Blaylock speaks

[KingMob]

Josh Blaylock talks TF here: http://www.yojoe.com/faq/blaylockinterv ... ing4.shtml

Plus, LITG remind us that it's all just rumours, mmmkay?

I hear the ink is not quite as dry on the "Transformers" license between Hasbro and Devil's Due as I might have implied. And that this week a number of publishers were flying out to meet and greet the Hasbro boys...

I've also been told that Devil's Due may have balked at some of the terms demanded by Hasbro and may have passed on the license. Or at least, passed on it for now, as it currently stands. Certainly their relationship with Hasbro and the generally well accepted and well selling "G.I. Joe" has made them the most favoured publisher. But contracts are contracts.

Diamond's almost unique decision not to cancel the ordered "Transformers" books, but keep them active for the next publisher to use without starting solicitations from scratch is due to a very hands on approach from Hasbro. Expect the next publisher to have to deal with that kind of thing a lot.

I understand that Josh Blaylock is doing a live interview at YoJoe.com later today (10am Central Time) and will be answering a lot of the speculation.

http://www.comicbookresources.com/columns/?column=13

[Señior's Covenant]

Josh Blaylock talks TF here: http://www.yojoe.com/faq/blaylockinterv ... ing4.shtml

Now that's a guy with a good head on his shoulders. Everything said was very logical and inciteful to what should be done with the belly-up DW situation and the affected fans.

Q: Would the Transformers and G.I.Joe share a universe in their main continuities?

ABSOLUTELY NOT! I think this is a horrible idea, mainly because the TFs would stomp all over the Joes, and the threat of a giant robot alien invasion would make Cobra seem a little less important. I'm all about playing around with the characters together in a SEPARATE continuity, though.

I want to have his baby for that.

Q: Are there any plans to incorporate the recent Transformers Binaltech (the Japanese equivalent of Alternators) story which includes characters from both G.I.Joe Extreme and Sgt. Savage?

Those are some SWEET toys, but that is one of the worst ideas for what to do with the comic series that I've heard. I can't believe that rumor got past one message board. I don't have any plans to use G.I.Joe Extreme or Sgt. Savage in any comics. They might be fun, but we'd sell about 1,000 copies

And I'd buy him a kitten for that one.

[Best First]

man i feelk stupid for even reacting to those initial DD rumours...

Energon seemed to struggle the hardest to find a place with the older readers, for obvious reasons.

Thats balls tho - but the suggestion of finsihing everything off is encouraging.

[spiderfrommars]

The interview's good, hope he's not underestimating War Within though. Still not getting my hopes up about Energon (a TPB would be a wet dream...).

[Señior's Covenant]

...hope he's not underestimating War Within though.

The one reason it'd only be one date.

[KingMob]

I think his comment about Energon is probably based upon the sale figures; it was their lowest-selling title, IIRC.
The accuracy of his reason for it is debatable, but it seems to me - with the 'comic book stores would be able to order these books too' comment - that he would think about making Cybertron aimed at the digest/manga/bookstore markets, creatively aimed straight at the younger demographic. As much as I liked Energon, I think that's a pretty interesting business plan in the current comics market.
Blaylock seems to be a shrewd chappie and (to me at least) is tallking like a pro in that interview, not like the hack PR marionettes we were stuck with by DW. He's giving the impression that he is driven by realistic business concerns and intends to do what's best for his brand's future.
Which is a better attitude than "!hay guyz we r kewl, Transformers rawk and so do custom sportz karrz and str1Ppers!11"

Shame that WW would perhaps be a casualty if he had his way, tho. The WW book is the most creatively worthwhile title in the current TF package, but one can see how it's also the most obvious candidate for the axe.

The section about rumour-control and hasbro etc was pretty interesting, too.

[Best First]

Blaylock seems to be a shrewd chappie and (to me at least) is tallking like a pro in that interview, not like the hack PR marionettes we were stuck with by DW. He's giving the impression that he is driven by realistic business concerns and intends to do what's best for his brand's future.
Which is a better attitude than "!hay guyz we r kewl, Transformers rawk and so do custom sportz karrz and str1Ppers!11"

God, thats true.

[Shanti418]

Energon is the lowest seller, but it's got to be one of the books Hasbro pushes the most, as it advertises their main product. I think it would do great in manga style.

I think we all understand that WW is the little fanboy black sheep of the TF comic family.

With that being said, all we can do is hope that they finish AoW as it sounds like they intend to, then buy four copies a piece.

If that doesn't work, we can always cry and tell our mommies.

I too feel quite the fool for believing those early DD rumors. Alternator comics! Hah!

[Denyer]

man i feelk stupid for even reacting to those initial DD rumours...

Why? People were just giving reactions to possible outcomes. Doesn't mean they actually gave credence to them...

tallking like a pro in that interview, not like the hack PR marionettes we were stuck with by DW.

Eggzunctly. And a big part of that is not aiming to saturate a market already laden with toys, reissues and reprints.

[Predabot]

Q: Would the Transformers and G.I.Joe share a universe in their main continuities?

ABSOLUTELY NOT! I think this is a horrible idea, mainly because the TFs would stomp all over the Joes, and the threat of a giant robot alien invasion would make Cobra seem a little less important. I'm all about playing around with the characters together in a SEPARATE continuity, though.

AHA! Someone officially finally admits it! Um, about the reactions to rumors um..the rumour mill sure can swing ya can't it? Denyer had a word of comfort tho. But still.. {grabs coat, and walks off in shame..for a while}




I'm still not sold on Blaylock, especially if he wants to write it himself, on the other hand he said that he had called Simon Furman.