Worlds First Transformers Zine?

World’s First Transformers Zine?

Fun fact: I’ve been doing this fandom thing for a while.

I mean quite a while. So long, in fact, that I published what might have been the world’s first Transformers ‘zine. Well, I certainly thought it was at the time. It was called Matrix. The first issue came out in 1987 or ‘88 (I can’t be sure now because I didn’t think to put dates on anything back then), and it ran for two issues. I didn’t own a computer at the time, but a friend of my mom’s let me use her Mac Plus. The ‘zine featured art, fiction and other goodies, and considering that I knew next to nothing about layout, it still looks pretty good today. Here is a little tour of the first issue…

The cover, proudly featuring my claim of being first in the world, as well as one of my OCs. The early fandom was really into OCs. Everyone had a Transformer alter-ego, and this was mine. Her name is Spitfire. I was really into WW2 planes at the time, so her altmode is, appropriately enough, a Spitfire.

The all-important disclaimer, hearkening back to the days when fans lived in constant fear of being sued. 

Table of Contents…

Editorial page. This is from the days before I was Grayseeker, as you can probably tell, and it features my first attempt at digital art, in the lower right corner. (Sorry about my crap photography, btw. I did my best.)

Mad Lib, Part One, with an illustration by Steven ‘Zigzag’ Acevedo.

Mad Lib, Part Two.

One of my illustrations, for a story called Pilot of the Rockwaves by Steven ‘Zigzag’ Acevedo. This shows his character, ZigZag, having a conversation with Spitfire. (I did mention we were really into OCs, yes?)

Not only were we really into creating OCs, but creating character profiles for them was a pretty big deal too! 

Spitfire’s Tech Specs, Part 2.

Every publication should have a Classifieds section, and Matrix 1 was no exception.

Classifieds Part 2. The car that appears in these hallowed pages is my own vehicle at the time, who also (naturally!) had a Transformers alter-ego named Electrofox, which I shortened to “Foxy.”

Last but certainly not least, my illustration of Starscream at the bar.  Hope you enjoyed this little glimpse of fannish history!

The Deflagrating Bawigrat

My response to this week’s BestiaryPosting challenge, from @maniculum

Pencil sketch, then lines in Sailor fude nib fountain pen, using Diamine Sepia ink.

Though process beneath the cut...

"In Asia an animal is found which men call Bawigrat. It has the head of a bull, and thereafter its whole body is of the size of a bull’s with the maned neck of a horse. Its horns are convoluted, curling back on themselves in such a way that if anyone comes up against it, he is not harmed. But the protection which its forehead denies this monster is furnished by its bowels. For when it turns to flee, it discharges fumes from the excrement of its belly over a distance of three acres, the heat of which sets fire to anything it touches. In this way, it drives off its pursuers with its harmful excrement."

My initial response to this one was 'oh boy!'... I'm pretty sure I know exactly what this creature is. If my suspicions are correct, there is traditionally a very specific way of depicting it, which might be dramatic but doesn't actually gel particularly well with the description...

Regarding the Bawigrat itself, we have a bull-like creature. I took a lot of inspiration from aurochs (and heck cattle) - the main difference being the horns curving up and back rather than forward and up, and giving it a fuller belly for maximum fermentation. I also tried to reflect the horse-like mane, though it's sitting a little lank across its neck while it's not in motion.

I was wondering for a while how to present the beast, and came to the idea of drawing a landscape, with the fumes slowly crawling across it and igniting anything they touch. Then I had another thought... Apologies Mac, I know you are going to get this reference.... ;)

Gabe Freeland took some lovely photos of us at Momocon!

dear audio diary - yes i am recording this while making unbroken eye contact with utahraptor.  not QUITE sure what’s going on here, audio diary, but i’m gonna chase it