Transformers: Focus on Decepticons

Written by: Andrew Steven Harris and Shane McCarthy
Art by: Guido Guidi
Cover by: Don Figueroa

With Botcon coming up in a few weeks, I figured it was time to review a Transformers comic. This isn’t exactly a comic though, this is more of a behind the scenes look at the upcoming 12 part comic series, “Transformers: All Hail Megatron.” This issue still contains many goodies for TF fans. There are interviews with All Hail Megatron writer Shane McCarthy, preview artwork for the mini series from Guido Guidi, and even an eight-page sneak preview of All Hail Megatron issue #1.
The issue opens with a Swear Allegiance page focusing on the Decepticon mission statement. After catching up on the Decepticon mission statement, readers are given a sneak peak into the Master Plan excerpt that contains the original pitch for the All Hail Megatron mini-series. The comic then features interviews with the writer and artist of All Hail Megatron, followed by some really cool Decepticon profiles. The book ends with the first eight pages of All Hail Megatron in their final, colored stage.
Thoughts/Comments:
This comic is really similar to what Marvel produces with their “Marvel Spotlight” issues. This isn’t a comic story per se, but more of a lead up to the All Hail Megatron mini-series. I was reluctant at first to buy the All Hail Megatron mini. First off, it’s more like a What-If style story and it is going to be 12 issues at 3.99 per issue. But I have to admit, after reading the interviews with the writer and artist and reading the first 8 pages from issue one, I’m sold. This issue is a wonderful look into the making of the upcoming TF mini series and has some wonderful profiles and artwork for all the main Decepticon warriors. I’ll give this comic a B since it really isn’t a comic, but it’s a great look at how a future TF comic book is created.

Doctor Who coming from IDW

One of the questions that Jeff wanted us to ask Joe Quesada during the interview for AH 68 was about the possibility of Marvel doing a Doctor Who series. I didn't ask it, because I remembered hearing somewhere that a smaller publisher had already picked up the rights to the property.

I was right. IDW has the rights to Doctor Who, and is planning to start publishing books featuring the Tenth Doctor and Martha Jones in early 2008, according to this article on CBR.

IDW Publishing is bringing "Doctor Who," the longest-running science fiction television series in history, back to comic book shelves in early 2008.

The announcement was made today at Comic-Con International in San Diego that current TV series script editor Gary Russell will pen the series with Nick Roche ("Transformers: Devastation" and "Transformers: Beast Wars") providing artwork. "Doctor Who" showrunner Russell T Davies will oversee the book.

IDW will also begin reprinting Dave Gibbons' run on "Doctor Who Monthly" from the 1980s. Originally presented in black and white, the books will now be colored using new techniques.

Russell, who has worked in virtually every medium on Doctor Who-related projects, told CBR News while the series does not directly reflect "questions of canonicity," it will feature the Tenth Doctor, David Tennant.

"The stories involve the Doctor and Martha Jones, so it's all somewhere within the latter half of Series 3," confirmed Russell...

It's good to know that I'm not making things up. IDW has done a decent job with Transformers thus far. While their books are a little expensive, they are also fairly high quality, so this sounds like it will be a quality Who product, regardless of its canonicity.

That's one promise I made in the podcast kept. Now to do more work on the redesign.