IDW Transformers vs. G.I. Joe Gets Complete Quintessential Deluxe Edition

Friday, February 2nd, 2018 2:56AM CST

Categories: Comic Book News, Press Releases
Posted by: Va'al Views: 20,542

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It doesn't look like anything or anyone is going to stop the popularity of the utterly bonkers reimagined version of the Transformers vs G.I. Joe crossover that sprang forth from the minds of Tom Scioli and John Barber (and the creative skills of the former), as the complete collection - including the so-called 'movie adaptation' - has just received another, deluxe sized release!

Read on below for the full press release for this past week's Quintessential collection edition of the series, including a bunch of endorsements from various sources, and head here for our database entry on the series!

Transformers News: IDW Transformers vs. G.I. Joe Gets Complete Quintessential Reissue

Tom Scioli’s Acclaimed Transformers vs. G.I. Joe Series Gets Deluxe Package!

“Reading this book is the best possible reminder of how much fun it was to play with your toys as a kid.” – IGN

San Diego, CA (February 1, 2018) – The fan-favorite mashup of toy box essentials, Hasbro’s TRANSFORMERS and G.I. JOE were given a unique, critically acclaimed comic book series published by IDW that took readers by surprise. In a series unlike anything that had come before it, Tom Scioli’s unique storytelling brought the elaborate settings and battles of childhood imaginations to the comic page. Now, at last, the complete series is available in a deluxe hardcover collection; Transformers vs. G.I. Joe: The Quintessential Collection.

Heavily influenced by the “king of comics,” Jack Kirby, Scioli’s sense of design and aesthetic along with Transformers veteran co-writer John Barber won over critics and fans alike; with CBR calling it “Truly unlike anything else on stands right now, Barber and Scioli have made Transformers vs. G.I. Joe one of the most fascinating books on shelves today.”

Collecting all 13 issues of the maxi-series along with the debut #0 issue appearing on Free Comic Book Day 2015, plus the bonkers Transformers vs. G.I. Joe The Movie Adaptation, this hardcover collection has it all. Back matter includes page-by-page commentary by Scioli and Barber for each issue, along with a complete cover gallery!

“It's the hardest I've ever worked,” says Scioli. “There's blood on those pages. I gave everything I had to give. Go from T.H.E. P.I.T. to Cybertron and back again. Read the comic that inspired the movie! I'm already nostalgic for it and you will be, too!”

Transformers vs. G.I. Joe: The Quintessential Collection is available now using ISBN: 978-1631408601.

“Tom Scioli is a master in visual storytelling and it’s never been more apparent here.” – Multiversity Comics

“It’s one of those comics that overwhelms with the sheer creative energy on the page” – The A.V. Club

“Whether you're a Transformers fan, a G.I. Joe fan, or just a fan of retro goodness, this is one for you.” –Comic Book Therapy

“If you asked me to pick my favorite comics of the year, there's not even a question about it: Transformers vs. G.I. Joe would be at the top of the list.” – Comics Alliance

Credit(s): IDW

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Re: IDW Transformers vs. G.I. Joe Gets Complete Quintessential Deluxe Edition (1935414)
Posted by primalxconvoy on February 2nd, 2018 @ 3:39am CST

I tried to polish this tu®d as best as I could...

PicsArt_1517564005099.jpg

...but it STILL looks to me like some 12 year old drew it in their notebook...

PicsArt_1517564319986.jpg

Re: IDW Transformers vs. G.I. Joe Gets Complete Quintessential Deluxe Edition (1935419)
Posted by Omegatron. on February 2nd, 2018 @ 5:07am CST

primalxconvoy wrote:I tried to polish this tu®d as best as I could...

...but it STILL looks to me like some 12 year old drew it in their notebook...

You must know some extremely artistic 12 year olds.

Re: IDW Transformers vs. G.I. Joe Gets Complete Quintessential Deluxe Edition (1935420)
Posted by primalxconvoy on February 2nd, 2018 @ 5:11am CST

Omegatron. wrote:
primalxconvoy wrote:I tried to polish this tu®d as best as I could...

...but it STILL looks to me like some 12 year old drew it in their notebook...

You must know some extremely artistic 12 year olds.

I had this mate, who was really talented. He could paint or sculpt anything at 12 years old. However, our school wouldn't let him study art or pottery at 6th form as he didn't have enough grades in other subjects. He was probably the best artist our school ever had.

Re: IDW Transformers vs. G.I. Joe Gets Complete Quintessential Deluxe Edition (1935427)
Posted by dragons on February 2nd, 2018 @ 6:07am CST

primalxconvoy wrote:
Omegatron. wrote:
primalxconvoy wrote:I tried to polish this tu®d as best as I could...

...but it STILL looks to me like some 12 year old drew it in their notebook...

You must know some extremely artistic 12 year olds.

I had this mate, who was really talented. He could paint or sculpt anything at 12 years old. However, our school wouldn't let him study art or pottery at 6th form as he didn't have enough grades in other subjects. He was probably the best artist our school ever had.

I know comic art is not for everyone but that was little low frank miller art for human faces have little smoothe edges when frank miller draws heads and faces they pointy edges on them pointy cheeks, eye sockets not round rounded off that you see in this comic here I don’t like series mostly art feel bad for artists who worked on it transformers cartoon series is not always perfect either from any series generation one and above transformers cartoon series had child like comedy bumble pulling pranks on everyone acting like hyper active little kid over dose on sugar and sorry was irritating at times

Re: IDW Transformers vs. G.I. Joe Gets Complete Quintessential Deluxe Edition (1935457)
Posted by ScottyP on February 2nd, 2018 @ 8:45am CST

It's supposed to look that way. Any comic where Ravage says "I offered you peace and you ran me over with your car", which later features things like Megatron being transported to the My Little Pony universe and battles between transforming planets, and then ends with a chapter adapting a movie that doesn't exist isn't meant to be taken seriously. It's fun, and it took me awhile to grasp that but if you're capable of just relaxing and taking in some creative absurdity, this is a fantastic tome that you should pick up ;)^

Re: IDW Transformers vs. G.I. Joe Gets Complete Quintessential Deluxe Edition (1935460)
Posted by Cobotron on February 2nd, 2018 @ 8:52am CST

ScottyP wrote:It's supposed to look that way. Any comic where Ravage says "I offered you peace and you ran me over with your car", which later features things like Megatron being transported to the My Little Pony universe and battles between transforming planets, and then ends with a chapter adapting a movie that doesn't exist isn't meant to be taken seriously. It's fun, and it took me awhile to grasp that but if you're capable of just relaxing and taking in some creative absurdity, this is a fantastic tome that you should pick up

Can we get this, Scotty's quote, printed on the back of this edition please?! ;)^

Re: IDW Transformers vs. G.I. Joe Gets Complete Quintessential Deluxe Edition (1935468)
Posted by ScottyP on February 2nd, 2018 @ 9:22am CST

Cobotron wrote:
ScottyP wrote:It's supposed to look that way. Any comic where Ravage says "I offered you peace and you ran me over with your car", which later features things like Megatron being transported to the My Little Pony universe and battles between transforming planets, and then ends with a chapter adapting a movie that doesn't exist isn't meant to be taken seriously. It's fun, and it took me awhile to grasp that but if you're capable of just relaxing and taking in some creative absurdity, this is a fantastic tome that you should pick up
Can we get this, Scotty's quote, printed on the back of this edition please?!

One day I'll get a review blurb printed on a comic, and it probably will be for something like this. Great insight into Lost Light's analysis of the human condition? Nah. Praise for Optimus Prime's deconstruction of the idealized Autobot command structure? Nope. I'll get something for providing a take on how to properly enjoy Fort Max literally consuming people for food :lol:

Re: IDW Transformers vs. G.I. Joe Gets Complete Quintessential Deluxe Edition (1935523)
Posted by Cobotron on February 2nd, 2018 @ 1:44pm CST

ScottyP wrote:
Cobotron wrote:
ScottyP wrote:It's supposed to look that way. Any comic where Ravage says "I offered you peace and you ran me over with your car", which later features things like Megatron being transported to the My Little Pony universe and battles between transforming planets, and then ends with a chapter adapting a movie that doesn't exist isn't meant to be taken seriously. It's fun, and it took me awhile to grasp that but if you're capable of just relaxing and taking in some creative absurdity, this is a fantastic tome that you should pick up
Can we get this, Scotty's quote, printed on the back of this edition please?!
One day I'll get a review blurb printed on a comic, and it probably will be for something like this. Great insight into Lost Light's analysis of the human condition? Nah. Praise for Optimus Prime's deconstruction of the idealized Autobot command structure? Nope. I'll get something for providing a take on how to properly enjoy Fort Max literally consuming people for food

Maybe you could work in a psych analysis on why JOE keep callig the Transformers GoBots too. 8-}

Re: IDW Transformers vs. G.I. Joe Gets Complete Quintessential Deluxe Edition (1935545)
Posted by primalxconvoy on February 2nd, 2018 @ 3:04pm CST

The thing is, the promotion for these comics didn't really sell it as a comedy. If the story was just that little bit more funny, and the drawings just a tad more childish (or something else to drive the point home), I suspect more people would have liked it. For example, I understood "Axe Cop", and seems to be what these comics were going for:

- https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YHGfSBr2FrY

- https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axe_Cop

If it had more of the same feeling of a comedy as Robo Capers, Lil' Formers, heck, even the Legends comic, I would have been on board. The nearest I can see for the tone, is this NSFW/PEGI 18 (cartoon violence, swearing, etc) advert for "Blood Dragon":

- https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0dofacvjRkc

If that's something like what these comics were going for, then I think the marketing should have been better and/or more could have been done to make the point clear that it was a pastiche. For example,fake, 80's style toy adverts, cut out and keep "presents" included, mini posters, writers' letters (Like the infamous, REALLY NSFW "Viz" comics from the UK), etc. They could also have included more retro effects, like slightly torn paper, coffee-cup rings, etc. If they printed it on that awful quality paper, that might have been great, too.

I would have been all over this comic if they had done that, but I only got the impression it was a serious, normal comic series, with a weak story, done in a retro way (badly) for no discernable reason.

Are those fair points? I've only ever encountered these comics via the TF websites (basically marketing), and I feel that the tone it aim of the comics never really got through to me at those points. If the comics themselves didn't really manage that either, then I will rest my case, but that's for those who've read them to discuss or decide.

Re: IDW Transformers vs. G.I. Joe Gets Complete Quintessential Deluxe Edition (1935551)
Posted by Va'al on February 2nd, 2018 @ 3:19pm CST

The series did pretty much all of that, and people liked it.

I see you're still super fun.

Re: IDW Transformers vs. G.I. Joe Gets Complete Quintessential Deluxe Edition (1935568)
Posted by primalxconvoy on February 2nd, 2018 @ 3:58pm CST

Va'al wrote:The series did pretty much all of that, and people liked it.

I see you're still super fun.

Hi Va'al! Welcome back!

Where have you been?

I'm sure people liked it. However, isn't it fair to say many, if not most TF fans at the boards were either against, or indifferent to it? If so, I suspect more people, be including myself, would have been more on board if they knew the series was a parody, rather than a serious comic.

I loved Comic Capers, Lil Formers, Blood Dragon, Axe Cop and Viz. Have you ever encountered those? I'd go on more about them, but it might end up NSFW and/or off-topic.

Actually, just thinking about the extras that could have been in the ON topic comics; collectors cards. Imagine "cut out and keep" cards, similar to Garbage Pail Kids (which also had an ironic, retro feel to them, even through they were made around the same time as CPK). Cards like:

-

Or

-

I'm not referring to the actual style of art, but rather the comedy and retro-look the cards employed. The backs of the cards featured fake adverts for "joke" products and services, too. Might have been great to include in the comics?

Re: IDW Transformers vs. G.I. Joe Gets Complete Quintessential Deluxe Edition (1935571)
Posted by Va'al on February 2nd, 2018 @ 4:23pm CST

Most TF fans on message boards are happy to be unhappy about most things that are discussed on message boards. So I wouldn't call it the fairest, or most representative sample of any readership.

We never said it wasn't a parody or spoof or just fun. All of our coverage (previews, reviews included) pointed that out. We were clearly not explicit enough.

Re: IDW Transformers vs. G.I. Joe Gets Complete Quintessential Deluxe Edition (1935572)
Posted by primalxconvoy on February 2nd, 2018 @ 4:27pm CST

Va'al wrote:Most TF fans on message boards are happy to be unhappy about most things that are discussed on message boards. So I wouldn't call it the fairest, or most representative sample of any readership.

We never said it wasn't a parody or spoof or just fun. All of our coverage (previews, reviews included) pointed that out. We were clearly not explicit enough.

I'm not having a pop at the site. All the TF sites simply showed the same comic previews. I'm talking about the stuff IDW sent to the sites. I wonder if they should have played up and made the theme/tone more clear?

Re: IDW Transformers vs. G.I. Joe Gets Complete Quintessential Deluxe Edition (1935577)
Posted by Va'al on February 2nd, 2018 @ 4:43pm CST

https://www.seibertron.com/transformers ... iew/30433/

https://www.seibertron.com/transformers ... e-1/30478/

https://www.seibertron.com/transformers ... t-2/32967/

https://www.seibertron.com/transformers ... oli/32953/

And our first review: https://www.seibertron.com/transformers ... iew/30569/

Also, you're exhausting.

Re: IDW Transformers vs. G.I. Joe Gets Complete Quintessential Deluxe Edition (1935597)
Posted by primalxconvoy on February 2nd, 2018 @ 7:03pm CST

Cheers, Va'al. Reading through the great links you gave, it doesn't seem to be parody, but rather it takes itself too seriously. The writer kept on saying that it was basically a comic in the style of role-playing as a kid playing with both TFs and GI-Joe figures. However, if you read "Axe Cop"(which is based on actual stories made by the writer's 5 year old brother/son), you might see what I was expecting.

I just can't see the appeal. If it's a serious story, then it's too strange, and the artwork looks cheap, and if it's a parody, it seems to be too serious or lack any irony in what I've seen.

Was this series popular, though? MASK, for example, wasn't, but what about this?

Re: IDW Transformers vs. G.I. Joe Gets Complete Quintessential Deluxe Edition (1935600)
Posted by Cobotron on February 2nd, 2018 @ 7:13pm CST

primalxconvoy wrote:Was this series popular, though? MASK, for example, wasn't, but what about this?

No. Probably not. Judging by the majority of reactions here, I'd say no. But, I would also refer to Va'al's statement above about the internet, forums, and people on them.

I loved it, and know quite a lot of other people who did, that you wouldn't necessarily find here.
It is certainly an acquired taste.

But it has been released several times in different forms. So that must count for something.

Re: IDW Transformers vs. G.I. Joe Gets Complete Quintessential Deluxe Edition (1935609)
Posted by primalxconvoy on February 2nd, 2018 @ 7:59pm CST

Cobotron wrote:
primalxconvoy wrote:Was this series popular, though? MASK, for example, wasn't, but what about this?
No. Probably not. Judging by the majority of reactions here, I'd say no. But, I would also refer to Va'al's statement above about the internet, forums, and people on them.

I loved it, and know quite a lot of other people who did, that you wouldn't necessarily find here.
It is certainly an acquired taste.

But it has been released several times in different forms. So that must count for something.

Cheers. I hope though, that more "out of the box" series can continue though. The positive aspects of this comic, even for people who didn't like it, was that it was a separate continuity. That's definitely something to be appreciated.

Re: IDW Transformers vs. G.I. Joe Gets Complete Quintessential Deluxe Edition (1935664)
Posted by triKlops on February 3rd, 2018 @ 9:52am CST

primalxconvoy wrote:
Cobotron wrote:
primalxconvoy wrote:Was this series popular, though? MASK, for example, wasn't, but what about this?
No. Probably not. Judging by the majority of reactions here, I'd say no. But, I would also refer to Va'al's statement above about the internet, forums, and people on them.

I loved it, and know quite a lot of other people who did, that you wouldn't necessarily find here.
It is certainly an acquired taste.

But it has been released several times in different forms. So that must count for something.

Cheers. I hope though, that more "out of the box" series can continue though. The positive aspects of this comic, even for people who didn't like it, was that it was a separate continuity. That's definitely something to be appreciated.

While I wasn't a fan of the series, I did read them all and bought the TPBs.
An interesting take on the Joe/TF -verse but not something i would be looking forward to revisiting any time soon.

Kirby's work was great for his era and i appreciate the homage.
I just have no need to revisit this interpretation any time soon.
Respect for what Scioli was trying to accomplish though so, YMMV.

Re: IDW Transformers vs. G.I. Joe Gets Complete Quintessential Deluxe Edition (1935672)
Posted by primalxconvoy on February 3rd, 2018 @ 10:46am CST

I couldn't sleep, and couldn't resist. Behold, my crude attempts at humour and Photoshop...COMBINED!

PicsArt_1517676198499.jpg

I'm so sorry. So very, very sorry...

Re: IDW Transformers vs. G.I. Joe Gets Complete Quintessential Deluxe Edition (1935699)
Posted by Daniel Adkins on February 3rd, 2018 @ 2:02pm CST

primalxconvoy wrote:Cheers, Va'al. Reading through the great links you gave, it doesn't seem to be parody, but rather it takes itself too seriously. The writer kept on saying that it was basically a comic in the style of role-playing as a kid playing with both TFs and GI-Joe figures.

Re: IDW Transformers vs. G.I. Joe Gets Complete Quintessential Deluxe Edition (1935853)
Posted by ZeroWolf on February 4th, 2018 @ 12:19pm CST

primalxconvoy wrote:I couldn't sleep, and couldn't resist. Behold, my crude attempts at humour and Photoshop...COMBINED!

PicsArt_1517676198499.jpg

I'm so sorry. So very, very sorry...

I loved the infinity welcomes careful drivers bit, some one is a dwarfer ;-)

Anyhoo, although the art style takes a bit getting used to, I think I'll pick up the collected edition of this, I'm quite open to new takes on the franchise