IDW’s Comic-Con Transformers panel can now be seen thanks to a fan made video, that was uploaded to youtube.com.
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
IDW Paperbacks on Play.com
The IDW Trade Paperbacks, which were rumoured to be released, have been spotted on Play.com, better known for being first with DVDs.
Transformers Generation One Volume 1
Transformers Generation One Volume 2
Volume 1 is due for 28/02/06 (same day as the Beast Machines DVD and Volume 2 is for 31/03/06. However, given that Play have to import them, expect them to arrive a few weeks later.
Thanks to TF@TM for the news.
IDW Comic News
At AA2005, Simon Furman gave some updates as to the direction that the new comics would take. To sum up what he said, Simon has posted some points on TFW2005 to clear up the confusion that had been occurring on other sites
Hi everyone– some quick responses and clarifications to the AA-feedback.1) First of all, when I mentioned ‘younger age bracket,’ what I meant was we’re aiming to appeal to an age group under 30! While we definitely want the long-time fans to read and enjoy the book, we also want to make it accessible and resonant with teenagers too.
2) There’ll be a range of ages for the human characters, but the youngest will be maybe fifteen/sixteen. We’re not going ‘junior’ here.
3) Character (alt-mode) updates will be by necessity only. If we can get away with using a ‘classic’ car in the 2005/2006 setting, we will. I have no burning urge to reinvent the wheel here, I just want to make stuff fresh and believable in a modern setting. These guys want to blend in, so they’re hardly going to pick a make of car or whatever from 1984.
4) BUT, and I stress this, we are taking pains to update, not reimagine. All of us (me, EJ, Hasbro, Chris and Dan at IDW) are looking for the most natural fits, those that won’t require major tweaks to the robot modes. We want you to look at any given vehicle on a page and know right off it’s Wheelie (just kidding!).
5) Megatron. Honestly, I always thought the gun was a bad idea. You’ve got the most powerful, feared being in the known galaxy and he turns into a handgun (and mostly he needs someone else to hold and point him!). Gimme a break. No, when Megatron transforms, it should be epic, grandiose. Hardened battle veterans should feel their exhaust ports loosen.
6) And finally, trust me that I won’t take everything you know and love throw it out the window. I won’t. Why? Because I know and love it too. It just don’t want to tell exactly the same story. Again.
Cheers– Simon Furman (honest!)
IDW Beast Wars Profiles Book teaser
Ben Yee, has posted some interesting information on the upcoming Beast Wars Profiles Book that are coming out later this year. He has posted the following on his board:
Hi folks,This project is still in the works and not due out for a bit, so I can’t give the farm away. Just wanted to offer some factoids
- I am writing a Beast Wars profiles book with Simon Furman (some folks wondered if it was some *other* Ben Yee).
- Issue #1 of the BW mini gives you a hint as to whether Japanese characters will be in the books.
- The profiles will NOT just be the guys (and gals) who appeared in the TV show (because that would be one very thin book).
- There will be G1 homages and yes, characters (who became BW characters) in the book such as Grimlock. However, they are in the minority.
- This is not some haphazard assembly of characters. Before writing a single profile, Simon and I worked up an entire backstory for the Maxies and Preds taking the TV show and Beast Machines (to a lesser degree) into account.
I hope you all enjoy what you see as time goes along. We are trying to produce something cool with these profiles. If I can reveal more (or even better, hopefully IDW themselves reveal more in the coming months) I’ll post it on the front page or in here.
Beast Wars Sourcebook #1 Feedback
Chris Ryall has posted some feedback to the complaints from fans on Beast Wars Sourcebook #1, which was released last week.
“Hey, everyone– In the time we’ve been doing Transformers comics, there have been highs and lows for the fans, I know. As there’s going to be on anything — some projects work better than others, for various reasons.
This one seems to be ranking somewhere near the first issue of the TF Animated Series for most of you, from the responses I’ve seen.
Which sucks all around–the last thing we want to do is release product that doesn’t work for you. Especially since this particular book took so long to finally arrive. And because so many artists and colorists labored over it. And because Simon and Ben Yee did the same, and then waited patiently for the book to finally be assembled and released.
So for the person who just e-mailed me very angry and said “once again, IDW screws its fans,” well, that’s hardly true and hardly a sound approach to business, I would think. And nothing we would ever set out to do.
So what happened?
That’s a good question. But there’s really no need for me to make excuses or air any beasty-smelling laundry, so I’ll just say that the book is, like everything we publish, ultimately my responsibility. This book was one that sort of slipped through the crack while I was dealing with an editorial shift, and it went out with some errors. Book Two was completed during this same period. But Andrew is here as the TF Editor now, and is extremely competent and he and I will do what we can to ensure the rest of the books are produced as they should be. As many errors are able to be corrected in the collected version will be fixed, too.
I know that this book was a bit of a disappointment for fans who waited so long. Transition with art teams or editorial teams can cause hiccups that are evidenced in the finished product, but certainly not on purpose.
So know that I share your pain on this–maybe moreso, since so many people have shared their pain with me–but also know that putting out something you don’t love is never our intent. We’ll get ’em next time.”
Fortress Maximus Coming to IDWverse
Simon Furman has revealed the first appearance of city-former Fortress Maximus will be in an upcoming Transformers Spotlight, which has yet to be announced.
“I managed not to reveal the subject of the second (or three) Spotlights I’m currently writing for IDW, but did let slip that (within the covers of that same un-named Spotlight) a certain Fortress Maximus makes his full IDW debut (albeit in a supporting role).”
IDW’s Art Du Jour x2: Devastation
There are 2 Art Du Jour previews for you today (mainly because we forgot), both from Transformers Devastation #1, due out next week. The first is the black and white outline with the second being the full colour page.
09/26/07
If you’ve been into IDW’s TRANSFORMERS universe then get ready for DEVASTATION! Finally, the pieces all start to fall together and the AUTOBOTS are going to have their CYBERTRONIAN hands more than full. In this page by E.J. Su, NIGHTBEAT brings the others up to speed with his recent discoveries, and now past events all come into focus. There’s lots more to come from this exciting series which kicks off next week, so come back tomorrow for the color page!
09/27/07
Like we just said, look at the colors Zac Atkinson laid down on this E.J. Su page from The Transformers Devastation. NIGHTBEAT has made some interesting discoveries and now it’s time for the AUTOBOTS to plan their next move. Find out all about it next week in the premiere issue of Devastation!
Simon Furman Blogging: Beast Wars #1 & Blaster
With the release of Beast Wars The Ascending #1 next week, Simon Furman has provided a short summary of events from The Gathering and a small preview of what happens at the beginning of The Ascending.
He has also completed the script for Spotlight Blaster, due out in January. He writes about who Blaster actually is, and provides some hints on the story of the Spotlight.
IDW Releases: Target #4 & Spotlight: Galvatron
IDW have released previews for this weeks comic releases. For Transformers, there is Transformers Target 2006 #4, a reprint of the Marvel comic story and the brought-forward-then-pushed-back-a-week Transformers Spotlight: Galvatron, which leads into IDW’s next series, Transformers; Devatation.
The previews can be found here.
The Transformers: Devastation #1 Preview
Hot on the heels of the Transformers Spotlight Optimus Prime preview, IGN have again been given an exclusive preview of another IDW Transformers comic. This time, its The Transformers Devastation #1, which start another 6 issue series continuing the events of Escalation.
In the aftermath of Escalation’s thundering showdown in Brasnya, factions on Earth stir into bold and demonstrative action. With both the Machination and Skywatch poised to strike, each possessing CYBERTRONIAN tech and inside knowledge of the alien enemy they face, the AUTOBOTS have no choice but to relocate. But the arrival on Earth of the DECEPTICONS’ living super-weapon, SIXSHOT, promises only one thing� Devastation.
The ink pages have also been provided.
