Transformers Comic Book News on Seibertron.com

Hero-X Transformers Classics Japanese Volume 2 Cover Revealed

Date: Tuesday, November 6th 2018 7:09pm CST
Category: Comic Book News
Posted by: D-Maximal_Primal | Credit(s): @heroxnet on Twitter

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Thanks to @heroxnet on Twitter, we have the cover for the upcoming Volume 2 of the Hero-X Transformers Classics!

As you might remember, Hero-X is releasing the Japanese translation of the original Marvel Transformers comics, complete with Japanese commentary and covers done by Japanese artists. Volume 1 was released in February of this year, and if enough interest is shown, they will print the entire US run in Japanese.

This cover for Volume 2 was done by artist Ichikara Hirofumi, and is an homage to the famous scene where Megatron and Shockwave have their final battle for leadership. This new volume is expected to drop by the end of November.

Check out the cover below, and let us know what you think of it below!

5 Page Preview for Transformers: Lost Light 25

Date: Tuesday, November 6th 2018 8:58am CST
Category: Comic Book News
Posted by: william-james88

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Views: 15,208

We are at the end of an era, with the final book in James Robert's Transformers saga about to be released. Lost Light 25 is an oversized issue coming in a 30 pages, practically double the length of a regular issue. Below is a very spoilery 5 page preview from Graphic Policy, so only read it if you are ok with knowing who died.

James Roberts (w) • Jack Lawrence (a & c)

MORE THAN MET THE EYE. The quest is over, the dust has settled, and everything has changed—forever. But before the fond farewells, before the parting of ways, before the unkept promises to stay in touch, there’s time—surely, there’s time—for one last drink…

FC • 40 pages • $4.99

IDW Lost Light #25 One-Page Preview

Date: Monday, October 29th 2018 8:09pm CDT
Category: Comic Book News
Posted by: D-Maximal_Primal | Credit(s): Action and Adventure on Twitter

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Views: 17,841

Thanks to the Action and Adventure Twitter Page, we have a one-page preview for the final issue of Lost Light! This first page, currently only available on iOs, features the characters from Lost Light attending a funeral on what is being called New Cybertron. This New Cybertron would be the Functionist Cybertron they defeated last issue, and as for the funeral, there are several notable characters visible and also missing from the shots. There appear to be guards armed guards present with a trailer that reads "G10" possibly to mean Garrus 10, in line with the prisons using Garrus-X. The deceased is also noted as passing due to age related burnout.

So which character could the funeral be for? Megatron? Rodimus? Someone else entirely? Let us know what you think of this brief look at the end of Lost Light below!

Takara Tomy LG-EX Big Powered Transformers Legends Manga Chapter Released

Date: Monday, October 29th 2018 7:18pm CDT
Category: Comic Book News
Posted by: ZeroWolf | Credit(s): Takara Tomy Mall website, Cyberpath from Seibertron

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Thanks to fellow Seibertron user, Cyberpath, we have received word that Takara have uploaded a new chapter in their Transformers Legends Manga series. This chapter has been released in conjunction with the forthcoming release of LG-EX Big Powered, which are retooled versions of Titans Returns figures deluxe class Misfire and Twin Twist with leader Class Black Shadow representing Sonic bomber, Roadfire and Dai Atlus respectively. The chapter can be found here on the official Takara Tomy Mall website. Like other chapters in the Transformers Legends series, it us full to the brim with cameos and easter eggs from transforners lore. Keep your eyes open in the Energon Pub for a translation summary in the coming days.

We have mirrored the chapters below for your convenience!



















What do you think of this chapter? Can you spot all the cameos? Let us know in the Energon Pub and stay tuned to Seibertron for all the latest news and reviews.

IDW Transformers: Lost Light 25, Optimus Prime 25, and Unicron 6 Delayed

Date: Wednesday, October 24th 2018 5:55pm CDT
Category: Comic Book News
Posted by: D-Maximal_Primal | Credit(s): Action and Adventure on Twitter

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Views: 19,168

Thanks to a Tweet from the Action and Adventure Twitter page, with confirmation from Previews World, we have word that IDW's final 3 Transformers issues, Lost Light #25, Optimus Prime #25, and Unicron #6, have all been delayed into November. This comes as little surprise, seeing as how the comics were planned to be released biweekly and were supposed to have wrapped up by this point, but have been plagued by more delays.

As of this post, which itself may still be subject to change over the coming weeks, Lost Light will release its final issue on November 7, Unicron #6 will conclude the Chaos Bringer's arc on November 14, and Optimus Prime will wrap up the universe on November 21.

What do you think of these delays? Are you ready to get that final issue in your hand? Is it a bittersweet moment to have the final issues pushed back just a little bit farther out of your grasp? Let us know what you think in the comments section below!

IDW Publishing Comics Solicitations for January 2019

Date: Thursday, October 18th 2018 4:01am CDT
Category: Comic Book News
Posted by: Va'al | Credit(s): IDW

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Happy New Year! With scheduling happening so soon in advance for publications, we have the full list of relevant titles appearing in January 2019 from IDW Publishing - and we've included below all the Transformers related titles that you might be interested in, including the Star Trek crossover, on its fifth and final issue, and the Tom Scioli Go-Bots project. Nothing else? Sadly, only the final volume trade paperbacks for both ended ongoings Lost Light (volume 4) and Optimus Prime (volume 5). Take a look below!

Star Trek vs. Transformers #5—Cover A: Philip Murphy
John Barber & Mike Johnson (w) • Philip Murphy (a & c)
The stunning conclusion! As the Klingon-Decepticon alliance prepares to wipe out their enemies once and for all, Kirk and the Autobots make one last desperate bid to merge Cybertronian technology with Starfleet ingenuity. It’s a final conflict you won’t want to miss!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Star Trek vs. Transformers #5—Cover B: Josh Burcham
John Barber & Mike Johnson (w) • Philip Murphy (a) • Josh Burcham (c)
FC • 32 pages • $3.99


Bullet points:
• The Transformers ‘80s cartoon series meets Star Trek: The Animated Series in a no-holds-barred Saturday morning mash-up for the ages!
• Demand was so high, we’re doing another issue!

Go-Bots #3—Cover A: Tom Scioli
Tom Scioli (w & a & c)
Welcome to Gobotron. Leader-1 and the Go-Bots have built a planet of their own. Astronauts Lee Spencer, Charlotte Scott, and Venyamin Alexander pay Gobotron a visit and find themselves victims of the strange and deadly politics of a Gobotocracy. If they can escape Zod the Go-Bot monster, they’ll have to face the judgment of the Rock Lords. Is there a place for people in a post-human society?
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Go-Bots #3—Cover B: Dash Shaw
Tom Scioli (w & a) • Dash Shaw (c)
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Bullet points:
• From the creative mind that brought you IDW’s Transformers vs. G.I. Joe!
• Visionary creator Tom Scioli unleashes his imagination on the bizarre, absurd, and wonderful world of Go-Bots!

Optimus Prime, Vol. 5
John Barber (w) • Sara Pitre-Durocher, Kei Zama, Andrew Griffith, & Priscilla Tramontano (a) • Kei Zama (c)
End of the Road! The Autobots are faced with multiple threats, one of them a danger not only to Cybertron, but to the whole universe! Trapped between Shockwave's attack and Unicron's onslaught, Optimus and the Autobots struggle to make sense of what's left of their world, as Optimus' colonist soldiers contend with a brutal reality–they have no homes to return to. Plus, Shockwave reveals ancient truths–as an old friend tries to reconnect with Cybertron. Collects the 2018 Annual and issues #22–25, which conclude the series.

TPB • FC • $19.99 • 144 pages • ISBN: 978-1-68405-411-4

Bullet points:
• Advance solicited for February release!
• “This series now promises to deliver a fitting finale.”—Big Comic Page


Offered Again!
Optimus Prime, Vol. 1 • FC • $19.99 • ISBN: 978-1-63140-969-1
Optimus Prime, Vol. 3 • FC • $19.99 • ISBN: 978-1-68405-270-7
Optimus Prime, Vol. 4 • FC • $19.99 • ISBN: 978-1-68405-363-6

Transformers: Lost Light, Vol. 4
James Roberts (w) • EJ Su, Casey W. Coller, Jack Lawrence & Brendan Cahill (a) • Nick Roche (c)
The adventures of Rodimus and the crew of the Lost Light come to a close in this action-packed thriller! Years ago, the crew of the Lost Light fought a demonic Cybertronian mutant that fed on its victims’ souls. Now, Rodimus and Co. are about to discover that the only thing worse than a sparkeater… is an army of sparkeaters! Plus, something is coming. It cannot be stalled. It cannot be avoided. It cannot be reasoned with. As the end of everything draws near, a simple instruction rings out across the universe: prepare, confront, repel. Collects issues #19-25.
TPB • FC • $19.99 • 160 pages • ISBN: 978-1-68405-410-7

Bullet points:
• Advance solicited for February release!
• “This is as good as it gets, and I imagine it probably won’t let up from here on in.”—Big Comic Page

Offered Again!
Transformers: Lost Light, Vol. 1 • FC • $19.99 • ISBN: 978-1-63140-992-9
Transformers: Lost Light, Vol. 2 • FC • $19.99 • ISBN: 978-1-68405-148-9
Transformers: Lost Light, Vol. 3 • FC • $19.99 • ISBN: 978-1-68405-331-5

IDW Transformers Unicron #5 Review

Date: Wednesday, October 17th 2018 7:17pm CDT
Categories: Comic Book News, Reviews, Site Articles
Posted by: D-Maximal_Primal | Credit(s): IDW, D-Maximus_Primal

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Views: 34,320

Synopsis

THE END IS HERE! The Transformers make one last, desperate stand against Unicron, as Optimus Prime plunges deep into the monster—and into the dark history that spawned them both.



Story

So here we are once more, with the issue before the end, the final non-final issue. And as a windup to the ultimate climax, did the book deliver? Well, see below.



So here's the thing about this particular book: the pacing felt much better in this issue and it feels the more cohesive compared to the other issues so far. While it was not particularly full of action, it wasn't supposed to be, as it is the calm after the destruction of Cybertron and before the final confrontation before the universe truly ends. And Jetfire and Prowl even say as much.

It also takes place following the Optimus Prime 24 comic that came out a week later (see the review from earlier today!), so it was spoilerish to review, hence the review waiting to give people time to access and process that book.

It was also cool that this book managed to make itself a Hasbro Universe book, more so than really any other book done so far. And unlike past Hasbro U events, this one finally has a proper team up across the board, even if the events feel a bit rushed, pushed, or forced. But hey, at least we got a large part of this mad universe together in some fashion!



But the main issue I find in the story is the personalities of the people involved at times, as with little action and mainly setup, it feels like we got some big personalities that are clashing with each other more so than in previous issues. And with a grand total of 3 issues left in this Universe period after today with Optimus Prime 24, it feels like some of those characters may not get the ending of the story that they need or deserve. Slide is one that particularly bothers me, Spike is sort of there but not really, Prowl returning with a protege of sorts in Stardrive, and while Stardrive does play off nicely and her wraith moments are good, especially with other wraith-infected members, her taking a sort of Prowl approach doesn't really sit well with me, and it's kind of a bummer.

Shockwave is sort of still doing stuff, and the final standoff between masters of logic are set up, but I can't help but feel that this doesn't feel as rewarding as it should. The same way with the Maximals: we have memorable faces and names, but they have a small amount of lines between them, and nothing really to back them up beyond their mere recognizable appearance.

One thing the book definitely did get right though was Thundercracker, and as his story nears completion, I love the character that was made, and I love how he, Marissa, and Buster are a nice little family that loves and trusts each other. I also appreciated Trypticon and his direction, and the new generation and the protection so many feel over them. Well done there.



But again, overall I felt there was a little bit more clashing than there could have been with different characters, and the story reads a bit less cohesively as it could, but the pacing here felt good as a pseudo-breath catcher. We got good moments, just maybe not as powerful as they deserved to be.

art

Art duties fall for the second-to-last time to Alex Milne and David Garcia-Cruz, and once again they do a masterful job. The art for the series has been fantastic, but seeing the different parts of Unicron looming over Earth, and really getting a good idea of the scale of the robot mode Unicron compared to the Earth is pretty awesome. We finally get a good scale done right for Unicron.

Scale does seem to be a good strength of the book too, as we get Titans involved as well, and the background scenery is very well done considering we jump from the US to a destroyed Canadian cityscape to the African jungles to space. I appreciate the level of detail and the coloring that went into each shot as well. The colors are dark and foreboding where they are needed, vibrant and bright when action is intense or Unicron's glow is present, space is beautiful, and it does a good job of mixing together the darkness (figurative and literal) of the end while still bringing some natural beauty and properly expressing the mood of the series.



If there is one complaint I would have, it would be that the Decepticons in Africa almost appear too lightly colored compared to what we see later and are used to, but it's a minor nitpick.

Letters are handled by Tom B. Long, who does his level best (and succeeds) in making sure those previously discussed lines and colors are enjoyed to the fullest extent to give us proper scenery and people on screen while still delivering the dialogue. Kind of a cool thing to note too is Bludgeon and his speech bubbles. He continues the "God of Death" black bubbles for most of the issue, but there is a particular moment where he loses that, and he falls back to regular Bludgeon, and the lettering pulling that off was a neat touch.

Final Thoughts

When writing up this review, it was hard to give this book a score and proper credit. It's a pretty good book, a decent read, and fun to look at. But while it is a good book, it's not necessarily a good Transformers book. It tries its hardest, but ultimately, I think the overall series needed a little bit better pacing to make it a proper and good Transformers book, especially when this book showed that proper pacing can allow you to better grasp what is happening and allow you to breath for a second and take in what you are reading.



Make no mistake though, it's still not bad. It is fun, dark, has some good character moments, some questionable characters, kind of a lot going on to the point of a bit too much, but also clever, and it even managed to make "Titan-Mastering" a verb.

So should you read this? Yes, I think you should. Is this Lost Light 22 good? Not quite. Is it Wreckers Trilogy good? Not by a decent amount. But is it still worth your time and effort? I'd say yes. Unicron himself may not be everything we wanted him to be, but he looks amazing, and his story ultimately fits in with what the Mythos is for this universe.

Take it like that, and you can enjoy this issue as a whole.



As has become the theme for the Unicron reviews, this week's issue anthem is Rebirthing by Skillet!

Review of IDW Transformers Optimus Prime #24

Date: Wednesday, October 17th 2018 5:04am CDT
Categories: Comic Book News, Reviews, Site Articles
Posted by: Va'al | Credit(s): IDW

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Views: 32,913

Synopsis
YOUTH IN REVOLT! As Unicron approaches, Optimus Prime’s colonist soldiers take matters into their own hands. With Autobot forces spread thin, will anybody stand in their way? And–more importantly–SHOULD anybody stop them?



Story
We continue, after a fashion, the almost parallel story being told between the Unicron mini-series and the Optimus Prime ongoing, after the latest events in the two series and the splitting up of the stories, as they reconnect in Unicron #5 - the review for which will follow this one, as the story does so in the books. But for OP? Read on below!



The story, or rather stories, that are taking place in this one issue have seemingly little to do with the opening - very funny - scene with Thundercracker retelling events from the GI Joe books. I say seemingly, as the leitmotif of the TF universe has effectively been 'stories are just stories being told in different ways from different storytellers' - and that leads us into, finally, a conclusion to Slide's grief, anger and legitimate (but dragged out) resentment towards Optimus himself.



This latter frame, while needed, can create some confusion on the overall book, as the subsequence of multiple perspective flashbacks and present time retelling of the flashbacks, with a shift into the actual present time actions that follow that retelling... Nonetheless, several of the cast members here, and it's an impressively enormous cast by now, get their character moment, even if just one line, one panel, one frame.



That said, there isn't ..that much happening in the issue overall, though some serious conversations and interactions take place. Which is, again, an odd choice, being so close to the end - with Unicron #5 and #6 continuing this story before we fall into the conclusive issue #25 - and that may not sit well with everyone still along for the final rush to the finish line, despite what good comes from the single moments - such as the final two pages.


Art

On art duties, we find both Andrew Griffith and Sara Pitre Durocher, working more or less in tandem on the different timeframes of the overall story: Griffith has a specific task with Thundercracker, of course, and SPD works particularly well with Jazz and Prowl scenes - but both deliver some excellent panelwork, and the multiple splash pages and spreads are a testimony to their skill, and the synchronicity of their collaboration.



Something that Josh Burcham's colouring work only seems to highlight, as on the first read - bar some obvious exceptions, such as the opening scenes - I wasn't entirely sure on which pages were done by which artist, and that is something the colours have been able to do for the entire series, just even more so here. And I am so very impressed.



Tom B Long doesn't have an easy job of keeping track of the multiple time and story frames, but the story progresses nicely with his help too - and the captions, the colour coding of the stories being told in them, and their placement, ensure that readers are really on board with who's speaking at what moment, and why that matters. Because it does.

As for covers, you can find all three (admittedly two, given the Kei Zama retailer incentive in black and white lineart) in full size in our Vector Sigma Database entry, and the one found in the thumbnail is the Griffith / Joana Lafuente B Cover, with yet again the leitmotif in plain sight.

Thoughts
Spoilerish ahead
If you're looking for a big fight against Unicron, or even under Unicron at this stage, last issue is where you want to look for, as the breather - an odd choice of pacing for an ending series, admittedly - is what we find here. And it may not be John Barber's most political issue overall, but it has some of his most poignant reflections on the themes he's explored so far, from leadership, to community, to tyranny and fascism, via personal loss and anger.



So even with the odd 'breather' pacing issues, I enjoyed the book - but more so on a second read, and I'm glad it's coming out close enough to Unicron #5 as we'd otherwise have too much space of not much happening in the same storyline across two books. Visually, the last Griffith page is magnificent, SPD's Prowl is brutal, and Stardrive is still as great and sharp as she is (/will be) in Unicron #5, with the full force of Prowl's influence on her after a long stint alone.

Full Preview for IDW Transformers Optimus Prime #24

Date: Friday, October 12th 2018 3:31pm CDT
Category: Comic Book News
Posted by: Va'al | Credit(s): AIPT!

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As news hits of our very own reviews being scooped up by Amazon listing editorial reviews, we also have actual news for next week's upcoming penultimate issue of ongoing Transformers comics series from IDW Publishing, Optimus Prime #24.

The full preview can be first found on regular outlet source Adventures in Poor Taste! here, and the images are mirrored below with the blurb. Take a look, and join the conversation in the Energon Pub discussion board.

Plus: Trivia time, from ScottyP - In the opening pages, Thundercracker is working on a movie based on the (very good) IDW G.I. Joe: Cobra series by Mike Costa. It's not quite an accurate accounting of events, and this makes it a very, very funny page!

YOUTH IN REVOLT! As Unicron approaches, Optimus Prime’s colonist soldiers take matters into their own hands. With Autobot forces spread thin, will anybody stand in their way? And–more importantly–SHOULD anybody stop them?

Bullet points:

– Ties in to the Unicron event!
– Part of the summer of Transformers–all building up to the end of the universe as we know it!
– The penultimate issue before the conclusion you have to see to believe!
– Black & white variant cover by Kei Zama!

Full Preview for IDW Transformers: Unicron #5

Date: Tuesday, October 9th 2018 3:13am CDT
Category: Comic Book News
Posted by: Va'al | Credit(s): IDW

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Views: 23,705

Courtesy of IDW Publishing directly, and embargo dates passing, we have the full preview to share for this week's Transformers comics release in the form of Unicron #5 - the penultimate issue in the mini-series, and the end of the world as we know it!

The contents of the book do spoil a little of yet unreleased Optimus Prime #24, but nothing major from what is present in the preview below, so you're still clear to read if you're following the single issues. Take a look, and join us later this week for a Seibertron.com review and Energon Pub discussion!

Transformers: Unicron #5 (of 6)
John Barber (w) • Alex Milne (a & c)
THE END IS HERE! The Transformers bots make one last, desperate stand against Unicron, as Optimus Prime plunges deep into the monster—and into the dark history that spawned them both.
FC • 32 pages • $4.99

Bullet points:
• The final battle rages as Unicron attacks the Earth!
• Jam-packed with guest stars in a battle for survival—but will anyone make it out alive?
• Variant covers by Fico Ossio and Francesco Francavilla!