Comics News
Tripwire’s Contributing Writer Paul N Neal Investigates Morphodroids #1
The Greatest Comics Toy Tieup That Never Was
Tripwire’s contributing writer Paul N Neal spends much of his time looking at the Kickstarter comic market. He thought Morphodroids looked interesting and so he decided to find out more directly from creator Keith Finch…
TRIPWIRE: I am excited to ask you about your comic, but could we backtrack a tiny bit? How did you become a comic fan? Can you recall perhaps your first favourite comics?
KEITH FINCH: Comics were part of my life from the start. My dad wasn’t a collector in the broad sense, but he was a passionate fan of a few key titles – Marvel’s Conan the Barbarian by Roy Thomas and Barry Windsor-Smith (later John Buscema), Savage Sword of Conan and DC’s original Swamp Thing run by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson. His copy of Conan the Barbarian #1 was framed and hung on the wall, which was pretty unusual back then. The cover, now quite sun-faded, might’ve lost some monetary value, but the impact of seeing it in a place of reverence was priceless to me.
As a kid, my tastes leaned toward the characters I saw in Saturday morning cartoons – Spider-Man, The Hulk, Batman. But two comics really stuck with me: Captain America #268 and Marvel Superheroes Featuring The Hulk #99. I read those until the covers were barely hanging on. They were a couple of early examples of comics that opened a gateway into a lifelong love of storytelling through comics.
TW: As an artist or as a writer can you perhaps name your primary influences?
KF: As a writer – especially on Morphodroids – Bill Mantlo is a towering influence. I’m dedicating the first issue to him. He had this incredible gift for taking childhood toys and breathing life into them, crafting stories that were imaginative and playful but also rich enough to resonate with older readers. That balance is something I strive for.
As for art, it’s harder to pin down. I draw inspiration from a wide range of sources depending on the project. A recent piece pulled from Barry Windsor-Smith, Masamune Shirow, Fritz Lang, and even outsider artist Howard Finster. My art’s been on the back burner for a while, but I’m easing back into it. Part of the joy is rediscovering my style as it evolves.
TW: How do you feel about going to comic conventions? Do you feel they will help promote all your sales?
KF: I’m still early in my journey as a creator, so I haven’t tabled at a convention yet. That said, I genuinely believe the work my collaborators and I are producing can stand on its own and find an audience—whether at a con or elsewhere.
Conventions are more than just sales opportunities; they’re experiences, especially for families. Morphodroids is designed to be a family-friendly title—something a parent and child can read together, each finding their own meaning in the story. That kind of shared experience is exactly what conventions are great for.
TW: Please tell me more about the storyline of your comic. I am genuinely fascinated.
KF: Morphodroids #1 drops readers right into the action—an in medias res opening that sets the tone for the series. The rest of the issue introduces the core characters, whose perspectives will guide the first story arc. The setting is a scrap yard (or junk yard, depending on your region), where a group of neighbourhood kids often hang out. One of the yard’s employees also plays a key role.
Without spoiling too much: the kids stumble upon something buried in the refuse that unlocks a hidden secret, launching them into an unexpected adventure. Readers meet the nine Morphodroids characters, learn about their arrival on Earth, and get a glimpse of the larger mystery. The issue ends with a teaser for one of the main antagonists who’ll appear in Issue #2.
There’s also a backup story featuring one of the villainous Morphodroids in a skirmish on Earth. It includes a small but meaningful detail that will pay off in future issues.
But Morphodroids is more than just a comic—it’s a celebration of the toy line that inspired it. The book includes photos of the toys, vintage ads, an exclusive interview with the toy line’s creator, and loads of backmatter: character profiles, secret government files, and more. For readers who dive into that material, the world of Morphodroids becomes much richer and more immersive.
TW: You would presumably accept Morphodroids shares similarities to The Transformers. How are they distinct and different?
KF: While it’s true that Morphodroids and Transformers share surface-level similarities—namely, warring robotic factions that transform into vehicles—the distinctions between them run deep. Morphodroids are rooted in a rich, ancient lore that spans millennia, with profound implications for Earth’s history and development. This mythos begins to unfold in Issue 2, while Issue 1 lays the groundwork by introducing a core group of human characters and the scattered Morphodroids hidden across various regions of the United States.
What truly sets Morphodroids apart is the central mystery woven into their narrative: Who are they? Why are they here? Who has been watching them—and keeping their existence secret? As the story progresses, it explores the hidden influence these beings have had on the progress of humanity throughout history, blending science fiction with historical intrigue in a way that’s uniquely its own.
TW: What’s the long-term plan for Morphodroids?
KF: The initial story arc for Morphodroids is planned as a six-issue run. If we receive strong and sustained support from readers, we’ll complete those six issues and then evaluate whether there’s enough momentum to launch a second arc. The world we’ve built is expansive and designed to support a lifetime’s worth of stories. How many of those get told will ultimately depend on the audience and their enthusiasm.
Beyond the comic itself, we currently offer Morphodroids T-shirts through 80sTees.com Link to: https://www.80stees.com/collections/MORPHODROIDS/ref=MORPHODROIDS
As for other media—animation, film, or toys—there are no active plans at the moment. That said, we’re open to possibilities. If the right opportunity comes along, we’d absolutely consider expanding into new formats.
TW: How can people obtain the first issue?
KF: We are currently in the Kickstarter campaign for the first issue – that’ll run through Friday, 3 October 2025, at Midnight ET. The campaign can be accessed here:
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