It goes without saying that the launch of the Energon Universe from Skybound has been an incredible success for Skybound. Not one to ignore its younger readers, Skybound recently released Transformers: Worst Bot Ever: Meet Ballpoint, the first in a new series of graphic novels from writer Brian “Smitty” Smith and artist Marz Jr. under its Skybound Comet imprint. The Beat had the opportunity to chat with the creative to discuss how this new graphic novel appeals to Transformers fans of any age as well as introducing what’s sure to be the breakout character in Transformers franchise.
Taimur Dar: As I’ve learned, the vast majority of creators who work on a Transformers project were fans growing up. I’m tempted to assume that’s the case for you both, but I’d love to hear your earliest memories with Transformers?
Marz Jr.: I was a huge fan growing up. I loved the cartoon and would run home after school to watch it. Me and my friends would bounce around from playing Transformers to G.I. Joe to LEGOs. Also loved the ’86 movie.
Brian “Smitty” Smith: I think I was ten years old when Transformers first hit. It was definitely a huge part of my childhood with the toys and the cartoons. Getting to work on it is crazy.
Taimur Dar: The Transformers franchise has some iconic characters like Optimus Prime and Bumblebee that are household names. This Worst Bot Ever graphic novel features some characters I never knew existed like Gnaw the Sharkticon. How did you select the Autobot and Decepticon characters and did you have free rein?
Brian “Smitty” Smith: They had some requirements. I had some ideas for the Dinobots but they wanted to keep the cast relatively small. Gnaw was all Marz.
Marz Jr.: I just think the Sharkticons are funny, silly creatures. Keeping the cast down is beneficial for me so I don’t have to draw a billion Transformers.
Taimur Dar: The beauty of Transformers is they can be redesigned and reimagined for each project. I’m not afraid to describe the way Marz draws the Transformers as adorable, particularly Laserbeak with the big goofy eyes. What went into the designs?
Marz Jr.: I love the G1 stuff and I love the initial animated series. So I started there and then tweaked proportions to make them funny or cute [like] shrinking the head down or making Laserbeak’s eyes big and putting them close together to make him a little dopey. That was the general thought; keep them close to G1 and mess with the proportions.
Taimur Dar: Moving onto the titular character, Ballpoint, I didn’t expect him to be so endearing. He’s got a lot of unearned confidence much like Michael Scott from The Office. Despite this arrogance he’s still sympathetic. How did you develop Ballpoint as a character?
Brian “Smitty” Smith: I think he is confident to a fault but he does possess some level of empathy. For instance, his best is the blender in the breakroom in our story thinking that the blender is an actual Transformer but it’s not. He just thinks he’s very quiet. A lot of the book is about him being humbled and learning humility as part of his journey. I definitely wanted him at a starting point where he’s firmly a Decepticon and thinks he’s the baddest of them all. He thinks everyone loves him. But he quickly gets a reality check on all fronts.
Marz Jr.: He’s a bit delusional and overconfident. I think a great reason why you feel for him is that everyone is so mean to him. You automatically empathize with him even though he’s telling some fibs. In The Office, Michael is a positive character. He encourages people.
Taimur Dar: Earlier you mentioned the ’86 Transformers movie. The Worst Bot Ever graphic novel features some great callbacks to the movie including the songs “The Touch” and “Dare to Be Stupid.” Any other Easter eggs you were jazzed to include?
Marz Jr.: I think the songs were a fun one. And I was listening to the soundtrack while I was designing the characters and drawing some of the pages. The songs were in my head.
Brian “Smitty” Smith: We tried to do a good job of incorporating some of the classic humor and playing on things from the original Transformers. We have a whole bit with Rumble and Frenzy how nobody can keep them straight. I know that was an issue with the toys; red or blue. There’s stuff there if you’re a dad reading this with your kid, there’s stuff there for the adults. But the kids will still laugh.
Marz Jr.: I had to look up Rumble and Frenzy a couple of times. Which one is red and which one is blue? Who’s saying what?
[Laughter]
Taimur Dar: As you mentioned, I think the best children’s media appeals to both kids and adults. One of my favorite scenes in Worst Bot Ever was when Ballpoint tries to sabotage the printer but he ends up fixing it. Anyone who’s worked in an office can completely relate to the frustration of broken printers. How did you go about appealing to both kids and adults?
Brian “Smitty” Smith: I use the term all-ages. I know that’s popular in comics but in book markets they tend to divide it up even more like emerging reader and middle grade. I realize in a lot of cases, parents are going to read this with the kids. So I want there to be entertainment across the board for everybody. Even if some of the jokes go above the kids’ heads and they land with the adults, there’s going to be stuff that the kids laugh at. It’s a happy marriage I try to achieve.
Marz Jr.: I’m a big fun of Muppets. The Muppets do that beautifully. They have some fun, silly goofy stuff and some fun jokes for the adults.
Taimur Dar: Earlier you mentioned wanting to feature Dinobots. I’m curious what their role would have been?
Brian “Smitty” Smith: The gag I had for the Dinobots, and fingers crossed we get to do some more, was one of the Autobots was in charge of cleaning up after the Dinobots. They were leaving Energon husks after they eat Energon as waste material. The gag was they weren’t even transformed into dinosaurs when doing it. They were just walking around as robots pooping everywhere. Hopefully someday. That will be a dream come true. Pooping Dinobots!
Taimur Dar: Was this Worst Bot Ever graphic novel always intended to be its own continuity or were there discussions of taking place in Skybound’s Energon Universe?
Brian “Smitty” Smith: It was always firmly its own jam. It’s kind of the history of G1, the original cartoon. That was our launch point. The Energon Universe is awesome but we’re not part of that.
Taimur Dar: Would you like to see Ballpoint become a part of the Energon Universe?
Brian “Smitty” Smith: That would be funny if he becomes a bloodthirsty killer or something crazy. Even just a background cameo would be awesome like he’s just at someone’s workstation in the background.
Taimur Dar: What’s next for the character?
Brian “Smitty” Smith: Skybound announced that it’s going to be part of the series which we’re working on right now. I can guarantee Ballpoint is still in it and he gets into even crazier hijinks. I can’t say too much!.
Taimur Dar: It’s been an immense pleasure chatting with you both. Here’s hoping Ballpoint gets his own action figure in the near future!
Brian “Smitty” Smith: We want to see that badly.
Marz Jr.: We would love that.
TRANSFORMERS: Worst Bot Ever: Meet Ballpoint (ISBN: 978-1-5343-2799-3 | SRP $12.99) is available now at comic book shops and at booksellers, along with digital platforms including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play.
