Simon Furman interview

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Fri May 27, 2005 9:32 pm

Sincere apologies to veritech and those who posted in his topic... (I accidentally pressed the big red button in Transfans' Ivory Tower)

Here's the link:

http://www.newsarama.com/forums/showthr ... tid=880848

Señior's Covenant · Post by **Señior's Covenant** » Fri May 27, 2005 9:34 pm

Hmm, bummer. If I get a moment I'll have to repost properly. For now I'll just reiterate that I was feeling rather pessemistic after reading the review.

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Fri May 27, 2005 9:36 pm

Don't hit me!

Post by **Denyer** » Fri May 27, 2005 9:38 pm

I think the problem is just that most human characters to date have been dire; there's no problem in principle, especially if it draws out TF characters who don't get as much of a look-in when the emphasis is on open warfare.

Señior's Covenant · Post by **Señior's Covenant** » Fri May 27, 2005 9:39 pm

I'd never do that spidey! You're too much a nice dude to know for something like that.

*drops metal pipe behind back*

*pushes it away slowly with foot*

Predabot · Post by **Predabot** » Fri May 27, 2005 10:08 pm

*picks up metal-pipe*

SPIIIDDEEEEEYY!!!!

Naw, what can I say, if I was a mod the boards would probably go down in a matter of minutes. And it wouldn't even be on purpose! You're doing as best you can, you n00b-mod you!

That said, I recall I was going to say that I am not fond of the idea for the crash of the Arc not to be accidental. Everything doesn't have to involve conspiracies.

Also, the Su Armada-artwork isn't very impressive, at first glance, perhaps, but it seems as if most of it was made by the talented colorist. I wish I knew how to make metalls like that.

But I see a lot of simplified anime-style and odd proportions that come with it, in that. Therefore I am still not impressed.

Let's see how it turns out. The whole Ratchet rebell thing I haven't decided on yet, don't know if it's good or bad.

veritech · Post by **veritech** » Fri May 27, 2005 10:29 pm

Hey, don't worry about it Spiderfrommars! I was just amazed that I was the first one to post this interview of the boards.

You know, I wonder how Simon Furman really feels about yet another reboot of his beloved franchise? It has to be very annoying to tell the same story over and over. I know that as a fan and reader, it is a tedious process to have to listen to variations on the same theme, you know?

But its not just the origin/crashland on Earth story? How many permutations have we had on the Unicron crisis? Or the Optimus Prime origin?

There are so many more stories that could be told here.

Post by **Best First** » Fri May 27, 2005 10:29 pm

In the original, the Ark (the Autobots’ spacecraft) crash-lands on Earth. So it’s basically one big accident the Transformers are here at all. That’s no longer the case. There’s now definite intention and method behind their (recent) appearance on Earth. Think of this as G1 for a generation raised on X-Files and conspiracy theories in general.

We're re-inventing Transformers for the generation that grew up with Transformers!

er.... what?

I really dislike the earth centric notion - we are a random ball of mud, the TFs being here by accident works well, but being here for a reason... its like some religions, the notion that humanity/earth is somehow important does not stand up to logic. Less encouraged.

BW is different because once the initial accident happens then Megs target makes sense.

Post by **Denyer** » Fri May 27, 2005 10:34 pm

Finding a balance between old and new slant will be tricky; I remember giving DW the benefit of the doubt, and giving G2 the benefit of the doubt. Heck, I remember giving the UK comic the benefit of the doubt...

Some of those hopes were borne out.

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Fri May 27, 2005 11:21 pm

Simon is very good at painting a nice picture and creating genuine anticipation in his interviews. Means there's often a bit of hype to live up to. His latest stuff in Age of Wrath did just that, so I hope for more good stuff.

And if you're gonna reboot a property, do it properly: DW just started in the middle of something with no gameplan at all, whilst IDW are going right back to the beginning. Ultimate Transformers it is then.

Shanti418 · Post by **Shanti418** » Sat May 28, 2005 12:31 am

He says human heavy stories, with a touch of robots showing up out of nowhere BOOM in disguise, and all I think about is Joey Slick, and Charlene, and that guy who got cerebro shelled by Bombshell. Why don't they call Bob Budiansky back, if that's what they want?

Don't get me wrong, I think earth centric is NOT a bad way to go. One, that's the way the movie will be, and it's the most accesible by the casual fan. Two, that's why I like TF as a kid in the first place. The idea that they could be anywhere. Hell, when I'm driving now and I see a new Mustang, I imagine Grimlock springing to life from it (sorry all you BT Grims haters). And then they had human sized bad guys like Rumble and Ravage, and it was pretty damn cool. I just don't think that it's Simon's strength. Especially with them having a "plan" to be on Earth. Sounds very RID esque, which according to my avatar, I should be for.

And why is Simon so pumped up and eager to finish WW3 if it's lip service to a dead continuity?

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Sat May 28, 2005 6:12 am

Best First wrote:
In the original, the Ark (the Autobots’ spacecraft) crash-lands on Earth. So it’s basically one big accident the Transformers are here at all. That’s no longer the case. There’s now definite intention and method behind their (recent) appearance on Earth. Think of this as G1 for a generation raised on X-Files and conspiracy theories in general.
We're re-inventing Transformers for the generation that grew up with Transformers!

er.... what?

I really dislike the earth centric notion - we are a random ball of mud, the TFs being here by accident works well, but being here for a reason...

And for this very reason, that interview discouraged the freakin hell out of me.

The greatest appeal of the Transformers sure as hell isn't their interaction with humans. Are we supposed to get a rush when a human points up and shouts, "Hey, my VW is a robot!" Yeah, I know, an exaggeration. But it was great when it was done with the very first Marvel issue, but come on, Transformers has evolved into something much more for a reason. If we wanted humans, we could have read other Marvel titles like Spiderman or X-men.

Post by **Denyer** » Sat May 28, 2005 6:49 am

Shanti418 wrote:Why don't they call Bob Budiansky back, if that's what they want?

Because they don't bloody want that? Seems simple.

Why don't they call Jim Shooter if they want Transformers?

KingMob · Post by **KingMob** » Sat May 28, 2005 7:14 am

Hope this posts, I'm having shocking login irritations at the minute...

The human-centric approach is usually the opposite of what I'm looking for in a TF comic, so I have to agree with those who said they are slightly disheartened. However, I do think it is an angle that can be explored well in the hands of a capable writer, and it could also lead to an interesting cast out of the initial G1 role-call. No Dinobots I assume, which is either a large plus or minus for many people. And whilst I do luv'em to pieces, I'm okay with a break from the big lugs.

I'm quite interested to hear that Ratchet will be an early factor.
Ratchet is ace.

sprunkner · Post by **sprunkner** » Sat May 28, 2005 9:59 am

If it were Budiansky writing it, I would be worried. But Simon has always, always been about showing the weak and fallible and noble side of the Transformers as well as the humans. I think what he wants to do is show the oddity of the robots in disguise from an outsider's angle. We all know he's going to do a good job. Come on... we're Furmanites.

Post by **Best First** » Sat May 28, 2005 10:28 am

i don't really have an issue with the notion of the TFs being more 'in disguise' and a lot of focus on humans - that can be a greats story angle when it is done well - look at Man of Iron.

Bob B's human centric stuff tended to fall flat because his humans were usually garish charactures or rather 2 dimensional.

What concerns me is the notion that Earth is somehow important rather than just an accidental destination - it strikes me as rather lame and reduces the Galaxy spanning feel it the conflict.

Happy to be proved wrong though.

Post by **Kaylee** » Sat May 28, 2005 10:35 am

(One appearance by 'O' later

)

Post by **Best First** » Sat May 28, 2005 10:40 am

sprunkner · Post by **sprunkner** » Sun May 29, 2005 8:02 pm

Post by **Kaylee** » Sun May 29, 2005 8:21 pm

I think I just mentioned 'He-Who-Should-Not-Be-Named'

Think if I say his name three time's he'll appear? Afro and all?

'O',
'O'...

sprunkner · Post by **sprunkner** » Sun May 29, 2005 9:47 pm

O O O, you don't have to go, O O O O O, oh, you don't have to go, O O O O O, baby please, don't go....

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Mon May 30, 2005 12:01 pm

'O' no...

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Mon May 30, 2005 12:39 pm

'O' ?

KingMob · Post by **KingMob** » Tue May 31, 2005 4:03 am

You know, 'O'.
Round fellow.

Señior's Covenant · Post by **Señior's Covenant** » Tue May 31, 2005 2:19 pm

Now, to expand...

First, Simon is one of the greater guys in the TF mythos, and while I don't think everything he touches automatically becomes gold, the guy is an awesome writer and I feel lucky for him to be writing yet again on Transformers.

Simon Furman wrote:In the original, the Ark (the Autobots’ spacecraft) crash-lands on Earth. So it’s basically one big accident the Transformers are here at all. That’s no longer the case. There’s now definite intention and method behind their (recent) appearance on Earth. Think of this as G1 for a generation raised on X-Files and conspiracy theories in general.

I hate that idea. Hate it. The whole accident origin of them crashing was a major draw for me. I agree with BF on this one, it's a lame idea. If they want to create a series where the war on Earth is more covert, fine, but in a cosmos this big there's no reason for Earth to be singled out by them like Simon's letting on.

Newsarama wrote:Will this new version also feature any regular human characters?

Simon wrote:It will. In fact, because the Transformers are largely sub-radar, a lot of stuff will be from their perspective.

Trust me, the days of Buster/Spike Witwicky are long gone!

Hey, Witwicky days a thing of the past? Cool, let it pass. And while I can totally understand the need for some characters from the actual planet this is all going to be happening on, substituting a cast of new humans for the Witwicky clan is kind of, oh how do these young ones say it nowadays? Meh?

Glad he mentioned Ratchet. I look forward to that. Sucks he just kind of disappeared in the Marvel run there.

No, no new Transformers.

Not even 'redshirts'?

As a reader myself, I hate unfinished storylines.

Does that mean he has anger management issues about G2? War Within? Other DW titles perhaps?

I so want to finish up War Within v3.

My man.

Still, I don't feel quite as happy as I did a week ago after reading that interview.