WonderCon Anaheim’s program schedule is posted, and we’ve reviewed it to give you a sneak peek at an intriguing Transformers-related panel taking place this Saturday:
Transforming and Rolling Out 11:30am – 12:30pm Room 208
It’s a year for big changes and even better comics at IDW Publishing! Come hear all about it from IDW’s senior editor Sarah Gaydos, editor Joe Hughes, and a cavalcade of creators. Expect the usual scintillating chat, major announcements, and even some fun giveaways.
Additionally, IDW’s press release includes mention that Transformers creators John Barber, Livio Ramondelli & Mairghread Scott will be available for signings at booth #1109. What are your burning questions for this panel? Are you attending the convention? Stay tuned for more Transformers-related updates from WonderCon and join the discussion on the 2005 boards!
IgnikaMarcus
Is it bad that I want Unicron to win this time?
justiceg
Thanks for doing this. Definitely doesn’t seem as dire as the original 91% statements.
Kafuka Fuura
Unicron Dwarfs Earth in This Amazing Transformers Art – IGN
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03Mach1
So the panel is happening now? Any juicy bits?
hardlurk
Yep. Here's the whole spreadsheet I made. The last four columns are the original data, the rest are the result of basic arithmetic.
View attachment 27951227
Danforth
Am I right in thinking that setting the boardgames division up is what's depleted their overall value?
Jalaguy
Hmm, so eyeballing the numbers on that graph, total comic sales revenue is only down maybe… 5-10%?
hardlurk
I've been trawling through some of IDW's publicly available records. The financial reports show the revenue brought in by the "IDW" segment of the parent holding company (as distinct from the company overall and the advertising and television divisions), and interestingly, the OTC reports break that revenue down into portions from direct market sales, non-direct market sales, and digital sales. This chart shows what I've found.
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Jalaguy
It hasn't. The 91% drop was in net income across all aspects of the company (which includes their TV and board games stuff), not in comic book sales numbers.
DeletedUser_119270
Why am I singing Wonderpets…
Only IDW? Aww. I was hoping for Transformers Universe: The Bumblebee Movie toys.
Jalaguy
11:30am in Anaheim is 6:30pm here in the UK, I believe.
Danforth
What timezone is Wondercom taking place in? British fan here, wanting to know when to check back
Rodimus Prime
Liquidation?
GoldDeadEnd
DAMN, I had no idea it had gotten that bad.
Michael Payton
If they were ******ed enough to order it. It was canceled before the first issue ever shipped because so few did. Apparently being an angry extremist douchebag who attacks the only people who actually care about the property enough to plop down money for it doesn't help your comics sell well at IDW either. This little fiasco cost IDW their EIC, gobs of sales and their reputation with the companies whose IPs they license. It might still cost them their investors if Hasbro decides not to reup the contract at the end of the year.
Mighty big elephant in that room to avoid.
hardlurk
IDW Publishing on Twitter
But what is IDW transforming into??? I can't stand the suspense!!!
justiceg
My guess is that it’s probably too costly to continue with the actual production to offset the loss, especially given the current turmoil the company is in. Marvel has had years long delays on continuing volumes as well *and* they’re not dealing with a 91% sales loss from one year to this.
Given that state of affairs is it really that absurd that a collection designed to cater to a fairly niche group of fans isn’t high on their list of current priorities?
GoldDeadEnd
I'd like to know what is left to be done. This is…well, not unprecedented. I think I recall Marvel having some years-long delays on continuing volumes. But it's still absurd.
justiceg
Ha, I don’t know what answer you’re hoping to receive. . They’ve been saying “it’s coming” for a long time without it showing up, and with everything going on in the company at the moment i’d Say it’d be amazing if it ever sees the light of day. Maybe if they rush it out before the end of the year…
GoldDeadEnd
If someone could ask about UK Classics v6, that'd be nice.