So word came out this week that Skybound’s “Energon Universe” is getting an animated series, and will be adult like their other big hit, Invincible. So like their Transformers comics it won’t be for me. I don’t need to see an animated version of Bumblebee being destroyed just to prove they aren’t the kids stories–you know, the age group the franchise was made for. I also don’t need the human body count to feel “mature”. If you enjoy it, go right ahead. I’m not stopping you, I’m just not joining you. I’ve said my peace on that. I’m just letting interested parties know it’s coming and segueing into…would a Saturday morning version of Transformers have been too far the other way? They did seriously dumb down Super Dinosaur, another Skybound comic made into a cartoon, and that one WAS for kids, comic AND show.
The problem, and I’ll go more into it in the transition between pitch drafts, is that Saturday morning cartoons in the 1980s had to deal with parent groups and psychologists who think they understand kids but don’t, and consultant firm with their heads in the clouds. Look up what happened at ABC and The Real Ghostbusters. CBS already forced Marvel Productions to add two females, one Autobot and one Decepticon, which they did by gender swapping Sideswipe and Starscream (like Starscream didn’t get enough gay jokes…though now we know Slipstream’s deal in Transformers Animated). Then again, we also know that the Decepticons would be wiped out by the Autobots, come to Earth to possess machines to create their new robot bodies, and the Autobots would have to follow suit, but we still don’t know if they’re dead as well. The Autobots would also be forcing humans to join their cause while the Decepticons followed Cy-Kill’s plan and just recruited one. Like I said many years ago, Cy-Kill is better at his job than G1 Megatron.
Now we’re going to look at further information about the format of the show. This should tell us the tone, style, and goals of the series should Hasbro sign off on the new concept and CBS greenlights a series. Would this get around the stuff they couldn’t get away with? Let’s see.
BW Media Spotlight 
BW’s Saturday Article Link> Have We Hit Peak Culture?
Something Batman’s wanted to do for a long time. By the way: kids comic to promote a crossover video game. Stop telling me kids stories don’t have to be good, or that promo comics can’t have good stories.
I don’t know if it fits. I just didn’t have a image to go with this one. In a recent social media post, media commentator Matt Walsh declared that 2007-2008 was “peak culture” and every year since hasn’t lived up. This let to discussion on X-Twitter about what qualifies as “peak culture”. Check out this article from Geeks & Gamers contributor Jessika Lindstrom and draw your own conclusion.
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Posted by ShadowWing Tronix on October 25, 2025 in Uncategorized and tagged commentary.
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