Hasbro Q&A round 11 thread

[Onslaught Six]

Bob Budiansky, with the ability to get sick of the franchise and move on to edit the Clone Saga!

That poor man did not deserve that.

[Dominic]

Actually, he kind of did. Budiansky is kind of known for strong starts followed by running out of steam. "Transformers" is the most famous examople. But, he did the same on "Sleepwalker". One of the guys at the shop I used to buy from characterized Budiansky as an editor trying to be a writer. Given how much he let his work get away from him over the years, it is kind of karmic justice for him to be associated with a runaway train-wreck of a story.

I'm tempted to ask the obvious question that since we're getting Thrust and Dirge are they gonna release Thundercracker as well, but I don't wanna be that much of a dick.

I want to be. I really do. I say we ask it, specifically ruling out SG Thundercracker, and referencing Thunder-gate.


Dom
-"So, you guys blew it in 2007. Any plans to fix it?"

[Shockwave]

I'm tempted to ask the obvious question that since we're getting Thrust and Dirge are they gonna release Thundercracker as well, but I don't wanna be that much of a dick.

I want to be. I really do. I say we ask it, specifically ruling out SG Thundercracker, and referencing Thunder-gate.


Dom
-"So, you guys blew it in 2007. Any plans to fix it?"

Ok, but we also need to rule out AM Thundercracker and any of the "Storm/rain maker" jets.

Shockwave
-Morbidly curious to know if they plan to make a Sunstorm out of that mold.

[Onslaught Six]

Actually, he kind of did. Budiansky is kind of known for strong starts followed by running out of steam. "Transformers" is the most famous examople. But, he did the same on "Sleepwalker". One of the guys at the shop I used to buy from characterized Budiansky as an editor trying to be a writer. Given how much he let his work get away from him over the years, it is kind of karmic justice for him to be associated with a runaway train-wreck of a story.

To be fair, the way I've read him in interviews is that he never really asked to be a writer in the first place--was more interested in beng an editor.

Ok, but we also need to rule out AM Thundercracker and any of the "Storm/rain maker" jets.

Shockwave
-Morbidly curious to know if they plan to make a Sunstorm out of that mold.

4) Thundercracker. From the Classics Starscream mould. Wide release. Not Shattered Glass. Not Action Master. Not any other jet. Do it. We have your wives and children.

Don't be a hero.

[138 Scourge]

But direct questions like that haven't gotten results before, have they? And besides, we pretty much know they'll do one. If they can do Thrust and Dirge, after all...

[Onslaught Six]

Before Thundergate, it was also "a given" that they would release Thundy in Classics, too.

(I'm not being serious about that being a question.)

[Dominic]

I am.

[JediTricks]

This is what I'm sending in:

Jazz's Hall of Fame nomination profile mentions that he was Orion Pax's best friend. Orion Pax has only ever had one best friend, and that was Dion, a character from the G1 cartoon episode "War Dawn," who gets shot alongside Orion Pax and Ariel, who (obviously) became Optimus Prime and Elita-One. Some people have taken this new piece of information to indicate Dion was rebuilt into Jazz, which is a departure from some fans' assumption that Dion gets rebuilt into Ironhide or Ultra Magnus. So what is Hasbro's stance now? Does Dion get rebuilt into Jazz? Ultra Magnus? Ironhide? Or does he just die?

After what some fans have dubbed "Thundergate" - the 2007 Botcon boxed set that had the very limited, oft-requested Classics versions of Seekers Dirge, Thrust, and Thundercracker - we've finally started to move past the pain with the non-exclusive, mass-retail releases and planned releases for Thrust and now Dirge. With those two and Starscream, Skywarp, and Ramjet already produced in mass-release lines, that leaves just Thundercracker to complete the main Seekers. Will you be releasing a Classics mold of Thundercracker to mass-retail? Not Action Master or Shattered Glass or some other background Seeker instead, but regular Thundercracker?

[andersonh1]

After what some fans have dubbed "Thundergate" - the 2007 Botcon boxed set that had the very limited, oft-requested Classics versions of Seekers Dirge, Thrust, and Thundercracker - we've finally started to move past the pain with the non-exclusive, mass-retail releases and planned releases for Thrust and now Dirge. With those two and Starscream, Skywarp, and Ramjet already produced in mass-release lines, that leaves just Thundercracker to complete the main Seekers. Will you be releasing a Classics mold of Thundercracker to mass-retail? Not Action Master or Shattered Glass or some other background Seeker instead, but regular Thundercracker?

I'm willing to bet we'll get the standard "We can't discuss future plans but we're always considering our options" answer for this one.

[Dominic]

The phrasing on the Thundercracker question could have use a bit of work in order to be more direct. We have to assume Hasbro will creatively misread it as it is. But, their answer would not likely be helpful either way. (I just do not want to give them any excuses.)

So what is Hasbro's stance now? Does Dion get rebuilt into Jazz? Ultra Magnus? Ironhide? Or does he just die?

The only official information assumes that Dion was rebuilt as....Dion. The Magnus and Ironhide theories are fanfic of the especially obnoxious kind.


Dom
-trying to avoid the BotCon thread...and thoughts of Sideswipe.