The VOC Letter Column

Below are all the letters featured in Issues Two and Three, so you can hear what other fans have had to say about our magazine--as one fan wrote, both good and "eeeeevil"... This forum will remain open for more letters, so order your copies and write in with your thoughts!

Voices Of Cybertron--Issue Two:

Dear VOC:

The cover is as spectacular as I remember it being. You guys went to a lot of work to get all those images inside the Matrix.

I really liked the fact that you went to the effort and expense of colour copying, plus putting the page numbers into little Matrices.

I enjoyed being able to see the articles etc...it was stuff I'd not seen before. The history of Hasbro especially. The Role Call made for interesting reading...now I have to go back and rewatch episodes and other shows to find the voices. The UK press release sounded like a great movie--too bad we didn't get one!

Overall, a great and informative zine. I'm rather glad that you didn't go for stories--we have an abundance of storyzines already! --and chose to delve into the sacred texts for articles and otherwise ignored datafiles.

--Matt "Talon" Kirkby

Ontario, Canada

--Hopefully this issue's format is just as enjoyable, even though it's a departure from last issue's. Originally VOC was going to be a one-shot, containing almost everything you've seen in both issues. When we made it three, we put the articles in the first part and the essays in this one. If there's demand for an Issue Four, you'll see a mix of articles and original work.

I liked it! I keep reading thru it to see if there is something I missed. And there is a lot of things in your book.

I thought the "adult" opinions that were written during the 80's was surprising. I didn't know any of these articles existed. It reminds me of today's articles on Teletubbies (that's a laugh), video game violence, (makes some sense) and toy guns. I could go on at length discussing my opinions on that but I don't think we want to discuss that in the letter column.

I also liked the little comments made at the end of some articles by you two as well like the one at the end of the European movie review. Boy, those Europeans are nice to a movie that didn't get that good in American reviews.

The one thing I kept going back and reading was the article "Through the Eyes of a Child". When I was a kid, I didn't write much but I did a lot of pictures of the TFs that I "copied" off the tv. Oh, before I forget does Starscream really have a blankie and Galvatron have a teddie bear?

--Katherine Brown

Rochester, MN

No, of course not! Who were we kidding? (Galvatron, put down that cannon!!!)

The look of the mag is very neat...as we got the Matrix straight in our face!

Naturally (as it was intended?) I started to identify the screens in the Matrix crystal (some of it was darn near impossible...) but I managed about 80% before my curiousity got the better of me and I had to see what was in the mag!

In the middle of reading the interview with w/Ed Fruge', I made a mental note to tell you that this is a really nicely done interview, and it was just fun to read! Too bad it wasn't longer though. You could have included the description of how you caught up with him in the first place, and what was his reaction to the interview, and being interviewed on this subject...;-) Other cool articles were "The History of Hasbro" and "How to Transform a Toymaker".

Your stories "Through the Eyes of a Child" were amusing as well...it's neat that you kept these. Sometimes I wish I had kept my 5-6th grade diaries, they were full of something resembling TF 'art'...

I was saddened by the number of voice actors that died. All those characters...well, it may sound silly, but it seemed to me that those characters have died as well. I mean, I know they didn't, but we will never hear them in quite the same way again now will we?!

One thing that was out of place...the writing was on one side of the pages and not on both sides. That made very little sense...And here we come to gripe #2:

From its conception and advertisement I heard more than once that VOC will have an interview with Leonard Nimoy. As a Trekker I have to admit that I was looking forward to this. This interview was not in the first issue of VOC. You did not tell me as a customer that that interview will be in another issue. That is not a good thing.

All in all this was a terrific first try guys, kudos to both of you. And despite my eeeeevil commentaries, I will definitely order VOC #2--naturally so I can post more eeeeevil commentaries, at least until we make VOC rule the universe.

--Gabi Debreczeni

Ramat-Gan, Israel

--Some in-depth and thoughtful comments from Gabi. Unfortunately we had to do some minor editing for space, but thanks again for all your input, good and "eeeeevil".

Regarding the issue of single-sided pages: you raise a good point, although right now single-sided is the cheapest way for us to print. There's a good chance that may change in the future, but in the meantime, you can pull the print of Ultra Magnus out of this issue and frame it without missing any text--just don't tell us you damaged your poor magazine...!

As for Galvatron's favorite Vulcan, we apologize for not being more specific about when he would be appearing. You will most definitely hear from Leonard Nimoy next issue. Also slated are a couple of new profiles, plus a 32-page graphic novel in full color. NOTE: this will not be cheap. We're doing everything we can to find an inexpensive way to print, but expect it to run in the neighborhood of $30 or $40--possibly more, hopefully less. But we can guarantee that the art will meet or exceed the standards of the G1 cartoon.

I've perused VOC #1 more than once, of course, and I like it better each time. Oh, the nostalgia! It takes me back to the early 80's, when my brother and I first saw those new toy robots from Japan, so different from the big, clunky Force Five and Shogun Warriors mecha. And soon after, the original TV show. Little did we suspect where it would eventually lead!

Yes, I remember all the less than charitable reviews that came out when TF:TM debuted. I saved the one from People, too although it's more amusing than offensive now. Jeez, who slammed the toilet lid on this guy's head while he was drinking?! Granted, it wasn't the best movie ever made, nor even the best I've seen, but it wasn't that bad, was it?

I also appreciate the list of voice actors. These poor folks are among the most underesteemed in the entire entertainment industry. Unseen and so unnoticed. That's too bad, because many are quite talented. Certainly more so than all those big-name stars who're being cast in "instant classics" cranked out by Fox, Dreamworks and Disney every year. It's nice to see how surprised and pleased are the ones who come to BotCon, that anybody wants to meet them and hear what they have to say.

Overall, a very good 'zine. Great cover, interesting material inside, put together in a neat, professional manner. I'm looking forward to seeing future issues.

Saw new releases of the movie and Gen 1 episodes at Suncoast in the mall--could this be the beginning of a revival? I hope so...and if so, I'm glad VOC will be there to help usher it in.

--Tina Bernal

Bryan, TX

--Thanks for the compliments, Tina! I guess this means Issue Four will be in order...?

I did want to point out something about our beloved voice actors; Daryn and I were just as saddened to discover how much of the cast we've already lost. (After reading that the original voice of Cyclonus committed suicide, I had to go hug on my Cyclonus pillow for awhile; it was rather depressing.) But keep something in mind: knowledge is empowerment. Hopefully now you know who gave a voice to your favorite character; if they're still out there, this is your chance to talk to 3H Enterprises (the creators of BotCon) and request that they be invited to BotCon. I would particularly recommend Dick Gautier (Hot Rod) and Alan Oppenheimer, because they're two of the oldest TF alumni and we can't expect them to stick around forever.

For those who've already passed, have hope; it is always possible that one day new voice actors will "rise from our ranks", so to speak, and give those characters a chance to speak again.

That's all the space we have, so see you next issue!

--Obviously, this saw print before some changes were made to the lineup for Issues Three and Four. And the good news is, the projected cost per copy of Issue Four should be half our original estimate. We pass our savings on to you!

Voices of Cybertron--Issue Three

Dear VOC:

I just received the two VOC issues earlier today and I must commend you for your work on them, and say that I will definitely be ordering the next two. The essays were good, and the stories were cute.

The Nightbird essay was interesting to read, and it makes more sense than some of the other theories I've read. As to whether she's sentient, I am often torn on that subject. For me, I guess it depends on how a certain story depicts her.

The Megatron as teacher essay was also interesting to read and makes a lot of sense. Though I see Megatron as a personal hero for a lot of reasons, I recognize that for the purpose of the cartoon Megatron is the villain. But good or evil, I still love the guy.

I also liked your update to "But Why Do You Like the Bad Guys". Very good, very well written and very personal. I'm working on a similar essay entitled, "Why Galvatron is My Favorite Transformer".

The revised Transformers: Universe bios were great and I wonder if we'll see revised bios for Galvatron, Cyclonus, Rodimus, etc. in the next issue.

The articles printed were interesting and amusing. Was it difficult to dig them up?

--Greg Bishansky

Croton, NY

--Actually, digging up the articles wasn't that difficult at all. The trick is thinking to look for Transformers-related things even where you wouldn't expect them. Dig around, and you may be surprised by what you can find.

As for further profiles, obviously you've seen a few more characters this issue. We won't give away any real spoilers on Issue Four, but you can certainly look for a few Movie Decepticons here or there...

Nice cover...not as spectacular as the premiere, but still nice with the various shots of different characters. Love the article about Megatron...I have to agree that he was a Villain in all senses of the word. He was spectacular as a bad guy--unafraid to stand up and do whatever it took to gain the victory he sought. He made his opponents look good simply because he was bad as he could get away with. I have seen Tina's comic before (well, the one she supplied, not drew) and it's as funny on the tenth reading as the first.

THE RESOLUTION: Well, having heard and taken part in this debate before and not wanting to stir everything up once again, I shall merely content myself by saying, "It is well written with valid arguments given the data shown". Which is not to say that other viewpoints are wrong...I still can't decide from the episode whether Nightbird was Megatron's lover or not and I am not really going to worry about it as Nightbird doesn't feature in my fanfic universe.

WHY YOU LIKE THE BAD GUYS was quite interesting... getting your mind as it were. A REJECTED HERO is my fave article this time around. As even Megatron must attest, it is only the quality of your foes that can make you strive for the best villainy. Love getting the Robert Stack autograph...I'm not tearing my zine for it though.

BROTHER'S KEEPER I have read before and I still enjoyed rereading it. I got a little misty-eyed reading it. It's a well-written, if short, bitter tale which casts some interesting light into Starscream's character and drive for power. The new profiles are all well-written and make a lot more sense than the toy packaging--I can't wait to see if you do more of them. I really like Soundwave's new motto--Silence Is The Keeper Of Secrets...it fits. A DAY IN THE LIFE was hilarious! I read it a second time immediately after the first because I was laughing so hard by the end of it. With the coil binding and color pages, you guys really manage a professional-looking zine. (Makes me consider how to improve the future projects of Cosmic Legends Publishing...watch out for the competition!)

--Matt "Talon" Kirkby

Ontario, Canada

--Thanks for the in-depth comments, particularly on "My Brother's Keeper". If you enjoyed that story, you'll probably love the tale we have in store for Issue Four.

We were concerned the essays and profiles might not go over well with readers, because there are so many interpretations of the mythos and each fan has their own spin; but we're glad to see that Issue Two met with success. Tell us if the answer is otherwise, but we credit that to sticking with cartoon canon, or at the very least the spirit of canon, when writing original material. As for the enigmatic Nightbird--at BotCon '98 Bryce Malek, a story consultant for the original series who spoke that Sunday, said that "Enter the Nightbird" was a very difficult episode to write. We may never know the precise reasons why, but it could go a long way towards explaining why fans have so much 'grey area', if you will, to debate over today.

Megatron could also attest that only the best villains can make their opponents strive for the greatest heroism. And as for competition, Talon...he's got that part covered, too. (Just kidding!) There's room enough for everyone's fan productions in the Transformers' universe--just so long as Unicron doesn't eat it all.

Great fanzine! I haven't read through the whole thing yet but I was very impressed by the craftsmanship. Very professional and I mean that when I say professional...Just the way the fanzine was put together was the tops! As for the best fanzine being put together of late, I'd rate you as being #1. :)

I'll let you know what all I think of the reading after I get that part of it done.

--Rosemary Faulkerson

Lakemore, OH

--We haven't heard back from Rosemary yet, so apparently she's taking her time reading. But who could blame her?

As for VOC having a professional look...good to know those four years of art school went for something. >;)

I received VoC #2 and the magnet. Thanks a bunch! It's a great idea, IMO. I'm intent on someday covering my fridge with magnets, and I'm sure others would also appreciate a TFs collectible that's not only decorative but functional.

--Tina Bernal

Bryan, TX

--We've tossed around several ideas for VOC tie-in merchandise, and the magnet one was a definite keeper. If you, our readers, have any more ideas for spinoff items you'd like to see, write in with your suggestions. If t-shirts are one of them, tell us if you'd like to see a particular issue's cover or other design, and whether or not white shirts would be acceptable. (Acceptable prices will also help.) Let us hear from you!

On that note, time for other news...Issue Four, scheduled for BotCon 2002, will be the last one planned. If demand continues, we may do an annual, but this will depend upon participation. Write in and spread the word; the more people are reading Voices of Cybertron, the more reason we have to continue printing. However, our website will remain up and running. Feel free to write in about this issue and next, and we will post those letters on the VOC website. We'll also post photos, news and other exclusives as time and space allow.

You can also drop us a line via cyberspace at nebkheprura@hotmail.com. See you next issue!

Your VOC editors,

--Daryn Broussard and Sharon "Tut" LaBorde

We want to hear more from you! If you've perused the pages of VOC we want you to share your thoughts, so write us and let your voice be heard!

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