TFormers reporting from the Hasbro, Cartoon Network, and IDW Publishing joint panel here at the 2007 Comic-Con in San Diego!

After you have read the whole report, take a look at the full image gallery which includes images from the panel and display of the figures!

Watch the clip previewed at the panel!

This panel will broadly cover what is in store for Transformers from now until the middle of next year.

2:50 P.M. The panel participants have arrived
The participants are:
Greg lombardo, Eric Sebnhauler and Aaron Archer (Hasbro);
Simon Furman, and Chris Ryall (IDW Publishing)

2:52 P.M.: IDW Publishing Panel Begins
Devastation
+ Simon and EJ Su are working on the comic that picks up from Escalation and bring back characters featured in the one-shots, Six Shot, and The Reapers.
+ The story will move much faster.

Spotlights
+ The Spotlight Optimus Prime and Galvatron books take place between the Escalation and Devastation series.
+ Ramjet will also be getting his own Spotlight book.
+ Look for more comics from the "Spotlight" series in the future.

"New Avengers/Transformers: Man and Machine" crossover
+ Ramjet will be included in the September issue

"Beast Wars"
+ Simon and Don Figueroa are working on the new Beast Wars series - "The Ascending"
+ This will go hand-in-hand with the "Beast Wars Sourcebook" series coming in September or October.
+ Don had to draw a lot of characters in their normal and Cybertronian modes.

Transformers movie
+ Coming up next will be comics for the "Transformers" Movie with stories that are set after the end of the movie.
+ The DVD will include an extra story in the Target DVD, similar to when the toys launched.
+ They want to continue the story of the "Transformers" movie and make it bigger.

"Transformers Animated"
+ A comic that is based on this series is in the works.

2:56 P.M. Hasbro Presentation:
"Allspark Power"
+ Hasbro is very excited about the movie and the movie toys.
+ They really enjoyed looking at the new iteration, the success has them doing a new line in 2008 called "Allspark Power"
+ The "Allspark Power" line will create some all new charaters and redecos of other characters
+ Blue colored toys interpet the Allspark's Power
+ Figures discussed:
-- Voyager "First Strike" Optimus Prime - G1-style repaint of the figure
-- Blackout - a repaint with a new head mold and in the United States Coast Guard colors - orange, black, and blue.
-- Leader "Desert Attack" Brawl - repaint that will feature Autobot kill marks on the tank
-- Leader "Night Watch" Optimus Prime is suppoed to be a night scene where he can hide in the dark.
-- Landmine - Sector 7 dune buggy
-- Stockade - Black SUV
-- Cliffjumper - Concept Camaro
-- Incinerator - the Decepticon copter

3:00 P.M. Robot Hereos
+ Later in year there will be more G1 and Beast Wars Robot Heroes figures

3:02 P.M. Classics
+ Coming in fall 2008, Classics will continue in the Transformers Universe Line
+ Deluxe Sunstreaker and Sideswipe: based on the same mold with different chests on the final models
+ Other deluxe figures: Octane, a Triple changer tanker truck.
+ Transforming weapons with project accessories will also be featured
+ They are looking to do some Ultra scale figures, which will be bigger than Voyagers with electronic.
+ Schedule:
-- 8 deluxe figures;
-- 3 - 4 Ultras

3:05: Transformers Animated Panel
The Show
+ Panel members from "Transformes Animated" are Sam Register, Matt Youngberg, Derrick Wyatt, and Mary Isenberg + The show is targeted to the 6-11 year old demographic and is a reinterpretation show with a new feel. This is a partnership between CN and Hasbro.
+ They are using Hasbro, CN and Japanese designers for the show
+ The aim to offer a new look for the Transformers after the movie went for the realistic look
+ Everyone at CN and Hasbro are all big Transformers fans. They know and love the brand and are excited to see some new ideas coming along.
+ Derrick Wyatt said his challenge was to design new TFs to be more human-esque and expressive.
+ Matt Youngberg is working with the Japanese to make the production more fluid and more full of life. Japanese studios do that kind of work best so they went with the animation in Japan.
+ Eric Sebenhaler says the challenge was to go from brick styling to a more organic style that CN wanted to see. Eric works with CN guys sharing design ideas.
+ Aaron Archer says that they wanted to focus on four characters. More characters and vehicles they would like to add to the story will come later down the line.
+ The Dinobots are coming back!
+ A video clip is being shown
+ This carton is influenced by the Mighty Orbots
+ Voice of Lickdown will be Lance Hendrikson.

3:19 P.M. The Toys
+ Extra special care to match faces to toon look.
+ A lot of the toys have a new look: glossy finish featuring a matte / stain finish
+ Toys shown:
Autobots:
-- Deluxe and Voyager Prime - Two versions: Cybertronian and Earth
-- Bumblebee
-- Bulkhead
-- Prowl
-- Ratchet
-- Deluxe Slug
-- Deluxe Grimlock
Decepticons:
-- Starscream
-- Megatron
-- Lugnutz - a lot like The Hulk
-- Blitzwing - a 2-faced character
-- Deluxe Lockdown - transforms into a Corvette-type vehicle - Decepticon version of Bulkhead
-- Deluxe Blackarachnia
-- Deluxe Soundwave - Soundwave has a guitar that turns into Laserbeak
+ Steps in toy to vehicle - vehicle to toy is shown.

3:24 P.M. Q&A now
Question was asked about finding more toys in the stores:
+ Hasbro: A number of things factor into finding things in stores including:
-- Mostly collector market is lower stock.
-- Things shipped in case packs with many figures causes a backlog due to some figures that are not as popular. In short - the least popular figures being packaged with the highly sought figures keep retailers from order new sets because of over-stock of less popular ones
-- Some regions have more collectors than others so the sales are uneven.
+ ANNOUNCEMENT: Rodimus figure is probably going to sell out here.

Watch the video of the full panel!

-- End of Panel --

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