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jane2001673

You’re going to return to me, Optimus. You always do.

IDW Prowl waiting for Optimus, no matter how much time it takes.

Hello! I have been a long-time fan of your work in Star Trek, and then while watching Transformers G1 I was startled to see your name appear on the title screen of Webworld. Most of the episodes of G1 are a little all over the place, but Webworld GOT me. It’s so fascinating to see Cyclonus essentially bring Galvatron (against his will) to a mental health clinic?! My question is, how did you get involved to help write an episode of Transformers? What was it like? Thank you so much for all the amazing work that you do!

You're very welcome!

About my work on Transformers G1: Developmentally speaking it's kind of a complicated story, so bear with me here while I set the scene.

In 1985 I was a pretty busy girl. The Door Into Shadow had just published. Deep Wizardry had gone to press for publication in Delacorte's fall-'85 schedule. My first computer game, Star Trek: The Kobayashi Alternative, launched (in the Rainbow Room on top of 30 Rock...) in the summer of '85. I was then scripting my first comics work for DC (the "Double Blind" two-parter and "The Last Word"). And after taking a brief breathing space from four or five years' worth of animation work across a number of shows (scroll down here for details), I'd just turned in an episode of My Little Pony.

In memory all this work tends to get tangled together somewhat (which is probably no surprise). One thread that shows persistently through the tangle, though, is how much time I was spending in New York at a time when I was living in Philadelphia.

A surprising amount of that has to do with the research surrounding Deep Wizardry, which required specialized materials not readily available anywhere else. Because I had a contract for that book, in early 1984 I applied for (and was granted access to) the Frederick Lewis Allen Memorial Room at the main branch of the New York Public Library. As a result, for the guts of a year I was "up in town" at least every other week or so, sometimes for two or three days at a time—taking notes from the Woods Hole oceanographic resources there, drawing copies of them (like this one) when xerography wasn't available or when otherwise necessary, and—when there was time—writing.

But on those stay-overs my evenings were my own, and fortunately there were some really nice people to meet up with, every so often. Back when 666 5th Avenue (now 660) was DC Comics' home, a lot of the writing and editorial talent had a habit of heading down to street level and around the corner on Friday nights, to meet up and relax at the bar in a local steakhouse on the E. 52nd Street side (IIRC: that neighborhood's much changed now). That's almost certainly where I first met Len Wein—most likely introduced to him by my editor on the Trek comics at DC, Bob Greenberger—and we quickly got to be friends. Each of us was interested in the writing (and kinds of writing) the other was doing, so we had lots to chat about.

Now during this period I'd recently finished work on that My Little Pony script. A production company called Sunbow was then handling the screen side of the property, along with shows based on various other IPs. To this day I can't remember who it was over there who said to me, "So listen, now that you're done with that, we've got some slots unfilled on another show—would you be interested in doing a Transformers?" My answer was naturally "Sure, why not?"*

So shortly I was talking story, in a general way, with my new story editor over there, Steve Gerber. The thought of doing something a bit personal, and getting into some of the characters' heads a bit, was as usual on my mind. The idea of getting Galvatron some psychiatric care had already crossed my mind at that point... though I had on first impulse pushed that (for the time being) onto the back burner due to possibly being a little too "on the nose."

At some point pretty early on in this process, though, a different idea hit me as it had hit me before. Len was plainly perfectly cut out for animation storytelling (as other comics writers have also been: but the fit has rarely seemed quite so perfect, to me at least). And he'd have a party with this, I thought. Why not invite him along for the ride and let him get a feel for how it's done?

So I did. To my great pleasure Len promptly said "Yes!" And having cleared this with Steve Gerber, we dove in as co-writers.

Collaboration can sometimes be a rocky road, but I've always been lucky in mine, and that lucky streak held true with Len. I have rarely had a co-writer who right out of the starting gate was more willing to stretch hard to get things right, and one who was more effortlessly funny... even when the humor turned dark (as it repeatedly did in this episode). He unquestionably brought things to that script that I wouldn't have thought to try, or would have been nervous about my ability to pull off, solo.

...So after a couple/few weeks we turned "Webworld" in, the checks cleared, and we both went on to other things. But that episode keeps coming up as many people's favorite... and I can't say that I mind a bit. :) (If you want to look at it, the whole episode's online: just follow the link.)

BTW, because people do ask "Why does Len's name appear first on the credits screen?", the answer's simple: Because I insisted. He was the newbie here, after all. I thought it only right that the junior partner in this medium should be put in pride of place on that credit, his first time out. (I routinely do the same with @petermorwood, for anyone who's watching. Collaborator of thirty-plus years he may be, but he's still newer at this than I am. Heh heh.)

In any case, I wear that particular joint credit with great pride. It's an honor to be associated with someone who went on to become—entirely separate from his already-stellar career in comics—one of the strongest and most prolific animation writers of the last few decades.

...So that's how it happened. (And as for the story of how Bob G. and I dragged Len out of that restaurant one night and made him buy his first computer [an early Macintosh]: that's true too.) :)

*Also, after this they asked me the same question again, but this time about a show called GloFriends. Same result, due to the house rule: "If someone offers you work, take it!" :)

transingthoseformers

I love G1 Galvaclonus where Galvatron consistently makes only bad decisions and Cyclonus is hypercompetent, and yet Cyclonus is legitimately convinced that Galvatron is the coolest, most badass, most deserving of being unquestionably served guy to ever exist despite this

Plus it gets a little wholesome-angsty when you consider Galvatron actually having severe mental illness and Cyclonus always patiently doing his best to take care of him

It's fun!!! It's a fun dynamic with interesting implications

mannepl

Stupid Unicronian headcanons

- When they recharge, they sometimes miss each other so they cuddle and sleep together like cats.

- Galvatron is the shortest. Gets a bit petty when someone measures his height without counting the horns. Cyclonus is the tallest.

Scourge on the other hand looks to be as short as Galvatron but in reality is almost as tall as Cyclonus. He just has bad posture and always walks like a creature.

Galvatron

- I like the idea of Galvatron actually caring for Cyclonus and Scourge. It is something that everyone outside of the Unicronian circle cannot see but the Unicronians have this special bond and can feel it.

- You know how Fix-It from RiD15 had ticks/glitches? I think Galvatron would suffer from such. Sometimes words/sentences can cut off in the middle or repeat a few times. Sometimes making static noises and sometimes even his whole body could shut off for a second or making unwanted repeated movements.

- Galvatron is often not aware whenever that happens, he just knows that something is going on because he is feeling like an internal dissasociation. Not sure how to explain it but here is a doodle:

- Galvatron likes to craft things. It makes his mind calm and quiet from all the buzzing.

- A bit stupid but I like to headcanon Galvatron with body dysmorphia because of how much Unicron reformatted him. Especially in the early days but even to this day, when unexpectedly seeing his own reflection, he can be even startled by not seeing himself- as in Megatron but instead Galvatron.

Cyclonus

- Maybe more of a canon thing Cyclonus can be so oblivious and too literal. That's why I think he and Ultra Magnus would be a good duo.

- Despite his literal understanding of things, he is very philosophical and sometimes even dreamy in in his mind.

- He doesn't always understands sarcasm or some jokes and gets them until a while later or sometimes not at all.

- Compared to Galvatron, Cyclonus doesn't dwell too much about his own existence. He is fine as he is. Perhaps also because when Unicron took Megatron, Megatron was still somewhat alive which stayed by when he got reformatted into Galvatron.

- Thundercracker and Skywarp on the other hand were dead so I think both Cyclonus and Scourge are completely new bots but sometimes experience strange deja vu.

- Despite his devotion to Lord Galvatron, he greatly appreciates Scourge and cares for him just as much as Scourge cares for Cyclonus. Without Galvatron, Cyclonus cannot live and without Scourge, he would feel very empty and numb too.

- Despite being the second-in-command, a superior with high rank, he cannot control the Sweeps under his orders. Even Galvatron struggles with them while Scourge has no problem in making them obey. Even so, the Sweeps feel very comfortable with Cyclonus and some have a silly adoration towards him just like Scourge.

- Cyclonus does not realize how elegant of a bot he is. Even in battle he can move very elegantly. If anyone would tell him that he is a beautiful-looking bot, he would most likely frown in confusion because logically speaking, there are bots out there with better builds.

- Cyclonus, despite being quite slender, his armour is very sturdy and can easily take upon much damage without problem. That explains how he manages to take on Galvatron's hits whenever he can't deal with his own rage.

Scourge

- Scourge is quite anxious and can isolate himself easily. Considering that Cyclonus is the one who is always so loyal, he feels like he doesn't fit well into their circle due to his own cowardice.

- Because of the isolation, sometimes Galvatron and Cyclonus assume that he prefers to be alone and leave him be when in reality, Scourge really craves for the same sort of connection.

Although eventually, I feel like they often do notice that Scourge seems to be down on his mood. While Galvatron is not good at dealing with others feelings- let alone his own- he somehow tries his best to reassure him but it ends up in the aggressive-comforting type of way (shaking Scourge, being angry why he would think so badly of himself, he is strong! He is a Unicronian! Of course he can be a part of them!).

- Speaking of strength, Scourge's claws are very strong and can tear through some very strong metal and rocks.

- He likes to paint his claws and they can also retract. Although Scourge chooses to always have his claws out for aesthetic purpose.

- Overall, Scourge is an extremely hygienic bot and always tries to look his best - not really for others but for himself. He likes to feel pretty.

- Despite fearing Galvatron, he does still look up to him in a way admire him despite all the madness (though not on Cyclonus' level type of admiration). That is a trait Galvatron is very fond of, fear with devotion. The fear was something Cyclonus would never be able to feel towards Galvatron, only the admiration part.

- Scourge is touch starved and loves hugs. It's not something he would really admit because it makes him sound pathetic.

- His wings have engraved patterns of different solar systems, spirals, etc. They are not very visible unless you are close or shine a light at his wings and the patterns sparkle.

fjordline

since bringing mass murderer of incalculable lives Megatron on board the Lost Light was such a huge success, bringing mentally unstable ancient gladiator Galvatron on board will surely go just as well