SCRIPT (W)RAP – NEFARIOUS #3

Okay, here we go with the next Transformers Nefarious Script (W)rap (collect ‘em all!), my post-script digressions on issue #3 of the six-issue IDW series (as major Spoiler-free as possible, but if you’d rather know nothing, bail now!): so — the Autobots have captured Soundwave. No mean feat, given this master tactician’s knack for being several steps ahead of the opposition. But this time Soundwave’s been outmanoeuvred, by the clandestine and highly well-organized/connected organization known as The Initiative, who would rather pit their enemies against one another than engage directly (though, given their resources, that’s always an option… as you’ll see). But capturing Soundwave is one thing, holding onto him is another matter entirely, as Bumblebee and his trio of Autobot cadets: Jolt, Dune Runner and Breakaway are about to find out. And just in case you think it’s all going The Initiative’s way, they’re trying—urgently—to stabilize a highly volatile ‘infant’ All Spark and fend off rather-too-curious-for-his-own-good Director of National Security Theodore Galloway. Cue the (US) comic book debut of another ‘movie’ character that didn’t make the final cut! But the ‘spotlight’ is well and truly on Bumblebee, who has more to say than usual (even if most of his words are internalized), and the unfolding conspiracy of The Initiative, a conspiracy that stretches back more years than maybe you would expect! Gorgeous art this issue by Carlos Magno, who is just crystallizing as a major comics talent more with every issue. Enjoy (when it comes out in May)!

INCOMING — TF NEFARIOUS #1

Shipping this week (March 17th in the US, 18th in the UK) is the first issue of Transformers: Nefarious, the bone fide, accept-no-substitutes (comic book) sequel to Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, written by me with art by Carlos Magno. So what can you expect from this six-issue series? Well, for a start, a much bigger role in the movie-verse for Soundwave, the Decepticons’ thus far unsung master of global information and strategy. He’s detected a distinct anomaly, one that no amount of data dissemination can explain. Namely, Ravage, functional and active despite his spine-tingling encounter with Bumblebee in ROTF. Soon, the existence of another big power in the battle for Earth becomes apparent: the Initiative, a human-based organization with a whole lot of claws sunk very deep in the fabric of Cybertronian science and lore. So much so, that their ultimate aim is to… well, never mind. The first issue reveals, if not all, some of the staggering secrets of Project: Nefarious. Needless to say, both the Autobots and the Decepticons are soon dragged into the escalating crisis, and nothing in the TF movie-verse will ever be the same again. Expect shocks, surprises, characters making their debut (a few unique to Nefarious) and much much more! For more info on all new Transformers releases from IDW, check out there website here.

COMICS CANDY (MARCH)

Is up! My latest round up/review of a mostly random selection of comics from the February shipping list can be found at Totalscifionline.com, including my review of Nick Roche’s Last Stand of the Wreckers #2 and many others. You can check it out here.

TF-UK ON I-PHONE!

The digital era of Transformers comics advances yet another stage, with the release of Titan’s UK Transformers comics on I-Phone, beginning with the first of Titan’s movie-continuity stories featuring Optimus Prime (written by me, with art by Geoff Senior). To download, go here. For a sample of what’s on offer, click this YouTube link.

PST – MORE PSP TF FROM IDW

Yep, more of IDW’s fine Transformers comics, including a goodly quota written by yours truly, have been released in digital form for Sony’s PSP digital comics service, among them Transformers Spotlight: Hardhead, Transformers Spotlight: Double Dealer, Transformers Spotlight: Sideswipe and Transformers: All Hail Megatron #13. For more info go here.