INTERVIEW: Hey, Autobots! Get ready to meet ‘My Little Pony’

Image courtesy of IDW / Provided with permission.

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This May, with the coronavirus pandemic still promising a disrupted society, there’s some comic-book levity coming — thankfully! Two beloved Hasbro brands are combining forces for a frenzied, hilarious, action-packed miniseries.

The characters of the Transformers franchise will meet up with the characters of My Little Pony for what will undoubtedly be an unforgettable four-issue arc. The crossover event comes courtesy of IDW, writers James Asmus, Ian Flynn and Sam Maggs, and artists Casey W. Coller, Jack Lawrence, Sara Pitre-Durocher, Priscilla Tramontano, and Tony Fleecs (he’s also the cover artist).

IDW promises an all-ages comic book that finds Queen Chrysalis casting a spell in search of “changeling allies,” according to press notes. However, her efforts are quickly derailed when she picks up a signal from a distant Cybertronian Spacebridge. The signal eventually transports Autobots and Decepticons to the land of Equestria. Uh oh.

Yes, fangirls and fanboys, Optimus Prime and Twilight Sparkle will finally be able to meet, and both worlds may never be the same again. (Spoiler alert: Apparently Pinkie Pie takes on Shockwave. Mind blown. Mic dropped.)

Recently Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with Flynn, Lawrence and Maggs about the My Little Pony / Transformers comic book miniseries. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.

Were you skeptical at first that My Little Pony and Transformers could come together for a comic book?

IAN FLYNN: Not skeptical, more like delightfully baffled. With a little bit of work and research, they came together surprisingly easily. It’s like mixing up your toy boxes and playing with everything.

SAM MAGGS: I thought the idea was both absolutely brilliant and absolutely bonkers. I pitched on it immediately.

How did the writing work amongst the three co-writers on this project? Did you try to collaborate to keep track of storylines and plot points? 

IAN FLYNN: We mostly worked independently under editor Megan Brown’s guidance. We all tossed our collective ideas into the pile, and the most promising were chosen to be fleshed out and finalized.

SAM MAGGS: The great James Asmus dreamed up the inciting incident (e.g. the big moment that first brings our My Little Pony and Transformers friends together). With that knowledge in hand, Ian and I were able to go wild coming up with whatever other stories we wanted to tell within that initial framework! It was super-fun just throwing hilarious spaghetti at the wall and seeing what our editors found most fun or interesting.

How difficult was it to have two artistic styles for this four-part series?

JACK LAWRENCE: I didn’t actually approach it as two artistic styles as such. It’s different characters as part of the same animated TV show like, say, Bobby interacting with Uni in the ’80s Dungeons & Dragons show. The two character types are built differently, but exist in the same world.

What do you like about Twilight Sparkle as a character? 

SAM MAGGS: I think I find Twilight Sparkle relatable, personally. She loves to read and learn and can get lost in books. But over the course of the series, she’s really come out of her shell, and that’s inspiring.

Is writing for Optimus Prime challenging after writing for Twilight Sparkle?

SAM MAGGS: They just flex slightly different writing muscles! It was great to be able to play the bots off the ponies, since they do communicate a little differently. I think seeing the exuberant Pinkie Pie go up against the overly logical Shockwave is a great example. I loved writing them together.

Do you have a preference on which characters you like to draw? My Little Pony or Transformers?

JACK LAWRENCE: I’ve done a lot of Transformers work, but this is my first time on My Little Pony. I tend to just enjoy everything I work on, and right now there’s nothing to call between them. I love drawing them both!

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Why do you think these crossovers are so popular in comics? 

IAN FLYNN: Sometimes they’re a breath of fresh air. We’re so invested in the ongoing narratives; it can be nice to take a break and have fun with the property in a way that doesn’t need to be canonized. Plus, it goes back to what I said earlier about mixing up the toy boxes: it taps into something inherently youthful that I think everyone should be able to enjoy.

SAM MAGGS: I think it takes two things people already love and mashes them together, creating something you can love twice as much already! It’s just wonderful to see how these characters would interact if they ever did come together. There was a lot of opportunity for exploration and adventure there.

What do you think is the most appealing aspect of the My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic series for its fans? 

JACK LAWRENCE: I think everything about it is appealing. The characters and world designs are just so pleasing to the eye, which draws you in, but then it’s very, very funny at times — and the stories are really good. You don’t necessarily expect ‘epic’ from My Little Pony, but that’s what you get!

Did you grow up enjoying Transformers?

JACK LAWRENCE: I was a fan from day one in 1984 (Frenzy and Laserbeak were my first Transformers action figures), and I never lost interest. So much so, that we need to move houses just to accommodate my collection!

What’s on the horizon for you beyond this crossover series?

JACK LAWRENCE: I’m an IDW boy through and through, so whatever they throw at me! I have some Sonic The Hedgehog-related stuff coming up immediately after I finish on this project.

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com

My Little Pony / Transformers, a four-part crossover miniseries from IDW, will launch in May. Click here for more information.