Sarah Stone left Transformers comics?

[JediTricks]

Although Windblade vol 2 #3 was solicited as late as last month (the original month it was intended to come out) as having Sarah Stone on art, the book ran 3 weeks late and when it hit, instead of Stone's art it had 6 different artists working the book. That issue had the work split into 2 parts, with half the book done by one team and the other half done by the other, almost an old school fill-in gang-job. So you have a team of a penciller, inker, and colorist for half the pages, then another team for the other half. All doing work that Sarah Stone had previously done on her own (she did digital work I think differently from classic comic "pencils, inks, colors" though).

In that time, the only statement I've seen from Sarah Stone was an apology to those going to a small convention where she had a table, she said she was feeling under the weather and couldn't make it, her roommate was going to take the spot instead.

But the digital version of Windblade vol 2 #4 was made available to tformers (I have no idea if it's out digitally or they just got an advance copy) and Stone is not on the book here either, instead we have art by Corin Howell and color by Thomas Deer - ironically, each worked on the previous issue of Windblade but on opposite teams. The art style is vastly different, take a look at the sample gallery:
http://tformers.com/ig.php?mode=album&d ... =Windblade

While I had qualms about Stone's style, at least it had a feel of art and life and depth. This does nothing for me, it looks like a book designed in an incredibly pandering way for kiddies and women who only buy cutesy comics. Expressions are well beyond over the top exaggerated, movement is cartoony, overall design is flat, colors are all just ramped up.

So, has Stone left Transformers comics? I dunno, there's no word right now on her, but the last issue she did was Windblade vol 2 #1 back in March, and since then the book that she created the look for hasn't seen her since.

[Sparky Prime]

I've been wondering what happened to her since she was suddenly absent from Windblade #3. I hadn't heard she canceled a Con appearance as well. Checking her tumblr, I see that comment you mention about her roommate standing in for her, and looks like she posted a comment yesterday that her sister will be standing in for her at Anime Expo as well. So maybe she's still feeling under the weather? I'd hope she hasn't left Transformers comics at least...

[Dominic]

The nearest precedent I can think of for something like this is Busiek on "Thunderbolts" in the late 90s. In that situation, Busiek's health took a serious turn, and Fabian Nicieza ghosted and co-wrote some of the series before outright taking over.

A similar situation arose with Abnett about 5 or so years back. But, it was less abrupt, and Abnett did not outright stop.

I doubt that Stone is leaving TF specifically so much as she is probably sick and needs to take time off.

Hopefully, her situation is not as serious as Abnett's or Busiek's were.


I never thought her art was right for TF. I would have wanted to see her go on to other projects where her "softer" style would have worked better. (For example, I could see her working on "Green Lantern", "Doctor Stranger" or "Thor".) Either way, we should know when Stone will be back in business (TF or otherwise) by the end of summer.

(Given what a cluster-fuck "Combiner Wars" is turning into, her own difficulties may actually be something of a blessing.)


That fill-in art looks like Fun Publication's attempt at duping "More than Meets the Eye" last year.

[andersonh1]

I read somewhere that she had health issues that prevented her from meeting some deadlines, but I can't remember where. If I find it I'll post the link.

[Onslaught Six]

I read somewhere that she had health issues that prevented her from meeting some deadlines, but I can't remember where. If I find it I'll post the link.

Didn't I say that she wasn't meeting deadlines? Called it.

Hope everything is fine with her. The replacement art looks...wow. That is Animated levels of bad.

[Sparky Prime]

Didn't I say that she wasn't meeting deadlines? Called it.

I think her getting sick and unable to work is a little bit different then simply not meeting deadlines.

[Dominic]

It is a legitimate reason to not be meeting deadlines.

I did some poking around on IDW's forums. Saw no threads about this.


As bad as the art looks, it might be a question of the artist being rushed. Comics are still published like periodicals, meaning that deadlines are king (if we ignore Marvel's trouble with "Secret Wars"). There is still a mentality that it is better to have something out on time, even if it looks and reads like shit, than to have a better thing drop later than planned.

Considering that many transfans are only in for "Transformers", and would as likely to wander away than to read other comics while waiting, I can see the drive to get the remaining issues out (even if the art is terrible).

[Sparky Prime]

As bad as the art looks, it might be a question of the artist being rushed. Comics are still published like periodicals, meaning that deadlines are king (if we ignore Marvel's trouble with "Secret Wars"). There is still a mentality that it is better to have something out on time, even if it looks and reads like shit, than to have a better thing drop later than planned.

I dunno about that, delays are fairly common in the business. I still remember the problems Marvel had with the Ultimate Hulk vs. Wolverine mini-series... One of the worst delayed titles they've had. Issue 3 was originally due for release in April 2006, but kept getting delayed month after month, until Marvel finally announced they'd canceled it until the whole series was completed. Finally in March 2009, issue 3 was released. It took them 3 and a half years to release all 6 issues of that story.

[JediTricks]

I don't think the art style is due to rush, if you look over the pencils-work in Epilogue (aka Windblade v2 #4) you'll see some stylized faces but nothing remotely similar to this. I would think this is an intentional attempt at a style that keeps it accessible to the audience the series is aiming for: newer female fans.