March 2019 Transformers Comics and Books

[griffin]

Since this isn't a monthly listing of just IDW comics and books, I have included a Japanese crossover comic that is scheduled for March 28th, featuring Transformers and Mazinger Z.


The comic includes artists who have worked on Transformers art in Japan and even for IDW.

According to the synopsis, the story will be about forces of the Cybertrons and the Destrons being sucked into a space-time distortion across dimensions, then appearing in a time Japan where Mazinger Z is active. It is here, along with Dr. Hell and Baron Ashura, that a battle will be unveiled between the 4 sides.
The team of artists on this book includes: Yuu Kinutani (The Apocalypse of Devilman, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex), Hayato Sakamoto (The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye, Takara Transformers Legends Manga), Eiji Yoshioka (Transformers Illustrator, eHobby Comics), Kazumi Hoshi (Mazinkaiser SKL, Dino Getter), Hidetsugu Yoshioka (various packaging art from Transformers Masterforce, Victory, and Zone, eHobby, Henkei), and Naoto Tsushima (Henkei! Transformers packaging artist, various IDW Transformers covers). The normal release cover will be done by Mazinger Z creater Go Nagai himself.
The book will feature 4 different covers with one on the normal release, one on the Amazon Japan exclusive, and two store exclusives versions at Village Books. The book will be 104 pages long, with a release date of March 28th 2019 and a retail price of 1980 Yen.

[i_amtrunks]

So, it will be right back to the golden age, so no modern story with flashbacks like I thought they might try to get away with.

No surprise Bumblebee will be the entrypoint, although Windblades role should be interesting if she is not a city speaker (at least not yet). While I quite like Windblade I wonder if her being a central character in all the recent tv and comic series might make her a bit repetitive... oh well, she will fit in perfectly with all the iterations of Prime, Megatron and Bumblebee then!

[griffin]

Some covers to the Mazinger/Transformers comic.

[griffin]

Another exclusive cover (for Amazon Japan) of the MazingerZ/Transformers comic.


Meanwhile, on the IDW side of things, after some recent changes at the top (President and CEO), one of the shareholders (of just 9%) is strongly recommending that the company seek out more strategic investors (obviously to drive up the share price, to which they would benefit from).
There is always a concern when a company is looking to change owners (or majority shareholders), as it could change the company's direction or focus (away from licensed properties), or could make decisions that give them quick profits or returns (selling off assets or intellectual properties).

[KELPIE]

Personally, after seeing what Boom studios has done with their other licensed properties, I'd be happy for them to get the TF license away from IDW.

[griffin]

With the first issue of the new Transformers comic coming out this week, IDW have released four preview pages on facebook. (or here if that disappears)

[i_amtrunks]

I hope this does well and doesn’t just rehash things (difficult to do with so many variations and iterations over the last 35 years).

I won’t be buying it issue by issue though, no matter how good it may be or become.

[griffin]

The one-shot "Synergy" issue from IDW comes out in a week or two, but a 3-page preview has been released from itunes.
It is hard to understand what is actually going on in this issue, other than it being something done to commemorate/celebrate women, during Women's History Month.
The promo blurbs keep saying "autobiographical" of the female writers and artists involved in this issue, but the preview pages and description of the issue itself show creative works.
Maybe it includes their individual life stories, relating to their first involvement in the franchise they have become famous for, in addition to the creative works.

Synergy: A Hasbro Creators Showcase - the collection features autobiographical works by Mairghread Scott (Batgirl, Transformers: Till All Are One) and Katie Cook (My Little Pony). Each will be infused with the respective author’s experiences with the Hasbro toys. In addition to these autobiographical works, there will be original comics inspired by groundbreaking female characters Dawn Moreno (G.I. Joe) and Windblade (Transformers), as well as the girl-power rock band Jem and the Holograms.

Four new pin-ups will come with the collection, as well as 13 illustrations from IDW’s archives, in honor of the women of Hasbro’s past and the ones who will shape its future.