New cover gallery and info + detailed art preview!

[Predabot]

Yepp! They've released info, that the #1 for Beast Wars will feature 4 diff covers, and two of the covers for issue #3 of TF: Infiltration.

Check it: http://www.newsarama.com/IDW/Tformers_S ... rspeek.htm

edit:

[Denyer] Ryall just posted this over at IDW. From #3, but no spoilers:

Click for the full-size preview.



Wow. It's like Alternators on a page. [/Denyer]

[spiderfrommars]

Pretty.

[Best First]

Loving Guido's work, as normal.

[Predabot]

Yes, that cover with Jazz in a tuzzle with Blitzwing is very dynamic. Wish Jazz foot had connected more with Nlitzwing chin tho.

Anybody else notice a somewhat painterly effect on the flames in that Prowl-cover? Groovy.

[Denyer]

Astrotrain

Ratchet

Now we know why Preds doesn't drink... you're naturally high, aren't you?

Blitzwing.

*thwack*

Prowl.

*thwack*

[Predabot]

Obviously... yes.

Corrected. I was very tired. And these are new designs.

[Best First]

yeah, they look wildly different...

Like the smooth lines on Prowl as well.

[Guest]

They all appear to have a generic transformation.

Still, the art does do the business.

[Legion]

oooh pretty pictures...

[Predabot]

Seems as if Su is quite the fan of Gundam. I detect some inspiration for the legs there.

I was just wondering why the thread had changed name all of a sudden.

[E.J.Su]

Seems as if Su is quite the fan of Gundam.

Guilty as charged. I am a fan because they are technically sound.

[Denyer]

@ Preds:
Yeah, and the bitching has begun on some other boards.

I'm not seeing what the fuss is about there. The vehicle redesigns mean that the legs fold inside, and each character has been redesigned distinctively.

[Legion]

I'm not seeing what the fuss is about there.

me neither, me likes.

[Denyer]

Further to the redesign thing, and because this conversation is now going on in lots of places simultaneously, a cut-and-paste:

* * *

I really like Senior's work, and he's probably my favourite TF artist overall... but geometric shapes don't accurately represent movement. His style is a very abstract one.

Now, look at a recent piece of Don's work:



Note that in classic style, Prime or Grimlock only have pivot points -- knees and hip joints. There's no analogue for how a hamstring carries weight.

Think of all of the 'parts' in a human leg, then think about how that could actually be built with sheet metal. Su is a technical artist; he's aiming for realism.

[KingMob]

Yeah, at the risk of repeating myself, I think EJ's #3 piece is lush.
Strong storytelling going on with the posing and positioning of the characters, designs are interesting to me; never claimed to be a design freak and I like seeing different approaches. Why must we keep the stompy leg-look? Daft.

I likes this. Looking forward to seeing more.
Cheers.

[Best First]

i think the above piece is the glove. I especially like the physical interaction between P and R and in general teh fcatthat none of the stances seem forced or unatural (in fact they are the opposite).

my honest prefernce is for more 'sipmle' art (a la Geoff and Andy, which i am sure is a perception somehwat coloured by my youth) because i believ it facilitaes story telling by and large however in this case none of the detail seems extrenuous, which is a positive contrast to a lot of DW's output.

i really don't see any grounds for anything but praise, anyone who is stupid enough to insist that there is only one way to draw something is an idiot whose criticims can be merrily waved away as far as i concerned.

As long as the art tells the story effectively i will be content, anything as nice as teh above is a bonus.

[Legion]

Think of all of the 'parts' in a human leg, then think about how that could actually be built with sheet metal.

Tell that to Dan Reed!

[Metal Vendetta]

Very nice work. I'm loving the new designs and they do make the Transformers look more like robots and less like toys. Bumblebee there is a great example, even Don's redesign wasn't this detailed or "realistic".

And it's not like I've never used Gundam legs for a Transformer or anything.

[Impactor returns 2.0]

am I the only one who dislikes the whole 'everything must have a beveled edges' thing thats going on - seriously every single edge has a bevel, and whilst thats nice, it creates a softer look.

[Best First]

i know what you mean but i cab't say it bothers me a great deal.

[Impactor returns 2.0]

the overall art work is great - I just feel that a few edges should be left hard looking, its like all the TF have been dragged through a 'gundam-iser' machine...

"we will remove your hard edges and replace them with these more manga-esque ones....we are evil!"

Somthing like that. not gonna complain, its no where near the stupidity of prime with breasts.

[Denyer]

and replace them with these more manga-esque ones

I'm not really seeing it... apart from Ratchet and Ironhide (who barely have recognisable robot modes in the toyline, so more license could reasonably be taken with their redesigns) the rest seem to take more cues from the Alternators.

Hey, at least it's not Ameri-manga-lite.

[Impactor returns 2.0]

Im looking at them tri-multi-plate lower legs - thats very manga/gundam/guyver

blugh scemantics over what style can go on for ages, I see an eastern influence in parts of the design, and im not saying thats wrong, im just hoping them tought em up a bit, they seem a bit to stylized for me right now.

[Best First]

i'd say compared to DW they are distinctly under stylized - as Den says if anything they look 'realistic' if such a thing as a ginat transforming robot can look realistic.

Having similar legs to other ginat robots seems to me a rather odd criticism.

ill be interested to see EJ's rendering's of both action and battle damage.

[Denyer]

Im looking at them tri-multi-plate lower legs - thats very manga/gundam/guyver

ActionMasters also had 'em for years.

[Impactor returns 2.0]

maybe what im looking at is;

the top half of thier bodys is old skool design + some bevels, and good draft work, where as the bottom half, thier legs, is based on somthing that wasnt there before. Now I can understand taking an old design and sprucing it up, but to me its like some has done this.





Ok thats a bit harsh - but im seeing half TF design, bottom half eastern robot (insert term here) and whilst theres nothing wrong with the drawing which is superb im worried that the design itself is a bit on the unimagnitive side.

It will never bother me as much as DW, as I could barely look at that stuff, but im already seeing half a TF and half a cundam mech right now...
and a quick google image search of Gundam reveals some stark similarties.

[Metal Vendetta]

..., but to me its like some has done this.

I am a fan because they are technically sound.

While I do agree with Impy's post above, if it means that the TFs will be more technically sound (and therefore more realistic) then I'm all for it.

EJ's developing a style of his own, and Furman's opting for more realism in his writing so it makes sense to have the TFs drawn in as realistic a style as possible. I like that Bumblebee still has the Don-style "tyre within the foot" thing, and that Ratchet and Ironhide have different leg configurations - it makes sense if Ironhide's always out rolling in the dirt while Ratchet's striding around his lab. Prowl's legs have just the right amount of car. Ironhide and Jazz's are, to me, the most obviously Gundam-ish, but I think with a TF colour scheme it will look more natural. Actually Jazz was the only one that really stuck out as odd, but I think he will grow on me.

Also the legs are emphasised by the perspective, it's obviously a human's POV.

Will be interesting to see what he does with other characters, I'm thinking Dinobots here...

Note that in classic style, Prime or Grimlock only have pivot points -- knees and hip joints. There's no analogue for how a hamstring carries weight.

Grimlock has a "hamstring" thing at the back of his knee, and another one under his armpit, unless I'm looking at a different picture?

[Best First]

Ok thats a bit harsh

i'd say very. I don't see it at all. If anything i would say its along these lines:



which given the source seems more than appropriate.

[Denyer]

Ok thats a bit harsh

Gundam's are just battle suits, aren't they? Only I'm having no problem visualising Prowl's transformation and the legs folding into the back of the car... just like Alternator Smokescreen, in fact...

Grimlock has a "hamstring" thing at the back of his knee, and another one under his armpit, unless I'm looking at a different picture?

I think hamstrings are further up.



The piston/joint Don's added wouldn't be very functional because of the tremendous load placed with it supporting such a small area; i.e. it was a cosmetic addition to balance out the hugely oversized feet. Really not one of his better pieces, IMO. There's too much Pat in it.

[Impactor returns 2.0]

Are you seriously telling me u cannot see that 3 of those robots have legs that look like a gundam styled robot?

that they updated the torso and body/arms, and essentially scraped the legs in favour of somthing else. thats lazy, I wouldnt be able to pass that off on my degree course at all.