joe throughout the different HASBROverse books is new, and maybe exciting, with Zartan and Cobra showing up in MASK, Joes in Optimus Prime and Rom, and Revolutionaries playing around the edges of Transformers, Joe and Adventure Team history; it seems to be a fun time to be a fan of several franchises.

And, like I said above, if you’re a Skywarp fan, it looks like it’s time to start paying attention…




...they can't keep you in this comic as the only Transformer forever!

I'm sorry. I want to take GI Joe series, I really looking forward to it, but this is ridiculous. I know the artist are working hard on this, I truly do. Illustrating comics myself I know how much time goes into every single page. BUT, this work is not "Crown Jewel" Worthy. And until they take that moniker seriously with some serious looking art, I just can't buy this. How can they get ROM so right and JOE so wrong?

Also out this week with IDW Publishing, and we keep talking about it just enough to cover our bases thanks to Skywarp, is issue #7 of the new GI Joe ongoing comics series! With the regular creative team back together, check out a full preview of the issue below.

G.I. JOE #7
Aubrey Sitterson (w) • Giannis Milonogiannis (a) • Aaron Conley (c)
G.I. Joe's subterranean mission takes a turn for the worse after the team is attacked by one of their own! Meanwhile, back in their underground base, Scarlett's command is challenged and a long-simmering rivalry boils to a head! Plus: Monsters, explosions, jokes and more in The Crown Jewel of the Hasbro universe!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Bullet points:
Variant cover by Ed Luce variant cover!

I figured it out.


It's Skywarp.


Skywarp is TCJotHU.

Out this week from IDW Publishing, alongside Rom vs Transformers: Shining Armor, is another of the soon-to-come-to-an-end-series from the Hasbro Universe, now in its eighth issue: Mobile Armor Strike Kommand (with a K)! Check out a full preview of the book below, as Ore-13, Mount St Helen, and several other parts of the shared lore are mentioned or used in the plot..!

M.A.S.K.: Mobile Armored Strike Kommand #8
Brandon Easton (w) • Igor Lima (a) • Tone Rodriguez (c)
Determined to end the threat of Ore-13 radiation poisoning, Matt Trakker and the M.A.S.K. team go on a mission into the depths of the Earth where they discover much more than they could have imagined—a race of powerful mutated creatures borne from the strange Cybertronian energy source. Are these monsters too powerful even for the technology of M.A.S.K.?!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Bullet points:
All-new storyline starts here!
Variant cover by Marcelo Perez Dalannays!

I have got nothing against Mask. I had the motercycle and sidecar submarine
toy as a kid. But on the other hand, why is this even posted? It is nothing to do with Transformers. Is this site going the route of Hascon? Will it soon become the Hasbro fan site?

Rated X wrote:I had the motercycle and sidecar submarine toy as a kid.

That was the Pirana with Sly Rax and Stilleto.

Rated X wrote:It is nothing to do with Transformers.

You mean other than Ore-13? The synthetic Energon that was there at the start of IDW's Transformers comic? And is a foundation to the shared Universe in which the Transformers now exist?

Rated X wrote:I have got nothing against Mask. I had the motercycle and sidecar submarine
toy as a kid. But on the other hand, why is this even posted? It is nothing to do with Transformers. Is this site going the route of Hascon? Will it soon become the Hasbro fan site?

It's got quite a bit to do with Transformers due to sharing a universe with them in IDW -- especially this issue. From the preview alone you can see it involves Ore-13 and Mt. St. Helens, both concepts originating from and tied to Transformers.

Just ignore him. He's just being his usual stuck-in-the-80's self that has to criticise this site on a regular basis.