Michael Bell needs us!

1. USA Today is holding a 'Design the Ultimate Transformer" contest. Here's the news post:
Think you can improve on Optimus Prime? Then put your pencil where your vocal processor is!USA TODAY wants you to design us a brand-new Transformer. Show us your idea in both pre- and post-transformation mode and tell us whether your creation is an Autobot or Decepticon and what it does. (For instance, check out Gannettron, an everyday USA TODAY newspaper box that morphs into a robot specializing in communications and news distribution via network satellite.)

Submissions are due June 18. You'll be able to view and vote for the finalists June 22, and the winner will be interviewed and have their design displayed in our June 26 print edition.

Technical specs: You can design your Tranformer on paper or digitally, but please send us the result in a single, high-quality (200-DPI) .jpg or .gif file. You must register for a free USA TODAY.com account in order to upload your design.

2. Michael Bell, the G1 voice actor for Prowl (I loved that voice ;.;) and Swoop (also loved that voice) is asking for fans' help!

"To all my Transformer buds,

I recently directed a demo for a series of motion graphic "Transformers" comics which could be downloaded via iPhone, iTouch, and other outlets. Many talented professional actors provided the voices for the characters in the demo including myself. The plan was to present it to IDW Comics who had shown more then a passing interest in this budding new concept. With a go ahead on producing the series, I would be employing the talents of as many of the original voices from the early series as possible. I had already cleared this with my fellow "Transformers" actors, and everyone was waiting in the wings for the response from the powers at IDW comics.

After months of mulling over it, they ultimately passed on the idea, and surprise surprise, decided to produce their own graphic motion novel without the voices or even the superbly heightened animation. So, essentially what you now have the ability to download is a plain old comic book.

Nothing new there.

Soooooo, I am taking my request to the troops. To all the die hard fans who I have met over the years at Botcon conventions, or who have written to me asking about my experiences working on one of the most inventive animated series in TV history- I need your help! I am requesting that you do something for me and my fellow actors, so we can in-turn do something really cool for you.

Please contact IDW and let them know that their concept of a series of comic books based on "Transformers" WITHOUT the talents of voice actors, especially many of the original voices, just doesn't cut it.

Please ask them to contract Creative Producers Chris Folino and William Katt, and make a deal for them to produce their concept of a downloadable graphic motion comic series of "Transformers" with professional actors, progressive animation, and lotsa sound effects.

On behalf of all those actors, animators, and studio techs that will get an opportunity to carry on a great tradition,

I thank you,
Michael "Prowl/Swoop" Bell"

(Here's a link to what the motion comics would look like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bH83gbGcCnE&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eallspark%2Ecom%2F&feature=player_embedded)
I personally think that's a really cool idea and I love the demo, so put in if you have time!

3. KaelPrime on YouTube has posted a new episode of the Moonbase2 podcast, this time with a nice long interview with Shane McCarty, the writer of All Hail Megatron.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MC3b5epypnA&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eseibertron%2Ecom%2Ftransformers%2Fnews%2Finterview%2Dwith%2Dshane%2Dmccarty%2F16100%2F&feature=player_embedded

4. A long audio interview with Peter Cullen and Frank Welker has been uploaded at www.allspark.com. Go here to download or read it: http://www.allspark.com/content/view/5308/16/

5. Also, some sad news--Transformers Animated has been fully removed from CN's Saturday running. It's only showed at 6 am weekday mornings.

6. Some of the Transformers actors commented on Stan Bush's new version of "The Touch":
http://tformers.com/transformers-transformers-stars-comment-on-stan-bushs-the-touch-sams-theme/11717/news.html