Artist David Nakayama shared insights about the package design of the latest Transformers Collaborative figure, Marvel Comics X-Men Mash-Up Ultimate X-Spanse, with Adventures in Poor Taste.
AIPT: How do you go about creating the artwork for the upcoming figure? Does Hasbro provide you with a prototype or photographs?
David: They gave me some 3-D turnarounds in this case. I had a PDF that let me see what the figure looked like from every angle. I had a very good idea of what this thing was going to look like. The only thing I didn’t have was the paint. They weren’t necessarily 100% solid on the paint. And actually, if you look at the art that I released, they even changed a couple of things since. So I may go back into my own art and get it up to speed. The next time I post it’ll be totally accurate.
AIPT: I feel like there are two ways to draw Transformers characters. There’s the Generation 1 cartoon-style: very streamlined. Then there’s the more toy-accurate approach with all the kibble. How did you approach drawing Ultimate X-Spanse?
David: What I was trying to do is be very, very accurate to the actual toy, which I try to do every time I do a toy. We are bringing the toy to life with these box illustrations. So I didn’t want to miss any detail–if it was there in the design, I was going to include it in the art. But at the same time, I knew that I was being hired to do it in a line-art style, which is what makes it look a little more like the cartoon, right? You can see those internal lines. You look at my comic book cover art, for example, I don’t do that anymore. I do like a painted thing that has some lines in it, but it’s mostly painted in this case. We wanted the lines because it was meant to evoke that retro comic book vibe, in particular. So yeah, I think between the two of those, like trying to make it look like the toy, but being careful to use lines. You get a nice mix of toy-accurate and cartoon-accurate.
Read the entire interview here, then sound off on the 2005 boards!
mhj006
While waiting for the Blackbird, Cerebro has started locating the members..
#X-menTransformers
HunterGreen2005
Sweet! Think Target.com will fulfill online orders earlier than March 1?
Thundershot
Yesssss. I can’t wait. Too bad it’s not black.. but I understand they’re using the animated series continuity for inspiration.
TFXProtector
marvel b
Project Bird? Neat.
Jtprime17
Cases of this guy have started to arrive in port in the U.S. according to panjiva.
AzT
transformersofficial
JomasterII
Great for you! We live in fucking Australia. We don't have that luxury.
Ejector369
I'm thankful that I pre-ordered mine at Target.com using $50 in Target gift cards.
Mister D
Oof. Almost $100USD for a $65 figure. Aussies are really getting screwed in the down under.
Black Convoy
Via Ozformers co0nfirmed as an EB Games an Zing exclusive in Australia. Expected for release in February.
https://www.zingpopculture.com.au/p…marvel-comics-x-men-mash-up-ultimate-x-spanse
https://www.ebgames.com.au/product/…marvel-comics-x-men-mash-up-ultimate-x-spanse
QLRformer
Yeah, so, looking at it…
The design is pretty extreme, in both a good and bad way. The blue/yellow color and the assembled weapons (claw, visor, energy blade) look pretty nice, but it does look rather overdone and the face needs improvement. The visor should have been integrated into the design in a better way IMO.
Also, X-Spanse sounds a really awkward name. It would be better suited for an explorer.
HasTakCrack
Hm! *rubbing chin intensifies*
Exodus
X-Panse is actually one per order so you wouldn't be able to order two.
The Allspice
I do, but I also used to work retail in college and haaattteeedddd dealing with customers that wanted to cancel and then reorder things as soon as a sale hit. Just on principle I don't want to do it. Plus, I just bought a couple MP figs that I snuck past my wife and I don't want to draw ANY attention to my purchase history right now.
Kingragnork
You realize you can cancel preorders and then just reorder them right?
HunterGreen2005
Ultimate X-Pants bought a copy of Uncanny X-Men issue 275 and told Teletraan I, "That's my new suit bub(sic), hope you got it in a 42 long"
View attachment 28861766
The Allspice
It has timed exclusivity through Target and then hits other retailers after a few months. It is still available for pre-order through Target, and they're still doing the BOGO 50% deal. So, if you wanted a Sky Lynx but balked at the price nows your chance to get it and an Ultimate X-Spanse at 50% off. Or two X-Spanses or whatever. I dunno, I'm still mad that I pre-ordered right before this deal, but everyone else should get on it!
Shepard Prime
Is this getting a store release or is it online exclusive like the Ironhide/Prowl 2-packs from Amazon?
Chareos
Tron light cycle character name? End of Line….