Action and Adventure: The Hasbro Universe Podcast

Having already been on the show once before to discuss his cult-hit Revolutionaries, John Barber returns to the Hasbro Universe Podcast to talk about his recent stories in the world of the Transformers, including the mind-blowing "The Falling" storyline, and the finale event Transformers: Unicron! What is it like for John to be bringing a 13-year saga to a close? Listen to him discuss that and more in this special interview! (Originally recorded prior to the release of Unicron #1)

HE'S A BLACKSTAR! Daniel and Callum sit down to talk comics as this week's books send shockwaves through the IDW readership. First off, they catch up on the IDW Solicitations for July 2018. Then they kick off the comic talk with Rom & the Micronauts #4, followed by Lost Light #17, and building up to the comics that broke the Transformers fandom, Optimus Prime #17 and #18! Timecodes: 0:00 - Introduction 1:51 - IDW July 2018 Solicitations 21:58 - Rom & the Micronauts #4 31:56 - Lost Light...

In this special Action and Adventure interview, Daniel sits down with former IDW Editor-in-Chief and ROM writer Chris Ryall! The two discuss Ryall's 14-year tenure at IDW, reviving the character of Rom the Space Knight, and how the Hasbro Universe has grown and developed. Then, Chris answers a few questions that came directly from our listeners! Featured Music: Opening - Rom the Space Knight Toy Fair presentation Ending - Rom the Space Knight toy commercial

...EVENTUALLY! Daniel and Callum come back from the Afterspark to talk about the Hasbro Universe, starting things off by catching up on IDW's solicitations for both May and June! Meanwhile, at WonderCon, John Barber confirmed that Unicron will officially bring the IDW Hasbro Universe to a conclusion. In Lost Light #16, the Rod Squad are all dead! Totally! For realsies! (In unrelated news, you wanna buy a space bridge?) Then, our intrepid hosts wrap up the podcast with another segment of the...

Daniel and Callum kick things off with a look at what could have been with Aubrey Sitterson's Patreon-exclusive scripts and outline for the unpublished issues of Scarlett's Strike Force. In the comics, the Transformers and Spectral Knights play their final gamble against Merklynn and the Darkling Lords in Transformers vs. Visionaries #4. Finally, the guys take another look at the story of Rom and Fy-Laa in the one-shot ROM: Tales of the Solstar Order, as well as speculating about the future...

MICS! COMICS! ACTION AND ADVENTURE! The Hasbro Universe Podcast returns with an episode stuffed to the brim with content! First, Daniel and Callum discuss the departure of Chris Ryall from IDW Publishing after 14 years. Then they jump right into the comics talk with the Optimus Prime Annual, which tells the story of Thundercracker in Starscream: The Movie, followed by a Soundwave focused chapter of The Falling in Optimus Prime #16. Out in space, the story of the Scavengers comes to close(?)...

WACKY RAMBLES! Daniel and Callum kick off the show with some ramble-y news roundup. Then, they discuss the starlit wonder and spooky mysteries of Jem and the Holograms: Dimensions #3. Finally, the RANKED list grows with another entry in the ever-growing list. Timecodes: 00:00 - Introduction 01:30 - James Roberts teases Lost Light/IDW Speculation 22:42 - Bumblebee Graphic Novel 25:03 - Jem Dimensions #3 Discussion 38:12 - RANKED Segment 1:11:27 - Next Week's Comics 1:12:48 -...

RETURN OF THE IRISHMAN! Daniel and Callum are joined by Chris McFeely to talk (well, more like rant) about comics. In the news segment, the gang discusses a preview for the upcoming Unicron event and speculate on the what said event, and its aftermath, will entail. In the comics, G.I. Joe, Intruders, and dinosaurs rampage in Scarlett's Strike Force #2. Then, the conflict intensifies in Transformers Vs. Visionaries #2. Does this issue improve on the first, or is the magic gone already?...

ACTION AND ADVENTURE RETURNS! After long break, the Hasbro Universe Podcast is back, going through the backlog of recorded episodes. Daniel and Callum kick off this episode by going over the solicitations for IDW's April 2018 releases. In the comics, darkness falls on Cybertron as Onyx Prime finally arrives in Optimus Prime #15, bringing his army of beasts with him. Then, in Lost Light #13, the Lost Light crew get at each other's nerves and bore our hosts. Lastly, in ROM & the Micronauts #2,...

WITH MAGICAL POWERS THEY FIGHT! Daniel and Callum summon the power of the Arcana Vast this week as they talk about Transformers Vs. Visionaries #1 and the controversial ending that sent shockwaves through the fandom. Then, they follow up the new series by taking a look at what's come before in another segment of Hasbro Universe: RANKED Timecodes: 0:00 - Introduction 02:26 - Transformers Vs. Visionaries #1 Discussion 1:02:39 - Hasbro Universe: RANKED 2:08:04 - Next Week's Comics 2:09:06...

NOTHING BUT RESPECT FOR MY FIRST DELEGATE! Daniel and Callum ring in the new year by by taking about the final batch of comics for 2017! Optimus Prime #14 sets the stage for the anticipated "The Falling" story arc with old faces returning and new ones emerging. ROM & The Micronauts #1 sees the Space Knight facing down Baron Karza... or is it facing up? The Transformers: Till All Are One Annual brings Mairghread Scott's and Sara Pitre-Durocher's epic personal political thriller to a...

THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE CAT! Daniel and Callum roll the dice on the Hasbro Universe this episode. The Chaos Bringer is coming this Free Comic Book Day in Transformers: Unicron: The Darkest Hour! What does this mean for the Universe going forward? Our intrepid hosts can only speculate. Then we hop into the comics with our sole release, Jem: Dimensions #1, featuring the Holograms playing Dungeons and Dragons and Madmartigan in a jumper. Then, the episode is closed out with the first entry...

EXCEPT THIS SHOW! As always, Daniel and Callum are back to talk about the books they love. First, things kick off by talking about the February 2018 solicitations, as well as the pre-emptive cancellation of Scarlett's Strike Force. Also, some changes in staff at IDW lead to some speculation of the future. With the comics, Clue #6 brings the game to an end, in a most unexpected way that shows the real brilliance of this book. Everything (seriously, EVERYTHING) comes to a head on Cybertron in...

REVOLUTIONARIES RETROSPECTIVE! Daniel and Callum talk about their favorite series and their favorite characters this episode. The sole comic for this week, Transformers: First Strike, sees the final Revolutionaries story as our ragtag team fights the bounty hunter Colditz with Arcee and Mike Power/Centurion. However, not wanting to leave listeners hanging, our hosts sit down with John Barber, writer of Revolutionaries and Optimus Prime, to discuss the series, how certain characters...

WHAT KIND OF AN ENDING WAS THAT? This episode, Daniel and Callum are met with intrigue and disappointment. The First Strike event draws to a close in First Strike #6. Was this ending enchanting, or did it simply leave us hungry for more? Then M.A.S.K.: Mobile Armored Strike Kommand: First Strike sets the stage for Scarlett's Strike Force. Optimus Prime #12 sees Aileron and the Colonists finding Jazz, Nick Fury, and Danny Zuko. The game of Clue is almost over as everything comes to a head in...

ANNOYING POPPING SOUND! That's what you'll hear a lot of today because audio errors are the worst. But that's never stopped Daniel and Callum before! They start off by taking a look into the future with IDW's January solicitations. Then, they discuss the final issues of M.A.S.K. and G.I. Joe. Then they go right into the First Strike event with First Strike #5, Optimus Prime #11, Optimus Prime: First Strike, and ROM: First Strike. ROM Vs. Transformers: Shining Armor #4 continues to impress,...

A REVOLUTIONARY CONCLUSION! Daniel and Callum venture across the realm of the Hasbro Universe to bring you another exciting episode! It's almost showtime for the final confrontation with JemCorp in Jem and the Holograms: Infinite #3. The First Strike event continues as the Transformers and humans face conflict on both sides of the battle in First Strike #4, while the Micronauts must team with Rom the Space Knight to face a Dire Wraith threat to Earth in Micronauts: First Strike. Rom has more...

CALLUM'S BACK! Not wanting to miss out on talking about some of last week's books, Daniel and Callum bring you this special extra episode. They discuss last weeks stuff (the solicits, Lost Light, First Strike and the Joe tie-in), as well as Clue #4 and Micronauts: Wrath of Karza #5, finishing off with a look back at the Micronauts series as a whole. Then, they end the episode with the announcement of a brand new segment: The Hasbro Universe: RANKED. What is this new part of the show? You'll...

THE ACTION IRISHMAN! With Callum out this week on an emergency, Daniel enlists the help of The Irish Sysop One, Transformers expert Chris McFeely! Chris gives his thoughts on the Hasbro Universe so far, as well as his hopes for the future. Then, they discuss the surprising revelations of Transformers: Lost Light #9, the continuing success of First Strike #3, and the madcap action of G.I. Joe: First Strike! Timecodes: 00:00 - Introduction 02:35 - Chris's Initial Thoughts 09:00 - December...

HOLOGRAMS EVERYWHERE! Daniel and Callum discuss the news from HasCon, including the reveal of Transformers Vs. Visionaries (or Visionaries Vs. Transformers)! Then they move on to talking about comics including ROM Vs. Transformers: Shining Armor #2 (which should've been talked about last time). Then, they talk about the final profiles of Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook #3. They discuss how great it was to see Quick Kick beat Snake Eyes in G.I. Joe #8. They talk about the history of the Thirteen,...