Interview - Brad Mick Talks about Energon

Interview with - Dreamwave Productions (ENERGON)

The fans want to know about Energon, and we here at Transfandom.com had the unique opportunity of having the *first* full interview about the upcoming series with the staff of Dreamwave! Read on to learn more about the series, the characters and the changes from Armada!

Energon Powerlinx Optimus Prime, image courtesy Dreamwave Productions

Transfandom.com Staff (TFD): In Armada and Transformers: Universe, Dreamwave has done a great deal of work with Hasbro... character art and mini-comics for example. Is this relationship something that will continue for Energon?

Brad Mick (BM) : Oh, hell yes! That’s the goal with all of our Transformer projects. We want to create a synergy that helps tie things together very tightly. Actually, Energon had Pat so excited that he contributed several box art pieces himself.

TFD: Since Dreamwave first picked up the Transformers license, posters, lithographs, comics and even calendars have all adorned the local comic shop shelves... what are your plans for Energon in relation to those pieces of merchandise?

BM: There is going to be a ton of cool shizzle heading down the Energon pike. We’re actually going to kick off the Energon launch with plenty of kick ass covers, posters, and other goodies.

TFD: Will the same team that is working on Armada now continue to work on Energon, or will there be new writer(s) and artist(s)? Can you comment on who they are?

BM: Energon is going to be a huge project for us, and we pulled out the big guns. So, expect our resident “Brit with wit” Simon Furman to come out with guns a-blazing. Similar to his most recent run on Armada, Energon will allow Simon to do his thang, which can only result in nothing but unadulterated TF chaos!

TFD: At what point in the Armada comic will it shift to Energon? Issue Number? Simon Furman (SF): Issue #19.

TFD: Is there a plan on how many issues Energon will be? BM: As far as we’re concerned the Energon convoy is going to keep on rolling for the foreseeable future.

TFD: Will we see a change in art style between Armada and Energon? Will the art of the comic fit in with the television series?

SF: I think we'll see more of the same great stuff from Guido... only better! As an artist, Guido is evolving with every issue, refining his work, upping the sheer action/drama quota on every page. Energon's going to big, widescreen stuff, and Guido's most definitely the man for the job. Though both TV series and comic are working from the same designs, the comic will very much have its own identity and look.

TFD: Word on the street is that Energon pays homage to a great deal of characters from previous lines... and with names like Scorponok it is obvious that some notice was paid to older Transformers work. What kind of inspiration are you taking from previous generations of Transformers?

SF: I'm actually looking back at what I've done in the past (on previous TF Generations) and basically throwing out the rulebook for Energon. Previously, there was a maximum damage threshold for planet Earth, a kind of 'that's going too far'. With 10 years' worth of breathing space between Armada and Energon, that no longer seems to apply. The basic status quo is going to be very different, and what happens after that is anyone's guess!

TFD: Let's talk story for a minute here... are we still in the same universe as Armada in the comics? What will the transition between the two be like, and who are the major players in the new series?

SF: A lot of characters will follow through from Armada (Optimus Prime, Hot Shot, etc), others will be dramatically altered (Starscream, Megatron), and a few will have grown up (Rad, Alexis, Carlos), though some more than others!! But no one has exactly gone unchanged, either in character or configuration.

TFD: We have a lot of information about the "show" aspect of the series through the talks at the OTFCC... such as multiple planets, characters, factions and even groups. Do many of these carry over into the comic as well? If so, can you comment on who and what to look out for?

SF: Some of the ideas established in the 'Worlds Collide' storyline will definitely follow through in Energon. There won't be so much emphasis on multiple planets and timelines, that's more for TF Universe, and we don't want to confuse the two. But there will be some startling twists and turns, among them four new heralds for Unicron!!

TFD: For those characters that carry over from the previous series, will their form change and/or lost period of time between the series be explained? If so, is this period important to the story at hand, or will it be used sparingly?

SF: We will play catch up to a certain extent, but largely we'll be looking at the interim period as a rare bit of peace and stability for the Autobots (and Earth!). But behind the scenes, a whole lot's been going on. How much, we'll start to find out as the series progresses. Evil never sleeps...

TFD: Speaking of form changes, what types of alternate modes can we expect for the Transformers in Energon?

SF: Both Autobots and Decepticons have some very cool new tricks and modes. Key to this are the Decepticons' new (Unicron-fashioned) Hyper-modes, and the Autobots' amazing Spark of Combination. We're talking serious team-ups here!

TFD: In the Armada comic, Dreamwave loosely followed the show continuity, but gave the comic it's own story and feel. Will this continue with Energon?

SF: Very definitely. Energon (the comic) will not mirror Energon (the series) beyond the basic set-up and characters involved.

TFD: What's your target market for the Energon series? Children, first time comic collectors, veteran collectors, seasoned TF fans, show fanatics, some other group?

SF: We really want to pull in fans of all Generations, and (while not alienating new or younger readers) give them a proper, undiluted hit of TF action. Armada/Energon is developing into its own essential part of Transformers, and we want to give it the same weight and degree of edge as Generation 1 or The War Within.

TFD: Many fans were torn over the appearance of the children in the Armada series (both show and comic). With the OTFCC we have heard news of only one child in the series... does this cross over, and if so, how heavily does he/she fit into the storyline you are preparing?

SF: As mentioned, the plan is to have all three 'kids', ten years on, in the series, plus a new human character, Kicker.

TFD: Any clues on how the plot devices are going to be handled? For example, Mini-Cons were the most valuable asset to the Autobots and Decepticons; now all of a sudden Energon seems to be what's on the top of every Transformer's wish list. What's the deal?

SF: The Mini-Cons have largely gone back to a normal way of life on Cybertron when Energon opens. They're not allied specifically to both Autobots and Decepticons. But that doesn't mean they're not needed, it just means they're not going to be pulled back in without one heck of a good reason... or one heck of a struggle!

TFD: In the older Transformers comics, there were many characters that did not receive figures (take Primus for instance). In recent times with Armada, however, we have seem to stick with nearly all toy represented characters... will this trend change in Energon?

SF: Possibly. It's always useful to have characters that aren't toys (you can kill 'em for a start!), and there may be some as Energon develops. It's often as and when they're needed, the emphasis has to be on the core characters.

TFD: In that same vein, the older Transformers comics introduced characters that were not present during the television series. Will we see Dreamwave-only characters in Energon? (Characters that do not appear in the series or figures)

SF: Until I know exactly what characters the TV series will or won't feature, I can't comment.

TFD: Unicron... is he gone? We are obviously leading up to a huge battle in Armada. At the end of that battle does Unicron leave the story, or does he fit in with the work you are preparing?

SF: Unicron is very much 'in', and (though critically injured at the end of Armada) growing in strength and power as the series progresses.

TFD: Omnicons, Terrorcons, Mini-Cons, Triple Changers, Combiners... how do you remember all these factions? It's overwhelming!

SF: It can be, but at least with Armada/Energon we can focus exclusively on the current incarnations, Mini-Cons and Omnicons.

TFD: Who are your favorite characters from Energon so far?

SF: I'm really looking forward to tackling Scorponok. He's going to be a real badass in the comics, utterly dedicated to his goal. TFD: Any teasers you can share on the story arcs at hand, past the basic setup of the comic?

SF: Well... for one thing, Optimus Prime and Megatron are going to have to work together. For Megatron it's a matter of survival, for Prime a matter of finding a way to fight back against their ultimate adversary. It's going to be a thorny relationship at best! TFD: Now the fan boy question... What is going to wow me in this comic? What's going to grab me hook, line and sinker on this and keep me buying Energon every month?

SF: The sheer unpredictability. You honestly will not know what's going to happen next. Even I don't!