IDW To Lose Transformers Comics License In 2022?

We can only hope

 

According to Rich Johnston at Bleeding Cool, the water cooler talk around SDCC this year was that IDW is about to lose the Transformers license. This would follow the recent expiration of several other licenses held by IDW, including Star Wars and Marvel.

This is an unconfirmed rumor at this point, but recent events with IDW’s other licenses lend it some credence.

 

Well, hell. Is not like IDW has been doing particularly great stuff with the franchise recently but I still fear for the future of the comics line.

 

That would be unfortunate, just as I was getting in to a comic run (BW).

 

That, and I would also like more books featuring these Wreckers.

 

Yeah that's the other thing. BW is just enough "remember this" with a twist while the new Wreckers are a great new direction. My concern is Hasbro looks at stuff like Ghostbusters Afterlife and basically just wants "the same retold please."

 

That would suck, as I actually love the current ongoing (after a bumpy start). At least if it does get wrapped up soon, I can be happy I got to see a good "start of the war" story. Even if they only go far enough to wrap up the Exarchon situation, that's a good leaving-off point: "from here, you pretty much know how things go." I can deal with that.

If it turns out they are losing the license, DEFINITELY have a plan to WRAP UP the ongoing. Don't just stop in the middle of an arc. If you have to truncate the arc, lost light style, that's better than just completely dropping the thread Dreamwave style.

 

As much as I loved IDW1, IDW2 has been (for the most part) a boring, poorly-drawn mess. This may be a good thing.

 

Yeah, while I've only read some of the Cliffjumper solo books I did lose interest, unlike most IDW1 stuff I read (in late 2019).
I wonder who they would go to next to make TF comics?

 

Question here - what exactly is the business rationale for Hasbro and the comics license? Beyond the license fee that IDW pays. Is it about engaging teenage and older fans in the absence of Netflix shows and movies?

the other thing I wonder is - where does the license go if it leaves IDW? And does Hasbro try to push a common continuity approach that syncs up better with the toys in store?

 

I hate to agree, but I agree. If Hasbro is nervous about losing money on license fees like the article states, all the defections from IDW would be alarming as to the company's well being.
I doubt that Hasbro is getting much return on the comics marketing the toys, given the size and demographics of the comic fan base. They are also not getting much in licensing fees as the various Transformers titles are averaging 9000 copies per title per month for about $1.3 million. Compare that to Star Wars which is selling for the same price per title, more profit as Disney owns Marvel and Lucasfilm not just license fees, and the average sales are around seven or eight times as much, around $10 million give or take. If Hasbro wants to, and they should, they could go to Marvel and DC, both of whom would be thrilled for more content. Even if they didn't, Hasbro has shown interest in the past at producing its own media content so they could bring the books in house.
Obviously, our preference would be Marvel or DC as they have shown better results over a longer period of time, and typically have better creators. I cringe at the idea of the Prime Wars Trilogy on paper. (So say we all.) Either way, I think IDW 2 is gonna be short lived.

 

If this ends up being true then I wonder which company will Hasbro give Transformers to do comics with? I'm thinking Boom comics would be the best option given how well their Power Rangers comics are praised.

 

That's possible/likely now thinking about it (and they also own PR as well so it's likely), I doubt they'll go to Darkhorse and I doubt this will happen but what if/wouldn't it be crazy if they went back to Marvel?

 

The BW series has been great so far. The Wreckers is ok. And the ongoing series was incredibly boring at first but is starting to get better. I’d like to see where they go with all 3 though and I would hope they can finish those storylines before their license is up.

 

Who's to say anybody even wants the license. It may not be IDW 'losing' it, it could be IDW no longer finding it financially beneficial.

 

The same word is going around for their GI Joe comic license, so I'd not be surprised to see them go. Based on the success of Boom Studio's power rangers run, they seem to be the most logical new publisher.

 

The main comic moved way to slow, everything else is great though.

 

If your media fails to make me interested in transformers then you're not doing your job right.

 

I guess Hasbro related series will move to Boom Studio which contain Power Ranger.