IDW has sent us a press release for their upcoming original graphic novel Transformers: Bumblebee – Win If You Dare. The book was first revealed here yesterday, thanks to an Amazon listing which went up. Though not part of IDW’s current continuity, Transformers: Bumblebee features an original standalone story very much like the upcoming Bumblebee: The Movie which serves as a spinoff movie to the Michael Bay Transformers Live Action Movie Series.
“The exciting thing about this book is that it really hits all the highs of TRANSFORMERS for fans new and old,” said IDW Associate Editor, David Mariotte. “It has action, adventure, racing and robots, but it also has a lot of heart and humor that comes through in this simultaneously retro and very modern package.”
“This story is just a ton of fun,” said Michael Kelly, head of publishing at Hasbro. “Bumblebee is the ultimate underdog, and everyone loves an underdog. IDW has done a fantastic job bringing this iconic character to life for a new generation of fans.”
You can check out the full press release, after the jump. We’ve also attached a gigantic version of the book cover which came along with this press release.
TRANSFORMERS ORIGINAL GRAPHIC NOVEL STARRING BUMBLEBEE ARRIVES FALL 2018
An All-New, All-’80s Bumblebee Adventure From IDW Publishing
IDW Publishing is thrilled to announce that in 2018 Bumblebee from the TRANSFORMERS franchise will star in his very own original graphic novel! The perfect jumping on point for the next generation of TRANSFORMERS fans, Transformers: Bumblebee – Win If You Dare gives readers the opportunity to join in the fan-favorite character’s adventures. Life can feel rough when you aren’t the fastest or the tallest Autobot, but Bumblebee is up to the task!
When his best friend is hurt, Bumblebee takes it upon himself to finish the mission—and prove his worth to his fellow Autobots along the way. Things get tense as Bumblebee and a new human friend infiltrate a series of incredible races, hunting down dangerous foes and a devastating secret. It’s an exciting new, action-packed ’80s adventure! X-Men ’92 co-writers Chad Bowers and Chris Sims along with artist Marcelo Ferreira (Back to the Future, Transformers: Windblade) have crafted a nostalgia-tinged, yet equally fresh standalone story.
“The exciting thing about this book is that it really hits all the highs of TRANSFORMERS for fans new and old,” said IDW Associate Editor, David Mariotte. “It has action, adventure, racing and robots, but it also has a lot of heart and humor that comes through in this simultaneously retro and very modern package.”
“This story is just a ton of fun,” said Michael Kelly, head of publishing at Hasbro. “Bumblebee is the ultimate underdog, and everyone loves an underdog. IDW has done a fantastic job bringing this iconic character to life for a new generation of fans.”
This new OGN will be available in comic shops and book stores September 11, 2018 for $9.99. It is available for pre-order now using ISBN: 978-1-68405-227-1.
Since its launch in 1984, TRANSFORMERS has grown to be one of the world’s most recognizable and successful toy and entertainment brands. Driven by compelling characters and a rich storyline, TRANSFORMERS revolutionized children’s entertainment as one of the first properties to produce a successful toy line, comic book, TV series and animated film. Throughout the franchise’s more than 30 years of history, thousands of unique TRANSFORMERS robots have been introduced through toy lines, multiple animated TV series have debuted, and animated and live-action films have thrilled audiences.
YoungPrime
Despite the Goofy facial expressions, Bee claiming to have "punched a jet" (Better not have be a Seeker), and Windblade looking out of place as usual. I may give this a chance bot ONLY if they do the Con's in this book justice. If they're kicked around by the "Little Bee That Could", then I'll pass!
Battle eRector
Okay, I\'m sold by its Geewunnyness.
Digger
The problem is that there hasn’t been a good thrust in a while. Maybe the maketoys one but that isn’t out yet, looks good though.
Digger
FINALLY! SOMEONE MENTIONS HOW BUMBLEBEE IS FUCKING EVERYWHERE AND NOT WINDBLADE! FUCKING THANK YOU!
Porkulus
This sounds rad.
Conehead Windblade could have some Shinto priest aesthetics going on.
Mouse_Pad
New characters showed up in the G1 cartoon all the time without any introduction. So Windblade just being there seems perfectly consistent with the setting.
cirrusstratus1
All this Bumblebee shit!! Someone wake me up when it's 2020.
lordmegatron64
Windblade shouldn't be in this comic…
Digger
Now I can’t tell what I want. A redeco of windblade as thrust or a redeco of thrust as windblade.
Deadend
So Teletran had some bugs to work out. It did crash into a mountain. Not everything can be perfect(as you pointed out with the cone heads, and one of which is a VTOL similar to Windblade). And she looks more earth mode than Arcee does entirely, plus Arcee wasn't on Earth at that point yet anyway, and again Arcee is land based. The scene called for aerial.
She's really not that far off of Decepticon Thrust, since you brought up the coneheads. And Thrust is G1.
David Hingtgen
But Windblade's alt-mode isn't 80's, or Earth, either. She fits in no better than Arcee. And she doesn't even get away with "quasi-realistic" like the Coneheads either–they are at least "fictional modifications of a real F-15"—-Windblade is just 100% "made-up aircraft".
Digger
It’s weird how so many transformers stories look like Thomas. Like this and some of the early Windblade comics give that vibe.
Majestic Senzu
The book was published by the company Big Stuff, and it was part of their Big Looker Storybook reprints. Art by Earl Norem. "The Great Car Rally"
And you're right, it does remind me of Thomas the Tank Engine as well!
Digger
Where’s that art from? I really like it. Reminds me of Thomas the tank engine.
Heliblade
Oh god some of those faces are SCARY, but hey it\'s nice seeing a stight-up G1 cartoon story and it\'s kinda funny and-
*sees Windblade*
…Who let you in the house?
Majestic Senzu
It's not just Bee. It's literally every face, except Optimus, because he doesn't have a mouth. The story seems fine (and is one huge reference to his 1984 Tech Spec), but this art is so bad. I was actually interested, too… then I immediately started thinking of this:
But then the mouths are actually drawn well here.
EDIT: Also, I heard Bumper Robinson's Bumblebee in my head while reading instead of Dan Gilvezan's. This Bee is significantly more obnoxious here than the G1 cartoon Bee…which reminded me of Animated Bee.
dragon
Most fans always complain transformers alien robots us from another planet no human contact on there world do not have human faces they look humanoid enough for me I get transformers animated theme comic going from bumblebee prospective
Lucas35
Yes, the preview has already been posted:
Transformers: Bumblebee—Win If You Dare
Dark Prime
I do agree but some faces such as prowl's actually work
Deadend
Looks like a fun retro read.
Since they are going more retro 80s. Anyone on Elita's team was out since they'd be on Cybertron.
That leaves Arcee, Windblade, or Strongarm. The scene called for a flier, and they've been wanting to add her to the G1 lineup retroactively anyway, so this works. Plus Strongarm would be doubling up on Prowl types anyway. And since this is pre season 3/pre-movie, it wouldn't make sense to add arcee because her 80s alt mode isn't an earth form of the 80s. So it'd be too early for her too/she shares the same problem as elita's team with no earth modes of the 80s. (Though if Cyberverse is anything to go by, we might see an Earth mode Chromia later in it at least! They seem to be adding her to the Ark crew now, and expanding her away from Elita's team, or as the one member of Elita's team that did go to earth. But again, she's land based.)
It's no different than any other bot that randomly started appearing in the toon like nearly the entire S1/S2 cast outside of the dinobots and aerial bots that had origin episodes. Most would randomly appear like this. It's very G1 in how it's handled treating her like she was always there. They did that to everyone else too. Plus it helps for youth audience retention that may relate this to cyberverse out of familiarity.
This scene also wouldn't have worked with Silverbolt either, he's scared of heights, and his other team members were hot heads/hot shots and daredevils. So Windblade fits the scene requirements the best overall. Plus being a fan poll winner/creation makes her top choice to show fans their creation is now retroactively added to G1.
She makes the most sense overall to add.
And it adds to the S1/2 ranks of flying characters like Powerglide, and Cosmos.