Dreamwave Productions - Revision history

Hooper X: /* Trouble on the horizon */ missed one.

2025-10-03T16:31:33Z

Trouble on the horizon: missed one.

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:31, 3 October 2025
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	===Trouble on the horizon===		===Trouble on the horizon===
	The first problems arose in late 2002, when it turned out that Dreamwave had only acquired the license for distributing ''Transformers'' titles in the United States, which resulted in a temporary hold in the international distribution until the matter was settled.<ref>[http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=580 Newsarama reporting on problems resulting from Dreamwave's lack of a license for an international release of their ''Transformers'' titles]</ref> However, Dreamwave were far from being the only company suffering from that problem, as [[Devil's Due Press]] (then part of Image Comics) were also no longer allowed to distribute their ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)\|G.I. Joe]]'' comic abroad, and other companies encountered similar problems.<ref name="litglicen">[https://web.archive.org/web/20110706102841/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=14266 Lying in the Gutters], November 2002.</ref> The problem was eventually resolved, and comics were allowed to be distributed internationally again.		The first problems arose in late 2002, when it turned out that Dreamwave had only acquired the license for distributing ''Transformers'' titles in the United States, which resulted in a temporary hold in the international distribution until the matter was settled.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20071017200722/http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=580 Newsarama reporting on problems resulting from Dreamwave's lack of a license for an international release of their ''Transformers'' titles]</ref> However, Dreamwave were far from being the only company suffering from that problem, as [[Devil's Due Press]] (then part of Image Comics) were also no longer allowed to distribute their ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)\|G.I. Joe]]'' comic abroad, and other companies encountered similar problems.<ref name="litglicen">[https://web.archive.org/web/20110706102841/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=14266 Lying in the Gutters], November 2002.</ref> The problem was eventually resolved, and comics were allowed to be distributed internationally again.

	Following the success of their ''Transformers'' titles, Dreamwave put their own titles ''Warlands'' and ''Darkminds'' on hold, instead focusing on other licensed books such as ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]'', numerous {{w\|Capcom}} franchises such as ''{{w\|Mega Man}}'', and ''{{w\|Duel Masters}}'' (a [[Hasbro]]-backed Japanese import card game/toyline). None of those titles would last particularly long, and some (mainly numerous Capcom titles) never even got the first issue out. This was also when rumors of creators not getting paid first came up.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20040103081226/http://www.comicbookresources.com/columns/index.cgi?column=litg&article=1760 Lying in the Gutters reporting on early rumors of Dreamwave artists not getting paid]</ref> Rumors about a rigid "house style" committing other artists to draw in a style close to company president Pat Lee started to circulate as well, most evident in the second ''War Within'' miniseries, where the original pencils by artist [[Andrew Wildman]] were drastically reworked by the inker, with rather disappointing results. In a rather bizarre move, a press release for "manga-sized" reprints (one of them for ''Energon'') would tell retailers that the trades were shorter and more expensive than regular manga ''in the first paragraph''.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20231205232609/http://icv2.com/articles/comics/view/4572/dreamwave-publish-trades-manga-format ICV2: "DREAMWAVE TO PUBLISH TRADES IN 'MANGA' FORMAT"], 5th April 2004</ref>		Following the success of their ''Transformers'' titles, Dreamwave put their own titles ''Warlands'' and ''Darkminds'' on hold, instead focusing on other licensed books such as ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]'', numerous {{w\|Capcom}} franchises such as ''{{w\|Mega Man}}'', and ''{{w\|Duel Masters}}'' (a [[Hasbro]]-backed Japanese import card game/toyline). None of those titles would last particularly long, and some (mainly numerous Capcom titles) never even got the first issue out. This was also when rumors of creators not getting paid first came up.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20040103081226/http://www.comicbookresources.com/columns/index.cgi?column=litg&article=1760 Lying in the Gutters reporting on early rumors of Dreamwave artists not getting paid]</ref> Rumors about a rigid "house style" committing other artists to draw in a style close to company president Pat Lee started to circulate as well, most evident in the second ''War Within'' miniseries, where the original pencils by artist [[Andrew Wildman]] were drastically reworked by the inker, with rather disappointing results. In a rather bizarre move, a press release for "manga-sized" reprints (one of them for ''Energon'') would tell retailers that the trades were shorter and more expensive than regular manga ''in the first paragraph''.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20231205232609/http://icv2.com/articles/comics/view/4572/dreamwave-publish-trades-manga-format ICV2: "DREAMWAVE TO PUBLISH TRADES IN 'MANGA' FORMAT"], 5th April 2004</ref>

Hooper X: /* The aftermath */ last one of these for now.

2025-10-03T16:29:59Z

The aftermath: last one of these for now.

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:29, 3 October 2025
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	===The aftermath===		===The aftermath===
	The overall amount of Dreamwave's debt was far over a million dollars.<ref>[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=14886 Lying in the Gutters' list of Dreamwave's creditors]</ref> While former Dreamwave employees never saw a single cent of the money they were owed for their work, Pat Lee repeated the performance a year later with Dream Engine, ultimately resulting in him departing from the new company and once again starting a new business, ''Pat Lee Productions''. Meanwhile, a Canadian entrepreneur named Christian Dery acquired the remaining Dreamwave assets, including the name "Dreamwave" and the rights to their "original" titles such as ''Warlands'' or ''Darkminds'', in August 2005. Ultimately, no new Dreamwave comics would ever see the light of day, and the "new" Dreamwave ended up not paying employees ''either''.<ref>[http://www.comicbookresources.com/columns/index.cgi?column=litg&article=2765 Lying in the Gutters reporting on trouble with the "new" Dreamwave]</ref> Eventually, Dreamwave II would close shop in mid-2006, selling back the remaining Dreamwave properties to Roger Lee and Dream Engine.<ref>[http://www.comicbookresources.com/columns/index.cgi?column=litg&article=2769 Lying in the Gutters reporting on the final fate of the "new" Dreamwave]</ref>		The overall amount of Dreamwave's debt was far over a million dollars.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20081007043532/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=14886 Lying in the Gutters' list of Dreamwave's creditors]</ref> While former Dreamwave employees never saw a single cent of the money they were owed for their work, Pat Lee repeated the performance a year later with Dream Engine, ultimately resulting in him departing from the new company and once again starting a new business, ''Pat Lee Productions''. Meanwhile, a Canadian entrepreneur named Christian Dery acquired the remaining Dreamwave assets, including the name "Dreamwave" and the rights to their "original" titles such as ''Warlands'' or ''Darkminds'', in August 2005. Ultimately, no new Dreamwave comics would ever see the light of day, and the "new" Dreamwave ended up not paying employees ''either''.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20071017172333/http://www.comicbookresources.com/columns/index.cgi?column=litg&article=2765 Lying in the Gutters reporting on trouble with the "new" Dreamwave]</ref> Eventually, Dreamwave II would close shop in mid-2006, selling back the remaining Dreamwave properties to Roger Lee and Dream Engine.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20071224210602/http://www.comicbookresources.com/columns/index.cgi?column=litg&article=2769 Lying in the Gutters reporting on the final fate of the "new" Dreamwave]</ref>

	[[Mike Costa]], writer on [[IDW Publishing]]'s later ''Transformers'' comics, blames Dreamwave for damaging the franchise in the US comics market: on top of some stories being, in his opinion, "not that great", the business crash meant "a lot of people got burned... a lot of stores got defaulted upon because their orders weren't being met".<ref>[http://moonbase2.libsyn.com/webpage/the-underbase-reviews-ongoing-31 The Underbase podcast interview with Mike Costa ("Special Guest")]</ref>		[[Mike Costa]], writer on [[IDW Publishing]]'s later ''Transformers'' comics, blames Dreamwave for damaging the franchise in the US comics market: on top of some stories being, in his opinion, "not that great", the business crash meant "a lot of people got burned... a lot of stores got defaulted upon because their orders weren't being met".<ref>[http://moonbase2.libsyn.com/webpage/the-underbase-reviews-ongoing-31 The Underbase podcast interview with Mike Costa ("Special Guest")]</ref>

Hooper X: /* The end */ another round of archive.org revisions.

2025-10-03T16:26:08Z

The end: another round of archive.org revisions.

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:26, 3 October 2025
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	===The end===		===The end===
	While other artists and writers, including Simon Furman, at least temporarily joined the fold of creators not getting paid by Dreamwave, Chris Sarracini was asked to rewrite the stories previously submitted by Patyk and McDonough.<ref>[http://www.comicbookresources.com/columns/index.cgi?column=litg&article=2045 Lying in the Gutters reporting that even Simon Furman was temporarily not paid, and the stories by Patyk and McDonough were being rewritten]</ref> Likewise, a long-since announced ''Beast Wars'' title McDonough and Patyk had previously worked on was now supposed to be written by Furman instead. Those stories would ultimately never be published, as Hasbro had already declined to renew Dreamwave's license to publish Transformers comics by this point.<ref>[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=14839 Lying in the Gutters reporting that Hasbro had revoked Dreamwave's ''Transformers'' license]</ref> Following numerous rumors, including one posted by [[Ben Yee]] on his own website [http://www.bwtf.com/ BWTF.com], Dreamwave officially declared bankruptcy on [[January 4]], 2005, blaming the weak United States Dollar and other scapegoats for the company's failure, including a vastly incorrect claim about Dreamwave being the "only Canadian independent comics publisher".<ref>[http://www.tformers.com/article.php?sid=4053 Dreamwave's final press release]</ref>		While other artists and writers, including Simon Furman, at least temporarily joined the fold of creators not getting paid by Dreamwave, Chris Sarracini was asked to rewrite the stories previously submitted by Patyk and McDonough.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20050601000000*/http://www.comicbookresources.com/columns/index.cgi?column=litg&article=2045 Lying in the Gutters reporting that even Simon Furman was temporarily not paid, and the stories by Patyk and McDonough were being rewritten]</ref> Likewise, a long-since announced ''Beast Wars'' title McDonough and Patyk had previously worked on was now supposed to be written by Furman instead. Those stories would ultimately never be published, as Hasbro had already declined to renew Dreamwave's license to publish Transformers comics by this point.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20081007043512/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=14839 Lying in the Gutters reporting that Hasbro had revoked Dreamwave's ''Transformers'' license]</ref> Following numerous rumors, including one posted by [[Ben Yee]] on his own website [http://www.bwtf.com/ BWTF.com], Dreamwave officially declared bankruptcy on [[January 4]], 2005, blaming the weak United States Dollar and other scapegoats for the company's failure, including a vastly incorrect claim about Dreamwave being the "only Canadian independent comics publisher".<ref>[http://www.tformers.com/article.php?sid=4053 Dreamwave's final press release]</ref>

	By this time, Pat and Roger had already spent four months secretly moving most of Dreamwave's assets to a new company named Dream Engine, whose website domain was registered to Roger's name. The existence of Dream Engine first became public in early January 2005.<ref>[http://www.comicbookresources.com/columns/index.cgi?column=litg&article=2059 Lying in the Gutters discovering the existence of Dream Engine]</ref>		By this time, Pat and Roger had already spent four months secretly moving most of Dreamwave's assets to a new company named Dream Engine, whose website domain was registered to Roger's name. The existence of Dream Engine first became public in early January 2005.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20050223084909/http://www.comicbookresources.com/columns/index.cgi?column=litg&article=2059 Lying in the Gutters discovering the existence of Dream Engine]</ref>

	===The aftermath===		===The aftermath===

Hooper X: /* Trouble on the horizon */ more archive.org backups of the Lying in the Gutters columns.

2025-10-03T16:21:25Z

Trouble on the horizon: more archive.org backups of the Lying in the Gutters columns.

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:21, 3 October 2025
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	===Trouble on the horizon===		===Trouble on the horizon===
	The first problems arose in late 2002, when it turned out that Dreamwave had only acquired the license for distributing ''Transformers'' titles in the United States, which resulted in a temporary hold in the international distribution until the matter was settled.<ref>[http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=580 Newsarama reporting on problems resulting from Dreamwave's lack of a license for an international release of their ''Transformers'' titles]</ref> However, Dreamwave were far from being the only company suffering from that problem, as [[Devil's Due Press]] (then part of Image Comics) were also no longer allowed to distribute their ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)\|G.I. Joe]]'' comic abroad, and other companies encountered similar problems.<ref name="litglicen">[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=14266 Lying in the Gutters], November 2002.</ref> The problem was eventually resolved, and comics were allowed to be distributed internationally again.		The first problems arose in late 2002, when it turned out that Dreamwave had only acquired the license for distributing ''Transformers'' titles in the United States, which resulted in a temporary hold in the international distribution until the matter was settled.<ref>[http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=580 Newsarama reporting on problems resulting from Dreamwave's lack of a license for an international release of their ''Transformers'' titles]</ref> However, Dreamwave were far from being the only company suffering from that problem, as [[Devil's Due Press]] (then part of Image Comics) were also no longer allowed to distribute their ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)\|G.I. Joe]]'' comic abroad, and other companies encountered similar problems.<ref name="litglicen">[https://web.archive.org/web/20110706102841/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=14266 Lying in the Gutters], November 2002.</ref> The problem was eventually resolved, and comics were allowed to be distributed internationally again.

	Following the success of their ''Transformers'' titles, Dreamwave put their own titles ''Warlands'' and ''Darkminds'' on hold, instead focusing on other licensed books such as ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]'', numerous {{w\|Capcom}} franchises such as ''{{w\|Mega Man}}'', and ''{{w\|Duel Masters}}'' (a [[Hasbro]]-backed Japanese import card game/toyline). None of those titles would last particularly long, and some (mainly numerous Capcom titles) never even got the first issue out. This was also when rumors of creators not getting paid first came up.<ref>[http://www.comicbookresources.com/columns/index.cgi?column=litg&article=1760 Lying in the Gutters reporting on early rumors of Dreamwave artists not getting paid]</ref> Rumors about a rigid "house style" committing other artists to draw in a style close to company president Pat Lee started to circulate as well, most evident in the second ''War Within'' miniseries, where the original pencils by artist [[Andrew Wildman]] were drastically reworked by the inker, with rather disappointing results. In a rather bizarre move, a press release for "manga-sized" reprints (one of them for ''Energon'') would tell retailers that the trades were shorter and more expensive than regular manga ''in the first paragraph''.<ref>[http://icv2.com/articles/comics/view/4572/dreamwave-publish-trades-manga-format ICV2: "DREAMWAVE TO PUBLISH TRADES IN 'MANGA' FORMAT"], 5th April 2004</ref>		Following the success of their ''Transformers'' titles, Dreamwave put their own titles ''Warlands'' and ''Darkminds'' on hold, instead focusing on other licensed books such as ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]'', numerous {{w\|Capcom}} franchises such as ''{{w\|Mega Man}}'', and ''{{w\|Duel Masters}}'' (a [[Hasbro]]-backed Japanese import card game/toyline). None of those titles would last particularly long, and some (mainly numerous Capcom titles) never even got the first issue out. This was also when rumors of creators not getting paid first came up.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20040103081226/http://www.comicbookresources.com/columns/index.cgi?column=litg&article=1760 Lying in the Gutters reporting on early rumors of Dreamwave artists not getting paid]</ref> Rumors about a rigid "house style" committing other artists to draw in a style close to company president Pat Lee started to circulate as well, most evident in the second ''War Within'' miniseries, where the original pencils by artist [[Andrew Wildman]] were drastically reworked by the inker, with rather disappointing results. In a rather bizarre move, a press release for "manga-sized" reprints (one of them for ''Energon'') would tell retailers that the trades were shorter and more expensive than regular manga ''in the first paragraph''.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20231205232609/http://icv2.com/articles/comics/view/4572/dreamwave-publish-trades-manga-format ICV2: "DREAMWAVE TO PUBLISH TRADES IN 'MANGA' FORMAT"], 5th April 2004</ref>

	In mid-2004, Dreamwave announced the "addition" of new creators,<ref>[http://www.brokenfrontier.com/headlines/p/detail/dreamwave-adds-transformers-creators The infamous "Dreamwave adds Transformers' creators" press release]</ref> failing to mention that this also meant the departure of Adam Patyk and James McDonough from the company. Although Dreamwave tried to contain this delicate bit of information by asking websites to consider any public statements by the two regarding their current situation with Dreamwave as "private" and thus delete them,<ref>[http://www.comicbookresources.com/columns/index.cgi?column=litg&article=2033 Lying in the Gutters reporting on Dreamwave's attempt to contain information about Patyk and McDonough's firing]</ref> some sites ignored that request, thereby revealing that Patyk and McDonough were owed a significant amount of money for their work.<ref>[http://www.tformers.com/article.php?sid=3842 TFormers.com quoting a statement by Patyk and McDonough]</ref> A worried [[James Raiz]] would turn down an offer to draw the next ''War Within'' miniseries, not wanting to risk doing a lot of work for no money.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090916001311/http://transfans.co.uk/interviews_raiz.php TransFans.co.uk interview with James Raiz]</ref>		In mid-2004, Dreamwave announced the "addition" of new creators,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110706101508/http://www.brokenfrontier.com/headlines/p/detail/dreamwave-adds-transformers-creators The infamous "Dreamwave adds Transformers' creators" press release]</ref> failing to mention that this also meant the departure of Adam Patyk and James McDonough from the company. Although Dreamwave tried to contain this delicate bit of information by asking websites to consider any public statements by the two regarding their current situation with Dreamwave as "private" and thus delete them,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20041214093440/http://www.comicbookresources.com/columns/index.cgi?column=litg&article=2033 Lying in the Gutters reporting on Dreamwave's attempt to contain information about Patyk and McDonough's firing]</ref> some sites ignored that request, thereby revealing that Patyk and McDonough were owed a significant amount of money for their work.<ref>[http://www.tformers.com/article.php?sid=3842 TFormers.com quoting a statement by Patyk and McDonough]</ref> A worried [[James Raiz]] would turn down an offer to draw the next ''War Within'' miniseries, not wanting to risk doing a lot of work for no money.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090916001311/http://transfans.co.uk/interviews_raiz.php TransFans.co.uk interview with James Raiz]</ref>

	At the same time, Pat Lee would start to do contractual work for Marvel and DC again, such as issues of ''House of M'' or ''[[Superman]]/[[Batman]]''.		At the same time, Pat Lee would start to do contractual work for Marvel and DC again, such as issues of ''House of M'' or ''[[Superman]]/[[Batman]]''.

Hooper X: /* Success of the Transformers titles */

2025-10-03T16:13:55Z

Success of the Transformers titles

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:13, 3 October 2025
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	===Success of the Transformers titles===		===Success of the Transformers titles===
	Dreamwave's launch title, [[Prime Directive\|''Transformers: Generation One'' vol. 1]], written by [[Chris Sarracini]] and drawn by Pat Lee, became an instant hit, dominating Diamond's sales charts for months. Back then, rumors were circulating that Dreamwave had manipulated the market through a special deal with Diamond to ensure their success, or that Hasbro had set up an account to order large numbers of the ''Transformers'' comics. In fact Hasbro had ordered less than 200 copies per issue, primarily because they were not guaranteed free copies from their contract with Dreamwave.<ref name ="litgtfspec" /> Later that year, other companies also reported high sales of "nostalgia" titles, thus further challenging those rumors.<ref name="litgnostal">[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=14245 Lying in the Gutters], October 2002.</ref>		Dreamwave's launch title, [[Prime Directive\|''Transformers: Generation One'' vol. 1]], written by [[Chris Sarracini]] and drawn by Pat Lee, became an instant hit, dominating Diamond's sales charts for months. Back then, rumors were circulating that Dreamwave had manipulated the market through a special deal with Diamond to ensure their success, or that Hasbro had set up an account to order large numbers of the ''Transformers'' comics. In fact Hasbro had ordered less than 200 copies per issue, primarily because they were not guaranteed free copies from their contract with Dreamwave.<ref name ="litgtfspec" /> Later that year, other companies also reported high sales of "nostalgia" titles, thus further challenging those rumors.<ref name="litgnostal">[https://web.archive.org/web/20111122035426/http://www.comicbookresources.com:80/?page=article&id=14245 Lying in the Gutters], October 2002.</ref>

	Dreamwave would soon expand their range of Transformers comics to include an ongoing ''[[Transformers: Armada (Dreamwave)\|Transformers: Armada]]'' series (which later evolved into ''[[Transformers: Energon (comic)\|Transformers: Energon]]'' to accompany the respective toylines), initially also written by Sarricini. Although the [[War and Peace\|second ''Generation 1'' volume]] was originally supposed to be written by Sarracini again, he was replaced by new writer [[James McDonough]] (who originally worked under the alias "Brad Mick"), who ultimately wrote an entirely different story than what was originally intended.<ref>[http://tformers.com/article.php?sid=1051 TFormers citing a ''Wizard Edge'' article that hints at the originally proposed plot for Dreamwave's Transformers: Generation 1 vol. 2]</ref> With [[Original Sin\|issue #5]] of the [[Transformers: Generation 1 (Dreamwave)\|third ''Generation One'' volume]] (now an ongoing title), McDonough was joined by his longtime friend [[Adam Patyk]], now forming a writing duo, eventually shifting out his "Brad Mick" alias.		Dreamwave would soon expand their range of Transformers comics to include an ongoing ''[[Transformers: Armada (Dreamwave)\|Transformers: Armada]]'' series (which later evolved into ''[[Transformers: Energon (comic)\|Transformers: Energon]]'' to accompany the respective toylines), initially also written by Sarricini. Although the [[War and Peace\|second ''Generation 1'' volume]] was originally supposed to be written by Sarracini again, he was replaced by new writer [[James McDonough]] (who originally worked under the alias "Brad Mick"), who ultimately wrote an entirely different story than what was originally intended.<ref>[http://tformers.com/article.php?sid=1051 TFormers citing a ''Wizard Edge'' article that hints at the originally proposed plot for Dreamwave's Transformers: Generation 1 vol. 2]</ref> With [[Original Sin\|issue #5]] of the [[Transformers: Generation 1 (Dreamwave)\|third ''Generation One'' volume]] (now an ongoing title), McDonough was joined by his longtime friend [[Adam Patyk]], now forming a writing duo, eventually shifting out his "Brad Mick" alias.

Hooper X: updating this page with archive.org copies of dead links.

2025-10-03T16:09:58Z

updating this page with archive.org copies of dead links.

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:09, 3 October 2025
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	Still in 2000, a group of Dreamwave employees (including Alvin Lee, who had worked with Pat on the ''Wizard'' piece) departed from their company to form their own business, [[UDON Entertainment\|UDON Studios]].		Still in 2000, a group of Dreamwave employees (including Alvin Lee, who had worked with Pat on the ''Wizard'' piece) departed from their company to form their own business, [[UDON Entertainment\|UDON Studios]].

	A year later, [[Hasbro]] was offering the license for new Transformers comics, which had effectively remained unused since [[Marvel Comics]]'s ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (Marvel)\|Generation 2]] '' [[A Rage in Heaven!\|issue 12]] in 1994. Several companies, including Marvel (with UDON being supposed to handle the art), were interested, but all of them used the piece of artwork Dreamwave had done for ''Wizard''. Dreamwave at one point intended to cooperate with Top Cow, but Top Cow rejected the offer. Ultimately, Dreamwave decided to get the license themselves instead of going through another company, claiming that Pat Lee would only handle the art if Dreamwave got the license. Marvel ultimately backed out because of the license fee Hasbro demanded.<ref name ="litgtfspec">[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=14153 Lying in the Gutters ''Transformers'' Special], July 2002</ref>		A year later, [[Hasbro]] was offering the license for new Transformers comics, which had effectively remained unused since [[Marvel Comics]]'s ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (Marvel)\|Generation 2]] '' [[A Rage in Heaven!\|issue 12]] in 1994. Several companies, including Marvel (with UDON being supposed to handle the art), were interested, but all of them used the piece of artwork Dreamwave had done for ''Wizard''. Dreamwave at one point intended to cooperate with Top Cow, but Top Cow rejected the offer. Ultimately, Dreamwave decided to get the license themselves instead of going through another company, claiming that Pat Lee would only handle the art if Dreamwave got the license. Marvel ultimately backed out because of the license fee Hasbro demanded.<ref name ="litgtfspec">[https://web.archive.org/web/20081007043446/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=14153 Lying in the Gutters ''Transformers'' Special], July 2002</ref>

	Dreamwave officially acquired the ''Transformers'' license in December 2001,<ref>[http://tformers.com/New-Transformers-Comic/130/news.html TFormers confirms that Dreamwave acquired the Transformers comic license]</ref> although Hasbro would ultimately never get the license fee in full. To commemorate the new flagship title, Dreamwave officially cut all ties with Image and became an independent publisher on their own.		Dreamwave officially acquired the ''Transformers'' license in December 2001,<ref>[http://tformers.com/New-Transformers-Comic/130/news.html TFormers confirms that Dreamwave acquired the Transformers comic license]</ref> although Hasbro would ultimately never get the license fee in full. To commemorate the new flagship title, Dreamwave officially cut all ties with Image and became an independent publisher on their own.

Whalermouse: added note explaining why the action masters and micromasters had no personalities until dreamwave made ones up

2025-08-24T14:51:09Z

added note explaining why the action masters and micromasters had no personalities until dreamwave made ones up

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:51, 24 August 2025
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	* IDW's ''[[Transformers, Beast Wars: The Gathering\|The Gathering]]'' and ''[[The Transformers: Megatron Origin\|Megatron Origin]]'' both began as Dreamwave stories. Megatron's titular origin story would also go on to influence the [[Aligned continuity family\|Aligned continuity]].		* IDW's ''[[Transformers, Beast Wars: The Gathering\|The Gathering]]'' and ''[[The Transformers: Megatron Origin\|Megatron Origin]]'' both began as Dreamwave stories. Megatron's titular origin story would also go on to influence the [[Aligned continuity family\|Aligned continuity]].
	* Creators like [[Don Figueroa]], [[Guido Guidi]], and [[Alex Milne]] got their start at Dreamwave, and [[James Raiz]] got his start in Transformers there.		* Creators like [[Don Figueroa]], [[Guido Guidi]], and [[Alex Milne]] got their start at Dreamwave, and [[James Raiz]] got his start in Transformers there.
	* Do you like the Micromaster and Action Master personalities on this wiki? A lot of them only exist because of Dreamwave's profile books making them up!		* Do you like the Micromaster and Action Master personalities on this wiki? A lot of them only exist because of Dreamwave's profile books making them up! These characters' toys were released at the tail end of G1 as less new fiction was being produced, so they had no official characterization back then.

	But still, screw Pat Lee.		But still, screw Pat Lee.

Energizer: /* The beginnings */

2025-01-16T00:51:40Z

The beginnings

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:51, 16 January 2025
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	==History==		==History==
	===The beginnings===		===The beginnings===
	Dreamwave Productions was originally launched by brothers [[Pat Lee\|Pat]] and [[Roger Lee]] as a studio within ~~{{w\|~~Image Comics}} in 1996, at the height of the Image boom.		Dreamwave Productions was originally launched by brothers [[Pat Lee\|Pat]] and [[Roger Lee]] as a studio within [[Image Comics]] in 1996, at the height of the Image boom.

	In 1998, Dreamwave would start to publish various <s>blatantly plagiarized</s> originally created titles such as ''{{w\|Ghost in the Shell\|Darkminds}}'' and ''{{w\|Record of Lodoss War\|Warlands}}'', as well as accepting work-for-hire assignments for other publishers such as the four-issue limited series ''Wolverine/Punisher: Revelation'' for Marvel. Other titles such as ''Shidima'', ''Fate of the Blade'' or ''Arkanium'' would follow. Furthermore, Dreamwave also collaborated with {{w\|VIBE (magazine)\|VIBE}} and {{w\|Wizard (magazine)\|Wizard: The Comics Magazine}} on various projects, developed an advertising campaign for the {{w\|Dr. Martens}} shoe label and created the production designs for the music video to {{w\|Janet Jackson's}} song "Doesn't Really Matter".		In 1998, Dreamwave would start to publish various <s>blatantly plagiarized</s> originally created titles such as ''{{w\|Ghost in the Shell\|Darkminds}}'' and ''{{w\|Record of Lodoss War\|Warlands}}'', as well as accepting work-for-hire assignments for other publishers such as the four-issue limited series ''Wolverine/Punisher: Revelation'' for Marvel. Other titles such as ''Shidima'', ''Fate of the Blade'' or ''Arkanium'' would follow. Furthermore, Dreamwave also collaborated with {{w\|VIBE (magazine)\|VIBE}} and {{w\|Wizard (magazine)\|Wizard: The Comics Magazine}} on various projects, developed an advertising campaign for the {{w\|Dr. Martens}} shoe label and created the production designs for the music video to {{w\|Janet Jackson's}} song "Doesn't Really Matter".

Locoman: /* Legacy */

2024-06-28T23:39:24Z

Legacy

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:39, 28 June 2024
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	* The concept of [[Unicron]] as a reality-hopping entity was first used for their ''Armada'' title and went on to dominate his portrayal for a while.		* The concept of [[Unicron]] as a reality-hopping entity was first used for their ''Armada'' title and went on to dominate his portrayal for a while.
	* They were the first fiction to use the "white Optimus Prime" cab robot of [[Ultra Magnus (G1)\|Ultra Magnus]]'s original toy, thereby precipitating [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys\|countless Optimus repaints]] from Hasbro.		* They were the first fiction to use the "white Optimus Prime" cab robot of [[Ultra Magnus (G1)\|Ultra Magnus]]'s original toy, thereby precipitating [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys\|countless Optimus repaints]] from Hasbro.
	* Dreamwave were the first to add a "scientist" element to [[Shockwave (G1)\|Shockwave]]'s character, which has gone on to be a defining feature of ~~the [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity\|IDW]], [[Shockwave (WFC)\|''Prime'']] and [[Shockwave (Cyberverse)\|''Cyberverse'']]~~ incarnations of the character.		* Dreamwave were the first to add a "scientist" element to [[Shockwave (G1)\|Shockwave]]'s character, which has gone on to be a defining feature of most subsequent incarnations of the character.
	* IDW's ''[[Transformers, Beast Wars: The Gathering\|The Gathering]]'' and ''[[The Transformers: Megatron Origin\|Megatron Origin]]'' both began as Dreamwave stories. Megatron's titular origin story would also go on to influence the [[Aligned continuity family\|Aligned continuity]].		* IDW's ''[[Transformers, Beast Wars: The Gathering\|The Gathering]]'' and ''[[The Transformers: Megatron Origin\|Megatron Origin]]'' both began as Dreamwave stories. Megatron's titular origin story would also go on to influence the [[Aligned continuity family\|Aligned continuity]].
	* Creators like [[Don Figueroa]], [[Guido Guidi]], and [[Alex Milne]] got their start at Dreamwave, and [[James Raiz]] got his start in Transformers there.		* Creators like [[Don Figueroa]], [[Guido Guidi]], and [[Alex Milne]] got their start at Dreamwave, and [[James Raiz]] got his start in Transformers there.

Nevermore: /* Big 80s */

2024-03-31T18:29:27Z

Big 80s

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:29, 31 March 2024
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	===Big 80s===		===Big 80s===
	[[File:Big80sWizard.jpg\|upright=0.85\|thumb\|Oh boy, were we naïve.]]		[[File:Big80sWizard.jpg\|upright=0.85\|thumb\|Oh boy, were we naïve.]]
	In October 2000, issue #111 of ''Wizard: The Comics Magazine'' ran a feature named "Big 80s", featuring various popular properties of the 1980s in new interpretations by modern artists, such as ''Thundercats'' drawn by [[Jim Cheung]], ''Masters of the Universe'' drawn by Ed ~~McGunness~~, ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)\|G.I. Joe]]'' drawn by J. Scott Campbell, and ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]'' drawn by Joe Madureira. Dreamwave submitted their own take on the ''Transformers'', one of Pat's personal favorites from his childhood days, with Pat Lee himself and Alvin Lee handling the art. ''Wizard'', making suggestions for a modern ''Transformers'' comic, named Mark Millar as their number one choice for the writer of the book, with Pat Lee (aka "Mr. Mecha") on art duties.		In October 2000, issue #111 of ''Wizard: The Comics Magazine'' ran a feature named "Big 80s", featuring various popular properties of the 1980s in new interpretations by modern artists, such as ''Thundercats'' drawn by [[Jim Cheung]], ''Masters of the Universe'' drawn by Ed McGuinness, ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)\|G.I. Joe]]'' drawn by J. Scott Campbell, and ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]'' drawn by Joe Madureira. Dreamwave submitted their own take on the ''Transformers'', one of Pat's personal favorites from his childhood days, with Pat Lee himself and Alvin Lee handling the art. ''Wizard'', making suggestions for a modern ''Transformers'' comic, named Mark Millar as their number one choice for the writer of the book, with Pat Lee (aka "Mr. Mecha") on art duties.

	Needless to say, the modern-style "manga"-like ''Transformers'' artwork caused an uproar in the established fandom as well as among regular comic fans who remembered ''Transformers'' from their childhoods. Seven months later, Pat got another chance of drawing Transformers characters in a feature named "How to draw Mecha" for issue #118 of ''Wizard''.		Needless to say, the modern-style "manga"-like ''Transformers'' artwork caused an uproar in the established fandom as well as among regular comic fans who remembered ''Transformers'' from their childhoods. Seven months later, Pat got another chance of drawing Transformers characters in a feature named "How to draw Mecha" for issue #118 of ''Wizard''.