Transformers Site Articles News on Seibertron.com
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182 total news articles in this section, 10 per page.
Date: Thursday, January 15th 2009 10:48pm CST
Categories: Comic Book News,
Site Articles
Posted by: i_amtrunks |
Credit(s): Richter
Discuss This Topic · Permanent Link
Views: 26,247
The Universe of the Transformers is vast, and populated by many characters. Their universe is a large tapestry, made up of the stories and points of view of countless experiences that serve the larger whole.
These are some of those stories. This is:
It should be noted that while this project has been recognized by IDW Publishing and Hasbro, none of the works presented have been commissioned or solicited by either company. The stories are not official canon, except where noted. These stories are the result of Transformers enthusiasts taking the time out of their busy days to contribute to a universe they love. No one has been paid for the production of these stories.
RECOGNITION
Story by;
Josh “Richter” van Reyk
Art, Colors & Letters by;
Minntu “The Minntu” Hynninen
Date: Tuesday, January 13th 2009 11:06pm CST
Categories: Comic Book News,
Site Articles
Posted by: i_amtrunks |
Credit(s): Richter
Discuss This Topic · Permanent Link
Views: 21,548
The Universe of the Transformers is vast, and populated by many characters. Their universe is a large tapestry, made up of the stories and points of view of countless experiences that serve the larger whole.
These are some of those stories. This is:
It should be noted that while this project has been recognized by IDW Publishing and Hasbro, none of the works presented have been commissioned or solicited by either company. The stories are not official canon, except where noted. These stories are the result of Transformers enthusiasts taking the time out of their busy days to contribute to a universe they love. No one has been paid for the production of these stories.
THE GHOSTLY MACHINE
Story by;
Martin “Tronprogram” Fisher
Art by;
Alex “x2241085” Santos
Colors by;
Joan “Silverene” Miles
Letters by;
Carlos “Synapse” Oliveros
Date: Monday, January 12th 2009 4:02pm CST
Categories: Comic Book News,
Site Articles
Posted by: i_amtrunks |
Credit(s): Transformers Mosaic
Discuss This Topic · Permanent Link
Views: 27,329
The Universe of the Transformers is vast, and populated by many characters. Their universe is a large tapestry, made up of the stories and points of view of countless experiences that serve the larger whole.
These are some of those stories. This is:
It should be noted that while this project has been recognized by IDW Publishing and Hasbro, none of the works presented have been commissioned or solicited by either company. The stories are not official canon, except where noted. These stories are the result of Transformers enthusiasts taking the time out of their busy days to contribute to a universe they love. No one has been paid for the production of these stories.
Shogun
Story, Art, Colours & Letters by;
Ivan Mass
Date: Sunday, January 11th 2009 9:44am CST
Categories: Site News,
Toy News,
Reviews,
Site Articles
Posted by: Skowl |
Credit(s): Jeep?
Discuss This Topic · Permanent Link
Views: 71,012
The year 2009 marks the 25th anniversary of the Transformers franchise. To celebrate this incredible milestone, Seibertron.com will look back at a quarter-century of great Transformers toys, bringing back into the limelight some brilliant figures that have fallen through the cracks over the years. Once a week, a fan (be it a member of the staff or a user on the site) will have the opportunity to write about one of their favourite "hidden gems" of the Transformers Universe, and have their review posted on the site's front page.
We hope this feature will be a great success, and that many of you will be encouraged to look back at the last 25 years of Transformers and perhaps take a worthwhile second-look at some real unsung classics of the Transformers universe.
___________________________________________________________________
Buried Treasure - Snapdragon (Generation 1 series - 1987)
by
Jeep?
Ah, good old
Snapdragon. Who could forget that loveably stinking filth-ridden Horrorcon? Well, if you were one of the unfortunates without the toy in your collection, you’d be forgiven for missing his hi-then-bye appearances in “The Rebirth” and the Marvel Comics series, since this is a character whose real legacy lies in moulded plastic, screws and washers. Now, since I didn’t have the toy growing up (being raised in the time of G2 and the European ‘Classic Series’ re-releases, coupled with the fecker being three years older than I am), I can’t speak for precisely how awesome he was considered ‘way back when’, - though the TV advert for the Horrorcons does feature a suitably enthused kiddo revelling in owning the thing. No, I’ve owned the fellow for a grand total of around six or seven months, and even in this day and age of high-tech ball joints and flashing lights, he blew me away.
For those who don’t know, the Horrorcons were a triple-changing subgroup (well, duo) of the Headmasters series – which meant that in addition to the Headmaster gimmick of a removable head which transformed into an additional robot, the Horrorcons (
Snappy and his buddy
Apeface) also featured two modes, one being a fighter jet and the other an animal - in Snappy’s case, appropriately, a dinosaur. Another interesting twist is that the Headmaster partner forms both the robot-mode and animal-mode heads, which I suppose could be considered two triple-changers in one box? Eh? Ah, worth a try.
It’s probably best to look at the jet mode first, as it’s the mode he’s packaged in whilst in the box, and the mode I received mine shipped in when I got it second-hand. As you can see here:
He’s got quite a long nose for a jet, with an opening cockpit to place his Headmaster partner – the oddly named
Krunk – into. His twin guns fit under the wings, whilst two detachable fins adorn the top side. As jets go, it’s quite interesting, with a strangely sleek design more reminiscent of a star-ship than a fighter jet. Either way it’s a bundle of awesome.
Next mode is the dinosaur mode (labelled as a lizard, but damn it, you know that’s a T-Rex, and you knew it back then too!). It’s a relatively simple transformation, most of which involves flipping the jet round and spinning the turbines round to form the legs. Here’s the first instance of
Krunk being used a Headmaster, when he fits into a socket in the flip-out neck used for the dinosaur. Showing an angry gob full of teeth, appropriately enough coloured a nice suggestive red, the angry lizard is further augmented with the addition of the two guns which can now be mounted on his back (or in his stubby little dino hands if you really want). You can see the blighter here:
Worth noting here is the articulation in his tail – while not as articulated as some later figures, it’s surprising for a toy of this era to have detail like this, especially when the tail serves a whole other purpose as a jet nose – but there are two points of articulation there, allowing a few poses to be worked out, and helping with any balance issues the toy might have.
However, the real joy of
Snapdragon's toy is his robot mode. Humorously, the robot seems a complete reversal of the dinosaur, with the legs of one forming the arms of the other, and vice-versa. In fact, the robot mode head even plugs into what we could assume to be the dinosaur’s, well, poop hole. Again armed with his twin balance-destroying gyro guns, the figure is remarkably articulated for a toy of its time, as you can see here:
Of course, the main gimmick of the Headmasters line is revealed behind the flip-down panel on his chest, revealing three of his tech spec stats – speed, strength and intelligence. Without Krunk, all of these seemingly read as zero, but plugging in the Headmaster partner gives our little Snappy a definite boost to Strength 10, Speed 9 and Intelligence 9. Head on! The Headmaster gimmick is interchangeable throughout the entire line, with each Headmaster partner giving different stat boosts to whatever robot they’re attached to. Try it out if you have any of them.
As for
Krunk himself, there isn’t a lot to say but it’s worth saying it, I suppose. His small size and the necessity for several uses means he’s not much more than functional, though he is able to move his arms up and down, either for a hug or a zombie shuffle – or, in a pinch, the monster mash. The nature of his dual head modes means that as a robot head, he’s got the yellowest cheeks you’ll ever see, and as a dinosaur head, there’s a disturbing purple mouth-plate on top of his noggin, but overlooking these is easy enough in light of everything.
Overall, the toy holds up well even today, although it is prone to a bit of yellowing due to the huge areas of white adorning it. Thankfully, with the black and dark purple parts offering a good contrast, this isn’t enough to ruin the figure. A highly recommended figure, and a buried treasure well worth digging up – or searching for.
Links:
Snapdragon gallery
Headmaster Krunk gallery
...Or find your own buried treasures by visiting all the toy galleries
here!
** If you would like to submit a review for our Buried Treasure feature, please send a private message to
Skowl on the Seibertron.com forums!
Previous Buried Treasure Reviews:
Cannonball by Skowl (
Link)
Date: Sunday, January 11th 2009 2:19am CST
Categories: Site Articles,
People News,
Interviews,
Transtopia
Posted by: Stormrider |
Credit(s): Stormrider
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Views: 130,136
It might be cold outside but the activity at Transtopia has been hot. This edition features the creative work from December. Check out the latest customs, artwork, painting guide, and contest. We also have exciting news in the wings - two new sections will roll out next month:
Fan Fiction &
Artist Interviews. Make sure to read about the details below so you can part take in the action and possibly get featured. And in March, get your cameras ready for another creative section. Remember, to visit
Transtopia periodically for the latest work.
-Stormrider
How to Showcase Your Work
The newsletter is your opportunity to show off your work and talent. We rely on your articles, artwork, and customs to make it interesting. Entries will be reviewed on a monthly basis. You can submit your work here:
Repaints,
Kitbashes,
Scratchbuilds
Fan Art,
Fan Fiction,
Guides
Make a Difference, Join the Newsletter Team!
Want to contribute to the Seibertron community? Why not join the newsletter team? We need a few more volunteers for our crew. Duties require a few hours each month, consistently. Roles include layout & design, overseeing sections, and formatting. If you are interested send me a PM:
Stormrider.
Newsletter Credits:
Newsletter Editor - Stormrider
Guides Editor - Dead Metal
Interviewer & Columnist - Burn
Fan Fiction Editor - Sledge
Customs Formatter - Mattyc1007
(Click on the links to see more)
Prowl by Sentinal Supreme
alt
Movie Starscream by Omega666
alt
Thredbolt by Sentinal Supreme
alt
Classics Armada Wheeljack by Grimlockprime108
TF Legends Wasp by Grimlockprime108
Movie Accurate Ratchet by Sabsabby85
Movie Beachcomber by Leobreaker1977
Movie Trailbreaker by Leobreaker1977
Movie Sunstorm by Downshift7
Longarm by Flix
Stockade by Flix
Movie Megatron by Mykltron
Movie Breakdown by Sentinal Prime
Breach & Tick by Sentinal Prime
(Click on the links to see more)
Sliver & Headmaster Matey by Technically Weird
Chuck Close is a famous and very talented painter from Monroe, Washington, United States of America. He was part of the Photorealism art-movement from the US in the 1960's in which the artists based their paintings on photographs. He was one of the greatest of this art-style; but after he was paralyzed from the neck down he really rose to fame. He managed to still paint but being unable to move his arms properly he created a completely new technique of painting to achieve photorealism. He achieved this by painting in grids similar to pixels so when looked at from afar it is indistinguishable from a real photograph.
He paints to this day in this art-style.
As the first Transtopia "How to .." painting guide fellow Transtopian, The Freezer, shows us how you can paint your favorite Transformer in the style of Chuck Close.
Painting Guide (Chuck Close Style)
I had a spare day at college a while back and did this.
1. Find a picture of your desired Transformer and then grid it.
2. Get a canvas or a peice of paper masking taped to some board.
3. Grid said paper or canvas. There MUST be the same amount of squares as on the original gridded picture.
4. Paint the squares in block colour using a mix of the colours in the square on the original picture. For example- original pic- red and black your painting- very dark red.
The end result should be like a pixelated image.
5. Now we add the detail, this is done by painting small shapes in the coloured squares to look like the corresponding square on the original pic. Close up its jibberish but back away and you should see it.
6. Fill in the back ground squares with more funny shapes.
7. Stand back and appriciate your work.
High resolution.
Do you want to contribute to the Transtopian guides? Then send us an e-mail:
Transtopia.Guide@gmx.de You can find the guidelines by clicking
here.
Featured Artwork
Cyber-Kun is this month's featured artist. Cyber-Kun gives us his rendition of Animated Jhiaxus. It is interesting to see how the color scheme, vehicle mode, and transformation were carefully considered during the execution of this piece. You can post your comments about this featured artwork
here.
High Resolution
Honorable mentions goes to Zero-Kaiser for his
Scourge/Nemesis Prime. To all of you modest artists out there, make sure to submit your artwork for the next newsletter
here by January 31st. Submissions are open for all Transformers artwork (new & old pieces).
Fan Fiction
Okay Transformers Mythos Writers here's your chance to be featured in the next newsletter! Starting in February, the Transtopia Newsletter will feature a Fan Fiction story written by one of you. Seibertron member, Sledge, will be directing this new ongoing column and select one story each month.
Entries will be reviewed monthly. Make sure to conform to the guidelines below. Submissions are open for new and old stories. There is no limit to the number of stories that you can submit, but please do not resubmit the same story twice. Post your entries
here.
Guidelines:
1) 10,000 word limit. Rough guideline to start with, I won't be automatically disqualifying anything that comes in over.
2) Decent spelling, grammar and punctuation. People need to at least run a spell-check over the thing before submitting it. This isn't me being a grammar Nazi, it's just difficult to get absorbed in a story if you're constantly being jolted out of it by bad spelling.
3) Be specific as to where/when the story is set. So what continuity is it in (G1 comic, G1 cartoon, Armada comic, etc) and where is it set? Before the events of the show or comic, after, during? If during, where does it fit?
4) Fan characters are fine, but I'd prefer people avoid making them those annoying "I am more powerful than any other Transformer!!!" types. Also, consider if there's an under-used existing TF who'd fit the needs of the story just as well as someone new. Existing characters are almost always more interesting to everyone else.
-Sledge
Artist Interiews with Burn
G'day folks, Stormrider's asked me to throw a blurb together to introduce myself and to also introduce another new part to the monthly Transtopia Newsletter.
My name, obviously, is Burn, and I've been handed the duties of having a chat with one (or more, depending on interest and time) of our many artists that frequent Seibertron.com and Transtopia.
The aim of the monthly chat is to get to know a little more about our creative geniuses, more than just their finished pieces of art. I'm sure many of you have looked at a kitbash or a repaint, or a photoshop piece or even read a fanfic and wondered who the person is behind that.
So that's where this little feature intends to come in. We'll get to know the people behind the art.
Some of you may be wondering, "Why you Burn?" Well Stormrider and First Gen were busy doing other stuff, plus I have done my fair share of creating things.
Some of you may remember a few of my characters from Seibertron.com's Heavy Metal War game. I'm the guy responsible for creating such characters as Gore, CATalyst, Slice, Dice, Dead Reckoning, Cannon Fodder Lemming, and the midget clone every body loved to hate, Mini-Maximus Prime, together they were better known as "The Freaks". I've written a number of back stories for some of these characters, and kitbashed nearly all of them (along with a number of other characters, including Autobots, plus a couple of characters created by Whisper and War Hammer).
So where did it all begin for me? Looking back it really began a bit over two decades ago around the age of 10. Al Gore had yet to really invent the internet, porn was still predominantly distributed on VHS, and Optimus Prime was a truck and Megatron was a gun.
I had never even heard of the term "kitbashing" and my skills up to that point in my life had been basically assembling model aeroplanes, which also often resulted in my fingers being glued together more than the planes themselves.
I also, it seems, had a fascination with the colour "black".
I'd take junker toys, including some busted TF's, and just cobble parts together. If anything these "creations" were the original "Freaks", because that's what they were, freaky looking things, I was a young Dr Frankenstein to plastic toys.
Who liked to paint things black?
I should also point out that at that age too, kids really shouldn't play with sharp knives.
High Resolution
Over the years though I drifted away from Transformers, blame High School. It was only a few years ago that I got back into TF's and in my quest to acquire many missing figures for my collection, I gathered up a nice pile of junker TF's.
This was the early days for kitbashing I might add, Transtopia didn't exist, and many of the major TF forums dedicated very little space to kitbashing. But I had all these junkers and influenced by the few artists that were around, I decided to try my hand.
In no way do I consider myself to be a great kitbasher, (and even less of a writer) but I do have a number of figures I am proud of, and then there are those I just don't even want to talk about!
If I was to say the one thing that is important to me when it comes to kitbashing and even writing, it's to create an original character. Canon characters just aren't my thing, I like creating a character from scratch, defining its personality, and making that personality match the figure.
I also rarely do a straight repaint. I always feel the need to modify a figure in some way to set it apart from the original mould. Whether it's something minor like a weapon change to something extensive like articulating a brick, anything to make it just that little bit different and unique.
So that's me, I'm sure Stormrider was hoping for some shorter, but I had to do SOMETHING while Dexter downloaded!
So this is where I turn it over to you guys, if you've showcased any form of artistic piece here on Seibertron.com recently, be it a repaint, a kitbash, a piece of fanfic, a photoshopped pic, or anything else that you've posted, and you're interested in being interviewed just drop me a pm and we'll get the ball rolling: ucp.php?i=pm&mode=compose&u=4677
-Burn
Banner Contest:
Hey all you savvy digital artist. Do you enjoy whipping up signatures and showing them off on the Internet? Well, here's your chance to put your skills to the test. Create a banner for the Transtopia Newsletter and become the ultimate show off.
Additional banners are needed for the newsletter. Create one or several banners and enter for your chance at fame and glory. The deadline is January 31st. There is no limit to the number of entries you may submit. The winner(s) will have their banners proudly displayed in the newsletters and receive credits and bragging rights.
Create one or all four: (Banner titles)
"Artist Interview"
"Featured Artwork"
"Fan Fiction"
"Photo Blitz"
Requirements:
1. The banner should be 500 pixels wide x 165 pixels high.
2. You can only use pictures or artwork that you have received permission for. You are welcome to use the images from the Seibertron galleries for this contest.
3. Each banner should have the title in the bottom center.
4. Submit your entries in jpeg format.
Example:
Submit your entries
here.
Date: Thursday, January 8th 2009 9:19pm CST
Categories: Comic Book News,
Site Articles
Posted by: i_amtrunks |
Credit(s): Richter
Discuss This Topic · Permanent Link
Views: 21,020
The Universe of the Transformers is vast, and populated by many characters. Their universe is a large tapestry, made up of the stories and points of view of countless experiences that serve the larger whole.
These are some of those stories. This is:
It should be noted that while this project has been recognized by IDW Publishing and Hasbro, none of the works presented have been commissioned or solicited by either company. The stories are not official canon, except where noted. These stories are the result of Transformers enthusiasts taking the time out of their busy days to contribute to a universe they love. No one has been paid for the production of these stories.
YOU
Story, Art, Colors & Letters by;
Seb
Date: Wednesday, January 7th 2009 12:50pm CST
Categories: Comic Book News,
Site Articles,
People News,
Interviews
Posted by: First Gen |
Credit(s): Josh Van Reyk & Shaun Knowler
Discuss This Topic · Permanent Link
Views: 93,105
Hello Seibertronians. First Gen here with a Seibertron.com exclusive interview with Josh Van Reyk (aka Richter) and Shaun Knowler (aka Whiterabbit), the Transformers Mosaic team and authors of the upcoming Spotlight: JAZZ comic book. In the following interview, we get a good look into the creation and forces behind the Transformers Mosaic continuum and an exclusive first look at something good.
Enjoy!
__________________________________________________________________
First Gen: Josh and Shaun, or should I say Richter and Whiterabbit, first and foremost I'd like to thank you two for taking time out to talk to Seibertron.com.
Josh Van Reyk:
No Sweat. Seibertron and its members have always been really supportive of the project.
Shaun Knowler:
Indeed, something we've always appreciated. Seibertron's always been a main TF destination online for me as well. I think Hasbro should tip you guys for how much money your photo galleries have convinced me to spend...
FG: Thank you. Seibertron works diligently to get the fans the best images of TF figures so you can see them up close and personal before you purchase them.
Okay, here's the first couple of questions we have for you gents: What was your vision of Transformers Mosaic when if first began? Was it started to find new budding artists and writers from the TF Fandom?
JVR:
Honestly, it was just a way for me to kill some time at work...
SK:
Government jobs: nice work if you can get it, eh? Actually, we started the project as a small collaboration amongst a handful of users on the IDW boards, inspired by some strips in a similar format done over at the Allspark. We never really intended to have more than 5-6 pieces put out, but before we knew it the whole thing exploded.
So no, it wasn't originally planned to be some sort of Transformers Idol (unlike the Cover Contest we did for IDW), but we're very proud of the people who've found pro work through the showcasing and networking that TFM provides, and even prouder of the community and friendships forged.
JVR:
Yeah, I still can't believe what it (the project) has achieved.
FG: Amazing isn't the word for what Mosaics has become. I wonder if HASBRO and IDW ever look at them as say "Hmm, let's make that one official."
Moving on, seeing that TF Mosaic has literally taken a life of its own, where do you see or would you like to see the Mosaics go from here? Would you like to spread them into larger projects, such as 5 page spreads or types of continuation series?
JVR:
Both the "End of the Beginning" and Animated 'specials' worked really well, so we'll probably look at doing something similar this year. Though, something more 'connected' could be interesting, too.
SK:
I've always felt avoiding anything too serial keeps the project a bit more accessible. That said, being over 300 pieces into it, we may take some closer looks at trying different things to keep it fresh. As far as the future goes, we might venture into some more logistical or administrative experiments. There could come a time when we could use some more hands on deck to look after things. Time will tell...
FG: One thing I've always thought was most interesting about the Mosaic line is the different stories and plots it offers. One day we'll learn the troubles of Omega Supreme and the next we see the mischief a young Sunstreaker and Sideswipe get into. And the art has just been beyond amazing with some familiar names that have been popping up.
What's it like seeing art from both well known TF artists and average fans coming in? When Mosaics began, did you ever think you'd get well known artists to submit work?
JVR:
That's what I think is the appeal, the diversity, you never know what you'll get. Mmmm, chocolates 
I'll still get blown away by some of the art that I see coming through, seriously, there's some DAMN talented peeps in the TF community.
As far as well-known artists go, back before we had even started posting Mosaics online, Robby Musso was involved. Actually, I think his first piece "Feeling Yellow" was what really got us 'noticed.' We still have a few more well-known guys working on some pieces in their spare time, and we REALLY appreciate it.
SK:
I think one of the fun things about TFM is the fact that you might also see some really obscure bots show up now and then. Heh, some have been so obscure that I've pondered including some TF Wiki links!
And yeah, we've been very blessed by the interest in TFM from some of the pro guys. Above all, we are fans, so getting contributions from the likes of Robby, Simon Furman (and the art crew he mustered up for his piece), Josh Perez, Josh Burcham and even Andy Wildman's War Journal cover have been special thrills to say the least! Because believe me, we understand what it means for these guys to donate time they don't have to a just-for-fun project. And I haven't even mentioned the stuff waiting in the wings yet...
FG: To think there's still so much waiting to be released yet. It seems that Mosaic looks to be a way for fans to communicate how they see the TF Universe and where they think it should go, was that the original intention of the Mosaic or did it evolve into that?
JVR:
It's a bit of both, really. When we first approached people about writing scripts, we never really gave any specifications. It was more like: "Here's a page, give us your story" sort of thing. I guess we just never imagined there were so many stories.
SK:
Yeah, we were more than a bit naive I guess-- about a number of things! The project was certainly founded on a common desire to present a voice and a point of view for the various characters that brought us together in the first place. The result really does make a statement about what it is about this franchise that has caught, and kept, the interest of so many over the years.
FG: 25 Years into this amazing storyline and as it grows, so does the Mosaic. Not too long ago we got the news that you two would be doing a dynamic on one of the Transformers Universe's most celebrated characters: Jazz.
Art by EJ Su & Priscilla Tramontano
Firstly, congratulations to you two on the upcoming work and secondly, can you tell Seibertron.com how this came to pass?
JVR:
Thanks very much. Jazz is a favourite of both of ours, plus a lot of other people, so it's amazing to make our official debut with such an iconic character.
As for the story, it was an idea that I had been kicking around for a while, and it wasn't really until All Hail Megatron #1 came out, that I thought it could really work. I threw the idea at Shaun, he liked it, and we worked up a pitch together.
SK:
I named my bike after Jazz when I was a kid! TMI? Moving on... IDW was pleased with the pitch, and to push the idea home a little, Andrew Griffith (who's providing the new covers for the upcoming City of Fear reprint series, and pitching in on art duties for the Defiance ROTF prequel) did a fully finished cover mock-up for us to go with it! Denton liked it so much that it's going to be used for the actual release too. And since it hasn't been revealed anywhere yet, we're gonna use this opportunity to unveil it for you folks right now!
Seibertron.com exclusive first look!
Art by Andrew Griffith
FG: This cover just rings of true G1 essence. Given the nature of the two covers, this leads me to my next question:
What is the general time setting for Spotlight Jazz, are we looking at something in pre history, or something more recent, say set between the Revelation and All Hail Megatron story arcs?
JVR:
The bulk of this story is set near the beginning of the war, but there are parts set during All Hail Megatron.
SK:
Yup, lots of dawn-of-the-war goodness! Oh, and folks who dig fresh Cybertronian designs are in for a treat.
As far as its connection to the overall continuity, I'd like to think we hit a great balance between providing backdrop to current events and keeping it very self contained as well. Anyone who's missed out on AHM could pick this up and not skip a beat.
FG: How did the guys go from condensing so much work into a single page, to having 30+ pages in which to tell their story?
JVR:
It was kinda hard, for me anyway. With Mosaic, you only really get to tell one 'event,' where with a full comic, there are numerous ones, so it was a bit tricky knowing the right amount of pages to allocate to each plot-point.
SK:
Heh, there were times I felt like begging Denton for a couple extra pages, just to give EJ some room to stretch out and have a blast with some of the action sequences! But all in all, we're both pretty happy with how it turned out. The showdown should be a slobber-knocker, and I know E.J.'s excited to sink his teeth into it!
I'd also like to mention how unbelievably blessed we are to have E.J. and Priscilla onboard! We're just as excited (if not more) as everyone else out there to see what they come up with!
JVR:
Agreed. When we first pitched this, EJ was at the top of my list. And it's great to share a debut with Priscilla (as far as interiors go).
FG: So the tale of the tape is as follows:
Transformers Spotlight: Jazz
Josh van Reyk & Shaun Knowler (Writers) • E.J. Su (Art) • Su, Andrew Griffith (Covers) • Priscilla Tramontano (Colors)
Stranded, outgunned and outnumbered, AUTOBOT special operative JAZZ will need every bit of his training if he is going to make it out of this one alive! As things go from bad to utterly hopeless, what chance do JAZZ and his (unwilling) compatriot have, when they’re being tracked by the DECEPTICONS’ most ruthless warriors – THE PREDACONS?
*2 regular covers will be shipped in a 1-to-1 ratio.
*Retailers: See your order form for a special incentive
FC • 32 pages • $3.99
Information taken directly from the Transformers Mosaic Deviant Art page that you can find
here.
FG: Anything else you gents would like to add or say to the fandom?
JVR:
Just that, if you already like Jazz (and come on, who doesn't?), you should really enjoy this issue. Even if you don't like Jazz, you should still enjoy the issue, especially considering Jazz's companion, who has a pretty decent online following, too...
SK:
Yes, a fairly flashy fellow-- who hasn't had much characterization since the mid '80s! And let's not forget the Predacons... Our protagonists sure won't anytime soon!
JVR:
Thanks to everyone for their support, and to everyone who I've had the pleasure of working with on Mosaic.
SK:
I'd like to give a huge shout-out to all the supportive peeps and great friends I've made at the Transformers: Mosaic community, the IDW Forums and Seibertron.com! Hope to see you all at Botcon!
Josh and Shaun, or Richter and Whiterabbit, thank you again for taking time out to share this info with the Seibertron.com family. We really appreciate this and hope Spotlight: Jazz is just the first of a long run for you guys.
Seibertron.com would also like to extend a special thank you to IDW Publishing for allowing us to conduct this interview and to Transformers Editor Denton J. Tipton, for making this exclusive first look possible. You can view all Transformers series and other products available from IDW Publishing by clicking
here, and Mr. Tipton's personal blog
From the Tip, which features the latest updates in the IDW Transformersverse, by clicking
here.
Oh and Seibertronians, Josh and Shaun are both members here. So, maybe, if you have another question you'd like to ask, post it by clicking
View User Comments above and they may answer.
Date: Tuesday, January 6th 2009 9:45pm CST
Categories: Comic Book News,
Site Articles
Posted by: i_amtrunks |
Credit(s): Richter
Discuss This Topic · Permanent Link
Views: 33,933
The Universe of the Transformers is vast, and populated by many characters. Their universe is a large tapestry, made up of the stories and points of view of countless experiences that serve the larger whole.
These are some of those stories. This is:
It should be noted that while this project has been recognized by IDW Publishing and Hasbro, none of the works presented have been commissioned or solicited by either company. The stories are not official canon, except where noted. These stories are the result of Transformers enthusiasts taking the time out of their busy days to contribute to a universe they love. No one has been paid for the production of these stories.
IMPOSSIBLE
Story, Art, Colors & Letters by;
John Wood
Date: Monday, January 5th 2009 9:35pm CST
Categories: Site News,
Toy News,
Reviews,
Site Articles
Posted by: Skowl |
Credit(s): Skowl
Discuss This Topic · Permanent Link
Views: 99,512
The year 2009 marks the 25th anniversary of the Transformers franchise. To celebrate this incredible milestone, Seibertron.com will look back at a quarter-century of great Transformers toys, bringing back into the limelight some brilliant figures that have fallen through the cracks over the years.
Once a week, a fan (be it a member of the staff or a user on the site) will have the opportunity to write about one of their favourite "hidden gems" of the Transformers Universe, and have their review posted on the site's front page.
We hope this feature will be a great success, and that many of you will be encouraged to look back at the last 25 years of Transformers and perhaps take a worthwhile second-look at some real unsung classics of the Transformers universe.
___________________________________________________________________
Buried Treasure - Cannonball (Cybertron series - 2006)
By
Skowl
Avast ye Transformer fans! For the inaugural "Buried Treasure" Review, I decided to pick a figure that embodies the very notion of "buried treasure." Pirates have not been all that common in the franchise, and for years only the
Beast Wars II Seacons could lay claim to that title. But all that changed during the amazing "Transformers Cybertron" line, when we were given a unique repaint of popular Autobot character.
The
Red Alert mold had been released in the first wave of Deluxe figures and, from my memory, had been a decent hit with the fans. The mold was a vast improvement over the
Armada Red Alert but still retained many of the character's traits. From the obvious "medic" element, to the sympathetic look on the head sculpt, to all the first aid tools and add-ons - it was obvious that the new Cybertron Red Alert mold was all-Autobot. Which is why many fans were so surprised to see the figure repainted later down the line... as a Decepticon!
Around the same time that the Autobot Red Alert got a
massive upgrade, the deluxe-class Decepticon
Cannonball was released. Perhaps the character, whose bio reveals him to be a looter of sorts, salvaged the old Red Alert toy and saw it as a good enough mold to use for himself!
It's difficult to write about any figure from the Cybertron line without mentionning the brilliant packaging. The series has come and gone, but it still had the most eye-catching packaging of any Transformers toy line I've ever seen. From the faction-shaped card backing to the brilliant character art, everything about the packaging was clean, sharp and just great to look at. With nice, dark colours and cool silver highlights,
Cannonball blends in beautifully with the packaging, making him a great piece for any MOC/MIB collector.
But the real fun starts when you get this little buccaneer out of the packaging. It's amazing what a little paint can do, isn't it? Looking at
Cannonball, it's difficult to tell he was once an Autobot ambulance (type thing). The dark colours give him a very menacing look, ressembling some sort of hearse, and the whole thing is beautifully decorated with sharp silver highlights, including silver trim and mag wheels, and wicked skull decals that really add alot of personality to the figure (as if a Transforming pirate wasn't cool enough already).
The old "Cyber Key" gimmick works just as well with
Cannonball as it did with Red Alert. Just stick it in the slot at the rear end of the car and watch as some cannons flip out, ready to blow any landlubber to pieces (should I stop with the pirate jokes? They're just so easy to write!). Not an amazing feature, but still added value, especially since the key gimmick really doesn't get in the way of the toy's functionality.
His transformation, like Red Alert's, is unique and shows alot of creativity in the engineering. Cannonball's body is basically made from the middle of the car, while the front and back ends come together to form the legs.
Yes,
Cannonball's vehicle mode is wicked, but it's his robot mode that really makes him shine. I doubt many people thought "pirate" when they first laid eyes on Cybertron Red Alert, but it works so well in robot mode you would think that's what the designers were aiming for all along. Red Alert's "gun-hand" and add-ons just scream pirate-y hook hanks and the black "eye-patch" over the left side of his visor is a real nice touch. The colours work really well in this mode, with the nice silver detailing continuing over his chest, shoulders and legs and the clear purple windows of his vehicle look great in the proper lighting. And don't forget how cool those blue skeleton decals look in robot mode - two on his shoulders and the big skull on his back. Sweet.
He is fairly poseable in robot mode, but lacks alot of movement in his legs. It's ok though, he more than makes up for it by having cool, interchangeable pirate weapons (handy for shooting blaggards in the face), a great colour scheme with lots of unique detail and an awesome bio. Heck, he doesn't need to be super-poseable, he looks great just standing there!
Cannonball is a brilliant figure and one of the best, most original repaints in the history of the franchise. His unique personality makes him a great addition to any collection, and a must have for pirate fans... if you can ignore the fact that this pirate transforms into a
car of all things...
So set sail, collectors! This is one piece of Transformers treasure that should definately
not stay buried!
___________________________________________________________________
You can visit the complete Cannonball gallery on Seibertron.com
by clicking here, and find your own buried treasures by visiting all the galleries
here!
If you would like to submit a review of an obscure or rare Transformer figure for our "Buried Treasure" feature, please contact me (Skowl) via private message!
Date: Sunday, January 4th 2009 10:54pm CST
Categories: Comic Book News,
Site Articles
Posted by: i_amtrunks |
Credit(s): Richter
Discuss This Topic · Permanent Link
Views: 30,773
The Universe of the Transformers is vast, and populated by many characters. Their universe is a large tapestry, made up of the stories and points of view of countless experiences that serve the larger whole.
These are some of those stories. This is:
It should be noted that while this project has been recognized by IDW Publishing and Hasbro, none of the works presented have been commissioned or solicited by either company. The stories are not official canon, except where noted. These stories are the result of Transformers enthusiasts taking the time out of their busy days to contribute to a universe they love. No one has been paid for the production of these stories.
MAXIMUM SECURITY
Story, Art, Colors & Letters by;
Ivan “Decep” Mass
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