[preview]Read on inside for a transcript of our live coverage to the IDW Panel from Botcon![/preview]
IDW Transforming Comic Books Panel | (05/30/2009)* |
10:05 | Good morning everyone! Today we have LIVE coverage of the Botcon panels, kicking off with the IDW Publishing Panel |
10:06 | Kicking off with a slideshow |
10:08 | Movie adaptation, Furman writing, Nizzi covers, Alex Milne art |
10:08 | Prequel tradepaperbacks are also shown |
10:09 | Now for the good stuff. Starting in August, Tales of the Fallen, Furman and Mowry writing |
10:09 | Six issue miniseries |
10:10 | Bumblebee, Jetfire, Fallen all getting spotlight issues in that mini, each issuie focuses on a different character |
10:10 | Animated Almanac in August |
10:11 | Written from an in universe perspective, episode guide, background elements covered, concept art from the original TF Hero pitch. Episode guides are an in universe perspective. |
10:12 | Complete Ark book, collects Ark 1 and 2, due in August, omnibus size, extra pages with some extra stuff |
10:12 | Spotlight Cliffjumper, written by Shane, art by Robby Musso |
10:12 | Ties in sort of to All Hail Megatron |
10:13 | Art looks nice |
10:14 | Spotlight Metroplex in July, both covers shown off, almost entirely double page spreads |
10:14 | All Hail Megatron 12 – cover has the Prime / Megatron fight. |
10:14 | 13-16 is the Coda, two 11 page stories per issue |
10:15 | ties up the loose ends and sets up the next major story arc |
10:16 | Sunstreaker’s on one of the covers, his head is anyway, like in Maximum Dinobots / Devastation |
10:17 | End of slideshow, questions start |
10:18 | Animated continuation comic – there’s talk, it is being discussed, no definite answer |
10:18 | The 13 – no longer on the publishing schedule |
10:21 | Possibility of doing an Ark 3 with other material, but Jim Sorenson has other plans right now. Stuff he posts on his blog he won’t put in a book as it is too hardcore fan oriented for a general interest book |
10:21 | Wreckers miniseries is in the works |
10:22 | Coda will explain how Hot Rod and Kup met after Maximum Dinobots |
10:23 | Megatron taking a break as a villain – if possible they’ll focus on other villains, creative change in direction coming soon. |
10:24 | Pursuing digital distribution as well as publishing |
10:26 | GI Joe VS Transformers, IDW asked if we want one, massive audience applause |
10:26 | CSI Transformers – anything can happen! |
10:27 | Spotlights going away for a bit after Metroplex. Focusing on other things |
10:27 | Ongoing series – maybe, current comics out every month |
10:27 | Hearts of Steel style elseworlds story – just need to find the killer idea before they publish one |
10:28 | GI Joe fans – the origins series will be like Joe spotlights |
10:29 | Beast Wars – no immediate plans to revisit the universe |
10:29 | IDW stands for Idea and Design Works |
10:29 | Yes, someone asked that |
10:30 | I didn’t know either |
10:31 | RiD, other series – no plans, don’t want to flood the market with the many variations, would rather put out some great books |
10:31 | Side Burn, Star Saber – would you like the characters in the main continuity, massive applause at the idea, they said “guess we’ll do that then” |
10:32 | Will humans be more integral to the storyline – answer, yes |
10:33 | that’s post All Hail BTW |
10:34 | Character redesigns for All Hail were an attempt to bring in readers, make the characters more recogniseable |
10:35 | Okay, panel is closing down, next up, Activision. |
10:35 | [Comment From mark] any plans on a spotlight of smaller characters such as banzai tron? |
10:36 | They were talking about Spotlights taking a break so the answer there is a no. Sorry dude. |
10:36 | [Comment From Grimwing] Wooo! GIjoe VS Transformers. Good to see that again. |
10:40 | They were just polling opinion on that I think, someone asked since they have both properties, would it happen, they asked if we wanted it. Sounds like nothing set in stone. |
10:41 | [Comment From dragonimus] will there be a spin off to animated tvshow |
10:42 | They were talking to Hasbro about it, no definite plans yet. |
10:44 | Right, time to get ready for Activision 🙂 |
10:44 | See you shortly! |
Beastbot X
Yeah, Ryall wasn't there at the panel, but I was the one who asked that question at the panel, and they genuinely seemed to be discussing it seriously, not just a "maybe, sometimes, sorta, in the future", more of a "funny you should mention that…" kinda answer. Very uplifting, though obviously I'm not gettng my hopes up too much later.
AniProwl
Then,PLEASE get Mr. Isenberg to work on the comic so we can have more Animated goodness.
General Tekno
Comment on the Animated thing – Ryall replied to a question I asked him on Twitter about if it was gonna happen (after the panel announcement), and if Marty was gonna be involved:
Twitter / chris_ryall: @GeneralTekno The rumors h …
AniProwl
Yay! At least we see IDW wanting to continue Animated.
Mirage232
Guess I will have to check out All Hail Megatron again…even though it doesn't sound like does much in it…it is still, nonetheless, very nice to have Thundercracker portrayed like his original tech specs instead of a mindless grunt.
Magnus’ Mate
Thundercracker's doubts are hardly an IDW-creativity fest though. As far back as 1984, ol' T-Cracker was said to have secret doubts…
I'd like to see the comics giving us something more than the tried-and-tested characterisations that have been a staple for decades. The slavish devotion to the obvious characterisations was what made Dreamwave's efforts such total pap (well, that and an inability to hire anyone that could actually write, Furman kind of-excepted).
Sunstreaker's arrogant!
Starscream's whiny and wants to lead the Decepticons!
Grimlock speaks funny and is a real bad-azzzzzz rebel!
Yawn. Come on, it is possible to stay true to the original characterisations and still shed new light on these 25-year old characters!
General Magnus
Pretty much this. I´d love to see Thundercracker getting some balls and leaving the Decepticon cause too. But AHM is kinda of shitty when it comes to continuty and it has a very slow pacing.
Dys
The problem is, some of us wanted something more than 'Decepticons 'smashing shit,' and Autobots growling at oneanother for half a dozen comics with most of the major events in that time taking place offpanel before the series. I do agree Thundercracker has been the highlight of AHM. but he's vanished into the crowd.
Onslaught Six
No. It's wonderful. People just like to hate on it because it plays fast and loose with continuity, here and there.
And yes, the first six issues are basically just Decepticons 'smashing shit,' but that's awesome. And there's lots and lots of good character moments in there. Thundercracker doubts the Decepticon cause! Skywarp has abandonment issues!
Chris McFeely
Yeeeah, I'mma have to agree with this. I was very wary about the whole thing, and I think it's better off, by its very nature, being a tale that's never told in full.
Bass X0
I'd also like some G1 stories there answering some questions from the original movie or past IDW storylines maybe.
I.E. a two page explanation on how Windcharger and Wheeljack died in the original movie.
artiepants
*ouch* is it really that bad? 'cuz i thought the "-ations" series (the first 2) were pretty tragic so i was holding out for AHM in trade, at least to support Guido and Josh…
Fort Max
Animated comic huh, yes please.
ZacWilliam
I'll be honest, it's not an idea in my top ten for the franchise, but done right it still could be a lot of fun. The problem is it's the sort of thing that's very rarely done well.
It needs to be a big, fun, crazy action meet up between old friends and old enemies on both sides: A sort of cross between A Muppet's Family Christmas and the Joe and TF cartoon movies from the 80s. All the old friends together again and all the crazy meet-ups, team-ups, and fights between similar and contrasting classic characters in a big epic family-reunion adventure.
Kranix2k
I agree. The crossover thing has sorta been done to death.
shadowsfm
there has hardly been any good cross overs. only one i liked was the ww2 version. but hey, we can hope.
Bumblethumper
People seriously want another GI Joe crossover? Because that's among the last things I would ever want.
S250
The 13 cancelled?!?!?!? NO!!!!
cleazer
I like that idea.
shadowsfm
wow! don't give him a chance to improve or anything.