Hot on the heels of the Transformers movie, Marvel and IDW Publishing’s second issue of New Avengers/Transformers is set to arrive August 8. Marvel has sent us a sneak peek of of the the issue that finds Doc Doom and Megatron teaming up.

“In the debut issue, we built slowly to the big first meeting of these two famous groups, and here’s where the readers’ patience pays off,” said editor Bill Rosemann. “The Avengers–who have been pushed to a violent place due to the Decepticons chicanery–and the Autobots—who have rolled in to squash the rising tempers—run head-on into each other…as blood—and oil—will flow!”

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The movie has only been on screens for a few short hours and already Transformers has been greenlit for a sequel by Dreamworks and Paramount pictures. I gotta tell you, I’ve been pretty excited about seeing the Transformers movie, even though Michael Bay is the director. Typically I go into movies expecting the worst, and then am pleasantly surprised when it doesn’t suck.

Unfortunately my worst fear about this movie seem to be confirmed in the early review Josh Howard posted on his site.

You know that guy you work with or that relative of yours that likes to take your action figures and put them all in sexually suggestive poses while you’re not looking? That’s what this movie felt like.

When one of the “funny” moments includes one of the most loved and revered Autobots, Bumblebee, taking a piss on someone, you know you’ve fallen face down into the filthy, waste-encrusted gutter that is Hollywood.

Holy crap! I can’t wait to see the action figure based on that. “Bubblebee - Now with Pee Action!” No wonder those parents groups are all up in arms.

You can read the rest of the rant at Josh’s site, and if you’ve seen the movie already, post your comments and share your thoughts on The Transformers. If everything Josh says is true,this could mean even worse news for the next Star Trek movie being penned by Robert Orci and Alex Kurtzman, the duo credited for writing Transformers.

via Josh Howard

We’ve kind of seen these before, but now Hasbro has officially unveiled the Transformers Protoform transforming toy. Looks really ugly to me, but hey, I’m not a 7 year old kid (in spite of what my wife says). It’s another look at what we can expect from Michael Bay this summer.

What do you think?

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The official Transformers website has been updated to not only include the winning line from the “Make Prime Speak” contest, but now has Peter Cullen voicing the top ten submissions. No, mine isn’t on there, I guess it sounds rather odd to have Optimus Prime saying, “That Shaft is one bad mutha-”

Anyway, you can get your Transformers fill for the day by heading over to the site.

The Michael Bay Transformers Movie hits theatres July 4, 2007

via Transformers.com (link)

Holy Crap!  The Transformers trailer is now online for you to view - and we actually get to see Transformers this time.  Pretty freakin’ cool.  Even though this is a Michael Bay movie, and it will probably suck, this trailer has me wanting to head into the movie theatre just to check it out.  What would be even more cool is if the Transformer at the end of the trailer actually steps on the little girl - only joking!

via Paramount (link)

Someone embedded in Michael Bay’s production company has been leaking photos of the transforming cast of the Transformers Movie.  Jalopnik has posted CGI images of Optimus Prime, Bumblebee and (sadly) Megatron.  Here’s just a snippet of the OP goodness.

Gotta say, I like what I’m seeing both for Prime and Bumblebee.  While Jalopnik claims these are from the inside, today with the piracy of 3D software, any kid could be making these and posting.  Still, with what we have seen before, I’m going to believe it.  Now if only the movie would be as good as the leaks, everything would be right with the universe.
via Jalopnik (link)

USA Today has an interview with Peter Cullen, voice of Optimus Prime. As many of us already know, Cullen was not the first choice to play the part.

I (heard) the movie was going to be done, and then I heard rumors that big actors … were being considered for the role. And that’s when I found out about (my) fan base — I was very, very surprised. That’s when I started thinking, “Gee whiz, I hope these guys get what they want. Then I started saying, “Boy, I hope I get it, too!”

I finally got a call from my agent. I met with Michael Bay, the director, and I didn’t hear anything for a little while. And then when I met with Michael again. I guess he had a few feelings that he wanted to rectify in his own mind, and then go over a couple of scenes, and then he realized that, yes, I could in fact act.

I for one am glad Bay and company finally came to their senses and listened to the fans for a change.  Now let’s just hope the rest of the movie doesn’t stink and is a fan boys wet dream.

via USAToday.com (link)

Looking for a slew of Transformer pics (Scott Johnson, I’m looking your way)?  Don’t scour the web going from one site to another, check out the Flickr Transformers set. Wow, lot’s of stuff.  Let’s hope it doesn’t spoil everything about the movie for you.

via Flickr (link)

In today’s Yahoo live web chat, the main characters for the Transformers movie were announced.

Autobots

• Optimus Prime
• Bumblebee
• Jazz
• Ratchet
• Ironhide

Decepticons

• Megatron
• Starscream
• Brawl
• Bonecrusher
• Skorpinok
• Frenzy
• Blackout
• Barricade

The only actor confirmed to do a voice of the transforming robots is Peter Cullen, who will be reprising his role as Optimus Prime. Frank Welker, the original voice of Megatron is rumored to be cast in the film as well.

As far as the images go, the concept sketch above is an unconfirmed authentic rendering of Optimus Prime. However, considering the following images have been confirmed by Paramount as the real deal, the concept sketch looks pretty right on.

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It was announced both on G4 Comic Con Live show and by Michael Bay that Optimus Prime’s voice for the upcoming Transformers movie has been cast. Fans will be happy to know that Peter Cullen, who voiced Optimus Prime during the 80s cartoon, will be reprising his role for the feature flick.

Mum was the word when producers were questioned on the voice of Megatron, but if Cullen is a clue, we may get Frank Welker back as well. Word on the street is Welker has sent in an audition tape for the role of Megatron. In the animated series Cullen also voiced the characters Ironhide, Slugslinger, Streetwise, Wingspan, and Nightstick.

Via G4TV