RoTF Comic Adaptation Preview #2

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Movie Adaptation #2 will be hitting newsstands on May 28th and IDW has provided a sneak peak here. Including bits is a look at the Nemesis (Decepticon flagship, counterpart to the Autobots Arc from G1 cartoons), a few corny lines from Megatron (that I hope isn't in the movie unless the line reading is just kickass), and bits of Sam looking foolish in class as Wheelie spies on Mikaela. Thanks to ghola-tleilaxu and DeceptiFreak for the heads-up.

Comic Movie Adapation Preview

IDW has posted five pages from Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Movie Adaptation #1 issue that will be out in comic stores starting May 20th. Unlike the novels, the comic adaptation doesn't need the same lead time so it is probably based on a more current version of the film script but not necessarily the final cut of the film. In a way the various adaptations provide an interesting look at how a film script evolves over time.

The pages can be found here and they do provide a few spoilers. It provides additional confirmation of the Ice Cream Truck being the Twins, suggests that Arcee is all three bikes that share a single mind, and that Stratosphere (who in the movie is probably just a plane, not a TF) has a role in the sense that he provides the air transportation to drop Optimus in position to take on Demolisher. Thanks to ghola-tleilaxu, Phil, and Gregory for the link.

Transformers 2 Adaptation Cover

The first issue of the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Movie Adaptation will hit newsstands on May 20th. One of the covers is to the right and I believe the entire four issue series is coming out weekly leading up to the movie. The adaptation will be written by legendary Transformers comic writer Simon Furman with art by Josh Nizzi.

I have yet to decide if I will summarize each issue as it will give away the entire story. Sure this is a spoiler site but most of the time the information is best guesses and unconfirmed. Since this will come straight from one of the script drafts, but not necessarily the shooting script, that will no longer be the case. Maybe use invisio-text to make it easier for people to skip over.

Defiance #4 Movie Spoilers (Updated)

The concluding issue four of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Prequel Defiance arc came out this Wednesday and it provides a few details and spoilers for the upcoming movie. The arc is the story of what started the Transformers Civil War that eventually reached Earth in the first movie. I have not read the copy so the information is from Seibertron and TFW2005.

In this first three issues, a relic (the sarcophagus Megatron bows before) is found during an archaeology dig on the planet Cybertron. At this time Megatron is leader of the military and Optimus (not yet Prime) is essentially his assistant and director of the dig. Due to the influence of The Fallen, Megatron claims the relic as his own. The Fallen continues to build on Megatron's ambition until he declares martial law and forms the Decepticons and orders the arrest of Optimus and his friends for treason.

So now to the movie related points of interest:

- The Fallen and his "brothers" (13 total perhaps?) were born on the same planet as the AllSpark (its own origins unknown).
- The AllSpark's power was limited but could be restored by harvesting the energy of a sun.
- The first Cybertronians (including Jetfire) were created to find an appropriate star while the Sun Harvester is built on another planet (Earth).
- The Fallen wanted the AllSpark power for himself but his brothers turn the tables and trap The Fallen and themselves in the sarcophagus
- After the brothers are trapped, a pyramid is built around the Sun Harvester.
- The Fallen influences Megatron to form the Decepticons to use the AllSpark to find the Sun Harvester and activate it so he can be released (alluded to in coloring book pages).
- Optimus Prime forms the Autobots to stop Megatron and his followers from freeing The Fallen.
- As part of the war, the AllSpark is sent into space where it lands on earth due to it detecting the Sun Harvester on the planet (and thus the beginning of the first movie).

Update: Small update, changed the cover photo in the top left to much better variant cover for the issue. To bad there wasn't a scene like that in the first movie.

Alliance #4 Has Movie Spoilers?

The last issue of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Prequel Alliance mini-series came out yesterday and it provides a few possible spoilers for the movie. As TFW2005.com summarizes, here is information that ties directly into the movie:

- McClaren Robotics is a front to provide clean-up for the Transformers existence. If that name sounds familiar, way back in July, it was noted that Steve Tom was cast as the CEO of the company.
- The comic recreates a containment unit for the AllSpark that looks very similar to the promo pic that USA Today published (pic 6) late last year.
- Five new Transformers (panels below) are revealed: Corvette Centennial (Sideswipe), three motorcycles (Arcee, Chromia, ?), and if look carefully can see that mysterious Ice Cream Truck (The Twins first alt mode before becoming Chevy Beat and Trax?).

The last image above is just to show that the comic ends right before the movie begins - with the NEST on the hunt for Demolisher in Shanghai, China. The ice cream truck has caused all kinds of debate but I am still leaning towards it being Skids and Mudflap in disguise as they attempt to hunt Decepticons. I know many think the writers of the comic series are not working off the movie script but I think they are, the only real question is are they working off the shooting draft or an earlier version. Take it how you wish but for me, I am following my simple rule that all Hasbro sanctioned tie-ins are canon until they movie contradicts them. Thanks to an anonymous source for the panel pictures from Alliance #4.

Defiance Issue 4 Cover

IDW has released the cover issue of Transformers Defiance #4 that shows off the anger visage of Megatron. For those not clear on the differences between Alliance and Defiance mini-series here is a very quick summary. Alliance is essentially the origin of NEST and takes place after the first movie but before the second movie on Earth. Defiance is the origin of the Transformers Civil War that creates the factions of Autobots vs. Decepticons started by Megatron with a push from The Fallen. Thanks to Tahnee for the link.

Transformers Alliance #4 Preview

Wednesday brings the next issue of Transformers: RoTF Prequel Alliance #4 issue to comic books stores all over the place. IDW has posted a 5 page preview of the issue here. Alliance is the prequel series that takes immediately following the end of the first movie. The first three issues covered the aftermath of the battle at Mission City in the movie, the dumping of Decepticons at sea, and the dissolution of Sector Seven. It appears that this issue covers the formation of NEST or at least an early version of it with the goal to seek out all Decepticons on the planet.

For those interested, click here for a review of Alliance #3 and here for Defiance #3 review.

Transformers Defiance #3 Preview

IDW has released the first five pages of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Movie Prequel: Defiance #3. The mini-series covers the origin of the civil war that engulfs the Cybertronian race. In this case, it appears that The Fallen played a rather critical role in igniting the war. The preview pages can be found here. Thanks to minime and Phil for the link.

Alliance and Dinobots #3 Issues Preview

Today Transformers Revenge of the Fallen Prequel Alliance #3 and Transformers: Maximum Dinobots #3 came out in comic stores all over the place. For those on the fence about getting them, below are links, via TFW2005, to previews of each of the issues.

Alliance #3 | Maximum Dinobots #3

Transformers Defiance #2 Cover

Artist Alex Milne has posted his cover for Transformers Revenge of the Fallen Defiance #2 which should be out sometime this month. The comic is a prequel to the origins of the civil war that gave rise to the Decepticons and Autobots. A full summary of issue 1 is here.

Furman: No Dinobots

The writers and director of Transformers already said it and now Simon Furman has told MTV the same thing - there will not be Dinobots in Transformers Revenge of the Fallen.

Simon Furman was a consultant on the first film and has been writing comics for Transformers in the US and UK for about 25 years. He is also the creator of "The Fallen" concept used in comics that may or may not be part of the movie.

“I think that possibility was raised briefly and fairly comprehensively shot down,” said Furman. “Much as I love the Dinobots, I’m glad.”

“The movie-verse feels quite different to me, with its own audience and far more rooted in the real world, and Dinobots wouldn’t necessarily be a great fit. Sure, if they could come up with an appropriate rationale and integral reason for them being in there, fine, but it’d need to be good, otherwise it would all start to verge on the kitsch,” said Furman.

“I think story and character often get submerged in the crash, bang wallop, but who can argue with a $700 million plus box office tally?” said Furman, “What [the film] does best, I think, is make movie Transformers distinct from classic or animated or comic Transformers. It’s very much it’s own entity, and that’s how it should be.”

“What I love is that a new generation of kids is being exposed to Transformers in the way that maybe rivals the original ’80s phenomenon,” said Furman.

Thanks to Chris for the link.

Transformers Alliance #3 Cover

"Markerguru" has posted the cover to Transformers Alliance #3 that is coming out February 18th. Alliance is a four issue mini-series that bridges the gap between the end of the first movie and the beginning of the sequel (more or less).

As noted by the artist, the "the decepticon shown on this cover are: fracture, reverb, jetstorm, and gunbarrel. not in that order. i'll just let you guess which is which. it should be pretty easy now right? note: no new movie characters shown here. so to anyone who guess soundwave, you be wrong." The four characters are mostly Energon repaints re-released with the first Transformers movie line so probably will be cannon fodder in the issue.

Transformers Defiance Covers and Info

The first issue of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Movie Prequel: Defiance #1 will arrive in stores on January 21st and as part of that IDW has released multiple covers and a five page sneak peak. Also a sneak peak of issue number 4 cover (left) which looks very good. More importantly, Optimus Prime's opponent looks identical to the leaked image of Megatron complete with cannon and claw.

Defiance is the one with Megatron kneeling before some object that looks similar to the poster face. Below are two additional covers for issue #1. Click here for the sneak peak.

As for the story, according to mini-series writer Chris Mowry on his blog:

The series takes place before the events of the first TRANSFORMERS movie. It expands on the events from the first movie and this summer's sequel. If all goes well, it'll help expand upon the movie universe and set the stage for future stories as well.

It's an origin that's a bit different. Cybertron isn't the same planet that we know. It's flourishing. Characters are working together and not killing one another. The society is based upon peace and the expansion of their knowledge. Megatron serves as the planet's protector. With his soldiers, the planet has enjoyed peace for a long time. Optimus heads up the science and construction division. He's the "blue collar" character who will eventually find himself thrust into a situation that he's never been in before. It's a different time and a very different place, but it all goes horribly wrong.

I still haven't figured out how this series plays out compared to the other prequel mini-series Transformers: Alliance. My best guess is Defiance is more of an origin story for the entire movie universe while Alliance is a direct prequel for the upcoming sequel. The issue will be out this Wednesday, so be sure to check your local comic book store. Thanks to Gregory for the links and issue 4 cover and lowHertz for the issue 1 covers.

Transformers 2 Prequel Comic Defiance (Update)

IDW Publishing has revealed the cover (that is as big as it gets) to the first issue of 4 issue mini-series Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Movie Prequel: Defiance #1. The solicitation description:

The second official prequel to next summer’s TRANSFORMERS movie begins here! In “DEFIANCE,” writer Chris Mowry and artist Dan Khanna tell a tale that delves back to the very origins of CYBERTRON and the beginnings of the war between AUTOBOTS and DECEPTICONS. This first issue introduces new threats and sets up the reasons for the conflict that leads directly into next summer’s sequel to the smash-hit film!

There is also Alliance, the first issue that came out last week that bridges the gap between the two movies. As for the image, not entirely sure who or what Megatron is possibly bowing too (AllSpark shard?) nor if he is looking at something in his hand. Pretty compelling image overall. I believe the first issue hits newsstands sometime in January. Thanks to Gregory for the link.

Update: Below is a much larger image of the Defiance #1 cover from Alex Milne's deviantArt page. If interested you can find other Transformers comic related artist work for Josh Perez (Alliance), Josh Burcham (Maximum Dinobot), and Guido Guidi (All Hail Megatron). Thanks to Tahnee for providing the info and source for a better cover image.

Transformers: Alliance #4 Cover

Generally I don't post about the Transformers comics, mostly because I forget to but in this case the cover for Transformers: Alliance #4 made that difficult to do since it seems the cover includes most of the theorized Autobot cast for Transformers 2.

In the background you have the returning Autobots from the first movie, Ironhide, Bumblebee, Optimus Prime and Ratchet. Then beneath then in vehicle mode are the various cars that have been spotted on Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen sets over the last few months plus a new one. From left to right, the Chevy Beat (Skids), Chevy Trax (unknown), Corvette Centennial (Sideswipe), three RetroSBK bikes (Arcee) and no clue what the purple car behind the bikes are.

Arcee's alt mode being comprised of three separate components have yet to be proven but the three bikers have been spotted on TF sets several times and now being used in a cover that is made up entirely of Autobots seems to be further confirmation of her alt mode. As for that purple car, not a clue. It could be a character created specifically for the comic book or a car that wasn't spotted on the sets but is in the movie. As usual time will tell.

Transformers: Alliance mini-series issue 1 comes out later this month and issue 4 is out in March. Check your local comic book stores about getting the mini-series.

Possible Movie Hints from Prequel Comic Covers?

IDW has released the solicitations for the comics it plans on released in December. As part of Transformers: The Revenge of the Fallen Movie Prequel: Destiny: Alliance #1 cover images were provided. I don't think the title is long enough.

From the solicitation copy:

Transformers: The Revenge of the Fallen Movie Prequel: Destiny: Alliance #1
Chris Mowry (w) • Alex Milne (a) • Milne, Josh Nizzi (c)

The official prequel to next summer’s “TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN” film kicks off here! “TRANSFORMERS: DESTINY” is comprised of two four-part stories covering events leading up to the film. In the first chapter of the DESTINY story arc, ”ALLIANCE,” readers will learn more about what happened to SECTOR SEVEN, what happened to the AUTOBOTS, and why their war on our planet is far from over.

The comics might give a few hints about the upcoming movie but I am betting it has been designed to remain spoiler free. For example, Sector 7 plays a part in the comic but its always possible that by series end its permanently disbanded resulting in Simmons ending up working at a pizza joint. Arcee is on the cover but in her first movie design that went unused. Chances are in the movie she will re-format to a new look. Of note to me is the gray character that has a very G1 Megatron aesthetic going for it. I wonder who that character is and what part he plays in the story (and maybe the movie).

Other releases for the month include Maximum Dinobots #1, Transformers Animated #5, All Hail Megatron #6, and few others. Thanks to Darian and Tommy for the links.