Transformers-themed pub could be Britain’s Best Home Bar

A Transformers-themed pub is in the running to be crowned Britain’s Best Home Bar, in a competition being run by Liberty Games. The winning bar, chosen… [more]

Transformers-themed pub could be Britain’s Best Home Bar Transformers-themed pub could be Britain’s Best Home Bar

TFNation 2019 Transformers Convention Review

This last weekend saw yet another Transformers convention take over the Metropole Hilton, in Birmingham. These weekends have become a staple of my summer… [more]

TFNation 2019 Transformers Convention Review TFNation 2019 Transformers Convention Review

Annual Transformers Forum Meet Tour

Every year, since 2011, the nerds from TheTF.Net forum (now a Facebook group, because running a forum proved too much like hard work) have met for a weekend… [more]

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Our 2019 Forum Meet took place this weekend, in Cardiff

This weekend saw our annual forum meet being held in the Welsh capital of Cardiff. Each year we meet in a different town or city in the UK, alternating… [more]

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Video Footage from Transforce in 2001

Almost 18 years ago (crikey, has it been that long?) we wrote a review of our visit to Transforce in August 2001. It was a seriously hot day, but a great… [more]

Video Footage from Transforce in 2001 Video Footage from Transforce in 2001
 

Optimus Prime is alive well in IDW latest

Written by Darren 'Starscream' Jamieson on December 24, 2011 | IDW Publishing |

Released recently in the US was the latest Transformers instalment from IDW. We get the wrap up of the events in ‘CHAOS’, as well as the beginning of two new stories in “More than Meets the Eye” and “Robots in Disguise”.

The storyline features no humans and there are no indications that there will be any human involvement in the near future. This is quite a change of pace considering, to many fans, there has been far too much of a human element in Transformers lately.

Even though it is a one-shot story, there is something to be gotten from it whether you are an old or new reader as it incorporates elements from previous stories and segways into the two series to come.

The story leaps forward a few weeks after the events of CHAOS have been wrapped up and shifts its focus on Cybertron. This is after Optimus Prime rushed the matrix in order to stop Dvoid sacking the galaxy, beginning with Cybertron’s dead husk. This worked, and Cyberton was granted a rebirth with no dead husk for Dvoid.

The good news is that Optimus Prime has survived (who’d have guessed that?). We find out more about his history, which is one of the strengths of this story. But it achieves this whilst also progressing towards the new series. The final choice that he makes may be a logical one but certainly not predictable and, although it feels like we have seen it before, there is a different feel associated with it. He somehow manages to appear more like Optimus Prime than we have ever seen him before. And that can only be a good thing for OP fans.

Transformers #31 offers a retrospective look at Transformers

Written by Darren 'Starscream' Jamieson on December 13, 2011 | IDW Publishing |

Transformers issue 31 is currently on the newsstands in the US and it is an issue with a difference as the pace was certainly different than what we have become accustomed to. It essentially serves as something of a retrospective, but manages to avoid compromising its own story.

TRANSFORMERS 31The issue was written by Mike Costa, who was clearly in a sentimental mood when he wrote this story. Its central theme is reflection, and is set in the future, some millions of years from now. And other than just a couple, we aren’t greeted with any Transformers that we would recognise. The story is heart-warming and tells the history of the Decepticons and Autobots, as well as the biggest battles they have faced.

The artwork was laid firmly in the hands of Casey Coller, who does a superb job here. He introduced some amazing designs for the future Transformers. They are not unrecognisable and he has managed to avoid going overboard. Each character looks appropriate to the Transformers series and also a perfect fit evolution-wise. Perhaps the most impressive element of the job is how the past battles are shown in splash pages. This is where Coller excels. They can be recognised instantly and are well detailed with each emotion displayed on a single page, which is quite some achievement.

The issue oozes charm and certainly offers some of that feel-good factor. There are some glimpses of the present story and future events in the title, but the emphasis is certainly on the retrospective of the history of Transformers.

Transformers issue 81?

Written by Darren 'Starscream' Jamieson on April 7, 2011 | IDW Publishing,Marvel |

Transformers comic artist and all round top bloke Andy Wildman sent out an appeal this week for Transformers fans everywhere to sign a petition for IDW that could see Transformers #81 go into production. Andy and Simon Furman worked on the last of the Marvel Transformers comics in the 80s, when comics were really comics, and the story was kinda finished in a rush. Now, after all this time, it looks as though there’s a chance for that story to continue.

Have a read of what Andy says below, and then sign the petition overe here.

There is a bit of a buzz at the moment on the interenet about there being a Transformers #81. Thought I would add my perspective on this.

A while ago myself and Simon Furman considered the idea of picking up where we left off with the old Marvel Comics run of Transformers. For me it came about because after doing a series of six covers IDW asked me to do some interior art for their Transformers book. I wasn’t particularly interested in doing any so they asked me what it would take to do some. Well the obvious amswer would be copious amounts of dallar 😉 but to be honest it wasn’t about that. It was more to do with the fact that I was happy to just do cover art for Transformers and that I am busy doing other stuff these days. I gave it some thought though and put to them that it would be possible under a couple of conditions. First was that I would want to work with Simon Furman. Second was that we would want to do something that had a point. Something that felt like it was really saying something. I came up with the gist of an idea and put it to Simon. He ran with it and things began to take shape. What was clear was that it fitted well into the continuity of our old Marvel run. IDW agreed that there is precedent for this with the fact that GI Joe recently picked up on Larry Hama’s old Marvel story threads. So. An idea took shape and we almost had it until the current economic siutation put the breaks on it.

So where are we now? Well it is clear that IDW are not resistant to the idea but in these current times of relatively low comics sales they would need to feel confident that it would sell.

So what can be done about it? If you are interested, sign the petition that is going about. Get enough names on that and it would clearly be a viable project. Of course it remains to be seen who would draw it as there are other interested parties but I think it is safe to say that Simon would love to get his teeth into it.

Roll Out!

Simon Furman and Geoff Senior produce Transformers iPhone comic

Written by Darren 'Starscream' Jamieson on March 1, 2010 | IDW Publishing,Multimedia,Titan |

184_8391_transformers-smallTransformers legends Simon Furman and Geoff Senior have put their collective pens and pencils together to produce the first Transformers comic from Titan Publishing to be made available on the iPhone.

What’s more, the iPhone Transformers comic is completely FREE to download and is a taster comic for bigger and better things to come. Titan used the free taster tactic on previous iPhone comics for Shaun the Sheep and Wallace and Gromit.

Simon Furman, as ever, is the man behind the storyline and G1 Transformers comic icon Geoff Senior is drawing the pretty Transformers pictures

Simon Furman commented about the new iPhone comic:

It’s a simply incredible chance for fans of the warring ‘Robots in Disguise’ to experience incredible stories that expand upon and underpin the incredible movie universe.

If you enjoy the free Transformers comic on your iPhone, there’s more where that came from Titan over the next few weeks. They can be purchased from the App stores for UK and Ireland.

This puts Titan in direct competition with IDW Publishing, as they already have Transformers comics available for the iPhone.

Lots of IDW Art – Cover, Pages and More Covers

Written by Big Bot on July 30, 2009 | Comics,IDW Publishing,News |

All_Hail_Megatron_TPB_Vol_3_by_trevhutchLots more artwork has made its way onto DeviantArt, with some previews of future titles from IDW Publishing.

Josh Burcham has provided the colours to All Hail Megatron #16, featuring Spike and Ravage which was shown at San Diego Comic-Con 09.

Trevor Hutchison has the cover to All Hail Megatron TPB Volume 3, which, as we mentioned yesterday, collects the Spotlights Blurr, Jazz, Drift, Cliffjumper, and Metroplex.

Finally, Priscilla Tramontano has clean versions of a cover and the first 6 pages from Spotlight Metroplex.
Cover
Pages 2 & 3
Pages 4 & 5
Pages 6 & 7

More Comic Covers from Comic-Con

4jugwpLots more covers have been revealed by ComicBookResources.com from IDW’s panel at Comic-Con last week.

To the right is the cover for the Ongoing series starting in November, featuring Optimus Prime, Ironhide and a new look for Hot Rod.

Also out are both covers for Transformers: Tales of the Fallen, the sequel to Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Transformers: Bumblebee, a side story to the Ongoing series and Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers, Nick Roche’s other side story.

IDW October 09 Transformers Solicitations

Written by Big Bot on July 28, 2009 | Comics,IDW Publishing,News | Tags:

Four new comics are coming this October, including the final issue in the All Hail Megatron saga, the continuation of the Prey reprints and more from the Revenge of the Fallen sequel series, Tales of the Fallen. The big surprise is that the latest 5 Spotlight issues, consisting of Blurr, Jazz, Drift, Cliffjumper and Metroplex, will be collected together in Trade paperback form as The Transformers: All Hail Megatron Vol. 3, instead of Spotlight Vol.5.

TRANSFORMERS: ALL HAIL MEGATRON #16
Mike Costa, Zander Cannon (w) • Guido Guidi, Chee (a) • Guidi, Chee (c)
FINAL ISSUE! Spike has survived the war, but can he handle RAVAGE? Bumblebee goes it alone to clean up the wreckage, but a new enemy awaits! This one sets the stage for the biggest TRANSFORMERS news since transforming cogs first came off the assembly line! What’s the news? Pick up the issue and find out! 2 regular covers will be shipped in a 1-to-1 ratio.
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

TRANSFORMERS: TALES OF THE FALLEN #3
Chris Mowry (w) • Carlos Magno (a) • Magno, Alex Milne (c)
JETFIRE returns! What’s his connection to the villainous FALLEN? What is he running from? And can he find redemption? All good questions. And the answers aren’t going to turn out like you think! 2 regular covers will be shipped in a 1-to-1 ratio.
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

TRANSFORMERS: ALL HAIL MEGATRON, VOL. 3
Shane McCarthy, Andy Schmidt, Josh van Reyk, Shawn Knowler (w) • Casey Coller, E.J. Su, Robby Musso, Marcelo Matere (a) • Trevor Hutchison (c)
IDW’s one-shots focusing on the most celebrated TRANSFORMERS characters continue in this latest collection of Spotlights. This time around, see how and why BLURR, JAZZ, DRIFT, CLIFFJUMPER, and METROPLEX fit into the Transformers universe and the events of All Hail Megatron.
SC, 7×10, 132pgs, FC $19.99

TRANSFORMERS BEST OF THE UK: PREY #3
Simon Furman (w) • Will Simpson (a) • Andrew Griffith (c)
OPTIMUS PRIME reveals what became of him, PROWL, and RATCHET after they were forced into a limbo dimension along with SHOCKWAVE, THUNDERCRACKER, and FRENZY. Continuing the fan-favorite collection of classic tales from across the pond, written by TRANSFORMERS mainstay Simon Furman with an all-new cover by Andrew Griffith!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

SDCC 09: IDW Announced New Ongoing Transformers Series!

Written by Big Bot on July 24, 2009 | Comics,IDW Publishing,News | Tags: , , , ,

Transformers_Ongoing_Issue1_artSMALLBefore IDW Publishing’s panel today, they have let slip what we have known for months, that The Transformers will become an ongoing series, starting this November.

We now know the writer will be Mike Costa, who has been doing art duties for other Transformers series.

The press release confirms what IDW Editor-in-chief Chris Ryall mentioned a couple of weeks ago, that there will be 3 new series announced at the convention. Look out for the other 2 very soon.

UPDATE: Full press release is out, with another image and the name of the other 2 series, Transformers: Bumblebee (writer Zander Cannon and artist Chee) and Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers (Everything: Nick Roche).

San Diego, CA (July 24, 2009) – After the huge success of this summer’s blockbuster TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN movie, IDW is keeping the excitement going with three new TRANSFORMERS series. Under license from Hasbro, IDW is proud to offer fans The TRANSFORMERS, the first ongoing series in years, written by the critically-acclaimed Mike Costa. Coming in November, TRANSFORMERS #1 starts things off with not one, but two, huge events so CYBERTON-shattering that the lives of the TRANSFORMERS characters will never be the same.

Spinning out of the events of the new ongoing series will be two miniseries. The four-issue TRANSFORMERS: BUMBLEBEE puts BUMBLEBEE between a rock and a hard place with his own friends, while TRANSFORMERS: Last Stand of the Wreckers plots the course of AUTOBOTS in space as they confront a new foe who just might tear the (Dave do these need all caps? CAPS ARE BEST) Springer, Kup, and their cadre of AUTOBOT heroes apart.

“This is the first ongoing TRANSFOMRERS series for IDW, and there’s a good reason to do it now. These stories are too big and too important to contain in even several volumes of miniseries. And it all starts with events in TRANSFORMERS #1,” said IDW’s TRANSFORMERS editor, Andy Schmidt. “This is the best jumping on point for new comics or TRANSFORMERS fans in years. We’re embarking on a whole new journey and an exciting new direction.”

The TRANSFORMERS will debut in November, helmed by Mike Costa with art and covers by returning, fan-favorite, artistic dynamo Don Figueroa. This series is the basis for the two new miniseries, creating an unstoppable combination of new TRANSFORMERS comics.

Transformers_Wreckers_Issue1_artSMALLDebuting in December, writer Zander Cannon and artist Chee masterfully create Bumblebee’s story in this four-issue miniseries. TRANSFORMERS: BUMBLEBEE spins out of the ongoing series and is a must-read for any fan. TRANSFORMERS: Last Stand of the Wreckers is set in space concurrent with the ongoing series. Shedding light on the conflicts outside of Earth, long-time TRANSFORMERScreator Nick Roche masterfully foreshadows upcoming events in the ongoing series, while taking fans on a wild ride.

The TRANSFORMERS will be available in stores in November.

TRANSFORMERS: BUMBLEBEE will be available in stores in December.

TRANSFORMERS: Last Stand of the Wreckers will be available in stores in January.

SDCC 09: New IDW Transformers Comic Series

Transformers Nefarious SDCC 09It’s the San Diego Comic-Con 09 this week, so it would only seem logical for IDW Publishing to spill the beans on what is in store for the future of Transformers comics.

Transformers: Nefarious is a mini-series focusing on a new organization with ‘nefarious’ designs on the Transformers. Continuing on from Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, there will also be more on Soundwave and Ravage.

The series is written by Simon Furman with art by Carlos Magno and will be out early next year.

In an interview with IGN, Simon talks about the series being self contained, how they aren’t entirely sure on the number of issues, how the series links into Revenge of the Fallen, and the possibility of Primus or Unicron appearing in the movie-verse.

Couple of Simon Furman Blog Updates

Written by Big Bot on July 20, 2009 | Comics,IDW Publishing,News | Tags: ,

Writer Simon Furman has been back on the blogging, with news of his appearances at the San Diego Comic-Con this coming weekend and for his next Transformers comic, All Hail Megatron #13, due out this week.

Here’s Simon’s schedule for SDCC 09, so bringing along your books and other merchandise to get them signed.

Friday 24th: may or may not make it along to the IDW panel at noon. News of my new TF series should already have broken by then, so I’ll be around (though maybe on the sidelines) to answer any (well, within reason) questions.
Sat 25th: 3-4PM at the DC/Wildstorm stand, then 4-5PM at the DK booth (2913-G in the Lucasfilm Pavilion). I may have to run to be there on time!!
Sun 26th: 10-11AM at the IDW stand, where I’ll be available to sign copies of All Hail Megatron #13 (and whatever else), then 2-3PM at the DK booth (Transformers: The Movie Universe, TF Ultimate Guide et al).
That’s it for the moment. Keep an eye out for more updates, right here, over the next week!

The Transformers: All Hail Megatron #13 is the start of 4 issues that contain 2x 11 page stories per issue. Simon’s story contains art from Don Figueroa, and features Optimus Prime and Ironhide.

If you’re going along to Auto Assembly 2009 next month in the UK, look out for the exclusive cover for AHM #13.

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