We’re at it again. Just before Chris Ryall left for England, we were able to score an interview with him. More transformerlicious tidbits about his upcoming projects, and some movie related stuff right here. Spoilers galore!

We won’t keep you waiting… read on.

YOU

[CybPh]: It’s been a few months since the last interview. How’ve you been in the meantime? What’ve you been up to?

Chris: Business as usual, for the most part, although I’m leaving for Europe in the morning. My first trip there, and it’s going to include a signing at a comic shop in London (Orbital Comics), so that’s pretty cool. Otherwise, we’ve been getting ready for the Transformers movie opening (the attached photo shows my daughter and I seeing our stuff sold at a major mass-market retailers here, Target, for the very first time. They went on sale there this past weekend. We’ve also got Licensing Show in NYC, BotCon looming soon after that, Comicon in San Diego, a Star Trek con in August… the fun never stops.

THE MOVIE

CybPh: Were there any significant changes needed to translate the movie into a comic adaptation?
Chris: The most challenging thing was the fact that we worked off the script and had very little visuals to work from at the start. I’m seeing the movie on the 28th of this month, so I can see how close we came.

[CybPh]: Any thoughts on the 2007 movie? Aesthetic, impact, ease or difficulty of drawing, etc.?
Chris: It helps a lot having guys like Don Figueroa and Alex Milne doing movie projects–those two make anything they draw look good, so any ease or difficulty aside, the end result is just fantastic, really some dynamic comics.

[CybPh]: Any chance that there may be a director’s cut for the movie later on that might feature some scenes from the prequel comic?
Chris: Nope, the prequel was entirely our doing, so nothing in there was ever shot. I can say that there WILL be a special all-new prequel comic available around the time the DVD hits. I’m writing that one, and Don Figueroa and Andrew Wildman are drawing.

[CybPh]: Is there any other set-up stuff or anything you wanted to put in the prequel comic that ended up on the cutting room floor?
Chris: Nope, we were lucky enough to get to do everything we wanted in that book.

[CybPh]: Is there any chance of working on an expanded prequel to the movie, i.e. one that reaches even further back?
Chris: Definitely. There are still some other tales to be told, like the fate of Cybertron now that the AllSpark is no longer there.

[CybPh]: In the event of a sequel, will IDW be working on a “bridge” or second prequel comic to fill the lead into that?
Chris: I’m sure we will, yeah.

[CybPh]: Might the movie even give rise to a new continuity and thus a miniseries developing that?
Chris: There’s been talk, but so far it’s just been talk. Those would take a bit more coordination, to make sure they jibe with any possible sequels.

UPCOMING

[CybPh]: In the upcoming BW profile books, will we be seeing Transmetal forms for characters who didn’t get them in the show?
Chris: That’s the plan, yeah.

[CybPh]: Which characters can we expect to get the spotlight in The Ascending?
Chris: Well, that would be telling, and I’m not quite ready to tell… but there will be some more familiar faces than people got to see in The Gathering.

[CybPh]: What are the chances of another TF era getting a bit of air time, in the vein of BW: The Gathering? say, part of the Unicron Trilogy [Armada/Energon/Cybertron] or Robots in Disguise?
Chris: Not good, actually. We’re doing “early” stories with the Megatron Origin series, but otherwise, those stories you mention are primarily seen as Dreamwave projects, and we’re looking forward to doing other things.

[CybPh]: What can we expect from Devastation? Does anybody make a long-awaited debut or cameo appearance?
Chris: More on Devastation…

[CybPh]: Will we see Soundwave again, possibly with an altmode change?
Chris: I can say you’ll see Soundwave, and many others who appeared in the Spotlight books, but beyond that, I’m going to hold off comment on other characters. I’d prefer it be a surprise. I think a lot of people will be happy, though.

[CybPh]: What will Sixshot’s role be?
Chris: Big, his role will be big.

[CybPh]: Will Hardhead get to see more action?
Chris: Look at all these story-specific questions… don’t you know I hardly ever answer story-specific questions?

[CybPh]: Will you be doing more TF writing in the future?
Chris: Yep. And maybe more beyond that, although I’ve got three other things to come first.

[CybPh]: What’s next for Robby Musso, Nick Roche, and all the other fan-favorite artists?
Chris: Nick is doing Beast Wars and Devastation covers, and I’m looking for interiors for both of those guys. The one unfortunate thing is that there’s just not enough books to go around for all these great artists.

[CybPh]: How does Megatron: Origin tie into the ongoing TF main story? Is it essentially an expanded Spotlight?
Chris: Well, you can look at it like that, but it doesn’t tie in directly. Instead, it shows you where and how Megatron got to be who he is and why he is.

[CybPh]: What unique elements and style does its writer bring to the mix?
Chris: A really solid understanding of Cybertronian politics, an ability to handle a lot of different characters, and a talent for writing kick-ass action. Really, Eric has impressed me more with each issue he’s written. This is gonna be a really good one.

[CybPh]: Will there be similar “Origin” style stories for other characters?
Chris: Maybe, although I’m not really a fan of telling everyone’s beginning story. I like when characters have some mystique. This one made sense and made for a great story, though.

[CybPh]: Will there be more Target 2006-style projects?
Chris: Yep, definitely.

[CybPh]: What’s up ahead for IDW in 2007 and 2008?
Chris: Oh, so much… something huge — HUGE, I say without hyperbole–is planned for Transformers in 2008. But before that, you get Devastation, Beast Wars, more Spotlights, the New Avengers crossover (and a Spotlight spinning out of that, featuring a character who makes his IDW debut in that series)…

[CybPh]: Devastation, check, BW YAAAAAY, more Spotlights always good, check, crossover, check, ooh, new character debut. So stoked for thi-… good God. You mean that ISN’T the huge stuff?

[CybPh]: WORD ASSOCIATION (Maybe there’ll be something new that comes to mind )

Optimus Prime – Helmet–the cool new movie helmet that I wear way too often.

Bumblebee – Camaro.

Shia LaBeouf – Li’l Indy Jones

Autobot – “Autonomous Robots.” Sorry, I keep hearing a line from the movie script when I think of that one.

Galvatron – Amaaaazing art and great story.

Ultra Magnus – Big plans.

Hot Rod – Big plans.

Devastation – Big problems for lots of characters.

Megatron – Alex Milne. Man, does he draw a good Megs.

Beast Wars – Juggling. Which is what Don does with so many characters in this series.

Megan Fox – Wants me (probably).

Starscream – The breakout star of the movie (and my coming prequel comic)

Michael Bay – Lots of people will apologize for what they said about his doing this movie once they see it.

Prowl – Man, there are lots of these…

IDW – Best TF comics ever. But I’m biased.

Decepticon – Dan Taylor.

Energon – Tasty when poured over ice.

Nightbeat – Big plans.

Ironhide – Ahh, poor Ironhide.

Mass-shifting – Hah.

Sixshot – Big plans.

Springer – Really?

Chris Ryall – Invading Britain this week. Sorry in advance.

Prowl – I had nothing to say about him above and I certainly don’t a second time here…

[oops] Cybertron – Lovely in the summertime.

Philippines – Should build a statue and have a national holiday in Don Figueroa’s honor.

TO WRAP UP
[CybPh]: What advice do you have for beginning artists?
Draw all the time. Draw sequential pages, not just pin-ups. Draw a page a day, don’t work on one nice drawing for a week. be realistic about what you can do. Never stop studying others and learning. Draw all the time.

[CybPh]: Any message and/or greetings for your Filipino fanbase?
I’d just like to say thank you for putting up with two interviews from me…

Finally, IDW TF Promo art c/o Dan Taylor and Justin Eisinger. Click on them to enlarge.

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