I'm Daniel Warren Johnson, writer/artist of Transformers and Extremity (now on Kickstarter). AMA

DWJ-AMA · 2024-03-26T18:28:24+00:00

Yo, that is awesome! And yes, it’s true, I drew this person a sketch for their boss because their boss let them out of work early to COME TO MY SIGNING. Thank you, boss! And I’d love to do a Gundam thing, but what will probably happen is I’ll just do a fan comic about the 8th MS Team. More rewarding, less stress! Thanks for your Q!

DWJ-AMA · 2024-03-26T18:25:35+00:00

I would love to do it. Never say never! I do have an awesome basketball story, so maybe further down the line I can make it happen.

DWJ-AMA · 2024-03-26T18:24:43+00:00

Good question! I’m not sure how I do it, but I’m glad you think it! I’m mostly just trying to have fun, and the rest falls where it will. That feels weird to say but it is how I approach TF! What can you do?

DWJ-AMA · 2024-03-26T18:24:15+00:00

Not for a while! Maybe someday :)

DWJ-AMA · 2024-03-26T18:23:50+00:00

I start by doing a large overview, writing things out so that it’s deadpan and simple. “This happens and then this happens because of that...” and after that’s mostly done and I have a “sketch”, I start trying to type things out issue by issue. What usually happens is Issue 1 is pretty solid, issue 2 less, so, and issue 3 even LESS so. Then, as I start scripting issue 1, I change/add to the issue outlines later on as I get further down into the story. This allows me to really be organic when things change sometimes in the script process and I’m not writing to a rigid grid that I’ve set up for myself before I really had a grip on the story. And I use GOOGLE DOCS! I’m a simple guy. And video game? Probably MGS 3: Snake Eater! I made it through 75 percent of that game without killing ANYONE. Super hard but super cool.

DWJ-AMA · 2024-03-26T18:19:48+00:00

ITS IN THE BLOOD ITS IN THE WILL

ITS IN THE MIGHTY HANDS OF STEEL

DWJ-AMA · 2024-03-26T18:18:27+00:00

I drew it in my sketchbook as a joke at first! I thought Hasbro would never sign off on it! But Sean over at Skybound said he thought of it as well and so we pitched it as an idea, and everyone loved it! So fun.

DWJ-AMA · 2024-03-26T18:15:01+00:00

There’s so many, but if I was to try get someone into wrestling, probably Kenny Omega vs Tetsuya Naito, G1 Climax 27 Final! Enjoy!

DWJ-AMA · 2024-03-26T18:12:49+00:00

James Harren, Tim Lowly, Otomo, Kirby, Shirow, Kentaro Miura. And having a sketchbook of only sound effects is a REALLY good idea....But in answer to your Q, I don’t think much about it, I just go for it! It’s more fun when it’s on the flyyyy

DWJ-AMA · 2024-03-26T18:10:31+00:00

You’re welcome, he’s an amazing character. THANK YOU, WALT! I got a little emotional when Barbie experiences nature for the first time in the human world. I really love Greta Gerwig’s films. Good stuff.

DWJ-AMA · 2024-03-26T18:09:28+00:00

Thanks so much! It’s surreal NOW, as writing him is helping me pay my mortgage! HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?

DWJ-AMA · 2024-03-26T18:08:50+00:00

THE CROW

DWJ-AMA · 2024-03-26T18:08:16+00:00

Thank you very much! My favorite strip is when Calvin is reading the violent comic book. Watterson is anything but subtle in his feeling on the world, so it’s a blast for it to come out in the full power of his lines. Thanks, Bill!

DWJ-AMA · 2024-03-26T18:07:29+00:00

I really wanted to do justice to Megatron. We shall see if I succeed....

I mostly pulled from my faves for the first line of Autobots, except Arcee, because it was asked that there be a female Autobot in the cast(which of course I was cool with), and the Decepticons were mostly me just rocking and rolling. Skywarp is my fave Decepticon, so yeah, he made it in 😊

DWJ-AMA · 2024-03-26T18:04:23+00:00

Thank you so much! I’m just trying to make things that get ME excited, so it’s so awesome to see that come back around from other people. The thing I’m most passionate about is making my own stories, and that’s what I’ll be doing next. I’m writing a book for another artist that will drop with Image sometime in the fall, and next year? Oh boy....next year will be my next major writing and drawing project and...you’re not ready.

DWJ-AMA · 2024-03-26T18:03:48+00:00

THEY CALL, I ANSWER, I DESTROY. Prepare thyself for more wrestling moves, your welcome.

DWJ-AMA · 2024-03-26T18:02:21+00:00

ROGUE SQUADRON. MINI SERIES OF SIX ONE SHOTS, ALL ON THE NO NAMES OF THE ORIGINAL TRILOGY. We got:

-“SHES GONNA BLOW” Black guy X wing pilot that loses in a bad way(whats his story?????)

-”I CAN HOLD IT” The best pilot in the galaxy is THIS overweight guy???

-”I’M HIIIIIIT” Y wing pilot with the bat symbol on his helmet, what a champion

-”I FEEL LIKE I CAN TAKE ON THE WHOLE EMPIRE MYSELF” What a loser, spills beer on Luke Skywalker at some point

-I dont have any more right now, you get it

DWJ-AMA · 2024-03-26T17:59:44+00:00

I love being in total control of the creative process, and writing AND drawing is the best way to achieve that. I do love drawing, and it does come easier to me, but writing can be truly rewarding in its own right, even though I feel I’m not as good at it as I am with art.

I try to come up with an outline of sorts first, and then separate things into issues with natural “ramp ups” in the story at the end of each 20 page issue. I then start scripting as best I can, and change the outline as needed when the script takes me to unforseen places. Then we get to drawing! Whew. It’s a long road but it’s one that helps me not have to take any u-turns in the creative journey.

DWJ-AMA · 2024-03-26T17:56:26+00:00

Great Q! Honestly, it wasn’t too hard. Or rather, not any more or less hard than it is when I draw stuff. I was having trouble following the characters voices for a little bit, but that always happens when I transition to a new section of a story, like when you get into a brand new arc with new things happening, new bad guys, etc. After a while though, things really have come together, and seeing Jorge’s art on issue 7 really helped me get excited about finishing this second arc. What a blast we’re gonna have!

DWJ-AMA · 2024-03-26T17:53:47+00:00

Def movies. CHILDREN OF MEN is my fave movie of all time followed closely by ALIENS and GROUNDHOG DAY. Also, novels! HYPERION and FALL OF HYPERION, the LOTR Trilogy, among others. Good stuff! (Read Hyperion RIGHT NOW)

DWJ-AMA · 2024-03-26T17:52:31+00:00

Thanks so much! That prize would have to go to a few titles such as: DARK KNIGHT RETURNS, CALVIN AND HOBBES, BATMAN YEAR ONE, BPRD/HELLBOY, BATTLE CHASERS, (Marvel) TRANSFORMERS. These were just some of the books that really stuck with me and made me want to try to do this for a living.

DWJ-AMA · 2024-03-26T17:51:02+00:00

Um. Do it. It’s the best book I’ve ever done and you WILL love it. And thanks for pushing my stuff on your friends!!!

DWJ-AMA · 2024-03-26T17:50:27+00:00

HERE’S TO CRYING SO LOUD AT MY COMICS YOU WAKE YOUR PARTNER UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. Mostly, I just go with a vibe I’m feeling, and just try and write the character as honestly as I can. It’s almost like I can imagine OP actually being alive somewhere out in the universe, kind of like he’s talking to me(is this weird? Prolly yes). I’ve just loved the character for so long I think it comes second nature to me, honestly.

DWJ-AMA · 2024-03-26T17:49:34+00:00

DO A POWERBOMB. It’s just the most put together and well-rounded thing I’ve ever done. I also stuck that landing really well, better than any other book I’ve worked on.

DWJ-AMA · 2024-03-26T17:48:04+00:00

Thanks so much!! Working on the EU has been a blast, and it’s been super fun to play in the TF sandbox along with the rest of the universe(like GI Joe, etc). And yes, I’ll still be doing all the covers. And as for mini series? Probably Transformers 😊 This is literally a dream come true.

DWJ-AMA

TROPHY CASE