Official Preview art from IDW!

Señior's Covenant · Post by **Señior's Covenant** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 5:35 pm

But I don't understand. Wouldn't one of the new covers for the new series of The Transformers include, well, the new Starscream included in one of the two official releases of covers put out there by IDW rather than his old self? Surely, if the names associated with the art of the "3rd" & "4th" covers is indeed accurate, these two had to be some preliminary stuff. Also, didn't IDW say they were releasing the title under "The Transformers", not "Transformers"?

Predabot · Post by **Predabot** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 5:43 pm

Perhaps. Or perhaps the artist, who's just doing a single cover not working on the ongoing, simply f*cked up.

Or he/it wasn't given the new designs to work with, for time reasons or some such.

Stormwolf · Post by **Stormwolf** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 6:07 pm

Maybe we'll get too see that the Transformers reformatted over time to blend in.

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 6:08 pm

they are a interesting balance of cartoon esque depictions, the bendyarms etc and nice details

What I do really like is the inking, much more detail.

Señior's Covenant · Post by **Señior's Covenant** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 6:19 pm

You know what I love, the roller-coaster of attitudes one can have about something. I was iffy and then happy about a variety of things all through this IDW pickup since it started. I was surprisingly excited about Su's releases, so much the additional two covers from other artists that suck didn't phase me about this new Furman/Su teamup.

And then came THIS.

Hope the link works.

It's the newly (just) released Ed McGuinness cover. Sitting at the end of the topic the prior two were posted in at IDW's board fyi.

I also hate it, fyi.

Shanti418 · Post by **Shanti418** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 6:21 pm

Definetly not a big fan of that. Much too clean. It's all too clean. Where's Yanger at?

Predabot · Post by **Predabot** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 6:24 pm

Hmm, yes. It's quite simplified. But the coloring is nice, and for some reason I like it. It's not at all the best of em' but it's tolerable.

And Covenant...I've already posted that image-link.

In an edit, as at the time, there were no other posts visible.

Shanti418 · Post by **Shanti418** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 6:31 pm

Anyway, between the story, the art, and the buisness side of things, I think it's safe to say that these covers are running dead last behind Furman and Ryall/Taylor, in terms of consumer confidence.

Señior's Covenant · Post by **Señior's Covenant** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 6:38 pm

Predabot wrote:And Covenant...I've already posted that image-link. In an edit, as at the time, there were no other posts visible.

Well, pardon me for not seeing an edited in link. I only posted it now as I did not recall someone posting it prior, and Dan Taylor had just posted it at IDW's board.

Predabot · Post by **Predabot** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 7:07 pm

My speed must be uncanny. Aaanyways, what are the overall thoughts on these variants? Good? Bad? Do we really need this many?? Should there be 'more'?

I hope everyone got that there will acctually be yet another un-disclosed variant, only available on BotCon, apparently.

Ozz · Post by **Ozz** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 7:14 pm

Predabot wrote:Also, I'd like to point out, that your little pun is to late methinks, after I posted it, and checked it again (saw it first at Seibertron) I noticed the credits.

Pun's something else. That was a joke though, pity you're seemed to take it too serious.

Predabot wrote:Your post time is after my editing, but is inconsequential.

Yes, it is. If by "after" you mean "before", that is.

And just because you seem so anal about who posted what first, I think I point that synopsis of #0 was posted by me yesterday, thanks to TFArchive's Nevermore.

Predabot · Post by **Predabot** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 7:24 pm

Natch, lil' fella. It was not visible when I noticed it. Hence it's inconsequental to me. Albit not to you, as I can't upload my memory-engrams to the internet, the rules of evidenc then of course falls in your favor. Ta-ta.

I was not aware that you had already posted the synopsis? And if you did, why not in this thread?? I really can't see it anywhere here.

Post by **Denyer** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 7:33 pm

Predabot wrote:All fair and done Denyer. But what about the 2 of them is it that you like perticularly much?

—That it isn't a work of startling incompetency. This shouldn't need qualifying, but I became accustomed to disappointment by a group of Canadian fraudsters masquerading as a comics company.

—Photo 3D effect on the chest sections of Jazz and Prowl, design attributes taken from Alternators and the realism of Ratchet's pose.

—Joints that don't expect metal to be fluid, but curves used where they could credibly be; eg, Jazz's facial expression. Glass effects on Prowl.

—Proportion.

—Scale.

Señior's Covenant · Post by **Señior's Covenant** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 7:36 pm

Buy that man a beer.

I'd do it myself but I'm broke at the moment.

Darth Aux · Post by **Darth Aux** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 7:40 pm

OK lots of different opinions flying around.

I don't dislike these covers. I like that they were brave enough to update Prowl (Bravo), it works.

I'm not defending DW, DD or Marvel here, this is just my opinion on what I see here as art and not as a comparison.

So here it goes, the Autobot cover is a little flat. I like Jazz, Rachet an Prowl but they are a little sub par for cover work in my opinion.

There are some proportion issues I can see on the Decipticon cover, limbs mainly (the hands are out). I like the Screamer update, but his face is all wrong, that's more Skywarp I think as it doesn't have that je ne sais pa pou qua (Spelling) that screamer has.

The Megatron, Soundwave cover is ok just not cover quality, again in my opinion. Megs hand on our left is out.

The megs and Oppy cover is out too, Prime is too skinny (Action Master, doesn't look like he'll transform.)

Before I get any look at this DW trash in comparison, I am not comparing. These are just some issues I have.

But when all is said and done, if the stories are up to scratch the artwork is more than sufficient.

I might just enjoy this.

So it's a thumbs up. But I think some more work needs to be A) released and B) Fine tuned.

Predabot · Post by **Predabot** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 7:46 pm

Denyer wrote: —Photo 3D effect on the chest sections of Jazz and Prowl, design attributes taken from Alternators and the realism of Ratchet's pose.

—Joints that don't expect metal to be fluid, but curves used where they could credibly be; eg, Jazz's facial expression. Glass effects on Prowl.

It to me appears as if you are commenting on the first 2 ones, wich are indeed pretty good.

I want you to comment extensively on the 2 new variants. And of course the Shockers wrap-around.

Also, what is your thoughts on the fact that this comic will have, if I'm counting correctly now, 6, that's right, six different covers?

Señior's Covenant · Post by **Señior's Covenant** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 7:51 pm

Predabot wrote:Also, what is your thoughts on the fact that this comic will have, if I'm counting correctly now, 6, that's right, six different covers?

Wait, six? How so.

Shanti418 · Post by **Shanti418** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 8:10 pm

2 Mlix, two EJ, a McGuiness, and at least one Raiz, I guess.

As long as IDW keeps on releasing the variants on a 1:1 ratio and charges the same price, I don't see any problem with variants, I guess.

Autobloke · Post by **Autobloke** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 8:31 pm

Going back to SC's concern, perhaps the 'old style' Starscream and Soundwave are to pull in the older punters who may not want the new designs so much. It's a stretch, I know, but possible.
I already vented my spleen over at IDW's site about the covers, so all you need to know was that I weren't overly impressed.

And under-detailed cartoon Shockwave cover was hardly worth the effort, I reckon.

Just quickly going off on a tangent - did anyone see that Megas XLR episode with the green Shockwaves that transformed into tanks?

They were more impressive than the 'Dancing Shockers' cover (take another look - but through MY eyes).

As for variants - could they at least also include a different picture in the centre pages as DW did for the first G1 series. That might make it worth it for me to buy them all.

Legion · Post by **Legion** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 8:42 pm

Autobloke wrote: And under-detailed cartoon Shockwave cover was hardly worth the effort, I reckon.

i think that's a bit harsh... ok, so it's not the uber detailed work we saw from the better DW artists, but that doesn't make it a bad picture. i quite like it... as for "cartoon Shockwave", it's far, far superior to anything we ever saw animated in the cartoon imho.

Señior's Covenant · Post by **Señior's Covenant** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 8:53 pm

Legion wrote:... ok, so it's not the uber detailed work we saw from the better DW artists, but that doesn't make it a bad picture. i quite like it... as for "cartoon Shockwave", it's far, far superior to anything we ever saw animated in the cartoon imho.

Yes, perhaps, but this isn't a cartoon. This is concerning the cover of a new, updated launch of the Transformers series. No need to take risks with lackluster covers on the premiere deal. Like I said over at IDW about it I'm happy Su is the one doing the series and not anyone else they've been spilling cover ideas from for the past two days. I like Su's stuff more than any other I've seen. Far from a comparison to the old TF cartoon, this Shockwave looks like he was just pulled off of Teen Titans. It's horridly simplistic in design. It needs more details here & there, dim down that coloring or something, but mostly it needs redesigns in where the arms meet the torso, the knees meet the thighs, and a total redraw on the forearm cannon. Harsh can be harsh, but that doesn't mean it can't be true or constructive.

Predabot · Post by **Predabot** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 9:07 pm

Hey Autobloke, I managed to track down your posts on IDW's board. And now I see it! Shockers got ear-rings now!

Bah. Remove.

Legion · Post by **Legion** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 9:52 pm

Señior's Covenant wrote: Harsh can be harsh, but that doesn't mean it can't be true or constructive.

very true, hope i didn't come across too harshly myself!

i'm not saying the pic is perfect (what is going on with those shoulders for example?) but on the whole, it's good. it is a different style to what we've all become acustomed to, but that doesn't mean it's "not worth the effort" was what i found to be a bit harsh.
fair enough, the shoulders and the base of his gun look a little whack to me but hell, it's at least on a par to some of Pat Lee's renditions.
and to say it's under detailed, think back to some of the (good) marvel artwork, there was a distinct lack of 'uber' detail back then, but there was nothing wrong with that.

Post by **Kaylee** » Fri Jun 24, 2005 12:29 am

I thnk they're artworks pretty good- mainly because it looks like it can effectively tell a story. the monumental grandstanding of DW's work might have been impressive but it was utterly incapable mostly of expressing what we going on.

Post by **Denyer** » Fri Jun 24, 2005 1:17 am

Predabot wrote:It to me appears as if you are commenting on the first 2 ones

All fair and done Denyer. But what about the 2 of them is it that you like perticularly much? I.e, what in them makes them highly talented work, wich makes them a must for a collector who wants one variant cover?

You should give that certificate of cunning back to Mr Fox. Stealing is bad.

Predabot wrote:I want you to comment extensively on the 2 new variants. And of course the Shockers wrap-around.

The wraparound is inked for panel art, by a mainstream artist calculated to attract fans of American-style anime. Not to my taste, and I'd have Shockers moving past a building rather than bursting out of a false frame. Giant hand syndrome has struck again. May be a sound business decision for getting the attention of kids, we'll have to wait and see.

http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/ ... mers1c.htm

Badly coloured, well-framed, heads are accurate, shadows and crosshatching make this an effective retro piece and create menace. It almost looks as if someone dragged Nel Yomtov out of retirement.

http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/ ... mers1c.htm

Would perhaps make a more effective panel running the full height of a page and clipped to the left and right. Captures motion and I like the realistic Prime model and being able to note where truck mode pieces line up. I'll be very happy with either of these two if that's what's in the shop; in fact, it would be a considerate decision to go for the retro covers aimed at me and my age group rather than snap up covers indicative of the interior art which might attract new readers.

Predabot wrote:what is your thoughts on the fact that this comic will have, if I'm counting correctly now, 6, that's right, six different covers?

I didn't have a problem with Dreamwave producing multiple covers—I had a problem with what was between them, and seeing the company continue to direct effort away from story. Write the story I'm buying the comic in anticipation of and I don't care if it has a cover. Any comics company would be foolish to correlate cover sales with readership, and I don't think IDW are idiots.

the uiltmate prime fan · Post by **the uiltmate prime fan** » Fri Jun 24, 2005 7:30 am

w00tini! starscreams an F-22! and ten bucks and a box of energon says they based jazz on the porsche Alt proto.

KingMob · Post by **KingMob** » Fri Jun 24, 2005 8:24 am

In looking at commentary around the places, I'm finding it interesting that some people are complaining - and predicting financial ruin and other dooms - about cover images that are better than some of the covers on high-selling Marvel and DC titles. And a fair few folks don't seem to understand variant covers. I keep having to remind myself that a lot of TF comic fans don't seem to actually be into comics.

I like seeing different artistic interpretations of the TFs. I'm actually hoping to see more of this, more different in style. Love to see Thompson, Bradstreet - hell, Templesmith do a TF cover. His World's Best Robots stuff is awesome. I can only imagine the chorus of WAAAAA!1!!1 that would generate from some quarters, tho.
I thought it was wonderful, for example, that Titan got so many different artists - some exceptionally big stars - to do their covers. I should have got Frank Quitely to sketch me Carnivac, not Tinker. Ah, well.

Raiz has put his pencils up on his blog.
Here:
http://jamesraiz.blogspot.com/

Mmmmmm. Yummmy.

Anyway, I'm still looking forward to this. For a $.99 #0 issue, it's looking very well crafted. The story sounds like it'll be a nice framing technique for some exposition + set-up, which I prefer if reams of exposition have to happen. Even Mad Brick's version of the technique - the secret Quintesson report in DW's #0 - was fairly nice, really. Compared to an info-dump or tedious 'thought-boxes' at any rate.
Also, I've enjoyed TF stories done like that before. I fondly remember those annual stories where some kid hacked into the TF computer systems. Just a framing excuse for some backstory, but very well written. Who wrote those, James Hill?

Autobloke wrote:Going back to SC's concern, perhaps the 'old style' Starscream and Soundwave are to pull in the older punters who may not want the new designs so much. It's a stretch, I know, but possible.

I don't think that's a stretch at all, I think you're exactly right.
What's required for the varients for a cheap #0 issue, pitched at a market that includes collectors?
Cover by the interior artist featuring the cast as they will appear - check
Cover by previous, highly regarded TF artist - check
Cover featuring classic characters in 'original G1' form - check
Cover by highly regarded 'regular' comic fan favourite artist - check.

The only one I'm not entirely seeing why exists is the Prime/Megs combat scene. Prime resembles his MP toy, but I wouldn't have pegged that as a punter-draw. I'd consider that one unnecessary. I also wouldn't have gone for 2 Su covers, but then I don't run a comics company.
Still, for a 99 cent #0, it's not going to hurt. We don't even know what the cover ratio is going to be. It's possible that some of these might not even actually be used.
Still, I do like it that Prime/Megs one. It's different.

edited loads to fix some awful spelling mistakes (what's Mavel? Some sort of Swiss Milking Machine company?), add the bit with the quote and my comments, and to see if it would provoke Preds into making an irrelevant and unneccessarily twattish remark about it LOL. But it was all there before the rather lovely comment below. Apart from this bit.

And this bit.

Oohh, it's like an addiction!

Meh, bored now. Oh well, one last time....

I'm away out for a ciggy.

Post by **Best First** » Fri Jun 24, 2005 8:42 am

Those pencils are lovely. I can't believe how much DW blew it by not letting Raiz run riot

The whining about the McGuiniss cover is rather off putting - its a nice clean fun piece as far as i am concerned. Plus its by an artist who i know can actually tell a story with his art, and after the DW 'experience' i'd like to see a few more of these hovering around a TF comic. Seeing someone who thinks Springer should look radioactive slagging this off is rather galling.

I totally agree with Mob that i'd like to see all kind of art styles applied to TFs.

Predabot · Post by **Predabot** » Fri Jun 24, 2005 8:51 am

Allright, after seeing the pencil-version of the Raiz-cover I think it looks slightly better. Hmm...

Is it perhaps so that the ugly coloring on that cover isn't acctually done yet? They need to redo that, and get some better inks on it, for gods sake.

All in all, it still feels as if there's still some things missing in that cover, it's not quite up to par with some of his best work at DW/Otfcc. That's just my evaluation.

Excellent to hear your thoughts on this too, Denyer. And that you acknowledge that all of the alt-covers aren't heaven on earth. Hmm, I suppose the coming weeks might be cool.

EDIT:

Best First wrote:The whining about the McGuiniss cover is rather off putting. Seeing someone who thinks Springer should look radioactive slagging this off is rather galling.

Eh?? You talkin' about me? I'm acctually one of the people, who despite it being simplistic acctually sorta likes that one. Even tho the light-bulbs in his antennae is somewhat odd.

Just to jog your memory:

Predabot wrote:Hmm, yes. It's quite simplified. But the coloring is nice, and for some reason I like it. It's not at all the best of em' but it's tolerable.

Predabot wrote:EDIT: Things are moving fast. There's been more art revealed. It's Shockers in action, rather well-drawn acctually. Perhaps a bit simplistic, but it looks kinda good.

http://www.newsarama.com/IDW/Tformers_S ... ve_rgb.jpg

I totally agree with Mob that i'd like to see all kind of art styles applied to TFs.

I have nothing against different artistical takes on the TF's. I for instance, loved Jae Lee's work on DW's TF/Joe. Too bad he got pretty shoddy colouring there. If you compare the colouring he got there, to that in Ultimate Fantastic Four, they're a world apart.

This doesn't necessarily mean that I like all the styles, or that I find them fitting for eye-catching covers.

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Fri Jun 24, 2005 10:59 am

I like all those covers.

Funny how Raiz can draw good humans on there. If only Dreamwave didn't get on his case so much on Armada.