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Post by MissingSea on Mar 21, 2008 10:57:03 GMT
Surprised noone has posted this yet (if they have please boot me in the head repeatedly)
IDW Publishing Unleashes the DECEPTICONS on Earth!
Maxi-Series ALL HAIL MEGATRON Depicts a World Without AUTOBOTS
San Diego, CA (March 19, 2008) - It’s often said that the true measure of a hero is based on the quality of the villain—and TRANSFORMERS has some of the greatest villains in pop culture. But the heroic AUTOBOTS have kept the evil DECEPTICONS in check—until now.
Starting in July, IDW Publishing will unveil a turning point in the TRANSFORMERS saga. TRANSFORMERS: ALL HAIL MEGATRON, under license from HPG, the licensing division of Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE: HAS). Set one year after the events of TRANSFORMERS: Devastation, TRANSFORMERS: ALL HAIL MEGATRON launches a new storyline that shows what happens when great heroes aren’t around to defend against their powerful villains. The DECEPTICONS, led by the ruthless MEGATRON, have somehow succeeded in dispatching the AUTOBOTS and their leader, OPTIMUS PRIME, leaving Earth ripe for the plucking.
The 12-part maxi-series takes TRANSFORMERS in an epic new direction courtesy of writer Shane McCarthy (Detective Comics, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight) and fan-favorite artist Guido Guidi (TRANSFORMERS Spotlight: Galvatron, TRANSFORMERS Beast Wars: The Ascending). Together, they tell the tale of an Earth decimated by the DECEPTICONS. Where are the AUTOBOTS, and how did they come to be exiled from Earth? Who has changed sides, who will live, and who will die? These questions, as well as the introduction of an all-new Transformers character, will be answered in the pages of the series.
“This thing is going to knock the fans’ socks off,” McCarthy says. “This is exactly the kind of story I’ve always wanted to see done, and I think the fans will be right there with me.”
IDW’s Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Chris Ryall added, “ALL HAIL MEGATRON is what the AUTOBOTS fought so hard to prevent, the ultimate culmination of MEGATRON’s plans. It’s destruction on a grand scale; it’s a story of sacrifice, lost heroism, betrayal, and hopefully at the end, renewal.
“But this series, more than any other we’ve done, shows that hopes don’t amount to much in the face of unrelenting evil. Shane’s story hearkens back to the greatest stories in TRANSFORMERS history, while still feeling vibrant and excitingly new. And the best part is the accessibility of the tale makes this a perfect jumping-on spot for new fans of good comics, along with long-time followers of TRANSFORMERS.”
TRANSFORMERS: ALL HAIL MEGATRON #1 is being solicited for July ’08 release. It will feature a victorious MEGATRON cover by Klaus Scherwinski, as well as a distinctive variant cover by Trevor Hutchison.
Could be interesting 12 issue series carrying on from Devastation/Revelation Spotlights, I wonder what the new writing blood will bring to the continuity.
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Post by sandhog on Mar 23, 2008 16:18:17 GMT
Yup all set for a 12 issue run  I think this may go part way to explain why we have had such a run of autobot spotlights. Obviously this will focus very much on the Decepticons and what they do in the aftermath of the autobots leaving earth. There are still earthbound autobots, Grimlock (lets see what happens in his spotlight), Hotrod and Sunstreaker. I am really looking forward to this as well as the revelations/spotlights  |
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Post by MissingSea on Mar 23, 2008 21:48:28 GMT
I wonder if the rest of the Dinobots will be revived for this series as well, unless of course that's covered in Spotlight: Grimlock. I would guess that we'll still have the same Earth based 'cons with Soundwave, Ravage and Laserbeak joining them, along with a reanimated Shockwave? If Shockwave does rejoin the cast wonder how it'll work out, will Megs pummel him? or will Shockers tell them how to properly exploit Ore 13.....
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Post by Omega Steve on Apr 8, 2008 6:52:08 GMT
Good news! Focus on Decepticons is out this week and should be in stock with me on Thursday. It'll carry an 8 page preview of All Hail issue 1 and interviews with the creative team. Plus it's got the Constructicons in it. See here - ryalltime.blogspot.com/Comic on sale here |
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Post by acteon on Apr 11, 2008 10:15:38 GMT
That preview looks awesome ^^
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Post by Omegastoopreme on Apr 17, 2008 7:19:25 GMT
Just read the preview. The seekers are back to being F15's in it as opposed to Raptors. In fact looking a lot like the masterpiece ones. I know is a case of different artists doing their own thing, but as it part of the same continuity it seems daft. I know they looked like F15's in the Marvel Avengers one (and Ramjet looked like a standard Seeker) but I sort of let that slide as it was kind of canon, kind of not. But it seemed weird in a proper IDW book.
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Post by Omegastoopreme on Apr 17, 2008 7:30:51 GMT
There are still earthbound autobots, Grimlock (lets see what happens in his spotlight), Hotrod and Sunstreaker. It should be good to see the remaining Bots interact though. They're 3 of the biggest ego's on Cybertron. |
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Post by MissingSea on Jul 14, 2008 17:48:03 GMT
Well I've just read it.... and it was a good issue art-wise, some lovely pencils there by Guido, but.... as a in continuity storyline it felt far too light, with too many spoilers in some cases and not enough explanation of events.
I know this is only the first issue, but it just felt lacking. If it was part of a new continuity I think it would have faired better, both in my own view and, from what I have read on other sites (including IDW's), other peoples views as well. I really hope that the future issues improve and give us more insight into the intervening year... which I suppose is part of the problem, there has been a year between the events in Revelation (which we still haven't read about) and the events in this part of the arc, leaving far too many questions for those of us who have followed this from the start. I hold out hope that this will not be another Megatron Origin, especially since there are still another 11 issues yet to be released...
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Post by Omegastoopreme on Jul 16, 2008 6:14:04 GMT
I know what u mean. I think they should have got Revalation done first, THEN skipped forward a year for All Hail. The whole book felt like you was starting watching a film an hour in and didnt know what was going on, or perhps worse any episode of Lost lol. Also I was surprised to see Sunstreaker with the Autobots (looking like the new classics figure), I thought he'd been left behind on Earth and would be with Hotrod and the Dinobots, and I still dont know whay the've reverted back to the F15 seekers basing them on the Masterpiece mould. We'll just have to see how it pans out.
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Post by Omega Steve on Jul 17, 2008 11:31:47 GMT
I enjoyed the issue for the most part, even if it was over rather quickly. I have a feeling the series will turn out to be a good one. To add to what other's have touched on above, it does feel like a whole new continuity and that's probably deliberate, so that people who haven't read devastation etc can climb aboard. I guess it'll be left to Simon Furman to fill in the back story through his series'.
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Post by sandhog on Aug 1, 2008 10:23:03 GMT
I tend to agree pretty much with everything Missing Sea said about this issue. The artwork is awesome, I just felt there was very little actual content. The decepticons batter New York! + someone/thing has clobbered Prime. I hope there will be more story/content in future issues and that they will not do this to drag it out into 12 episodes (otherwise 6 would be fine).
Well I am a hopeles addict of TF comics so I will buy this regardless I just feel it has been the weakest single issue I have read of IDW.
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Post by zedebo on Aug 3, 2008 19:54:11 GMT
It hasn't started off as the best story so far, maybe if Simon Furman had been involved in writing it the story would be better. However, it's only issue 1 and hopefully things will be clearer as the story goes on. As for Prime being incapacitated, I reckon that'll happen in Sideswipe's Spotlight by Nemisis Prime.
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Post by Omega Steve on Aug 7, 2008 21:43:28 GMT
Yep the jury's out on issue #1. Although I quite liked it there are a lot of other 'fans' who are already writing off the series and talking of not buying issue 2. Success or failure may hinge on whether issues 2+3 successfully step up to the plate.
If they are slow there'll be more readers who ditch the book and that'll be a big problem for IDW as this is not a four or six parter its a year-long comic. Ironically they may have to rely on Furman's side attractions for sales if AHM fails to catch on.
However the premise of the story is a good one, and when you think about it the early Marvel stories (where the Autobots were deactivated and the cons had a free run/Ratchet + the Dinobots were the last survivors etc) were great yarns, so maybe this can be too.
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Post by zedebo on Aug 27, 2008 17:21:37 GMT
Having just read Spotlight: Doubledealer I was right about Optimus getting done over by Nemesis Prime, but it came an issue earlier than I thought it would
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Post by s2h6 on Aug 28, 2008 11:45:22 GMT
I don't know I think Prime might have a bit of fight left in him yet, although its not looking good for Prime since IDW been doing Transformers this will be the second time Prime has almost been killed.
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Post by sandhog on Aug 28, 2008 19:20:22 GMT
I just got my copy of revelations 3 today, perhaps the last two posts should be on a revelations 3 thread  . I must say I really enjoyed this one, it is very fast paced and I think Simon Furman has his work cut out for him to wrap this one up. I hope Sideswipe gets some good characterization in his own spotlight. I felt he stole Cyclonus's thunder in revelations 1 |
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Post by zedebo on Aug 29, 2008 18:11:54 GMT
Read AHM#2 on Wednesday. Well I say read, it took the length of the ads in the Liverpool-Liege game to read. Hardly any script in it but lots of nice pictures to look at.
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Post by sandhog on Aug 29, 2008 18:24:35 GMT
Read AHM#2 on Wednesday. Well I say read, it took the length of the ads in the Liverpool-Liege game to read. Hardly any script in it but lots of nice pictures to look at. I got to say I feel the same as you on this one. I really like the artwork, but flicked through it and got to the end and thought to myself and... again nothing really there just like issue 1. At first I was quite excited about a 12 issue series but if it gets anymore padded out I will be disappointed. Maybe putting an issue squeeze on is a good thing I have really enjoyed all 3 revelations issues so far. |
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Post by sentinelprime2006 on Sept 1, 2008 19:59:13 GMT
I like the use of another, if the more annoying, witwicky in AHM 2. Also, did anyone else notice a certain Lt Col Hawke?! How many other Joe's will pop up, I wonder? I feel sorry for the U.S of A. I mean, where are their allies in all this? Surely the president would've phoned the PM in GB and asked for help? I like this being slow, as I think it could have probably been done in 6.
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Post by andyturnbull on Sept 4, 2008 10:08:07 GMT
As Steve will know from discussions elsewhere I'm not a big fan of AHM. The art and colouring is superb but we've had two issues where the plot hasn't really advanced, which is pretty shocking. Also the characters have all now reverted to the Sunbow era renditions as opposed to how they've been portrayed in IDW's take. Which is a shame as Starscream has been more interesting here than anywhere else.
Andy
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Post by Omega Steve on Sept 17, 2008 22:08:04 GMT
Fair points Andy, which I know a lot of people agree with, judging by the response on various boards. The five preview pages for issue 3 have led a lot of folk to believe we're in for more of the same with issue 3 (cons attacking humans and not much in the way of plot advancement).
However I've been reading the early posts on IDW's boards from fans who have got their comics today... and the concensus seems to be that #3 is leaps and bounds better than the first two issues.
The OneShallStand copies arrive tomorrow so you'll all have a chance to see for yourselves soon.
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Post by Omega Steve on Sept 17, 2008 22:09:00 GMT
AHM writer Shane McCarthy on recent criticisms - (source: www.otca.com.au/boards/showpost.php?p=43359&postcount=76)Hi guys, I'm dropping in to say thanks to Roller and the Perth crew for attending the Perth signing and for their generous gift. I also thought, since I was invited here by the guys (and since I'm an Aussie), I'd stick around long enough to at least try and clear up some of the conjecture I've seen on the board. Firstly, even though we've stated this many times before, yes AHM is in continuity and no it was never pitched as an Elseworlds or What If story. I was brought in by IDW because they were looking for a new take on the franchise/continuity as sales on the book were dropping to an all time low. This doesn't mean that what was out there was bad, it just meant that for whatever reason it wasn't catching people's interest and IDW wanted something that would. AHM was always in continuity, right from the start; our comments in interviews and on forums explaining that fact weren't 'damage control' or any such thing, we were simply trying to clear it up as, obviously, it's been somewhat confusing for many fans. Now, regarding the continuity, Chris Ryall and I worked hard in the early planning stages to try and make a good blend of what the existing readers would want, and what new readers would be interested in. Some things we've changed (some of which you've seen, others you've yet to see), some things we've gotten rid of and other things we've kept. Regardless of whether or not people think it is, AHM is definitely tied in with previous continuity. I've read all of the previous IDW books and have brought much of that through into AHM; again, some of this you just haven't seen yet. Ok, some quick replies to some points (sorry I couldn't reply to all of these personally, Guys, I hope you understand): Body count - As much as I would have loved to have shown extreme death and carnage Hasbro, understandably, won't allow it. At the end of the day kids are reading this and Hasbro need to be careful about how their property is portrayed to all audiences. Megatron's goals - Yes Megatron has planned all of this out; he's not just attacking New York city for no reason. The previous protocols he had in place for attacking planets were all well and good but now, according to him, he's won the war; the Autobots have been defeated. As far as I'm concerned he's a military genius and an incredible leader; there's more to this than blowing things up. Devastator - I've read Spotlight: Optimus Prime. AHM is a full year ahead of the end to Revelation so there's plenty of room for advancements in tech. AHM Sales - As stated elsewhere the 15, 000 or so listed in the sales figures were far from the final amount. We sold over 20, 000 copies of AHM #1 and are just (agonizingly) short of selling out of the entire print run. Spotlight: Wheelie - Wheelie takes place well into the future which allows for Reflector to be in AHM with no continuity problems. Hoist - I'm not sure what 'horse' you got that from, Roller, but it's not me. Hoist isn't in AHM. I hope this has helped to clear some things up. Obviously there's nothing wrong with anyone disliking this series but I'd like to make sure you're fully informed about what's going on before anyone leaps to conclusions. At the end of the day myself and IDW are big fans of the property and are working our arses off to bring you something that you'll hopefully enjoy and that will sell copies. Obviously change can be startling, especially to those of you that have been supporting the books, but sales weren't up and IDW needed to do something to reignite the line. Maybe it'll work, maybe it won't (so far it's exceeded expectation) but IDW is simply trying to do something so all of you can keep reading Transformers (and, as has happened, we gain a few new TFs fans along the way). Cheers. |
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Post by sandhog on Sept 19, 2008 17:04:22 GMT
good post
I am quite suprised that the print run is so low! I was also surprised to hear that there were sales issues with the -ation series as this has been really good. Maybe there aren't as many trans fans as I originally thought!
I also read some Wildstorm comics such as "The Authority" and they have also took a radically different direction with their storylines I think in the hope of attracting more readers.
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Post by Omega Steve on Sept 21, 2008 12:30:32 GMT
What is Wildstorm doing? It must be nigh on impossible to do anything truly original these days, with so much that has gone before.
I think TF comics enjoyed massive sales at the start (2002) because they were riding a wave of 80s nostalgia and there hadn't been any TF comics for many years. Also because Dreamwave pumped out half a dozen covers with each issue.
Those casual fans soon fell away and six years on we're left with the hardcore. This is why IDW put its cover price up by a dollar, knowing that the majority of dedicated fans would pay the extra, but the price may be a barrier to getting new people reading. Especially when you consider other comics are $2.99.
It'd be interesting to know whether the Movie has had a big impact or not.
As for AHM: I posted people's issue 3s on Friday and I'm pleased to report that things are starting to happen plot-wise at last. Most intriguing is a throwaway line from Megs about how the war swung so decisively away from the Autobots to the Decepticons!
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Post by sandhog on Sept 21, 2008 17:51:35 GMT
What is Wildstorm doing? It must be nigh on impossible to do anything truly original these days, with so much that has gone before. I think TF comics enjoyed massive sales at the start (2002) because they were riding a wave of 80s nostalgia and there hadn't been any TF comics for many years. Also because Dreamwave pumped out half a dozen covers with each issue. Those casual fans soon fell away and six years on we're left with the hardcore. This is why IDW put its cover price up by a dollar, knowing that the majority of dedicated fans would pay the extra, but the price may be a barrier to getting new people reading. Especially when you consider other comics are $2.99. It'd be interesting to know whether the Movie has had a big impact or not. As for AHM: I posted people's issue 3s on Friday and I'm pleased to report that things are starting to happen plot-wise at last. Most intriguing is a throwaway line from Megs about how the war swung so decisively away from the Autobots to the Decepticons! Wildstorm have changed their "world" in which it sets its various series. I have been reading the Authority since it came out really I wasn't much into the other series (though Planetary I think is the best comic series I have read EVER!). Basically they had an armageddon of sorts so now it is a post apocalyptic world bit like Mad Max etc... The Authority have gone from being near godlike to well...the reverse. I picked up the stormwatch PHD comic from issue 13 and it seems like they are dealing with things better than the authority. So I like this change of events and them having the balls to nuke the earth hehe... makes it different and it is good to see the characters in a new light. They have mini series in the back and these overlap with the other comics. This is annoying cos if you wanted to read all the parts you would also need to buy wildcats and Gen 13 and I have no interest in these. Haven't got my AHM 3 yet but will last til the end I find it hard to quit a series once I start (especially transformers  ). So here is to hoping that the plot thickens |
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. I must say I really enjoyed this one, it is very fast paced and I think Simon Furman has his work cut out for him to wrap this one up. I hope Sideswipe gets some good characterization in his own spotlight. I felt he stole Cyclonus's thunder in revelations 1 
). So here is to hoping that the plot thickens