SDCC 2011 - IDW 2012 Transformations Panel - Furman, Wildman Return for Transformers #81; 2 Books w/ Roberts, Roche, Barber

Panel Guests: Mike Costa, Livo Ramondelli, Denton Tipton, Chris Ryall, John Barber,
Brenden Kahal, Carlos Guzman, Tom Walts.

TRANSFORMERS

Going Bi-Weekly, two books month. Starting with Chaos Theory 22, 23
Optimus Prime and Megatron Origins. Art by Alex Milne.

Transformers #24 - Go back to Cybertron and things get Crazy.

#25 Police Action - Takes place on Earth with Prowl.

Checklist coming for collecting IDW comics.

December

Transformers #125
The Big Event Issue.One going Comes to an End. Death of Optimus Prime!

January

All Digital Comic: Autocracy
By Flint Dille and Livo Ramondelli and will be an enhanced comic, with more than just scans of the comics. Likely will be a print version available as well.
Release date is TBD

Two New Ongoing Series - Robots in Disguise and More Than Meets The Eye. These two comics will run in parallel.

Robots In Disguise is written by John Barber, with art by Andrew Griffith

John Barber takes over from Andy Schmidt as a writer, based on where he wants things to go. Plan is to put together an exciting story, that follows Chaos. Centers around clash ideology.

Mike Costa comments on Chaos end: At end of Chaos, there is almost a finale and will see the launch of two new series to have Roberts and Barber to edit. Costa says he will step down and pass the mantle. Fans will really like where they leave the story. Goes where TFs never been before. Amazing story.

More Than Meets the Eye is written by James Roberts, with art by Nick Roche

Questions and Answers
There's a special reason why there are two comics. A change in the status- of the Transformers. Though the universe will not change.

Transformers artists work with IDW and Hasbro on creating artwork.

Cosmos Character Spotlight was not done. There's no plan to do it. He is featured in Ongoing 9-12 in the International Incident.

As much as Bay raped the TFs, they did create some very interesting concepts with some different Transformers and so forth.

IDW does not force artists to draw in a house style, They allow them to do what they do and bring they own style and interpretation.

There is some background coming on the Original 13, but nothing is set yet. Hasbro has plans they
want to accommodate as it comes together. They worked on notes for the story, but Chaos kind of took over all their time. So the project is TBD at this time.

There are plans for the Dinobots. John says they are "the only TFs..." Win win situation, if you ain't gonna mess with a dinosaur or a giant robot.

Very good chance of GI Joe / Transformers comic.

Wreckers, nothing new coming. But check out Robots in Disguise.

Furman and Wildman will return with Transformers #81! The comic is coming in 2012 and will run from issue #81 to #100. Each story will be told with every question answered!

GI JOE

Tom Walts on GI Joe. They have a plan in place to bring in a new Cobra commander. Whoever kills the
most Joe's wins. They have plan based on action comics. Not on the classic story.

Civil War Cobra
Mike Costa and Werther Dell'edera.

First story ends with #4, and starts new in 5. Return to the Chameleon character for the new issues.
Like a big puzzle where they will tie up everything at the end.

Real American Hero
New story starts with 170.

Cobra Commander
Who will be the new Cobra. Starting with issue 9, they will be crating a ral crossover with all three stories tied together. Said to be a shocking event. Should be somewhat violent.

DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS

Big property in the 1980s. Bring the story up to date. First original comic book. Written by RA Salvator. Artist Agust Pedio. Covers by Conzola FLores, Tim Seelly,

Will be able top play comic as an adventure.

August

Omnibus Forgotten Realms

September

#11 Bad Day
6 Issues

Reprints of DC Comics
3-4 volumes

October
#12 Classics