Category Archives: Comics and Books

Published materials news

Skybound Comics at SDCC 2023

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Thanks to Twitter user @articulatedpts for the summary of the Skybound Entertainment Energon Universe comic panel by Skybound Entertainment at San Diego Comic Con 2023.  Panelists include Joshua Williamson, Daniel Warren Johnson, Sean Mackiewicz, and Robert Kirkman.

Comments include the following:

  • Will Quintessons and Nebulons appear? “We’ll just have to see.” – Kirkman
  • There’s a lot of huge building blocks that Kirkman has put into place to build off that Johnson can work off.
  • What goes into picking the team? “These are my personal favorites” – Johnson
  • This is a starting point. Things will be expanding as time go on. Humans will play a large role in at least the first two arcs.
  • “I really wanted to start at the beginning” – Joshua Williamson on wanting to start the series before Joe and Cobra formed
  • How can GI Joe kill a Transformer? You’re gonna find out!
  • Autobots are trying to navigate an organic world for the first time.
  • Will Skybound reprint older comics (IDW, etc)? Definitely have plans to republish older comics, like Marvel and IDW
  • For Transformers, are we limited to 84-85 cast? Kirkman is going to make it his mission to get Bulkhead in the comics. Not limited to those years

Hasbro’s VP of Global Publishing on Future of Transformers and G.I. Joe Comic Books

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During San Diego Comic-Con 2022, Michael Kelly, the vice president of global publishing at Hasbro, talked about the future of the Transformers license once it expires for IDW at the end of the year.

“Actually, we’re in a bit of a transition at the moment, as you might have heard,” Kelly tells Nerd Reactor. “So we’ve been with IDW on the comic book front, with Transformers and Joe, and that’s going to be ending at the end of this year. We’re not ready yet to announce who our new partner is, but we’ve already begun some creative discussions.”

With a new partner, Kelly is excited to see a new direction with Transformers and G.I. Joe in the comic book space.

“Certainly there’ll be plenty of things that they’ll be familiar with,” Kelly continued. “Because again, we’re not going to completely reinvent the brands, but I think what they’ll find is a fresh take on the storytelling and the characters. Probably develop a little bit more slowly to try and bring some new fans in as well as by starting out focusing on two or three main characters and really giving them a lot of depth and a lot of personalities and then building out the team of characters as we go along. So yeah, that’s usually what we do.”

Read the rest of the interview here.

IDW to Lose ‘G.I. Joe,’ ‘Transformers’ License at End of 2022

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The rumors are true. IDW will lose the Transformers license at the end of the year.

IDW is losing the publishing licenses to G.I. Joe and Transformers, the San Diego-based comic book publisher has announced.

The moves comes in the wake of The Hollywood Reporter reporting in December that Skybound, the imprint run by The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman, was in talks to pick up the license from Hasbro, the Rhode Island-based toy and media corporation.

“At the end of 2022, IDW will bid a fond farewell to the publication of G.I. Joe and Transformers comic books and graphic novels,” the company said in a statement provided to THR. “We’re exceedingly proud of our stewardship of these titles – 17 years with the Robots in Disguise and 14 years with A Real American Hero – and thank the legion of fans for their unwavering support, month in and month out. We’re also eternally grateful to every one of the talented creators who helped bring these characters to four-color life through our comics.”

Follow the link to read the rest of the story. A number of Transformers projects remain to be published between now and the end of 2022.

New Interview with Erik Burnham, Beast Wars writer

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Not all familiar faces

From the Dynamic Forces website comes a new intereview with Erik Burnham, writer on the upcoming IDW Beast Wars title, in which he discusses the 25th anniversary of Beast Wars, a look back at the television show, and a look forward at the new series. It will start at a familiar place, but expect changes going forward.

The Predacons steal an artifact called the Golden Disk, hop in a time travel-capable ship, and flee to work on their plans. They’re pursued by a Maximal ship, followed to another time, and after a little bit of a fight… crash on a primitive planet. This is how the show opens; this is also how the comic opens (more or less). We’re starting at a place familiar to the longtime fans, but every little change we make diverges from the original storyline.

Follow the link for the full interview. Beast Wars #1 is due in stores on February 3rd.

Preview for Transformers #27

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Tfw2005.com has posted the Itunes preview for the upcoming Transformers #27, which takes the story back to the Winged Moon, adrift in space. This book is due in stores on January 20th.

“War World: Moon”. Cybertron’s winged moon, untethered from the planet and adrift in space, is in peril-from its slow descent towards the solar system’s star to new visitors who have their own plans for what to do with the moon. Can the remaining scientists and engineers hold their own until back-up arrives from Cybertron?

Creator credits: Brian Ruckley (Author), Anna Malkova (Artist), Livio Ramondelli (Cover Artist), Red Powell (Cover Artist), Nicole Goux (Cover Artist)

Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Three, Vol. 1 due September 2021

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Windblade gets the cover again

Questions about whether IDW would continue with Phase 2 branding or go on to Phase 3 in their comprehensive reprinting of all their various Transformers series have been answered. The shared universe material with G. I. Joe, Rom, and Hasbro’s other properties begins in this volume.

Presenting the final phase of IDW’s Transformers universe in recommended reading order, including one-shots, crossovers, and event series!

The Revolution begins here! Explosions rip across Earth–and all signs of blame point to OPTIMUS PRIME and the TRANSFORMERS! G.I. JOE refuses to go quietly however–and they assemble heroes big enough to stop the invaders! ACTION MAN and M.A.S.K. fight for humanity as well–but where do ROM and the MICRONAUTS stand?

Plus, a wave of undead TITANS threatens Cybertron! Starscream will need more than secret police to stop the oncoming horde, but the Fearless Leader finds himself short on friends and firepower. Who can be called upon–and why aren’t they stepping up to the plate?

Collects Revolution issues #0-5; the Transformers: Till All Are One, Transformers, Action Man, and Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye Revolution one-shots; Transformers: Till All Are One issues #5-8; and Revolutionaries issues #1-4.

The pre-order link can be found on Amazon here.

Transformers #26 Preview

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Pyra Magna

A preview of Transformers #26 is now available, courtesy of Tformers.com.

https://tformers.com/transformers-26-comic-book-preview-world-war/39625/news.html

“War World” continues! As the two new leaders of Cybertron’s most dominant factions step into their new roles, one finds himself seeking council from one of the four Great Generals—for better or for worse. Meanwhile, the other is given council by his mentor, but it’s been a long time since Megatron and Termagax saw eye-to-eye.

AVAILABLE: December 2020
CREATORS: Brian Ruckley (Author) Anna Malkova (Artist) Freddie E. Williams II (Cover Artist)
IMPRINT: IDW
PAGE COUNT: 32
COLOR: FC

Out this week: Transformers #25, “War World!”

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(W) Brian Ruckley (A) Anna Malkova (CA) Angel Hernandez

“War World” begins here! It’s all led up to this. With Megatron making his play for Cybertron, Ironhide, Chromia, and Hound launch an operation to free those he has imprisoned. The future of Cybertron rests in uncertain hands in this double-sized, action-packed issue!

In Shops: Dec 09, 2020SRP: $7.99

https://www.previewsworld.com/Catalog/SEP200483

Transformers: Escape mini-series begins December 30

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Transformers Escape #1

Continuing their tradition of running multiple Transformers series simultaneously, once Transformers Galaxies ends, IDW will publish a mini-series focusing on Wheeljack and his crew as seen in issue 24 of the main Transformers series. The story will run for five issues.

Written by Brian Ruckley with art by Bethany McGuire-Smith

World War spills into this all-new limited series! As Cybertron descends into a state of war, countless civilians-unaligned with the Autobots, Decepticons, or any faction-are caught in the crossfire. Fortunately, a solution may be coming… Wheeljack, Hound, and some of Cybertron’s greatest (and most infamous) scientists seek to reactivate the Ark program and evacuate the planet with huge spaceships. On the verge of war, will their efforts be enough to escape?

In Shops: Dec 30, 2020

Transformers: The Manga, vol. 1

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Scheduled for a March 10 release date from Viz Media is “Transformers: The Manga”. These stories from the 1980s have been translated into English for the first time. Written by Masumi Kaneda, art by Ban Magami and English language lettering by Brandon Bovia.

In this collector’s volume, the Autobots and their young friend Kenji must stand tall against the Decepticons in an interplanetary conflict! These classic stories are from the dawn of the Transformers, and this volume contains thrilling tales such as “The Great Transformer War” and “Fight! Super Robot Life-Form Transformers!”—plus an extensive art gallery!

Further details can be found on Viz Media’s website:

https://www.viz.com/read/manga/transformers-the-manga-volume-1/product/6181