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The Transformers Team over on the Hasbro Pulse YouTube channel decided to have a little fun between BMac, Evan and Mark and do a sort of sports style "toy draft" picking their favorite figures of 2023 without duplicating picks for their "teams". They're picks were broken down by class as well as a wild card pick in no specific order. While mostly just something done for fun it did include quite a bit of banter between the three that has given us some insight into what we might find in the future as well as insight into the design process of figures they chose.
- It doesn't sound like they're working on a blue G2 Grimlock... yet.
- There was a brief, not by name mention of Dino King when talking about Core Scarr
- They actually called Nemesis "dommy mommy"... (Link is at least visually safe for work.)
- They said they have way more female characters than most people know about. Not sure if that meant to pick from or in the works.
- Apparently Takara gave the go ahead for SS86 Rumble and Frenzy to get their cartoon colors matched to their names (RiBFiR) after Siege went the other way (seemingly at Takara's request).
- Mark actually said Ultra Magnus has been under represented leading to the SS86 figure.
- Mark used some of Aaron Archer's original concept art when designing Commander Class Armada Optimus Prime.
- Mark was also the one that got Buzzworthy Tow-Line made.
- They joke about only making 4 SS86 Dinobots. They must hear that alot.
- Lots of gushing over Retro reissue pink Hot Rod and praise for that line in general.
- Mark actually went to a dump and waste management site for inspiration with Trashmaster (who was named by their copy editor).
- Tease more Insecticon repaints (but definitely no more Dinobots).
It's a little telling that while they praised the Studio Series line, most of their picks came from Legacy. Was there anything big that was missed? Let us know in the Seibertron Energon Pub forum!
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New Comics New comic books are available, straight from our distributors Diamond and Lunar. We regularly stock at least 40 different titles including Void Rivals, Transformers, GI Joe, Star Wars, My Little Pony, Spawn, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Star Trek, Sonic the Hedgehog, Vampirella, X-Men, Spider-Man, Hulk, Daredevil and many others. If we don't carry a title that you would like to buy from us, please let us know.
Back Issues Looking to complete your collection? We've been adding a lot of older Transformers comics to our inventory and usually have many Marvel Transformers comics. In addition, we have been going through a backlog of 1980s and 1990s Marvel and DC comics such as Classic X-Men, New Mutants and more. You never know what you will find!
If comics aren't your thing, we also have a variety of new and old Transformers toys available. Check out some of the highlights below! Prices and quantity levels subject to change and may vary from the following information.
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Visit the Seibertron Store on eBay to view new items that we've recently added. We've always got something of interest available!
Special Shipping Promos:
$5.00 flat rate shipping if you order 2 or more comics!*
$10.00 flat rate shipping if you order 3 or more toys!* * Domestic orders only. Some exclusions apply.
New Comics New comic books are available, straight from our distributors Diamond and Lunar. We regularly stock at least 40 different titles including Void Rivals, Transformers, GI Joe, Star Wars, My Little Pony, Spawn, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Star Trek, Sonic the Hedgehog, Vampirella, X-Men, Spider-Man, Hulk, Daredevil and many others. If we don't carry a title that you would like to buy from us, please let us know.
Back Issues Looking to complete your collection? We've been adding a lot of older Transformers comics to our inventory and usually have many Marvel Transformers comics. In addition, we have been going through a backlog of 1980s and 1990s Marvel and DC comics such as Classic X-Men, New Mutants and more. You never know what you will find!
If comics aren't your thing, we also have a variety of new and old Transformers toys available. Check out some of the highlights below! Prices and quantity levels subject to change and may vary from the following information.
Orders ship super fast; usually within 1 business day. All items are well packaged to ensure that your item arrives safely to you. Check out Seibertron's 22,450+ 100% positive feedback score to see what people are saying about their experiences with us.
Visit the Seibertron Store on eBay to view new items that we've recently added. We've always got something of interest available!
Special Shipping Promos:
$4.99 flat rate shipping if you order 2 or more comics!*
$9.99 flat rate shipping if you order 3 or more toys!* * Domestic orders only.
New Comics New comic books are available, straight from our distributors Diamond and Lunar. We regularly stock at least 40 different titles including Void Rivals, Transformers, GI Joe, Star Wars, My Little Pony, Spawn, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Star Trek, Sonic the Hedgehog, Vampirella, X-Men, Spider-Man, Hulk, Daredevil and many others. If we don't carry a title that you would like to buy from us, please let us know.
Back Issues Looking to complete your collection? We've been adding a lot of older Transformers comics to our inventory and usually have many Marvel Transformers comics. In addition, we have been going through a backlog of 1980s and 1990s Marvel and DC comics such as Classic X-Men, New Mutants and more. You never know what you will find!
If comics aren't your thing, we also have a variety of new and old Transformers toys available. Check out some of the highlights below! Prices and quantity levels subject to change and may vary from the following information.
Orders ship super fast; usually within 1 business day. All items are well packaged to ensure that your item arrives safely to you. Check out Seibertron's 24,000+ 100% positive feedback score to see what people are saying about their experiences with us.
Visit the Seibertron Store on eBay to view new items that we've recently added. We've always got something of interest available!
Thanks to an update from Skybound, we have our first look at next months Transformers #3 comic. Following the explosive Issue #2 released this week, a confrontation between Autobot and Decepticon is brewing, and Sparkplug is ready to dive headlong into action as well.
Much like the preview for Issue #2, no dialogue is present for this early 3 page preview.
Check out the preview below, and let us know what you think in the comments below!
Today Skybound, in collaboration with leading toy and game company Hasbro, revealed an impressive lineup of variant covers and a first look at interior pages of Daniel Warren Johnson’s TRANSFORMERS #3. The third issue of the smash hit series, TRANSFORMERS, will be available on shelves in comic book shops December 13, 2023.
TRANSFORMERS #3 continues the Energon Universe and the all-new era of the iconic TRANSFORMERS franchise from Daniel Warren Johnson (Extremity, Do a Powerbomb) and colorist Mike Spicer (Stillwater, Murder Falcon). Outnumbered and overpowered, it’s time for the Autobots to stand their ground, as Optimus Prime goes toe-to-toe with Skywarp!
In addition to the main cover by Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer, the stacked list of variant covers for TRANSFORMERS #3 includes a cover by Taurin Clarke (Black Panther), a 1:10 incentive variant continuing the connecting cover series by Orlando Arocena (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers), a 1:25 incentive variant by Matias Bergara (Coda), and a 1:50 incentive variant by Nick Dragotta (Creepshow).
The Energon Universe officially began in June 2023 with the surprise first appearance of iconic TRANSFORMERS character Jetfire in Void Rivals #1, introducing the historic new collaboration between Hasbro and Skybound, with TRANSFORMERS and G.I. JOE comics finding a new home with the publisher.
The Energon Universe expands in December with Duke #1, a limited series from Joshua Williamson (DC’s Superman, Dark Ride), Tom Reilly (The Thing) and Jordie Bellaire (W0rldtr33). This will be followed by the launch of Cobra Commander #1 in January 2024, from Joshua Williamson, Andrea Milana (Impact Winter: Rook) and Annalisa Leoni (Oblivion Song). Fans should expect can’t-miss moments from every issue of the Energon Universe, as secrets are unveiled along the path to answering the BIG questions, including #WhereIsMegatron.
TRANSFORMERS #3 (Lunar Codes Below | $3.99) will be available at comic book shops and digital platforms including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, comiXology, and Google Play on Wednesday, December 13, 2023.
The full list of variant covers is below:
TRANSFORMERS #3 Cover A by Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer (1023IM385)
TRANSFORMERS #3 Cover B by Taurin Clarke (1023IM386)
TRANSFORMERS #3 Cover C (1:10 Copy Incentive) by Orlando Arocena (1023IM387)
TRANSFORMERS #3 Cover D (1:25 Copy Incentive) by Matias Bergara (1023IM388)
TRANSFORMERS #3 Cover E (1:50 Copy Incentive) by Nick Dragotta (1023IM389)
The first issue of Daniel Warren Johnson's new Transformers title is a success both critically and in sales. Many fans who have wanted a modern take on G1 are saying they finally have it. So the anticipation for issue 2 is pretty big. Below you will see preview images for the second issue. Some are in black and white while others are in colour. We see Optimus killing a deer by mistake, realizing how fragile creatures of Earth are and saddened by his action (a direct contrast to the way the first issue ended) and we also see Cliffjumper, who will be a main player in this series. Enjoy!
We had the pleasure to talk to the writer and artist of the new Transformers series from Skybound, Daniel Warren Johnson, to get to know more about what to expect in the coming months along with an explanation for the big spoiler moment. Below is a summary of what was discussed.
Firstly, it was interesting to see that while Johnson grew up with the Transformers brand and was heavily influence by Geoff Senior for his art style, he has been removed from the modern Transformers content and discussion. So don't expect new characters to show up, even those which have retroactively become part of "G1" fiction, like Drift, Barricade or Windblade. The stories will instead have characters he is ore familiar with, though there may certainly be some G1 deepcuts.
The first issue had a passing remark regarding Megatron's absence and Johnson was not going to tell us more about that. BUT he did explain to us why he picked Bumblebee as the character to bite the dust in the first issue. At a basic level, the scene was made to establish to both new readers and the human characters in the story who were the good guys and the bad guys and how ruthless the bad guys are. Plus, since this comic is meant to be as accessible as possible, Johnson wanted to have well known characters, including the one who dies. This had nothing to do with Bumblebee's overexposure in the past 15 years, though it is interesting to note that Johnson never had a great affinity to Bumblebee growing up.
While the book has a very familiar premise for anyone who grew up in the G1 era, the book is meant to be accessible to all and Johnson asks us to leave everything we know at the door. The story he will be telling is fresh and new. It will be written as a series of arcs, with no end planned at the moment. At the same time though, Johnson is adamant to make each issue feel satisfying in its own right, as we saw with the first issue, with a full character arc for Jetfire. This is something extremely important to him.
A change we felt was significant was the talk of time. In most Transformers fiction, eras are measured in "millions of years" be it the Cybertronian war or the time between the Arc crashing and the bots awakening. Johnson changed that to "hundreds of years" in the dialogue since it felt more logical, but the impact story wise is minimal. It wasn't that big a decision for him and Hasbro had no notes on it. Speaking of Hasbro's involvement, they did give him feedback about the way he draws Optimus' hands. While they would want them to look less human, Johnson is sticking to the Geoff Senior school of robot hands, which are simply human hands with some rings drawn on the fingers. It is also less taxing for him, since he does have the double duty of being the writer and artist.
Speaking of that double duty, it gives an added layer to what we see in the comic and which characters appear. For instance, the cassette Soundwave chooses to deploy is Ravage. Johnson, as a writer, wanted to include this character that he loves and Johnson as an artist really wanted him in the story because it adds a different kind of element to draw. Him being an animal makes him fun to draw and adds contrast to the more blocky shapes of the other bots.
Those were the main parts of the interview, if you want to watch the full interview, you can do so below. But please be aware of some issues with framerate and the interviewer going on some random rants/tangents.
This review is spoiler free aside from the mention of the presence or some characters.
I keep thinking of that big bold line from the original G2 comic with “this is not your father’s Autobots” and how the strategy for franchises has changed since the Poochie filled era of the 90s. The recent era of deconstructing heroes is now past as well and instead what people want is nostalgia, like a reboot to G1. BUT, while nostalgia can seem like an easy sell, it must be done right, which is very tricky. There must be familiarity but it can't just be a retread.
After having read the first issue, I can confidently say that writer/artist Daniel Warren Johnson gives us a G1 reboot in glorious loving fashion. While it can easily be seen as a reboot to both the G1 show and the G1 comic, it is also a new story, and made accessible to all types of Transformers fans. Fans of the original G1 comics are bound to get a kick out of Johnson’s art since it is very reminiscent of Geoff Senior at times. There is a great panel of Ratchet getting an action scene which reminds me of how Geoff Senior would juxtapose a dynamic and fluid scene with such simple shapes making up blocky and angular characters. We get that same contrast here in Johnson’s art. The bright colours from Mike Spicer are the icing on the cake, complementing the art perfectly for a classic feel.
The story itself is very familiar, as intended for the opening of a new saga reinventing G1. But within the first issue, Johnson makes it clear that it is not a simple retread of G1, with a significant character death. This, along with the mysterious lack of a particular villain, sets the rest of the comic in uncharted waters. The familiarity now rests simply with the characters. This is the opposite of deconstructing characters and it reminds me instead of seeing Peter B Parker in the first Spider-verse movie, where we have characters in a new story and new continuity, but written in a way that you can instantly recognize them in a classic portrayal. While there have been a lot of different versions of Optimus Prime, Jetfire and Starscream throughout the brand’s 40 years, consistent traits have lingered throughout, creating specific personas we attribute them with to the point where we can tell when a character isn’t acting as he should (or as we think they should). And in this comic, these characters feel like the ones I know and love. Optimus is as heroic as we all know him to be, Starscream is as malicious as you’d expect him to be and Jetfire battles with the familiar internal conflict.
One last point I want to address is a change to the chronology by Johnson that I find very significant for the brand. He reduces the time for both the war and the main bots’ slumber from millions to hundreds of years. It’s just a change to the dialogue, with no other repercussions, but that’s all I needed. Interactions make more sense now, I can better imagine the length of the war, and there being little change from when they crashed, if that is revealed to be the case, will make more sense. But this is just a personal nitpick I had with storylines in the past and Sci Fi in general (paging Doctor Who), so I was glad to see it addressed here.
Overall, I recommend this issue to any Transformers fan who wants new G1 content in their life. It is a really meaty issue too, leaving you both satisfied and wanting more. Plus the humans present are not annoying, nor remove any of the spotlight from the bots (if ever there was any concern).
4.5 out of 5 stars
You can pick up this comic today at your local comic shop or grab it at our toy and comic store (along with thousands of other products) at shop.seibertron.com. We also have an exclusive cover for Transformers #1.
Today Skybound, in collaboration with leading toy and game company Hasbro, announced that TRANSFORMERS #1, the debut issue of writer/artist Daniel Warren Johnson’s massively anticipated series, has sold out at the distributor level days before its release at comic book shops. The second launch in the all-new Energon Universe, TRANSFORMERS #1 will return with five commemorative second printing covers, available in comic book shops beginning November 1, 2023.
TRANSFORMERS #1 begins a brand-new era for the iconic TRANSFORMERS franchise from Daniel Warren Johnson (Extremity, Do a Powerbomb, DC’s Wonder Woman: Dead Earth) and colorist Mike Spicer (Stillwater, Murder Falcon). Optimus Prime was supposed to have led the Autobots to victory. Instead, the fate of Cybertron is unknown, and his allies have crash-landed far from home, alongside their enemies—the Decepticons. As these titanic forces renew their war on Earth, one thing is immediately clear: the planet will never be the same. New alliances are struck. Battle lines are redrawn. Humanity’s only hope for survival is Optimus Prime and the Autobots.
The issue will return with five brand-new second printing variant covers:
Covers A & B, drawn by Jason Howard, spotlight the iconic Optimus Prime and Starscream respectively.
Covers C & D, drawn by Lewis LaRosa, respectively feature Johnson’s Autobot and Decepticon teams.
A special spoiler Cover E, drawn by Greg Tocchini.
Below you can see the connecting cover variant for Void Rivals 4 which is also being labelled as a spoiler. It is by Karen S Darboe and features Shockwave. This comic, and cover, should be available in comic stores today.
* Price and quantities subject to change. Shipping costs, taxes and other fees not included in cost shown. Refer to listing for current price and availability.
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