SCRIPT (W)RAP — NEFARIOUS #1

Been a while since I did one of these post-script digressions, so here goes with issue #1 of the upcoming Transformers: Nefarious (6-issue) mini-series from IDW, a direct sequel to Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (so set in the movie-verse). My aim is to keep this as spoiler-free as possible, but if you’d rather not even be teased, look away now! Strictly speaking, Nefarious begins in Tales of the Fallen #5, which features the mysterious resurrection of Ravage (and his even more mysterious mission). But even if you don’t catch that one, issue #1 rolls full pelt into a global conspiracy of which even the Autobots and Decepticons have been blissfully oblivious… until now. Featuring Soundwave, Bumblebee, Optimus Prime, Ironhide, Sideswipe, Alice (yes, Alice!), a quartet of Autobot (toy) characters making their Earth-based debut and even four all-new, original Decepticons (you didn’t think Ravage was Soundwave’s only special agent, did you?), the first issue peels back some of the layers surrounding the mysterious (human) organization known as The Initiative and the (potentially) earth-shattering Project: Nefarious. Just how far and wide its reach extends into the warp of weft of recent Cybertronian history (and how much it’s about to influence their future too) will force Soundwave and then Optimus Prime into truly desperate measures (and a clash or two too) as they learn who’s really in charge of their destiny. And it’s not them! Issue #1 promises lots of intrigue, action, shocks and a final page that’ll leave you scraping your lower jaw off the floor. Do not miss this one!

WIN A COPY OF RAD ROBOTS

That totally fabulous book on all things robotic (from movies, TV, literature, comics and more!), Rad Robots (by someone or other) could be yours — for nowt! Yep, those good people over at totalscifionline.com have 5 signed and bookplated editions (courtesy of Kyle Cathie) to give away in a mind-blowingly simple competition. To find out what’s what, zip over to the competition page here. And if you don’t manage to win one… it’s well worth the cover price anyway, so go on — treat yourself!

I WANT CANDY

The second of my monthly Comics Candy columns, featuring reviews of September-shipping comics titles, is now up at totalscifionline.com. You can check it out here.

In other news, I’m still thundering through a bunch of Transformers and StarCraft scripts. Just wrapped issue #2 of Transformers: Nefarious, the IDW sequel to Revenge of the Fallen. Look for that starting in early 2010, but before that I’ll be sure to start bringing you some teaser-style ‘Script (W)raps’. Soon! Titan’s Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen mag rolls, with issue #5’s UK-exclusive strip pitting Skids and Mudflap against the one and only Ravage! StarCraft-wise, I’m now well into scripting the second story arc, which really ramps up the action and scale, featuring two of the StarCraft Universe’s biggest and baddest characters! And there’s more, of course, but nothing I can talk about right now. Keep watching for updates as and when!