TRANSFORMERS: EVOLUTIONS

[MattBrady]

Offering up a tease in the minimalist style, IDW dropped the following picture into Newsarama’s inbox, with a very brief note from Editor in Chief Christ Ryall: “the inked cover for The Transformers: Hearts of Steel #1, the first issue in our "Evolutions" [like DC's Elseworlds] line. Written by Chuck Dixon, art by Ted McKeever, and coming in June.”

Ryall has spoken with Newsarama (albeit, briefly) about the “Evolutions” line last August, explaining how it will be the fourth tier of IDW’s Transformers line of titles (the ongoing series, Beast Wars, and Generations make up the other three).

Ryall said:

“Essentially, this will be out-of-continuity, stand-alone tales from established comics pros who might've never had a chance to tackle Transformers before, but have one good story in them. The first one is going to be a blast, and offer art that will blow people away--someone you'd definitely never associate with Transformers but will be hard-pressed to think of otherwise after you see what he's doing.”

Click on the thumbnail for a larger version of the image.

[csGuy]

larger image not working, i take it this is some kind of "steampunk" transformers?

[toede]

Okay...

This is cool. Hopefully they can get some really big names attached to this.

Love to see Romita Jr or Joe Mad on this.

[GZR]

don't tell me this is going to be transformers:gotham by gaslight

because ripping off the idea of tranfsformers set in the victorian age is gonna suck...

[Excelsior!]

Cooooooooooooooool!!!

Maybe they could get Pat Zircher to do it - I always thought his style was perfect for Transformers? Or Ed McGuinness - I really liked the promo pic he did of Shockwave a while back.

[Furu]

Originally posted by GZR
don't tell me this is going to be transformers:gotham by gaslight

because ripping off the idea of tranfsformers set in the victorian age is gonna suck...

What? This doesn't even LOOK Victorian. What are you talking about?

And does EVERYTHING set in a steampunk setting automatically get compared to Gotham by Gaslight and automatically suck? Someone better alert a whole GENRE of fiction then.

Anyway, Chuck Dixon on anything usually ends up pretty good, and the whole idea of a Elseworlds Transformers line is too cool to ignore.

[Wade Wilson]

Originally posted by Excelsior!
Cooooooooooooooool!!!

Maybe they could get Pat Zircher to do it - I always thought his style was perfect for Transformers? Or Ed McGuinness - I really liked the promo pic he did of Shockwave a while back.

Hopefully Iron Man will be good enough.

[Nobody]

All I read was "Ted McKeever" and I was sold.

[sephiroth617]

Looks interesting, I'm sold.

[cleazer]

This looks pretty cool. I like the overall concept of the line too.

Originally posted by GZR
don't tell me this is going to be transformers:gotham by gaslight

because ripping off the idea of tranfsformers set in the victorian age is gonna suck...

So, a guy with a sledgehammer in his hand working on a steam engine in what appears to be the American west = ripping off Gotham By Gaslight?

I'm not sure I follow. Please explain.

[Sketchpad]

I dunno ... this almost looks like the John Henry Tall Tale ... could be neat if it is

[Conor E]

Wow, good thing that the quality of the final product can be judged by a piece of concept art. Thanks for saving me from buying this!

I was also unaware DC Comics invented the Steampunk genre, and that no one else is allowed to use it, ever.

[The Marvel]

The most important question, though, is:

Will it follow suit with all the other Transformer series of late and ship with more variant covers than interior pages? Because that would R-O-C-K.

[bluebird]

awesome. last time i was really, really jazzed about a transformers comic was their WWII-era crossover with G.I. Joe...and THIS looks even awesomer.

[Enigma20XX]

.... hope the story comes out better than the preview pic... cause that looks kinda silly...

[matchesmalone]

no sale.

Rich Johnston's Lying in the Gutters, Jan. 13, 2003: (scroll about halfway down the page)

"Dixon was emphatic that he saw no place for homosexuality in kids' comic books. In an earlier post on the Dixonverse Web site he wrote "I don't want to expect to be able to shield my kids from the subject of homosexuality as the media seems intent on bringing into my home and nothing short of cutting the electricity and boarding the windows will stop it. But I DON'T want my kids reading about it in comics. I don't want Judd Winnick or Grant Morrison or the nimrod who wrote this 'Rawhide Kid' comic informing my kids about the many facets and lifestyle choices out there in the world. I'd like to be the one to talk to them about it when they're older and I feel the time is right. I especially object to them using characters familiar to my kids to present this worldview. Could you please leave the Beast and Green Lantern alone?"

[matchesmalone]

McKeever's last project certainly pulled IDW-level numbers:

ENGINEHEAD #6 (Of 8) $2.50 DC 6,437


(This 8-issue miniseries, written by Joe Kelly, was whittled to 6 because of sales.)

[astronato]

I don't really like the Transformers but that is pretty neat.

[samnoir]

Steampunk seems like a natural fit for the Transformers. I'm suprised the haven't slipped into that genre previously. The industrial revolutions would be a natural place for interesting conflicts to occur between man and technological beings such as the Transformers. I'm sure they would be a frightening metophor at the turn of the century.

I loved the previous foray into "Elseworlds" type stories with GI Joe/Transformers set in World War 2 with the gorgeous Jae Lee artwork.

Hopefully someone might have a Transformers tale set during the Cold War race to the stars.

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[Furu]

Originally posted by matchesmalone
McKeever's last project certainly pulled IDW-level numbers:

ENGINEHEAD #6 (Of 8) $2.50 DC 6,437


(This 8-issue miniseries, written by Joe Kelly, was whittled to 6 because of sales.)

Okay, you hate everything, we get it. Go away.

[matchesmalone]

Originally posted by Furu
Okay, you hate everything, we get it. Go away.

Thanks boss, but no.

[MicroZone]

Originally posted by Furu
Okay, you hate everything, we get it. Go away.

The "ignore" button really works wonders for people like him. The bad things is that some days, pages are reduced to a dozen people who actually love comics as a medium and lots of blank spaces from the jackasses whose hobby is apparently to bitch about comics instead of read them.

Chuck Dixon, one of my favorite writers of all time on the Transformers! And Ted McKeever's gorgeous art on top of that. Like I said on the IDW boards, I don't know who there had to sell their soul to the devil to get these two signed up to do a TF story, but their sacrifice is appreciated.

Like Dixon, I share a passion for history, so I love seeing a setting & time frame other than present day NYC explored in this medium. And more often than not, it's explored by Chuck himself.

I can't wait for this.

[NeroMan]

We Have A New Cybertron.

[Supreme Convoy]

I could have sworn this said Sean McKeever & Transformers. That would be a neat project

In anycase, looks interesting. If John Henry & Astrotrain teamed up, that would be sweet.

[shakey]

I had no idea this was news

Chuck D spoke about the series in our audio interview...


http://www.wordballoon.com/DIXON.html