Worlds Collide in IDWs Transformers Vs. G.I. Joe #1 Two of the most popular comic book franchises of all-time, Transformers and G.I. Joe, will be going head-to-head in a brand-new ongoing series - currently available to order in May PREVIEWS (Regular: MAY140456E, $3.99; Subscription: MAY140458E, $3.99)! Originally unveiled during Free Comic Book Day, this new tale is written and drawn by comic luminary Tom Scioli (Godland, American Barbarian) with co-writer and Transformers veteran John Barber. Based on the iconic Hasbro brands, this stand-alone series is set to explore the intriguing encounter between these starkly different teams. When Earth makes contact with an alien race - and G.I. Joe is on the front lines of first contact! But when the Transformers arrive-their version of peace does not match our own... This is a dream project for me, says Barber, and Im blown away by the imagination and the unique take that Tom Scioli is bringing to this project. It harkens back to classic comic traditions-and to the origins of the Transformers and G.I. Joe characters - but feels constantly, irrepressibly new! Diamond Daily took some time to chat with creator Tom Scioli on what inspired this new series and what readers and retailers from this epic crossover. Diamond Daily: Was this project your idea? Or did IDW approach you with this idea in mind? Tom Scioli: In any comic there are a multitude of ideas. Some of them are mine, some of them are not. I did not approach IDW with this idea. I let IDW know that I was interested in doing work with them. John [Barber] contacted me. He gave me the one-line elevator pitch for this story, and I jumped at the chance to work on it. Diamond Daily: How did you figure out the direction that you wanted this book to go in? Scioli: I thought about themes that related to these two brands: things they have in common, things they differ on. I thought about the aspects of them that interested me, and how they relate to my larger interests. I thought about some visual set pieces, things Id like to see in a Transformers or G.I. Joe comic or cartoon or movie. Then I did the research. I watched the cartoons, the movies, read the comics. I took copious notes. I moved the various pieces around in my head, allowing inspiration to strike wherever and whenever it could. Diamond Daily: Were you inspired by past Transformers vs G.I. Joe stories when creating this one? Scioli: Yes. I figured something bad should happen to Bumblebee in the first issue. Its a tradition at this point. Diamond Daily: While writing this book, did you find that there are any contrasting aspects of the G.I. Joe universe and the Transformers universe? Scioli: They mesh incredibly well together. They have way more in common than not. The main contrast is that we are of the same species as the G.I. Joe team, but not the same species as the Transformers. Diamond Daily: What is the hardest part about merging two universes into one book? Or what universe does this book take place in? Scioli: It takes place in the only universe that matters. All other incarnations of Transformers and G.I. Joe, all other comics, period, are pale reflections of the reality we are creating here. While you are reading the book, no other universe matters, even the one our bodies reside in. Diamond Daily: G.I. Joe and Transformers are very different in terms of artwork, how did you combine like terms to create this book visually? Scioli: I dont agree with the premise of the question. In the eighties, the artwork in both books was very similar, sometimes drawn by the same people. In the nineties, the 2000s, the 2010s both books had very similar artistic approaches. Transformers vs. G.I. Joe is the biggest break yet with what has come before in terms of drawing style, yet feels as though its been there all along. Diamond Daily: Transformers vs G.I. Joe #1 will follow the Free Comic Book Day issue; does this add any pressure to get customers to actually purchase this one? Scioli: I will personally gauge the success of the Free Comic Book Day issue by how many of the people who read #0 show up to buy #1. A 100% conversion would make me very happy. Its also mathematically possible to exceed 100% if people who got #0 let their friends use it. Diamond Daily: Do you think mash-up books like this are easier to sell to consumers? Why or why not? Scioli: It depends on the two things being mashed together. These are two pretty awesome things with a long pedigree and a huge readership historically. G.I. Joe comics were advertised in commercials on TV. It was one of the most widely-read comic books in its heyday. I dont recall Transformers having commercials for the comic itself [Transformers did have commercials, too! —John], but both had animated TV representations of their mythology. There are a lot of people who know and love these brands. There are a lot of people who dont know these brands, but know of them. Its a good position to be in, as a creator, knowing that you have all those factors on your side. How will you and IDW promote the book after Free Comic Book Day? Are there any incentives in the FCBD book to get readers to buy the next one? Scioli: Me and John will be doing a creators blog (when we get a chance to take a breath) where we talk about the making of each issue. I have a list of reviewers, tastemakers, etc. that Ive built up for my self-published work. IDW sent me a ton of books that I will personally send to those people. I travel to conventions and will be talk the book up and handing out copies there. I believe a strong web presence is important for the book.
Posted on: Sun, 18 May 2014 19:30:00 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015