Transformers Comic Book News on Seibertron.com

IDW Hasbro Universe - Full Preview of Scarlett's Strike Force #1

Date: Saturday, December 23rd 2017 7:32am CST
Category: Comic Book News
Posted by: Va'al | Credit(s): AIPT!

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Views: 16,048

Coming at us from previous source of comics news Adventures in Poor Taste!, we have a full preview of the first of three issues of the shortly lived series that will be the continuation of GI Joe in the post-First Strike Hasbro Universe from IDW Publishing - Scarlett's Strike Force #1!

You can check out full synopsis, pages, cover and more below, including the significant sass that belongs all the Skywarp (who else) and let us know what you think in the Energon Pub discussion boards.

Scarlett’s Strike Force #1
Aubrey Sitterson (w) • Nelson Daniel (a & c)
They’ve fought back invasions from home and afar—now, they’re back on Earth, and ready to take on the wildest, weirdest threats out there! It’s Scarlett’s G.I. Joe team, the Strike Force, against a brand-new Cobra Commander, a revitalized Cobra, and everyone else trying to conquer Earth… or destroy it! Aubrey Sitterson (G.I. Joe, Street Fighter x G.I. Joe) is joined by superstar artist Nelson Daniel (Clue, Dungeons & Dragons) in The Best Action Comic Ever!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Bullet points:
Featuring all-stars of the Hasbro line as M.A.S.K.: Mobile Armored Strike Kommand and the Transformers join G.I. Joe in the fight against Cobra!

Variant Covers for IDW Optimus Prime #15 by Kei Zama / Josh Burcham & Brendan Cahill

Date: Friday, December 22nd 2017 4:16am CST
Category: Comic Book News
Posted by: Va'al | Credit(s): Kei Zama, Previews World

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Views: 13,108

In the full list of IDW Publishing comics solicitations for January 2018 - posted here - we had seen one of the covers for the upcoming The Falling arc in the Optimus Prime ongoing series, by Casey Coller.

We now also have, directly from the source herself and via fellow Seibertronian Sunstar, the cover as imagined by regular artist Kei Zama and colourist Josh Burcham, featuring a very different take on the concept, though with Optimus, Windblade and the Mistress of Flame still taking front stage. Give it an eye below!

Also mirrored from Previews World is the Brendan Cahill retailer incentive cover, featuring a scene with Megatron and Optimus Prime that has nothing to do with the interior of the comic itself, but pretty impressive nonetheless!

“THE FALLING, PART 1!” Darkness falls over Cybertron as the legendary Onyx Prime returns. What does this mean for Optimus Prime—and the Earth? Windblade defends an already tense planet against a secret that could shatter Cybertron forever.

Preview for IDW Transformers vs The Visionaries #1

Date: Thursday, December 21st 2017 8:12am CST
Category: Comic Book News
Posted by: Va'al | Credit(s): IDW

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Views: 13,471

Keeping up the marketing momentum, IDW Publishing have directly posted a preview for the upcoming first issue of their latest Hasbro universe crossover series, helmed by Magdalene Visaggio and Fico Ossio: Transformers vs The Visionaries #1!

We don't get too much more than what we first saw in the iTunes preview, posted here, but we do have an extra couple of pages added to the opening, and some additional characters introduced next to Merklynn, and alongside old Cybertronians Kup and Ironhide. Check it out below!

Cybertron has been invaded. The Transformers encounter unwelcome guests at the heart of Cybertron—and they may not have their hosts’ best interests at heart. Refugees from another world, the Visionaries' startling magical abilities could make them powerful allies... or dangerous enemies.

Variant Cover for IDW Transformers vs The Visionaries by Cahill / Bennet

Date: Thursday, December 21st 2017 4:42am CST
Category: Comic Book News
Posted by: Va'al | Credit(s): Brendan Cahill

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With some more news in the March 2018 solicitations seem here about the soon-to-begin crossover mini-series from IDW Publishing, featuring two more Hasbro properties clashing (but not really) with each other (but also in-fighting), we have the retailer incentive cover for Transformers vs The Visionaries #2, brought to us once more by artist Brendan Cahill, and coloured by Lauren Bennett!

The cover, mirrored below in both lineart and full colour, shows Virulina - the apparently new Darkling leader - and Ironhide, from the Cybertronian side of things, in a much different pose and setting than the cover for the first issue. Check it out!

IDW Transformers & Hasbro Universe Comics Solicitations for March 2018

Date: Wednesday, December 20th 2017 5:13pm CST
Category: Comic Book News
Posted by: Tyrannacon | Credit(s): PreviewsWorld

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Views: 17,600

PreviewsWorld is gracing us with the new and upcoming comic solicitations for IDW's Hasbro series from the Transformers titles such as Optimus Prime and Lost Light, to the Free Comic Book Day Unicron comic, Visionaries crossover with Transformers, and ROM. Here they are in brief:

TRANSFORMERS TITLES

Optimus Prime #17 - This is the Casey Coller cover, Zama one not shown (the listing for the Coller cover shows this one's lines only for some reason, likely a mistake)
(W) John Barber (A/CA) Kei Zama
"The Falling," Part 3: Onyx Prime sows the seeds of chaos and panic on Cybertron as he reveals dark secrets... but nothing will prepare Optimus Prime and his allies for Onyx's darkest revelation!
In Shops: Mar 28, 2018
SRP: $3.99

Optimus Prime #17 - RI Cover: Thomas Deer
(W) John Barber (A) Kei Zama
"The Falling," Part 3: Onyx Prime sows the seeds of chaos and panic on Cybertron as he reveals dark secrets... but nothing will prepare Optimus Prime and his allies for Onyx's darkest revelation!
In Shops: Mar 28, 2018
SRP: PI

Lost Light #16 - Cover A
(W) James Roberts (A/CA) Jack Lawrence
ALL GOOD THINGS...! Rodimus and the Crusadercons have reached their final destination. The trouble is, it's not Cyberutopia. In fact, it's not ANYWHERE. But they'd better get used to it, because they're going to be there until the end of Time...
In Shops: Mar 07, 2018
SRP: $3.99

Transformers vs. Visionaries #4 - Cover A
(W) Magdalene Visaggio (A/CA) Fico Ossio
Leoric and Ironhide only have hours left to save Cybertron from destruction, while Virulina tries to harness the life energy of Leoric's captured friends to accelerate the end. Now Leoric must somehow detonate the counter-wave bomb and rescue his people. And the clock is ticking.
In Shops: Mar 14, 2018
SRP: $3.99

Transformers vs. Visionaries #4 - Cover B
(W) Magdalene Visaggio (A) Fico Ossio (CA) Luca Pizzari
Leoric and Ironhide only have hours left to save Cybertron from destruction, while Virulina tries to harness the life energy of Leoric's captured friends to accelerate the end. Now Leoric must somehow detonate the counter-wave bomb and rescue his people. And the clock is ticking.

Transformers vs. Visionaries #4 - RI Cover
(W) Magdalene Visaggio (A) Fico Ossio (CA) Brendan Cahill
Leoric and Ironhide only have hours left to save Cybertron from destruction, while Virulina tries to harness the life energy of Leoric's captured friends to accelerate the end. Now Leoric must somehow detonate the counter-wave bomb and rescue his people. And the clock is ticking.
In Shops: Mar 14, 2018
SRP: PI

Free Comic Book Day 2018 - Transformers Unicron #0
(W) John Barber (A) Alex Milne (CA) Sara Pitre-Durocher
Not a whimper, nor a bang-the end comes with a squall of entropy shrieking from the ravenous maw of death itself. The message is clear: Unicron has arrived. The Transformers lock into a desperate bid to save Rom's homeworld from the world-killer - but why has Unicron chosen this world on his path to Cybertron... and Earth? The biggest story in the history of Transformers starts now: for Unicron's arrival can mean nothing less than the end of a universe.
Teen Audiences.
In Shops: Apr 11, 2018
SRP: PI

Redemption of the Dinobots - Trade Paperback
(W) John Barber (A/CA) Livio Ramondelli
Explore the Dinobots like never before! It's a rollercoaster of death and absolution, drenched in atmosphere and action in three stories focused on the Dinobots. First, in "Punishment," Optimus Prime and Windblade team up to stop a killer, but do they really want to, when all the victims are Decepticons? Then, in the title story, the Dinobots accept a dangerous mission into the Cybertronian wilds, but they get more than they bargained for, and are forced to reassess their beliefs in the process. Finally, in "Salvation," the Dinobots are reviled for the things they've done. So when their greatest threat, Trypticon, appears, how much will they sacrifice for a world that hates them?
* Collects The Transformers: Punishment, The Transformers: Redemption, and The Transformers: Salvation.
In Shops: Apr 18, 2018
SRP: $19.99

HASBRO UNIVERSE TITLES

ROM & The Micronauts #4 - Cover A
(W) Christos Gage (A) Paolo Villanelli (CA) E. J. Su
Asymmetric Warfare! Newly emerged from Microspace, Rom and the Micronauts seek out Baron Karza and his Dire Wraith allies. But it may be too late to save Earth from being consumed by a dark god from beyond our dimension!
In Shops: Mar 21, 2018
SRP: $3.99

ROM - Tales of the Solstar Order #1 - Special Edition
(W) Chris Ryall, Christos Gage (A/CA) Guy Dorian, Sal Buscema
"Battle Scars!" This special re-presentation of Rom comic co-creator Sal Buscema's storied return to the character is presented in a single issue for the first time, along with bonus art, an interview with Buscema, and other cool extras!
* Rom comic co-creator Sal Buscema's triumphant return to Rom interiors!
* The final fate of a Solstar Knight collected in one special edition!
* Bonus: Interview with the art team!
In Shops: Mar 28, 2018
SRP: $4.99

Comixology IDW 55% Off Sale Including Many Transformers Titles

Date: Wednesday, December 20th 2017 10:36am CST
Categories: Comic Book News, Store News
Posted by: D-Maximal_Primal | Credit(s): Comixology

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Views: 17,032

Thanks once more to a heads up from Comixology watcher Carytheone, we have news that Comixology is once more offering some great season deals on comics, which includes many Transformers titles!

The sale includes comics of old and new. New stories that have made the sale include the Transformers: Salvation story, starring the Dinobots, The Optimus Prime: First Strike story, the Transformers: First Strike story, Till All Are One Volume 2, Optimus Prime volume 1, and Lost Light Volume 1.

The sale is not afraid to reach back either, with many of the older IDW stories also featuring on the sale. Such stories include the Death of Optimus Prime one-shot, most of the older IDW Robots in Disguise/Transformers comics and More Than Meets The Eye stories, All Hail Megatron, Classics, the 2009-2011 Ongoing, and many more!

Head on over and check out the sale. And let us know in the comments section below if any of the sales were good enough to get you to check out these stories!

IDW Optimus Prime #14 Review

Date: Wednesday, December 20th 2017 10:27am CST
Categories: Comic Book News, Reviews, Site Articles
Posted by: D-Maximal_Primal | Credit(s): IDW

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Views: 35,333

OK, so to start things off with, this was a difficult story for me to get my head around. When I first read this issue, I had to take a step back, wonder what I just read, take a few more moments, and reread. And even then, I still wasn't sure of what I read.

Take a few moments to read some other staff inputs, and some more sense it made.



Now, that is not to say that this is an issue that is very confusing. It's not an issue where we are jumping around time, not one where things are jumbled, not one where the writing is bad. The story itself is a really good read and another great installment for the Optimus Prime run. It's just an issue where, much like last issue, there is a lot of stuff going on. It is dense in its content. And most of that is saved for the final few pages, where a reveal throws all kinds of continuity dense implications to us.



Now that we got that out of the way, here are some actual thoughts. The opening pages with Prowl and crew, it felt cool and yet unique. Here we have a crew of misfits essentially, those who have not been accounted for over the past few years, mostly. Wheelie and Garnak once again make a triumphant return, the Throttlebots, and Stardrive, not to mention all of Prowl's tech. The one oddball thing about this whole section: what on Earth is Prowl gathering everything for? And why this crew of characters? It does make me smile some to see Prowl is still up to his old ways, even if it does feel a bit weird following the ending of Titans Return.

Cut back to Cybertron: the whole section feels just a bit wonky, but it still works out for me. This is the first part that gave me some pause. The way the characters fight each other feels a bit weird, but bringing together characters developed in different stories for this section will do that to you. I did enjoy the Trypticon "reveal" part though, and jokes about Dinobot child resemblance made me smirk several times. The writing with the Dino-crew is a great story in and of itself to follow.



Arcee had some good moments in there, as did Prime. With Till All Are One coming out with some big new story developments, it was fun to see Starscream interact with both Bumblebee and Bludgeon. I'm interested to see where the Dinobots go from here too, along with Sandstorm.

As for the final 2 pages, that is a reveal I didn't see coming, but one where things make all kinds of sense, and they make me worry about what is about to happen next. Taking 2 of the biggest... pricks/pains-in-the-back characters and now showing them to be in cahoots with each other is interesting and a take that is setting up even more tension prior to the Unicron story to come. Barber is probably the only one who could handle this whole set up, and as far as I am concerned, he is nailing it, and he is setting us up for some truly fun stuff to come.



The story was helped a lot by Livio Ramondelli and his art, and as I and others have said, his art has improved greatly. I really enjoyed the scenes he was drawing, and there are distinct close ups that he nails perfectly, such as Arcee and Prowl. Everything Trypticon is awesome in this story too. I give props to Livio for continued improvement, his art has become something that is quire enjoyable to follow.



And Tom B. Long continues to do great work with the lettering. I am especially appreciative of the inverted speech bubble colors. He helps add that mysticism that Bludgeon is helping to set up.

As a close friend of mine likes to say: "long story short": this is a great book, and one that nicely compliments issue 13 as a 2 part continuity-heavy saga leading up to the Primes and Unicron. Things are being done, they are being done right, and they are being done enjoyably, with no major complaints on story, art, or otherwise.



The story has moved, old continuity points are being sewed up, and we are getting set for a big year next year with comics. And I am glad this crew continues to be a flagship for the comic run.

Review for IDW Transformers: Till All Are One Annual 2017 #TAAO

Date: Wednesday, December 20th 2017 12:59am CST
Categories: Comic Book News, Reviews, Site Articles
Posted by: Va'al | Credit(s): IDW

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Views: 33,728

Synopsis
Elita One, Windblade, and Starscream fight to gain ultimate control of Cybertron! Dark secrets will be revealed in this series finale!



Story

I gushed a lot of my appreciation for a story and a series like Till All Are One once already, in my final review of the ongoing series a couple of months back - you can read that review here, if so inclined, but I want to quote myself to make a major point about this annual:

Till All Are One #12 gave us the best story it could probably and possibly ever deliver; it gave us a resolution between Starscream and Windblade that is not a conclusion; it brought elements together that no other book had really done so far; it redeemed characters without offering them salvation.

In my original conclusion to that line of thought, I said that I wished we'd had more time to appreciate, encounter, and explore what lies ahead of all of them much sooner than we actually would. And in that respect, the Annual delivers on changing my mind entirely, just as it revolutionises the stage and status quo of the series' setting - I actually want to see it even more, now.



As it is an issue that I think is best experienced in its entirety and lack of information, I do not want to go into any detail about the plot or the characters here, but I will say that there is a culmination of an incredible number of plots - from the very start of the series way back when it was just Windblade - and one of the best developments in the Hasbro shared universe, as a consequence of First Strike's effect on Cybertron and Cybertronians.



I can't really speak of a 'happy ending', not in the strictest sense of the term, and there are some very heartfelt joyful moments, but (and I'm pretty sure I'm tapping into my thoughts of other media that has come out this month) this long, utterly enjoyable and satisfying read has gone from the 'best ending' TAAO could've had (issue #12) to A Good Ending. A good ground to build a much positive, much wider, much better universe.


Art

There was no other way to conclude the story without artist Sara Pitre-Durocher, who has been involved in the franchise for so long people tend to forget just how much material she's covered in her work, be it comics or packaging art. And what we have here is a testimony to that proximity, with nods to the first Windblade series in opening sequences, revisitations of the glorious Starscream of issue #12, and perhaps the happiest, tiredest, positively relieved Windblade, but also several Cybertronians that have populated the stage this far.



And the feeling of light, the legeresse and relief that come with some of the aspects that are not to be understated - can never be underestimated - throughout the story, among the different inhabitants of the story and the city, could not be possible without the amazing lighting work that Joana Lafuente brings in her colours. The symbolism of dawns and dusks is one that runs all through the TFverse, but we see it here as a full revolution - and you may take that however you want.



In Scott's letter in the backmatter of the issue, the writer acknowledges Tom B. Long's excellent contribution to the issue and the work on the series as a whole, something I was glad to see as a fan of the letterer's work across the board - no less in this annual, where some of the more poignant moments are silent, and handled with extreme masterful care. There is only one variant cover - by artist JN Wiedle - to the main Pitre-Durocher one (which is so full of callbacks that I cannot even), and I've used it to spotlight the thumbnail. Both are glorious. Both deserve visibility. Look at them, and enjoy.

Thoughts
Spoilerish ahead

This is a story of leadership. We have three potential leaders, all of whom are actually, surprisingly, fitting possibilities for this new Cybertron. All three are potential stories to be told about a city, a planet, a civilisation - and by extent, an entire universe that involves more than just the Transformers. One of these is the winner, one of these is the loser, one of these wins something else entirely, and we have the immense pleasure and privilege of being along for the ride with at least two out of three. Pay attention to the dialogue. Pay attention to the words, including the author's letter in the back of the issue. It's all there, all along.



I've had comments on the pacing of the book, that it feels a little rushed in parts - and while I can recognise that, I do not think it detrimental to the story, at all. If anything, it heightens the sense of frenzied anticipation for the events taking place, the urgency of it all, and the buzz of a build-up with finally a resolution that can lead to a different future from the pasts and presents we have known in the stories of Transformers so far. And for that, I have to thank the writer, the artists, the colourists, the letterers, the editors.

So thank you, again.

Full Preview for IDW Transformers Optimus Prime #14

Date: Tuesday, December 19th 2017 2:38am CST
Category: Comic Book News
Posted by: Va'al | Credit(s): IDW

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Views: 14,878

The third preview of this week's comics from IDW Publishing - as the Till All Are One Annual was covered already here - brings us back to Transformers proper, and the second part of the Livio Ramondelli-drawn issues featuring both the Throttlebots and the Dinobots in Optimus Prime #14. There are pretty much all of the possible spoilers for the previous issue present in the opening pages of this, so if you're a trade reader, or still waiting for #13, avoid the images below!

Will you be picking up the issue this week? Let us know what you think, and join the discussion in the Energon Pub discussion boards.

Optimus Prime #14
John Barber (w) • Livio Ramondelli (a) • Kei Zama (c)
On Cybertron, Optimus Prime battles the Dinobots over the first new Cybertronian life to emerge in four million years! But does he stand a chance when the Dinobots' newest member is two miles tall and eats cities?
FC • 32 pages • $3.99
Bullet points:
Part of IDW’s Artist’s Edition Cover Month!
Optimus Prime deals with the fallout of the First Strike event!
Variant cover by James Raiz!

Full Preview for IDW Hasbro Universe Rom & The Micronauts #1

Date: Tuesday, December 19th 2017 2:35am CST
Category: Comic Book News
Posted by: Va'al | Credit(s): IDW

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Views: 14,573

We have a number of new comics previews for you this week, from all across the IDW Hasbro Universe. And we're starting with the first issue of the new combined series, that also takes place after the Revolution and First Strike events, featuring two franchises for the price of one - Rom & The Micronauts #1!

This first issue sets the ground for the collaboration and wider stage of the cosmic battles - but very much set on Earth so far - of the Solstar order and the Micronauts, facing the triple threat of Dire Wraiths, The Absence, and Baron Karza. Check it out below, and let us know if you'll branch out with this new series!

Rom & The Micronauts #1
Christos Gage (w) • Paolo Villanelli (a) • Richard Wentworth (c)
Baron Karza and D’rge, the Dire Wraith sorcerer, have joined forces to carry forward their equally malignant goals—Karza desires to conquer all of Microspace (again), while the Wraiths seek to awaken their Wraith God and conquer Earth! Now it’s up to Rom and the Micronauts to form their own alliance in order to stop the evil domination of two worlds! Christos Gage (Amazing Spider-Man, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and Paolo Villanelli (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story) team up to bring us this all-new adventure!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Bullet points:
An all-new Hasbro team-up event featuring your favorite Solstar Knight and the tiniest heroes around!
Written and illustrated by fan-favorite creators—writer Christos Gage and artist Paolo Villanelli!
Variant covers by Jeffrey Veregge, and Guy Dorian & Sal Buscema!