I should have written this a while ago, but I wanted to wait until after Issue #10 because it was such an important issue for me, a triumph of our series. And I think it truly is a triumph. Its difficult and uncomfortable and still very compelling. This is in big part thanks to Saras amazing art and Joanas amazing colors. So now Ill say it. Were cancelled.
What happened? Nothing.
Our attrition rate was fairly normal and Issue 12 would be our profitability breaking point. We were asked if we wanted to do something to shake things up (shift focus, shift cast, shift story) after the First Strike event, which is also normal, but I didnt. I love Transformers, but Ive been writing it for literally years and I wanted to tell this story. So rather than think of a new story I didnt love as much, I just chose to end us here.
Till All Are One will go to Issue 12 and then an annual will be put out late 2017/early 2018 to wrap up any loose threads. A thousand thanks to our editor, Carlos, for giving us that much-needed space. A thousand thanks to Sara and Joana and Priscilla and Tom and John and Meg and Jason and all the people I know Im forgetting and shouldnt.
Issue 11 and 12 are going to be awesome by the way. I think we crafted a really satisfying, positive ending emotionally and the annual puts that needed cherry on top. We did something I never thought Id be able to pull off that Ill talk about more when its released.
In the meantime, Id like to take a moment to say all the things I couldnt before:
FAVORITE LINE I EVER WROTE:
FAVORITE THING SARAS EVER DRAWN:
The Combaticons. Think about it. These guys DONT HAVE FACES! (Well, Blast Off does) and she makes them so expressive without making it seem like shes cheating their designs or making them cartoony. I had to keep writing them!
WORST THING I EVER MADE SARA DRAW:
The Bruticus face made out of Combaticons. Even as I wrote it I was like Ive got nothing. Good luck! Naturally, she knocked it out of the park, but I still feel bad. [NOTE: this doesnt include Issue 12, which may still kill her because its also basically impossible.]
THINGS I WANTED TO WRITE BUT DIDNT HAVE TIME TO:
-Ironhides private security firm and their wacky adventures (mostly with Tall Tankor and Fat Tankor)
-An issue of Titans Return just about the Maccadams Crew having to defend the bar from being smushed.
-Lightbright and Sparkstalkers Conjunx Endura ceremony.
-Somehow bringing together all the femmes from the G1 crew onto one team for an issue.
-Breakdown calling out Knock Out for weight-shaming.
-Exploring the racial/tribal divides on Eukaris.
-Giving Metroplex an avatar so he could move around the city and meet people like a normal Bot.
-Metroplex goes to Caminus and has to come to terms with the cut-up body of his most treasured companion.
-Tall Tankor and Fat Tankor meet the Micromaster Tankor that turns into a train and they hate him for, like, no reason. He just cant get into the tankor clique.
-Elita One takes over Kaon and builds a militarized city-state that threatens to reignite the war.
-Revealing Windblade and Chromias holo-avatars.
-Having everyone from Cybertron be disturbed by Elita One because she is literally the color of energon so its like meeting someone painted in blood.
BONUS THINGS YOU DIDNT KNOW ABOUT FAT TANKOR:
-There were two separate occasions where my husband argued that Fat Tankor should die for emotional impact and I just couldnt kill him.
-I almost took out the name Fat Tankor in the final proof of Windblade Vol. 1 because robots cant be fat and I was nervous, but John Barber insisted I keep it.
Finally,
I want to take a moment and thank you, the readers. Youve made me stronger, bolder, and better at my craft and the love you have shown this story has been inspiring. I will miss you most of all and I hope you follow me on my next books (because there will be more books) even if they dont have giant robots.
Be Well,
Mairghread Wild Scott
http://www.mscottwriter.com/2017/06[....]mers-till-all-are-one-is-cancelled/