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Via a tip from Seibertron.com member Sabrblade, and courtesy of fellow Transformers fan Stuart Webb, we have a wonderful set of interviews with the minds behind the remastering and repackaging of the Marvel UK G1 comics - now collected into several volumes under Classics UK by IDW - editors James Roberts (texts) and Lloyd Young (images/scans)! You can read the full, detailed, lengthy piece here, and some snippets below.
As well as providing the making of text, how involved are you in the development of the book? Do you have a say in things like design, layout and covers as well?
(James Roberts:)
The cover and contents page designs have been constant throughout, and were conceived entirely in-house at IDW. For every edition I'm asked to give Andy Wildman a detailed cover idea (let's face it, no one else involved in the production of the book would have asked for Nightstalker and an Autobot Overlord on the cover of Vol 2). You'll have noticed that with the covers we try to highlight the unique aspects of the UK stories, typically the characters that never featured in the US comics.
I'm responsible for selecting what should go in each volume, from the stories to the non-story scans: posters, letters pages, adverts etc. I re-read the 30 - 40 issues covered by each volume and flag up everything I think would be interesting to fans old and new, such as Transformation pages that trail or tease a big story, or announcements for new toys, or promotion about the original Movie and so on. Letters pages that disclose hitherto unknown 'in universe' facts are worth reprinting, too. I'll choose the front-papers - usually the inside cover of the annual, so that's easy - and the sequencing of the contents.
I'll submit the text - the foreword, the introductory essay, the story intros etc - and notate it to indicate which scans should go where.
At this point I must sing Lloyd Young's praises. The series wouldn't be a tenth as good as it is without him. Lloyd got in touch after Volume 1 and offered to use his complete collection of TFUK issues to provide high-quality scans of all the material that IDW didn't have. He spends hours and hours cleaning up and 'brightening' the strip pages, and digs up all sorts of rare free gifts and original art. I couldn't do any of this without him.
[...]
We’re now past the halfway point of the series, how advanced is the work on the remaining three books and do you think we’re likely to remain on a one volume a year schedule?
I'd love to be able to do more than one a year, but realistically... it's Volume 6 later this year, and Volume 7 in 2016. Maybe we'll get Volume 8 - the final one - out in 2016 too. I'd like that. As much as I love the project, I want to see it done! I can't relax until all eight volumes are on the shelf. I owe it to fans - and to myself.
As for how advanced work is on the remaining books, I know precisely which issues and annuals will be reprinted, and what special features we'll put in. I keep a list of non-story material we've not yet printed, and it's pretty long. I know exactly what's going in Volume 6. And I have my list of confirmed and prospective interviewees.
Be a huge tease and give us a hint of an exciting and new fact we’ll be learning in volume 6.
There's interesting stuff in Volume 6 (did you know that a TF character appeared on the cover of another Marvel UK publication in the late 80s?), but it's in Volume 7 that there's a real revelation. Wait until you find out what was originally planned for after issue 212...
I understand you and James first came into contact about this series via the TMUK forum, had you known each other before this, and what has the process of working with him (and IDW generally) been like?
(Lloyd Young)
As fate would have it, it was only a short time after finding all of the free gifts from the UK series and joining the TMUK forum that I was introduced to the one and only James Roberts. It was prior to Volume 1 of Transformers Classics UK being released and I received an email with an introduction. At the time I probably had to re-read it, it’s not often you’re approached to contribute to something that’s dear to you. After James explained what he was trying to achieve, there was no doubt that I wanted to be involved.
I couldn’t do this interview without highlighting the sheer passion that James has put into these books. He really has gone to the ends of earth to interview key contributors in its rich history to dig up information that would have potentially been lost forever. Each time we work on a new volume and I’m hunting around for items to include, I sit back and think, how the bloody hell is James going to fill this issue out? But testament to his unrelenting passion for the series, he does. Quite often, we’ll be nearing our cutoff dates to collate everything we need to hand off to the IDW guys, who then stitch the book together, and James will message me at the eleventh hour saying he’s found space for one last thing. That ‘one last thing’ often turns into the ‘tenth last thing’ but that’s what I love about this project, we’re always pushing to get the best content we can in.
This is where the guys over at IDW obviously do a great job as well and as James said earlier, are always kind enough to push the page count up if there’s more great content to include. As the books lay flat on my table you can visibly see the thickness change from the first few volumes. Without these guys, the books wouldn’t happen either. Shout out to Justin Eisinger.
[...]
And finally, you’ve contributed to an officially licensed Transformers book about the comic you love and have had your name in the credits alongside the great and the good who worked on the original series. On a scale of one to ten, how much of a good feeling is that?
It’s nothing short of amazing; I give it a 1984 out of 10 (the year that changed it all for me). What an absolute privilege to contribute to not only something you’ve loved since childhood, but to have your name in the same publication as the guys who shaped the original series and those who continue to work on the existing stories. I pinch myself from time to time.
During my years working in the games industry, I was also fortunate enough to work on a Transformers game. Although I was working as a 3d artist at the time, my good friend and fellow 3d artist/ photographer Jamie Andy Evans was given the role of advert photographer. Long story short, like a child attempting with their dear life to answer a questions in class, my arm went immediately up. I said to Jamie, “I have to get my face in this game; I don’t care what it takes”. It’s safe to say, I’m now immortalized on a mobile phone billboard. Sadly, Jamie passed away mid way through 2014, far too young and I’ll be forever thankful to him for taking those photos. RIP mate.
I’ll sign off now by once again thanking James Roberts and IDW, not only for including me in this epic journey of theirs but just because these guys rock it hard for TF’s! I’m certainly looking forward to meeting James and the gang in the flesh, we’ve only been working together for 4 years now after all.
With the current flurry of screenings across the US of the 1986 Transformers movie, and the unfortunate news of the passing of actor Leonard Nimoy, it's unsurprising that we hear more from the people involved in its creation, from a cast, crew and other perspectives! Entertainment website Topless Robot has posted a list of ten major points to come out of the Q&A session during the event in LA (which you can also watch for yourself via the embedded clip below!), ranging from Flint Dille, voice director Wally Burr and voice actors Neil Ross and Michael Bell. Check out some of it below, and the full piece here!
TR: Did your writing process change when you began scripting the movie as opposed to the TV show?
Flint Dille: Well, it did from the point of view that we knew this was going to be a very big movie. Of course, the purpose of the movie was not only to have something in theaters, but also to introduce next year's product line. Which meant that we had to first kill off the old product line to make way for the new toys.
TR: So Optimus Prime had to die?
FD: Exactly. We just didn't realize that it was going to bother anybody! :laughs: But I'd argue that had we not killed him, we wouldn't be talking about Transformers right now. Still, we didn't know the can of worms that we were opening when we wrote those scenes.
[...]
Topless Robot: The film world recently lost Leonard Nimoy, who voiced Galvatron in the Transformers animated feature. Can you talk about what he was like to work with?
Wally Burr: Very professional. Business-like. He came in and was ready to work. I asked him if I could give him the profile of what the show was about, to help get him up to speed. And he said "Go ahead." So I did. And when I finished with the full explanation, he said, "Okay, get your director and let's do this." :laughs: He didn't realize that I was the director! He must have thought I was a production assistant or somebody hired by the studio to hold his hand until he was ready to be used.
TR: What about Orson Welles? He came with quite a reputation, I imagine.
WB: With Mister Welles, I was intimidated in advance. Because if you've ever heard any of the outtake reels on him, he could be pretty tough. And he had a right to be! He could look at any script and say, instantly, I know what you need here. The problem was, he didn't want to be directed. But somebody had to coordinate the session, and that's what a voice director does. We coordinator of the cast. Otherwise, they'd overlap each other. The voice director keeps the characters straight, and so on. So I thought I was going to have a lot of problems with Mister Welles. And I did. At one point he was rather slow in his delivery, so I gently said "Mister Welles, this is sounding great. I'm wondering if I can ask you to pick up the tempo just a little bit." And he said, in that voice of his, "I'm reading this as rapidly as I possibly can. And furthermore, I'll do the slating from now on." Well, the voice director usually slates from the recording booth.
[...]
Topless Robot: You both voiced a number of different characters throughout the Transformers film. Did you have any particular favorites to play?
Neil Ross: Yes, I think so. My favorite was called Springer. He could turn into a helicopter at will, and he was just a good, fun, solid hero-type to play. He also didn't involve any throat ripping.
TR: Throat ripping?
NR: :speaks in a painfully scratchy voice: "That's when some of the characters sound like this!"
In addition to the Dengeki Hobby scans, fellow Seibertron.com and Allspark.com member Powered Convoy has shared with us images of the Figure King magazine, issue 205. The publication also features a lengthy interview (shown below in translation) with Takara designer Hisashi Yuki. Check it out below, and the images after that, featuring more on Masterpieces, Transformers Adventure and the ThreeA Dark of the Moon Megatron replica!
Powered Convoy wrote:
The Allspark in collaboration with SydneyY is happy to present a translation of the latest Interview with TakaraTomy Designer Hisashi Yuki from Figure King #205. In the interview he talks about his work on Unite Warriors Superion and MP-24 Masterpiece Star Saber.
Disclaimer: The original of this interview was published in Figure King magazine issue #205. The reason I provide this translation is solely to help non-Japanese fans who are unable to read this insightful interview. Hope you'll enjoy and pardon the grammar errors and/or typo.
Hisashi Yuki on Unite Warriors Superion, MP Star Saber and "Adventure"
- How did "Combiners" become the theme?
Y: In "Generations" series overseas, popular characters were picked without a particular theme. (Generations figures) are packed with IDW comics overseas, but there wasn't much connection between the characters, their designs and the contents of the comics. Then Hasbro changed their direction and decided to develop a series with the "Combiners" theme and connect the comics to it. TakaraTomy had been suggesting combiners to Hasbro for a while, and this time it was fit for what Hasbro was looking for.
- So the situation is different from when "Generations" Bruticus was developed.
Y: The purpose was to create a high priced product firstly, and Bruticus from the game was selected.
- It seems that the Japanese fans and the overseas fans see "combiners" differently. How was the reaction of the overseas fans?
Y: I think knowledgeable and enthusiastic fans overseas were pleased that they were finally getting combiners. I was at BotCon when "Combiner Wars" was announced, and when the silhouettes were revealed there were cheers.
- How did you proceed with the development of Superion?
Y: Due to the scheduling, 3 or 4 people are working with the products including Superion. Since it was being re-made as a current product, an extra effort seems to have been made to have as few excess parts as possible. The head and the chest plate were excess parts in the original toy, but now they are incorporated into Silverbolt. As for the base mode, it was omitted at the beginning because of the various factors that would have been required to form the runway. The wrist transformation gimmick is an idea which had been thought of a long time ago, but wasn't realized in a product until now.
- This Superion's legs are back-to-front.
Y: It is due to the joint movement. If the nose of the jet is at the back of the leg, it gets in the way when the knee is bent. Though it is possible to combine them back-to front. It is not the official way, however I think using such tricks is also a part of combiner robot fun.
- How did you decide on the direction of Japanese "Unite Warriors" development?
Y: This can be said for "Legends" series as well, but the concept for the current domestic products is that we want (the customers) to remember the Transformers from the past. We do not want someone who had (Transformers toy) long time ago to feel (the new ones are) somewhat wrong. When we first learned of Overseas Superion's specifics, we thought, "huh? There's a wrong guy in the team" (*laugh) So it was decided to make Japanese Superion consisting of all jets.
- How come is it sold as a set?
Y: I believe the concept works only when the five robots are present and they should be to played with as a whole team. Although some in the (developer) team suggested to sell them separately. The 5 robot combiners are to be released one by one this year and because of that they are marketed separately from "Legends". Hasbro's lineup is gearing toward combiner warriors and we are considering developing "Legends" series that is different from the overseas.
- Any other point of interest besides changing a member?
Y: The color scheme is closer to the cartoon image. Actually I combined the images evoked by the cartoon and the original toy well so that the end result is not too far off from either. I like Hasbro version's black wrists and ankles, but still chose white in accordance with the original. As for the paint applications, I made it as close to the original as possible such as the patterns on the wings. If you are not familiar, they are all minor changes, but I did not want to compromise after we went as far as changing a member to stick to the original. When it comes to the Japanese versions, one of our unofficial objectives is to give them deluxe deco so that the fans all over the world would want them, too. I would be happy if they buy Transformers as souvenirs when they visit Japan. (*laugh)
- Also MP Star Saber is going to be released in March at last.
Y: I was particular about constructing it using the colors of molded parts. You will notice it when you see the actual item. This is not only because of the cost, but I also wanted it to be a toy that you can play with freely without worrying about chipping the paint. If this concept is received favorably, I think Masterpiece series will be able to have wider range of lineup.
- I was amazed at the volume of it when I handled the sample.
Y: Giving (MP Star Saber) the impression of the volume as close to the original as possible was one of the concepts since the beginning of the development. The people who played (with the original) must have considered it very big and I didn't want them to think it became smaller as a Masterpiece.
- I can't help wondering about Victory Leo....
Y: I'd like to know that as well. (*laughs) In fact I haven't done anything so far. When I developed Star Saber I drew a rough sketch, but I can't go any further until the company gives the green light. This Star Saber is also considered to be the 30th anniversary celebration item, so first of all I hope the people who voted (for Star Saber) or owned Star Saber long time ago will be satisfied with it when they have it in their hands.
- Tell us about your current work.
Y: I am working on the localized series such as "Adventure", "Legends" and "Unite Warriors". As for "Adventure" toys, more colors are added to make them cartoon accurate as well as homage to the past series. Their release dates are not far behind their overseas counterparts, and I hope the Japanese versions will be purchased with confidence. Also, some characters who were not able to release previously will be added to the line up this time. I made Dreadwing's color scheme closer to his appearance in "Beast Hunters".
- "Adventure" seems to be marketed ambitiously, for example (the toys) are released close to their overseas versions.
Y: We are taking various ambitious approaches such as the way the show is broadcast; as well as showing on Animax, it will be broadcast online so that the viewers will benefit from being able to watch it any time. The preceding show, "Q-Transformer" has been played online more than our expectations.
- This year is the 30th anniversary of Transformers arriving in Japan. What do you suggest the fans to pay attention to?
Y: Firstly I hope you will take notice of "Adventure". The story is interesting, and the picture is bright. It is a typical Transformers show in a good way. There will be many merchandise, too, and I hope you will watch the show and discover your own hero. (note by Sydney: in the original text,Mr.Yuki uses the phrase "boku ga erabu boku no hero" (My hero, chosen by me), which was a catch phrase for G1 toy advertisement) Also, the other cartoon, "Q-Transformer" is received favorably by female audience. If "Q" Bumblebee is your favorite, I hope you will take a look at "Adventure" Bumblebee as well (note by Powered Convoy: QTF Bumblebee and Adventure Bumblebee share the same voice actor).
- Very colorful lineup worthy of the 30th anniversary indeed.
Y: We had 2 major lines last year; "30th Anniversary" and "the Movie". This year we are aiming for a wider variety. I will be happy if you can meet many different kind of Transformers and enjoy them.
The second piece of news from Rachel Stevens of Women Write About Comics has some of a crossover with the CBR article we posted earlier, but offers some interesting additions and further developments to that interview, as Mairghread Scott and John Barber answer even more questions about the upcoming Combiner Wars event with IDW Publishing and where the two series - Windblade and The Transformers - will be going from there. Read more here, and some selected quotes below!
If you were to pitch the story to a new reader that hasn’t had the fortune of reading prior IDW Transformers comics, what is Combiner Wars and why should you be reading the current Transformers stories?
Mairghread Scott: Combiner Wars is about a world on the verge of imperial takeover. Cybertron has recently discovered one of a series of long lost colony worlds (this is where Windblade comes from), and they’re reaching out to them once more. But with the rise of the combiners, Cybertron (and more accurately Starscream) has military power no one’s ever seen before. He could easily turn these colonies into conquered worlds, creating a vast empire even Megatron never imagined.
John Barber: If you’ve never read Transformers, you probably wouldn’t guess what the IDW Transformers books are like. I mean, there’s a lot of action, yeah—and Combiner Wars definitely has some serious fighting—but a lot more personal interactions and political machinations go on than somebody might expect. I think word of mouth has spread about what we’re doing in these books, and hopefully something like Combiner Wars will give new readers a good place to take a look at this universe.
[...]
What do you want to do after Combiner Wars? Windblade Returns has been confirmed to not just be a miniseries, but little more besides that has been stated.
MS: That’s by design. Actually, the comic is named Transformers: Windblade; “Windblade Returns” was just a title card put up to announce our comeback. And we haven’t said much about it because Combiner Wars is so linked in with Windblade’s story that saying too much could spoil this event. I will tell you one thing. There’s this old saying I keep thinking of as I write it: “God never gives you more than you can handle.” Windblade is a lot stronger than she was when we first introduced her, but that just means her problems have grown that much bigger with her. I want to believe that Windblade really can build a better future for Cybertron and Caminus. But, as a writer, it’s my job to push her as hard as possible and see if she actually does.
JB: The next set of issues of Transformers deals with the ramifications of what happens in Combiner Wars back on Earth, and the rest of our solar system. With the changes in CW, we’ll see Arcee taking on a new role, and get some good Cosmos stuff, finally. And see what happened to Kup when he was in the Dead Universe. Plus, somebody will return. I won’t say who.
A couple of news posts courtesy of Cybertronian correspondent Rachel Stevens over on Women Write About Comics, starting with a lengthy interview with current IDW Publishing writer for Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye. The hour-long audio deals mostly with general issues of the series, from its conception to ongoing issues, but there are some very interesting snippets throughout. You can listen to it in its entirety below!
James Roberts, writer and mastermind, talks robots, disguises, and the scope and humanity of IDW’s Cybertronian comics universe. Robot gender, robot psychology, and entry points for new readers — this sprawling conversation with WWAC staffer, Rachel Stevens, has it all.
Courtesy of entertainment website ComicBookResources.com, we have another interview with some of the creators behind the upcoming IDW Publishing Transformers: Combiner Wars event, crossing over current ongoing The Transformers and returning series Windblade. Read some snippets from the full piece - found here - below, in which John Barber and Mairghread Scott touch upon some of what is to come in terms of stories and themes, including some preview art for from Sarah Stone and Livio Ramondelli!
CBR News: This is the first big "Transformers" crossover since last year's "Dark Cybertron" epic. While we understand the basic gist of the crossover, what more can you tell us about "Combiner Wars?" Who, exactly is combining? Who is warring?
Mairghread Scott: "Combiner Wars" starts when Starscream (a rather evil guy and ruler of Cybertron) gains the ability to make a Combiner (a super-powerful giant) and seems poised to build a new Cybertronian empire.
Let that sink in.
Because when we talk about empire in "Transformers," we're not talking a few countries in Europe. We're speaking of whole planets who might be about to bow to the power of one man. Combiners are the ultimate weapons of Transformers, and Starscream can now make as many as he wants.
So you have two very different wars happening at the same time. Windblade and Optimus Prime are fighting a war for influence (Can they get people to see the danger Starscream poses?), while others take a much more literal war with every weapon they have.
John Barber: Meanwhile, on Earth, Prowl is sitting at the head of the up-to-now only really properly-functioning Combiner -- the other attempts have basically failed outright or driven the component people mad -- and he's not keen on Optimus Prime's leadership of the Autobots, or Starscream's ruling of Cybertron.
To put it in a real world setting: It's six issues (one "Opening Salvo" and five actual parts, just like most of the Combiners have) that starts in "Transformers" #39, goes to the new "Transformers: Windblade" #1, back to "Transformers" #40 and alternated until it's done. Mairghread and I are writing it, and the art is by the amazing Sarah Stone and Livio Ramondelli, alternating issues
[...]
Diversity is a big issue in comics -- and everywhere, really -- and something that I know is important to both of you, but how exactly do you promote diversity through stories about giant sexless, raceless robots?
Scott: The term "sexless" is debatable in my view. I want to be clear: There are Transformers who are inherently male and inherently female. That doesn't mean the same thing as it does in humans, but Transformers that call themselves "she" aren't doing it because they like the 'sh' sound. They are female, and we're going to meet a lot more of them.
The term "raceless" is also misleading. Transformers have a long history of racial tension against cassettes, animalistic transformers, headmasters, etc. They are just as noble as humans and we're pushing the envelope to make them at least as diverse as we are. So what can you expect in terms of Transformers in the future? More! More body types, more races, more LGBTQ, more religions and creeds and classes. More conflict about all of the above. Working with robots doesn't stop us from exploring diversity. It offers us the chance to push the boundaries of diversity in a lot of interesting, allegorical ways.
Barber: Yeah, what Mairghread said there. One of the things that non-"Transformers" fans might not realize is how wide-ranging and inclusive the "Transformers" fanbase is. I mean, it's self-evident if you're part of the "Transformers" world, but "Transformers" readers, "Transformers" fans encompass the entire spectrum of people. And it's important to have the characters in the comic be reflective of that.
It's sometimes a complex line to walk, between the out-and-out science-fiction-ness of the "Transformers" universe and its relationship with the real world, but it's important.
Live, from New York, it's a Twincast Podcast Saturday Night! Maybe not quite live or on a Saturday, but it's still our recordings from New York City as yours truly, episode host Scotty P sat down with Seibertron and Diablien/Collecticon/Paul (of RIPT fame and an eternal Friend of Seibertron.com) to discuss the new toys and goings on from the toy industry's largest annual trade show.
Oh, and there's this matter of an interview with the Global Brand Marketing Director for Transformers, Hasbro's Jerry Jivoin!
Episode #111 "New York Toy Fair 2015" is available directly and in our RSS Feed and should appear on iTunes and Stitcher Radio within 24 to 48 hours of when you see this news post.
We hope you'll listen to the entire show, but if you'd like to skip our personal musings and get right to the interview with Mr. Jivoin, you may do so by going to 1:05:48 in the audio file.
We first tackle the big guy himself, Devastator! Now that we've seen this hugely anticipated, hugely sized toy in the flesh, are we more or less impressed? Are the individual bots something living up to expectations? We'll break down everything you ever wanted to know based on our observations, along with a bunch of facts you probably don't care about in the first part of the show.
A certain shade of green
Section something-point-something of the Autobot Code dictates that our next point of discussion is Generations Leader Class Ultra Magnus, popping right out of the pages of the IDW comic series and into our hearts. Listen in as we dissect what we saw of this latest entry into the impressive Generations series Leader Class lineup.
Duly Appointed, indeed
There were yet more cool Generations reveals such as Defensor, Cyclonus, and Legends Class figures. The customization/create-a-character aspect of Combiner Wars comes full circle with these releases. Tune in to hear our thoughts, as well as our condolences to GI Joe fans.
Totally not Onslaught even a little.
Seibertron.com is very proud to present the next segment of the show, an approximately 20 minute interview with Mr. Jerry Jivoin! You'll need to listen in to hear what he has to say about everything from Combiner Wars, more female characters, decisions on paint decos for reissue toys, the west coast dock strikes, whether these Combiners are being made in response to a certain other toy market, and even more!
Our sincere thanks to both Hasbro and Hunter PR for the opportunity to interview Mr. Jivoin on a very busy day in a very busy environment, and on basically zero notice at that! It was a blast to conduct and we hope our listeners and the fan community as a whole enjoy the information shared.
Archive image from SDCC 2012 - this is Jerry's second appearance on the Twincast
We didn't forget about the new toys from Robots in Disguise. Jazz and Sideswipe Warriors, plus lots of new Minicons will grace store shelves this fall. Find out our thoughts about the upcoming products coming out to support the cartoon show that's coming soon.
Seriously huge.
Since we're all just big kids here, we take a little bit of the show to chat about the upcoming releases for Rescue Bots. Join us as we jump on the boat and don't transform. Wait, what?
Broadside's little cousin
Loyal Subjects vinyls are about to hit their third wave and Toy Fair gave us the opportunity to get a very clear look at them for the first time. Why is Scotty so mad about the case breakdown? You'll find out, plus you'll get to hear the counterpoint which makes for a fun, lively discussion of these Action Vinyls. You can even preorder a case of this upcoming wave from our buddies at RIPT Apparel.
He can't see anything at all, but can he see why kids love Cinnamon Toast Crunch?
Toy Fair brought along far more than we could possibly cover without having a four hour show, so catch the rest as we break down our thoughts on licensed products hitting stores in the next year. Protect your home, keep your spot in a book, and try not to stab yourself with metal if you check out any of this stuff once it's available.
Small in stature, but not in character.
We finish up with an insanely elitist edition of Bragging Rights. The pictures can speak for themselves!
Total Spoilers
That wraps things up for this very special episode. We sincerely hope you enjoy this one, definitely had a blast on this end putting it together. See you in approximately two weeks as we attempt to get back on to a more "regular" show schedule between now and Botcon.
Don't forget, the show only gets better if you tell us how. Drop us a review on iTunes and be sure to tell us what you love, what you hate, and what you want to hear!
Not on the show to give your take? Probably not, so don't forget to keep the discussion going on the Seibertron.com Energon Pub Forums by simply replying to this post!
Got a question for the Twincast? We take all of them, we just don't take them all seriously! Leave a question in the Ask the Twincast thread and, if it makes the cut, it may get read and answered on the show.
Hi! Remember us? We left the interviews with comics creators lagging for a while, as life decided to settle itself, 2014 swept in and we're now ready for Combiner Wars hitting shelves in both paper, plastic and pixel format. But alongside that, we've also seen the return of one of IDW's original Transformers characters, Drift, in the hands of its originator - Shane McCarthy. Read on below for a spotlight on the Australian author of AHM!
Va'al - Shane, it is a pleasure to talk to you for a bit, thank you for agreeing to do this! As we've done for the other creators we've interviewed, I'd like to start from the beginning - from your beginning: how did Transformers enter your life, do you remember your first interaction with the franchise?
Shane McCarthy - I absolutely do. Like most kids I was crazy about cartoons and around that time I was all about He-Man. Saturday morning was where it was at and I would get up super early to watch them all. One morning, when He-Man had finished, on comes this cartoon I'd never heard of. It opened with Cybertron in flames and I was immediately hooked. After that it was a mad dash to the toy store. The first one I ever bought was the double pack of the cassettes... Frenzy and Laserbeak I think.
Va'al - And was that also a gateway moment into collecting the toys, or were you able to keep the plastic addiction at bay (or forced to, by external factors)? Did you, or do you still, have the one that got away, or at least a very elusive toy that was really hard to get?
Shane - Well I'd already started my He-Man collection so buying toys was already a habit. What I could afford mind you; my parents would buy me some big things for Christmas (Castle Grayskull) but I had to buy the figures myself. So picking up Transformers was a natural progression.
As for the one that got away. I was crazy about Prime and Soundwave as a kid and got both of those. There's two I never got that I really wanted as a kid. Ravage, because he looked so damn cool and I never saw him again beyond when I had to make that first choice in the store. And Megatron. Although I wouldn't be after Megs these days, the actual toy doesn't look at all that hot to me.
Va'al - Starting to sense a purple pattern here, I must admit. Would you say that Ravage (or any of the other three) still holds a spot in your collector's heart? Did you continue collecting beyond your childhood and teenage years, with new iterations of the same characters?
Shane - I'd say it's really just Ravage these days; I think the concept and the design are really cool. I think I've still got Frenzy around here somewhere, I lost Laserbeak's head though.
I didn't keep collecting, no. My love of the toys spilled over into books and comics. The next time I bought a Transformer was after Beast Wars came out. Like a lot of people I dismissed Beast Wars as some sort of heretical assault on the old classics. When a friend explained how the old cartoons and Beast Wars lined up and then handed me Transmetal Optimus Primal, I was hooked again. That was a seriously cool toy.
Va'al - That often still happens with some fans, good to hear we won you over to the beast side eventually! So as you ventured from screen media and toys into comics, what were your first impressions, what caught your attention in particular?
Shane - You mean comics in general? Conan, haha. My sister bought me one at a flea market to shut me up. It had Gil Kane on art and it was glorious. From there it was into Batman and Superman then down the road the X-Men.
As far as Transformers though I started picking up the magazine format comics, the ones from the UK that Simon Furman was writing. I absolutely loved them. I remember the first story I came in on, I can't remember the issue number though. But basically Prime and Outback were battered and fighting to survive against some sort of ape creatures I think. Classic stuff.
via TFWiki
Va'al - That sounds very much like issue #100, Distant Thunder! As an established comics reader, how long did it take from that point to entering the industry as a creator? How was that process for you?
Shane - That's the one! Man, you're good. Alan Davis on cover art too, wow.
How long did it take? Well the link says that comic came out in 1987. My first publication was Batman for DC Comics in...2005 I think so, 18 years. Yikes.
The process was an interesting one. I never even thought of becoming a writer until I was around twenty odd years old. It had never occurred to me. Once the idea struck (or was actually suggested to me) everything clicked in a way nothing ever had before. After that it was a lot of work, effort and training before I broke in with DC.
Va'al - But you did make it in the end, and you've worked on multiple characters and properties since! What I'm wondering, though, is how the IDW gig started - did they ask you to take over from Furman, or did you pitch material to them?
Shane - I was approached by Chris Ryall to take over from Simon. He'd been doing great stuff but they were wanting to move in a different direction and asked me what I would do if I took over. With the understanding that it was supposed to be a new direction, one they hoped would also appeal to a wider audience, I pitched All Hail Megatron.
Va'al - And Drift was one of the new, original appearances in the series, before he became his own full-on character, correct? We've seen the pitch for him in the recent IDW Complete Drift volume, actually - how did it feel to introduce an entirely new character to the franchise?
Shane - It was fun. I was already having a hell of a lot of fun working on AHM and it was never on my mind to bring in anything new. However when I was working on the book the idea for Drift popped into my head and I thought, why not? I've said it before but the initial pitch was me just firing off a "what if" email to Chris. He liked the idea but said Hasbro would never go for it. Turns out they loved it. Right away they mentioned the possibility of a figure which was brilliant. Apparently some people didn't believe the figure was true when Chris announced it. I still find that hilarious.
Va'al - He was also not the only lasting outcome of the AHM series, as we're still feeling some of the aftermath of those events in the current ongoings and mini-series (such as the beef between Devastator and Spike, which Costa took a step further, and Barber is currently retreading in The Transformers). How does it feel, as the plotter behind it all?
Shane - It's nice to know it's all still going forward. I don't read the books (unless I'm writing for them) but I would hope that some things have been kept and other things have changed. Like any comic book, when a new creative team comes on they need to leave their stamp. It's important everything isn't thrown out but it has to be something new otherwise what's the point?
Va'al - And that, in a way, brings us to the present day, with you returning to Drift after his presence in James Roberts' writing in More Than Meets the Eye. How does it feel to write the book now, compared to any of the three you were working on back then?
Shane - I have to say it was a mix of weird and fun. James' take on Drift was different to mine and I needed to keep that in mind as I did the mini series. I'd read through Drift's "James" appearances and got a feel for who he was there. After that I needed to think about where I wanted to take him and what I wanted to say with the character taking into account what he meant to me when I created him and what he means to me now after he'd gone through so much since AHM.
It kind of felt like seeing a really great friend after they'd been overseas for a while. They're still your good mate but they've got a whole bunch of new hobbies and an accent.
Va'al - Was the inclusion of Ratchet as grumpy but sensible counterpart to him in Empire of Stone something that you built from the MTMTE relationship between the two, then, or entirely your initiative?
Shane - No that was absolutely from MTMTE. I loved the odd couple vibe I was getting from them and knew I needed someone to come calling from the Autobots. It was nice having it be Ratchet, someone who once hated Drift (or was at least seriously annoyed by him). Plus I knew it would make for some fun buddy cop moments.
Va'al - They do have some really good interactions, yes! And what about the other characters showing up, such as Gigatron and super obscure ones like Hellbat and the Micromasters? Are they something you have a connection to, or was it more of an editorial call?
Shane - No those were all my choices. When it comes to finding new, interesting characters that haven't been overused it can get tough so I decided to go to an expert. I went to Twitter and asked a Transformer fan, Sprite, for advice on some underused characters. I knew the kinds of characters I was looking for and she made some great suggestions of who hadn't been used in the IDW universe yet. I had a look through that list and chose the ones I liked the most. Gigatron, Hellbat and Grit all came from that list so, thanks, Sprite.
Va'al - Fans really making an impact, then, on all accounts! Some great artists are also showing up at IDW from the fan base, but you've gone with the established team of Guido Guidi, Stephen Baskerville and JP Bove. How are you finding working with them? What do you feel their art brings to the story?
Shane - They're a fantastic team to work with. It's fantastic to be working with Guido again; I absolutely adore his artwork. After having worked together for a year on AHM it was great to get back into those familiar roles again. And JP, what a champ. Fantastic work and a great guy. I had the pleasure of signing with JP when I was at a UK con, the guy's a riot. Stephen is a new one to me but, like the others, I love what he brought to the book. Everyone is excited to be working together and we're all doing our best to put out a book that we love and hope the readers will love too.
Va'al - It is receiving its fair share of praise so far - but with only one issue left to the series, do you have any other plans in mind for Drift or the Transformers universe in general? Anything we should be looking forward to?
Shane - Not currently no. I'm really glad John [Barber] dropped me a line asking me to do this, it was a blast, but currently this looks like it's it for Transformers. Not to say something won't pop up down the line, IDW is over the moon at how well Drift is being received so you never know.
Va'al - That's a low - though hopeful - tone to be ending this chat upon, however - is there anything you'd like to say to the fans and readers out there before we bid our goodbyes?
Shane - Just a huge thank you. Thank you for reading and thank you for writing in. It's great to know people have enjoyed AHM and Drift.
Va'al - And thank you, Shane, for taking the time to talk to us for this interview - it was great to find out more about your journey as a fan and a creator. Best of luck for future endeavours, and we'll be on the lookout for Drift #4 later this month!
You can find out more about Shane McCarthy's multiple creative lives at his website, SMAcTalk, and on Twitter. IDW Transformers: Drift - Empire of Stone is regularly reviewed on Seibertron.com - join the discussion here!
You can also read Shane's thoughts on Age of Extinction Drift here - and find out more about the latest incarnation of the character in animated series Robots in Disguise here and here.
Comics and geek culture website The Mary Sue was also able to have a chat with IDW writer Mairghread Scott about the upcoming Windblade return with the beginning of Transformers: Combiner Wars - and we've copied a couple of snippets below! Read the full story here, and take a look at some preview art of the Mistress of Flame, a leader of Caminus, by Sarah Stone, too.
TMS: Combiner Wars seems like it might offer more of a chance to examine the Metrotitan Caminus and the culture of his planet, being the only Transformers society (in the IDW continuity) to have developed gender. Or is that the kind of thing that might be left until after the event dust settles?
MS: Combiner Wars is going to be our first real introduction to the planet Caminus (where Windblade is from) and the ‘Bots that live on it. It’s also our first time meeting transformers who are completely unlike the ones from Cybertron. Camiens are proud, devout and desperately in need of help and we see how that affects their dealings with Autobots, Decepticons and Starscream himself.
In fact, we have an exclusive sneak peek at of one of the most important members of Camian society, the Mistress of Flame. The Mistress of Flame is the leader of the only faith on Caminus, The Way of Flame, which worships a female Prime said to be the mother of all Camiens. But fire can be as dangerous as it is helpful and the faith of Caminus burns hotter than any Cybertronian realizes.
[...]
TMS: And finally: Is Windblade combining with anyone in the series? Are we looking at a potential metrotitan combiner (several bots transforming into a single larger bot)?
MS: Now that would be telling. But there will be a brand new combiner in our series. Who it is and how it gets made are things you’ll just have to read to find out.
Following up to the first part of the Unicron.com interview with Transformers Prime, Beast Hunters and Robots in Disguise producer Jeff Kline, we have copied below a second part to the same interview, in which he sheds some light on the tone and setting of the Robots in Disguise series. We've even removed the all-caps, below.
Robots in Disguise is definitely a lighter, more comedic take on the Transformers universe. There’s no ancient war being fought, meaning we can actually take the time to set-up a joke, and not feel guilty about it. Bee is front and center. Pptimus’ status is more mysterious than sorrowful. And there’s a younger, more inexperienced (aka less battle-weary) cast of characters.
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