So what happens now - DW Aftermath

[Legion]

I suppose that I could swallow Devils Due if they acctually hired most of the people at DreamWave that had talent and had them do the comics, but otherwise I feel a bit...sceptical.

Yes and then they could rename the company and we'd be back to square one...

[Optimus Prime Rib]

I suppose that I could swallow Devils Due if they acctually hired most of the people at DreamWave that had talent and had them do the comics, but otherwise I feel a bit...sceptical.

Yes and then they could rename the company and we'd be back to square one...

the problem is you cant do much with just furman and Stan the janitor.

[Legion]

Stan the janitor.

[Predabot]

[Señior's Covenant]

[Denyer]

I suppose that I could swallow Devils Due if they acctually hired most of the people at DreamWave that had talent and had them do the comics, but otherwise I feel a bit...sceptical.

Yes and then they could rename the company and we'd be back to square one...

Nope, they'd do fine without Roger & Pat Lee.

[Ultimate Weapon]

Connect four!

[Predabot]

And it all leads to: . Funny little idea you got, so many little opinion smilies.

[Denyer]

Moore is partially insane

I've always held insanity in higher regard than stupidity, personally. As a label it's a distinguishing mark when not used self-reflexively.

Raises you with a Will Eisner

Jolly good, now we're getting somewhere. Moore holds Eisner in extremely high regard, as do most comics creators—and Eisner is the overlooker of his age, including the Depression, cold war and much else; he was a creative scholar of comics mechanics as well as social commentary.

Thing is, anyone can throw around a name and a few snatches of tentatively-understood wisdom cribbed from their work. The fact you're mentioning him in the same conversation and context as justifying the Armada book... f*ck, I consider myself pretty shameless, but I'm trying to suggest a few alternatives to the pap a certain ex- Canadian comics company have been farting out. All you're doing is coming up with more and more examples of what comics can be, versus what Dreamwave failed to achieve.

the one man that shaped much of the Disney comics echoing back to today even. And his stories are some of the best ever in comics, truly classics

Er, I can honestly say Disney comics I've encountered have been amongst the most puerile, one-dimensional crap I've read. If I wanted bastardised fairy tales and classical derivation, I'd stick to the Brothers Grimm—who at least at times remained true to the breadth of experience in their source material. Pitching to audiences including toddlers and centenarians isn't often a sign of anything those in-between can hold up as literature.

[Predabot]

Thing is, anyone can throw around a name and a few snatches of tentatively-understood wisdom cribbed from their work. The fact you're mentioning him in the same conversation and context as justifying the Armada book... f*ck, I consider myself pretty shameless, but I'm trying to suggest a few alternatives to the pap a certain ex- Canadian comics company have been farting out. All you're doing is coming up with more and more examples of what comics can be, versus what Dreamwave failed to achieve.

It would seem that I have failed to grasp the true nature of our little "contest"(??). I though it was about me saying I enjoyed said Armada-comic and you subsequently sternly questioning my comic know-how, yes, even my comic geek-ness that I have been cultivating since the age of 3. I know there is better comics than DreamWaves, I still enjoyed them very much and believe it to be justified.

the one man that shaped much of the Disney comics echoing back to today even. And his stories are some of the best ever in comics, truly classics

Er, I can honestly say Disney comics I've encountered have been amongst the most puerile, one-dimensional crap I've read.

I can confess to a nearly infinite legion of Disney-comics that falls under that category. But the bulk of the stories that Barks very talently drew and also in most cases, wrote, during the 40's-60's does not fall under that category. They are both entertaining, and in many cases quite funny even. This leads me to believe that you might not have read any of these stories, am I right?

Now then, I presented the Eisner card to you, but since you haven't yet given your final cards or folded, I suspect that you are pondering your next move, the next set of cards..hmm..This might be interesting, I best look over my own little stack here and plan my next move carefully.

[Legion]

I can confess to a nearly infinite legion of Disney-comics that falls under that category.

Oi! I know i'm partially (if not entirely) to blame for most things and yes, I am almost infinite in my um, abilities.... but Disney-Comics? Even I don't sink that far!

What's that Pluto?

Damn it...

i'll get my coat...

[Shanti418]

If you're not following the other thread, here's word from Joe Moore on TFW2005 concerning future issues of TF:

Cory from Decepticon-Matrix posted an update from Diamond Distributors.

Dreamwave Productions Ceases Operations
Lead Stories, Diamond Daily, Thursday, January 06, 2005

Due to mitigating financial factors, Dreamwave Productions has ceased operations effective immediately.

As a result, no further products will ship from the company. However, an announcement regarding a new publisher for Dreamwave's titles -- including the best-selling Transformers line -- is expected in the near future. Once the publisher is announced, all pending new product orders for Dreamwave titles will be made order adjustable, and will eventually ship from the new company.

In addition, previously published Dreamwave titles are still available for reorder. Refer to the end of this article for a linked listing of Dreamwave products that are currently in stock at Diamond.

“Any time a vendor closes its doors, it impacts every level of the industry -- especially retailers and fans,” said Diamond Vice President of Purchasing Bill Schanes. “Fortunately, in Dreamwave's case, there are a number of companies actively pursuing their licensed and original titles, and we fully expect all Dreamwave series to continue once the dust has settled.”

Dreamwave and Diamond regret any inconvenience caused by this event. Retailers with additional questions regarding the effect of Dreamwave's closure on their orders should contact their Diamond Customer Service Representative.

Be sure to check Decepticon-Matrix to pick up any back issues of Dreamwave comics you may need.

FULLY EXPECT ALL DW SERIES TO CONTINUE???? YES!!!

[Predabot]

FULLY EXPECT ALL DW SERIES TO CONTINUE???? YES!!!

YES INDEED!!! But what does this mean in the long-term?? Good news tho.

[Shanti418]

Who knows? Just let me send the end of AoW. As far as G1 is concerned, just have Op bust in and bop the Quintessons on the head(s) with the Matrix.

After that, let's never mention any of the DW books again.

Now G2, THERE was a comic.

[Predabot]

Script-wise it was supreme. But art-wise..BLEH! It was a whole other ball-part than maybe ANY Tf-comic ever made! Manny Galan..what was Marvel thinking?! They must have cared nothing for that comic then really.

By the way, has TransFans ever considered having an interview with Manny about his work on Transformers, and his view of it, contra the fans? That would be pretty awesome acctually.

[Shanti418]

Manny's art did leave a lot to be desired, but Senior and Wildman did some work in the first half of the series, and Yanger (which I liked a lot) did work all throughout.

It WOULD be great to have him interviewed, though.

[Denyer]

This leads me to believe that you might not have read any of these stories

http://www.fortunecity.com/westwood/blu ... ongo01.htm

Self-evidently far superior to, say, the escapades of Rorschach 'n' his rascally little chums... cor, Duck Tales and Dreamwave Armada. Ihsa jolly 'oliday with Mary!

Now then, I presented the Eisner card to you

Spread at royal flush, intertextuals: Ellis/Cassady, Ellis/Hitch, Waid/Ross, Moore/Gibbons, Moore/O'Neill. E pluribus unum, and the inverse is also true. Eisner is an irreducible part of the body of work referenced, but also a part. The strength of latter-day comics creators has been the bid made to connect a hundred years or more of fiction and sequential art, whilst pressing forward with innovation of the medium.

Eisner gave his name to awards for those creators who've picked up the torch, because he understood that looking backwards for absolute standards by which to judge current and future endeavour is self-defeating. Thus, there are a great many other creators I could have selected five pairs from, but the commonality is that they study and build upon what's gone before with respect, intelligence and fondness.

all pending new product orders for Dreamwave titles will be made order adjustable

ie, "We're keeping the money from pre-orders for as long as possible and it'll be redeemable against whatever product the not-yet-signed new TF comics licensee comes out with." Diamond already have stock for some forthcoming comics, as they've already been published—Hasbro have made pre-emptive claim to this stock, so it'll likely either be distributed by them or passed through as part of a new licensing.

Unfortunately (depending on how you look at it) this doesn't guarantee every series and mini-series a conclusion, just indicates that Diamond have made plans to deal with immediately affected orders.

[jboyler]

I actually liked G2, especially some of the artwork. It had a nice, gritty tone to it... a sort of slapped-on look that actually gave the comic a maniacal, chaotic atmosphere.

This is actually the biggest weakness of the DW comics. Their art was too crisp and the computer colors were too heavy. When I read a comic, I want to be able to see the shifts in art styles at a glance. The DW comics had lots of pretty colors but the lack of any identifiable artistic or storytelling style made it a drag to read.

The only TF story that really satisfied me in this regard is the DD WW2-era Jae Lee story, and G2 (check out when Megs and Optimus meet Warworld Starscream for the first time, and the scenes of Optimus being consumd by the swarm- brutal stuff)

And while I was somewhat enthusiastic about DW after the last few issues of Armada, they have consistently failed to live up to my expectations. They've never told a story that actually meant anything.

But on the other hand, the TF universe does not have any stories that will go down as great classics in comic literature, and unless someone suddenly pulls their head out of their , there never will be.

And I also agree with the idea that the TF series will never be able to shake its 80's-retro-changing-robot-toy connection, and that we will therefore never see a 'serious' TF story.

-J

[Denyer]

the TF universe does not have any stories that will go down as great classics
[...]
we will therefore never see a 'serious' TF story.

US 75 is probably the strongest contender, suffering only from obscurity and the fact that it's the payoff to an ongoing story arc that isn't as clean or consistent.

Other points in the series' favour include longevity (well over four hundred issues of what was initially and principally a toy tie-in book, counting international releases) and taking the step from controlled mecha to self-aware robots making up the core cast.

I think it'll go down in history, but it'll take a paradigm shift amongst more mainstream critics.

I like the rough-and-ready feel of G2 too (definitely my favourite TF comics)... reminds me of Keith Griffen and Alan Grant's take on Lobo.

[Shanti418]

But even if it hasn't as yet been fully realized, I believe that a part of the reason that all of us like TF so much and have such passionate viewpoints about the direction of the comic is that we all see the overflowing possibility of TF being legitimate sci fi. As we've all said before, these are robots at war, robots with passions and fears and hopes and Gods and questions as to their existance, their nature, their interactions with the world and each other.

Things like US 75 or G2 or even WW at some points only give us but a taste of what we all think is possible, and what some of us have accomplished in fanfics.

[Denyer]

Pretty much.

[Best First]

spot on.

[Señior's Covenant]

Bravo.

[Legion]

i agree!

[Predabot]

http://www.fortunecity.com/westwood/blu ... ongo01.htm

Ah, Bongo in the Congo, a rather kewl story, the ending is hilarious! It's not all fun and games to be rich. But to each and every one his own...

Spread at royal flush, intertextuals: Ellis/Cassady, Ellis/Hitch, Waid/Ross, Moore/Gibbons, Moore/O'Neill.

Bah, you can't use the Moore-card that many times, cheat. (Hmm..you had a lot of the good ones in your pile, have to concentrate..)

E pluribus unum

What?? You have to forgive me, my latin stretches as far as Optimus Prime and Megatron.

Trumps with a Miller/JrJr, Lee Falk/Ray Moore, Goscinny/Uderzo an Eastman/Laird (Just cause they were so darn successful at transferring there Indy-comic franchise into main-stream media) Stan Lee/Jack Kirby and puts a Hergé on top of the pile.

Alea Jacta Est - Big man.

[Predabot]

Manny's art did leave a lot to be desired, but Senior and Wildman did some work in the first half of the series, and Yaniger (which I liked a lot) did work all throughout.

It WOULD be great to have him interviewed, though.

Speaking of the Yaniger, apparently he's done well for himself, and his style has evolved rather differently since his days on TF.. Still not any good if you ask me, tho. Everybodys got different taste I suppose. He takes a lot of commisions apparently..

And what was he doing at Web of Spider-man??!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Speaking of the Devil, that is Manny Galan..the Sonic fans seem to like him, and has made this interview with him.. There's a little tidbit there about the G2 comic wich you might just find quite interesting. He also states that he doesn't even remember wich artist it was that he replaced, and in this particular thing I don't blame him.

http://www.sonichq.org/newsite/news/int ... ygalan.php

[spiderfrommars]

Yeah, its pretty much common knowledge that Galan had horrendous deadlines to meet when he was on G2. But respect to him for admitting that his work wasn't that good. I actually think he got the hang of it by the end.

Back on topic re: continuing the Dreamwave stories, I got an email from Steve's website. Part of it read:

Anyway just when things looked bleak another statement was released, this time from a senior executive at Diamond Comics Distributors (who supply the shops and people like myself). This guy confirmed that a new publisher for Dreamwave's titles was due to be announced shortly, and this new company will eventually ship all of the comic books that are currently stuck in limbo + continue them. So this is really great news, and is now a matter of when not if the comics come back. I'm guessing that it will take a couple of months to get the show will be back on the road.

Other bits of information out there suggest that Hasbro is very keen to get the comics back into production as soon as possible. They have their Galaxy Forces range of TF toys to plug and want to sustain interest in the franchise in the run up to the live action movie next year.

So he's certainly looking at it positively.

[Predabot]

this new company will eventually ship all of the comic books that are currently stuck in limbo + continue them.

Could it possibly be? The growing hope in my chest is immense. Sniff

They have their Galaxy Forces range of TF toys to plug and want to sustain interest in the franchise in the run up to the live action movie next year.

So he's certainly looking at it positively.

Makes perfect sence in todays climate, to think I believed that we were going to have another several year hiatus for the TF-comics! Now, who is this mystery publisher?

[Shanti418]

So he's certainly looking at it positively. Makes perfect sence in todays climate, to think I believed that we were going to have another several year hiatus for the TF-comics! Now, who is this mystery publisher?

My guess would be Shockwave.

[BB Shockwave]

Gah! And I could have gotten away with it, if it wasn't for those meddling fans and that Brick!