#Transformers Desolation issue 3 preview. #TransformersVictory #TransformersHeadmasters

Issue 3 preview. Art by me. #TransformersHeadmasters #Transformers

Anyone interested in the evolution of #Transformers #Fanzines? This is the first time I’ve seen the cover of my first ever fanzine in almost 3 decades! Left: Transformers Holiday Special #1 (1995). Cover by me (aged 12) Right: Transformers Desolation #4 (coming soon) Cover by me (aged 43)

Thank you so much for writing this @jroberts332.bsky.social - words can’t describe the feelings that hit me while reading some of my old pen friends’ memories of the 90s Transformers fandom during our teenage years.

Thanks for all of the messages in response to my recent post. I wasn’t expecting the response I got so I thought I need to be clear on this: Really sorry to disappoint people but I’m not looking to commission a professional artist.…..

As it’s taking me forever to finish colouring issue 3, I’ve been thinking that it might be a good idea to find another artist who I can alternate drawing the comic with. Would anyone be interested in drawing the strip for issue 4?

I’m still busy colouring pages from issue 3’s lead strip, but in the interim here’s a preview of issue 4’s cover. Art by me, with thanks to @memphisr56.bsky.social for the colour assists.

I often spend my lunch breaks writing ideas for Transformers stories. Here’s an extract from what I have planned for issue 4.

Colouring progress is slow, but I’d rather get it the best I can rather than just done.

Doing my best Temu @jroberts332.bsky.social impression writing #Transformers fiction sat in a coffee shop. Key messages: “torture is indiscriminate” and “characters to slaughter include…”. Lots of visual homages to Marvel’s TFUK and some deepcut TF Japanese lore in this one.

Sorry I’m over a year behind. I’ve managed to do the colour flats on two pages over the Easter weekend.

#Transformers #TransformersVictory #TransformersMasterforce #TransformersHeadmasters #TMUK

Another preview from issue 3.

Proof I’m still working on this project: New preview from issue 3 - need to finish the backgrounds and ink some missing lines though. Just have 2 more pages to finish drawing then I can start colouring. #Transformers #TransformersVictory #TransformersHeadmasters

Why is my timeline clogged up with just absolute horrid shite? I moved here from X to get away from that and see nothing but Transformers content.

FYI There is only 1 copy left of #Transformers Desolation issue 1, and 6 copies of issue 2 left in my Kofi store. ko-fi.com/tfdesolation... I don’t think I will be printing any further copies of these back issues.

Since 1995 Graham has consistently produced THE best fan produced Transformers media. Both in terms of presentation/production values and content. Highly recommended reading.

The recent publication of Generation Mechs by @jroberts332.bsky.social has reminded me of the work I started on this reissue of some of the best bits of my 90s Transformers Fanzine. Originally I was going to do this as a printed zine but so far the page count is close to 80+ pages which would make…

Finally finished inking another page. 3 more to do and then I can start colouring.

Promise I’m actually working on the fanzine. Here’s another page. If anyone still wants a copy of issue 1 or 2: ko-fi.com/tfdesolation

Deszaras profile. Lines: @edpirrie.bsky.social Text: George Morgan Colours/layout: me.

More preview art from issue 3. Another preview page from issue 3. #Transformers #TransformersVictory #Deszaras #Deathsaurus #Sixshot #Headmasters #soundblaster #Lyzak #Novastorm #Deathcobra

Just 3 pages left to ink and then I can start colouring! In terms of consistency I’m managing to put a fanzine out every two years! How the hell did I put one out every two months in the 90s, and still find time to contribute to my friends’ fanzines?

I wouldn’t ever think of making this a charity zine to attract contributors as I would be too worried about delays on my part or not raising enough money for the charity or letting people down in general. Besides, #TransformersVictory doesn’t really resonate with a broad section of the fanbase.

Having inked 4/8 pages for issue 3’s comic strip along with the cover to issue 4 (I got distracted), I’ve come to the realisation that I need help with this series as I’m averaging about 2 years between issues by trying to do 70% of the content myself.

I finally found the time to sit down and read these two works of genius. I honestly don’t know how @jroberts332.bsky.social managed to wrap everything up in such a coherent and articulate way (both plot wise and in terms of physical books). Shame some of the unused ideas never made it to comic.

Preview page lines from Desolation issue 3. Geek mode: That’s the Battle Gaia team (based on the recent Magic Square figures) from 1992 in the lower panel rather than the Combaticons.

Probably the most complex thing I’ve ever drawn. Here’s the unfinished lines to the cover of Desolation issue 4. #Liokaiser #Deathcobra #Lyzak and #NovaStorm guarding #Soundblaster from #DarkConvoy and #BattleGaia #Transformers #TransformersVictory #OperationCombination

That Elon Musk interview with Jon Stewart on the Daily Show was like:

Three pages of issue 3 inked. Got distracted and started work on issue 4’s cover for the next issue preview page. This is probably the most ambitious thing I’ve ever drawn. Multiple gestalts, lots of other characters, background. Why do I do this to myself?

Another preview page from issue 3. Deathcobra, Nova Storm, Lyzak, and Soundblaster.

Not the best, but the rough inks are done for one page of issue 3. Lots of mistakes to fix.

In the days before proper network administration, my friend edited the auto-correct on my high school’s MS Word to replace correct spellings of common words with utter nonsense and various teachers’ names with the nicknames given to them by pupils. School newsletters were hilarious……

Here’s a preview of a panel from issue 3. Still a lot of details to fill in, a few obvious errors to fix, and I’m not entirely happy with the faces on Lyzak & Nova Storm, but I’ll update these as I go.

If I finish inking the background, I *might* post a preview panel for issue 3.

This all day long. Fun fact: apart from one or two new amazing people I’ve got to know in the fandom more recently - I still make zines with the same people I did in 1995!

This, 24/7 all year long.

I was really excited by the news of #HasLab #Liokaiser until my relatively niche area of the fandom #TransformersVictory started getting infested with hate-spewing right wing bigots & entitled man babies.

Merge #Liokaiser ko-fi.com/tfdesolation

I finally forced myself into inking the first panel for issue 3’s comic. I’ve got 7 pages of layouts done, 3 in one flashback, 2 present day, 1 in another flashback. None of it makes sense as I need to complete the layouts for the latter two scenes and add another present day sequence.

Hope everyone going to @tfnationltd.bsky.social has a wonderful time - stay safe all. One day I will attend my first TF convention since 1999.

So far I’ve managed to do layouts for 4 pages of issue 3’s comic strip. It’s taken some time but I’m so far pleased with the direction it’s taken. Really nervous about backing myself into a corner for issue 4 that is WAY beyond my artistic abilities and the available reference material though.

Final mock up:

As a side-project I started doing a collab with my 14 year old self. The original line art is from 1997 I believe. Just adding some black and detail in the style I used back then.

Nova Storm profile art by the super talented @natephoenix.bsky.social with colours by @tfdesolation.bsky.social - full profile will be in #Transformers Desolation issue 3!

A special, heartfelt thanks must go to @thetfukguide.bsky.social Almost 30 years ago, G was one of the many penpals I had in TMUK who I used to trade fanzines with. Not only has he been one of the most prolific&talented creators in TF fandom, but also one of the genuinely nicest human beings.

Went to bed early last night only to wake up to an unexpected number of notifications. Just wanted to say that I am eternally grateful for all of the support from the TF community, whether that is buying a copy of the fanzine, liking some content I’ve posted, or promoting the fanzine to friends.