JLA/Transformers Pitch Crossover Artwork

For the last few days long time Marvel writer Brian Michael Bendis has been tweeting comic related artwork from his tumblr blog but it was a piece from last night that got the most attention from the comic blogosphere. He tweeted "Transformers/JLA by Phil Jimenez yes, i said Transformers/JLA by Phil Jimenez" with gorgeous artwork (left). It turns out this piece wasn't just some fan commissioned artwork but a pitch from IDW's Editor-in-Chief Chris Ryall for a JLA/Transformers crossover that looks to have been truly DC Universe wide and epic in scope. The idea was probably killed by DC as it came when they were getting ready to relaunch the DC Universe that would adjust the look and history of DCU. On bright side it doesn't mean they might revisit this in a few years and just update the story to reflect the new DCU.

Phil Jimenez followed up via twitter with an additional piece of art (right) and comments to fans. I strung them together below.

"Somehow, that rascally @brianbendis got a hold of my JLA/Transformers pitch art! Oh, what an epic that would have been! It would have been EPIC. You missed out on Wonder Woman's invisible jet becoming a very cool Transformer. Another piece of unused art from my JLA/Transformers pitch, with colors by the unbelievable @rfajardojr

"Giving credit where credit is due: the idea for Optimus Prime as a GL was none other than @chris_ryall's. Smart guy. A pitch for a cross-over! Got sideline after the DC relaunch, I think. Would have been fun, though! I'm a sucker for those Seacons. ...this was just pitch art, my friend. Just to give a taste. The transforming invisible jet... which was "female," I think. She would have been sooo cool. This would have been epically fun. No other reason to attempt such a thing, really, except for fun!"

Transformers: Fall of Cybertron iOS App, Upcoming DLC

High Moon Studios has released their official app for iPad and iPhone to go with Transformers: Fall of Cybertron. It is not a game but more of a companion piece that provides story background, artwork, news and videos around the game. The free app can be found at the App Store. Thanks to Spark500 for the link.

High Moon also has two new DLC packs set for release. The Dinobot Destructor Pack is set for release on 11/9/12 and will be simiuliar to the already released Havoc Pack where the character skins are available for multiplayer as are their component parts for creating a custom Transformer. The Massive Fury Pack will be out on 9/25/12 and comes with the G1 Optimus Prime for the single player missions and Insecticons for the multiplayer game. I assume both those packs will also be $10 each.

Transformers: Prime 2.17 Out of the Past Promo, TV Spot

A new episode of Transformers: Prime airs Friday on The Hub at 7pm est. Called "Out of the Past, the episode is described as "When Arcee is unexpectedly brought back into the company of an old friend, they discover together that Decepticon has been scheming behind their backs an elaborate plan with the intentions of destroying the Autobots and claiming his victory." The episode has Cliffjumper and the Prime debut of Shockwave. Below is a the TV spot and clip for the episode. Few more images are here.

Upcoming episodes:
09/07 New Recruit (2.18) - Starscream goes on a quest for Red Energon; a new Autobot joins Team prime. The Autobots and Decepticons come across some clues that could have the potential to change the war and perhaps restore Cybertron.
09/14 The Human Factor (2.19) - Silas is given a new lease on life and approaches Megatron with a plan to join the Decepticon ranks.
09/21 Legacy - Jack is paired off with a new partner; Megatron tries to keep Optimus from discovering the existence of a legendary weapon.

Linkfest - Upcoming

The theme of this linkfest edition seems to be “upcoming” as there are a slew of new official and unofficial (but expensive) toys that are coming out in the next few months. All of them drool worthy, especially for G1 fans. The links includes galleries to Takara next wave of Masterpiece toys, Kreon Wallpaper, new TFC Toys, iGears and Mastermind Creations toys along with a review for a Hercules add-on.

Upcoming Takara MP Releases - MP-12 Lambor/Sideswipe | Red Alert, Soundwave | Video
Hit the link to look at the next new Masterpiece molds from Takara. Sideswipe and Red Alert is the smallest MP toy they have made yet as designed to be to scale to MP Prime and fit inside his trailer. The toys have been officially licensed by Lamborghini to give it that extra authentic look. The figures will be out by end of the year for around $90 each. Shockwave is getting the MP upgrade, retaining his classic boom box look with Laserbeak cassette but with a whole lot more detail and articulation. I would be very surprised if Hasbro didn't bring one or all of these molds stateside sometime next year. You can also hit the video link for a look at the figure but no subtitles to understand what the engineer is saying.

Kreon Wallpaper
Hasbro has released wallpaper for many of their upcoming Kreon figures. CGI images include Ironhide, Megatron, Prime, Wheeljack and more.

Transformers: Prime Season 2 Returns Tonight (Updated)

Just a friendly reminder that Transformers: Prime returns tonight on The Hub with new episodes starting with ep 2.16 "Hurt" that is described as "Still reeling from the near-fatal experience Bulkhead faced at the hands of Hardshell during the last relic hunt, Wheeljack and Miko decide to take matters into their own hands and leave to hunt down Hardshell to exact revenge for their friend." Prime will now air on Friday at 7:00pm EST, a move from its previous Saturday 8:00pm slot. Promo video for Hurt is below. The new eps kick off with a mini-marathon starting at 5pm EST that is likely Tunnel Vision, Triangulation, Triage, and Toxicity to help get you caught back up.

Update: Added clip from Hurt ep below.

Upcoming episodes:
08/31 Out of the Past (2.17) - When Arcee is unexpectedly brought back into the company of an old friend, they discover together that Decepticon has been scheming behind their backs an elaborate plan with the intentions of destroying the Autobots and claiming his victory.
09/07 New Recruit (2.18) - Starscream goes on a quest for Red Energon; a new Autobot joins Team prime. The Autobots and Decepticons come across some clues that could have the potential to change the war and perhaps restore Cybertron.
09/14 The Human Factor (2.19) - Silas is given a new lease on life and approaches Megatron with a plan to join the Decepticon ranks.
09/21 Legacy - no episode description

Transformers: Prime Season 2 Blu-Ray, DVD Sets Coming

The last half of season 2 of Transformers: Prime starts tomorrow. It looks like it will be 11 straight weeks of new episodes as Hasbro and Shout Factory have announced that Transformers: Prime Season 2 set will be released on November 20th for DVD and November 27th for Blu-ray just in time for Christmas. The four disc sets will include all 26 episodes, Optimus Prime: Up Close and Personal Panel with Peter Cullen being interviewed by Larry King and interviews with the production team. Doesn't look like there will be any commentaries and the like. Currently Amazon has pre-orders up for the set with DVD set priced at $20.95 and shoutfactory.com - Blu-ray set at $41.93. Full press release below.

Transformers: Fall of Cybertron DLC and Reviews

Transformers: Fall of Cybertron has only been out a day but already a new DLC has been released, the end credits sequence posted and various reviews of the game. The FoC DLC gives access to Ultra Magnus, Perceptor, Wheeljack and Blast Off with Cybertronian vehicle modes and parts available in customization menu so can create your own version of these characters if choose too. The characters are only playable in multiplayer mode. The DLC is now available on PSN and XBox Live for $10. More screenshots from the DLC can be found here.

While it is early, there are already several reviews posted for the game. Some sites loved the games, others where underwhelmed but so far the game has around a 80% on Metacritic. Below are select quotes from various reviews to give a range of what is being written. Also below, for giggles, is the spoiler free end credits to the game scored to Stan Bush's The Touch: Sam Theme. This version of the classic TF: The Movie song was remade to fit Bay's sound athestics for the first Transformers theme. If don't mind spoiler the game, there are already plenty of boss fight and walkthrough videos posted on YouTube.

Transformers: Fall of Cybertron Out Now

Just a reminder that today is the launch date for Transformers: Fall of Cybertron for the PS3, XBox 360 and PC. Most stores are pricing the game at $59.99 but there are a few exceptions. Probably the best deal comes from Toys R Us with their buy 1 get 1 video game off for 40%. If can't find that second game then Amazon is your other bet with a $49.99 price point. You can find the launch trailers here and here.

Amazon - PS3/360: $49.99; PC: $59.99
Best Buy - PS3/360: $59.99; 15% off game guide with game purchase
Gamestop - PS3/360: $59.99
Target - PS3/360: $59.99
Toys R Us - PS3/360: $59.99; Buy 1 Get 1 40% Off
WalMart - PS3/360: $59.99

IDW November 2012 Transformers Comics

IDW Publishing has released their publishing plans for November 2012. A total of four comics and zero trades are being released that month. Transformers: Prime joins the line-up with a the mini-series Rage of the Dinobots that uses their Fall of Cybertron Dinobots origin to tell a new in continuity story. If you are interested in the books, just let your local comic book store know. For the full details of IDW's other books including GI Joe, Star Trek, Locke & Key, and more click here.

Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye Ongoing #11
James Roberts (w) • Alex Milne (a) • Milne, Nick Roche (c)
SHADOWLAND CONCLUDES! And it’s the end of an era when, on pre-war CYBERTRON, enemies close in on all sides and Orion Pax—the future OPTIMUS PRIME—selects a team of AUTOBOTS to help him pull off the ultimate heist—with the fate of the planet hanging in the balance!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye #8 Preview

Dinobot essentially ends with the release of Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye #8 this Wednesday. The annuals are still to come but they don't focus on the Dinos. This issue focuses on Grimlock and I assume tells a little bit of what happened to him since he was last written about. I think that was the Maximum Dinobots miniseries in 2008 to 2009 but not entirely sure. Any case a preview of MTMTE #8 can be found here.

Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye Ongoing #8
James Roberts (w) • Alex Milne (a) • Milne, Nick Roche (c)
DINOBOT MONTH! Three years ago, Grimlock disappeared from his prison cell on Garrus 9. Where did he go? What happened to him? One thing’s for certain: the leader of the Dinobots is back—and he's itching to settle some scores!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Transformers: Fall of Cybertron Launch Trailer 2

High Moon Studios has released another new launch trailer via IGN (previous here) for Transformers: Fall of the Cybertron. Whoever does the trailers for High Moon deserves a raise as they have a true cinematic feel to them compared to other video game trailers. The game comes out this Tuesday, August 21st on PS3, 360 and PC.

Transformers: Prime 2.16 Hurt Promo, Marathon

Transformers: Prime returns starting August 24th with new episode called "Hurt" that pits the Insecticon Hardshell against Wheeljack. To kick things off starting this Friday at 5pm EST The Hub will have a marathon of TF Prime eps. Not sure how many episodes but I assume it will go from 5-8 so six. Below is the promo for the marathon. Speaking of TF Prime, click here for screenshots of the the video game for the Wii and DS systems that is out in October.

Upcoming episodes:
08/24 Hurt - Still reeling from the near-fatal experience Bulkhead faced at the hands of Hardshell during the last relic hunt, Wheeljack and Miko decide to take matters into their own hands and leave to hunt down Hardshell to exact revenge for their friend.
08/31 Out of the Past - Arcee and a friend uncover a feat of Decepticon engineering intending to destroy the Autobots.

Transformers: Fall of Cybertron Launch Ads

While Transformers: Fall of Cybertron isn't officially released until August 21st, High Moon Studios went ahead and revealed what their launch ads will be for the game. I assume variations of it will start appearing all over the place starting next Tuesday. It not anything we have not seen before but still cool to see. Except for Prime. Don't know why but when Prime is running towards Megatron, it just makes me think of a fat man with huge beer belly trying to run fast. The game will be released for Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and PC. Thanks to Spark500 for the link.

Linkfest - TFCon

At the end of July TFCon was held in Canada. While Hasbro bowed out of the convention due to the con refusing to ban third party Transformers, those same companies used it as an opportunity to sell and show off some of their upcoming projects. Almost all of them engage in homages to Generation One toys but usually with a level of detail and articulation that Hasbro toys don't have and with characters and alt modes that Hasbro will never bother to attempt due to lack of mass market appeal and cost. With all that in mind, below are galleries to various 3rd party toys shown off at TFCon, galleries to official Hasbro products, article about G1 mail away TFs and a whole bunch of video reviews.

Mastermind Collectibles Gallery
Hit the link for MC's upcoming toys. Hextron is their take on G1's Sixshot with six transformer modes but with greater detail and articulation then the 80s version (which is getting a re-release from Takara). The final version will be about Masterpiece Grimlock in size so probably will not be cheap when it is released sometime in 2013. Their other toys include a repaint of Knight Morpher Cyclops based on the gray scale paint scheme of Radioshack version of G1 Shockwave and Knight Morpher Seekers that are repaints of not Starscream.

Transformers: Fall of Cybertron Giant Bomb Video

If you have 35 minutes, below is a long look at Transformers: War for Cybertron as High Moon Studios Matt Tieger teaches Giant Bomb's crew how to play the game by showing off multiple levels from the game. It starts with the Optimus Prime level (the G1 retro version), moves to Jazz, Cliffjumper, Vortex, Bruticus, and ends with Grimlock. Demo is out now on the PSN and XBox Live. Game comes out on August 21st. A summary of a Kotaku Q&A with Tieger about the game can be found here.

Transformers: MTMTE #8 Preview

Dinobot month continues in IDW's Transformers title. Today brings Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye #8 to stores as the rest of the Dinobots show up on Cybertron. A sneak peak of the issue can be found here.

Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye Ongoing #8
James Roberts (w) • Alex Milne (a) • Milne, Nick Roche (c)
DINOBOT MONTH! Three years ago, Grimlock disappeared from his prison cell on Garrus 9. Where did he go? What happened to him? One thing’s for certain: the leader of the Dinobots is back—and he's itching to settle some scores!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Transformers: Fall of Cybertron Demo Video,

Yesterday Transformers: Fall of Cybertron Demo went live on XBox and PS3. ClevverGames has posted five videos that show off the various features that players can expect. Thanks to Spark500 for the links.

Demo Review