Review - Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription by Hachette
Sunday, October 2nd, 2016 8:49AM CDT
Categories: Comic Book News, Reviews, Site ArticlesPosted by: MemphisR56 Views: 47,925
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I received my first delivery yesterday morning, so I've decided to pen a little review for you lucky people.
I'll start off by saying that I've bought the full subscription, with the intention of continuing to see this through right to the very end. I currently have a DeAgostini 'Build the Millennium Falcon' subscription that'll be finishing up in December, and this is half the price of that, so it'll fill that gap quite nicely. This means I'm entitled to get the 5 free subscription gifts, and issue #3 free. I started my subscription with issue 1, so I'll be receiving the first of the free subscription gifts with my second delivery.
The contents of my box is follows:
1 copy of volume 6 - Target 2006 (Marvel UK)
1 copy of volume 36 - Stormbringer (IDW)
1 leaflet
I was surprised here, immediately, as I was expecting to get both a book and a magazine for each issue. The book being purely the comics, and an accompanying magazine for each with all the features mentioned in the ad. In actual fact, these features are all contained within the volumes themselves. I'm a little bit mixed in my feelings on this, having them interspersed with the story is a little invasive, but not so invasive that they're placed in the middle of the stories. It also helps that the features are usually tied directly to the main stories as well, so rather than digging out the magazine and then matching volume, it's all in the one place. I do feel that the books would benefit from a contents page however, as it's difficult to find where specific issues and features are within the books, but seeing as this would've required printing numbers on the pages, I can see why they avoided this.
The leaflet details much the same as what was on the website, but with a nice little added bonus which I was not expecting: it folds out into a massive poster of some beautiful painted '84 G1 promo art. The artwork in question is a really interesting a curious piece as it features Bluestreak and the Constructicons in their Diaclone colours, along with a neat little cameo by a police decco Lamborghini, which I assume must be Clamp Down? He's missing the super-charger engine to be police-streaker. At any rate, this picture is a relic in itself of a time very early in the brand's history, before the character models, and toy colours were finalised. I'm going to have a real hard time finding a frame big enough for this bad-boy, but it is definitely going up on the wall.
Onto the books themselves. I'm immediately impressed by the size of them. They're large, thick, hardback volumes much bigger than the glossy, floppy collected edition volumes I'm currently used to collecting. The paper inside is of a nice thick matte finish stock, that has sort of a waxed paper feel to it. The construction of them is definitely of a level of quality that exceeds expectations. This, for me, instantly justifies the price of admission, as it works out at about £10 each, free delivery, for each of these, fortnightly. So £20 a month if you're paying by direct-debit.
The cover art is a little plain, but it's uniform across the volumes. Featuring one character prominently, with faded out image below the title featuring art from the pages of the comics within that particular volume. It definitely helps to tie the volumes together as one coherent set. The wide spines also help deliver the large mural-style artwork shown a bit more coherently as well.
It's important to mention a particular detail of the spines at this point, the numbering system. You won't get Volume 1 first. The books are arranged in order of original printing. That means Getting Target 2006 and Stormbringer for the sake of story and era diversity across the collection gives us Volume 6 & 36 respectively. It also means if you're in it for the long run, you won't see the spine art slowly printed sideways across your shelves, rather, it'll appear in slivers and slowly fill out over the course of 120 weeks.
Moving on to the content. The quality of printing in the books is flawless. I'd wondered if they'd attempt to create a stepped colour print, giving that sort of misaligned layers feel that the colours of the original comics might have had in hand. But no such nostalgia bombs here. Everything is clean and crisp. Incredibly, we not only get the full story advertised on the cover, but we also get bonus issues in the mix. Target 2006 contains the original Marvel UK #78-88 run of that story-line, as well as including Marvel US #21-23. We even get a few of the non-story pages from the original comics, for example 2 full page biographies on Ultra Magnus and Galvatron. Stormbringer collects that miniseries, along with the Spotlight issues for Soundwave, Shockwave, Hot Rod and Nightbeat. This starts to explain a little bit of the thickness.
I must mention that also included are newly coloured stories, which have only ever been printed in black & white before, only, I'm not quite up to scratch with my education in the Marvel comics, so I couldn't tell you which ones these are. I would have thought they'd stick out like a sore thumb, but either, there are none in these 2 volumes, or every effort has been taken by the colourist to make sure that the new inks match the style and tones of the original colourists.
As for original features, Vol. 6 Gives us and introduction with a little information about the goings on behind the scenes at Marvel UK at time of original print and a cover gallery of all the issues contained within. Then we get a few pages of editorial on Transformers the Movie, which actually includes a review written by Grimlock from when he was still running Grim Grams, back in the day. We also get a few brief character profiles of the full original wreckers line-up and finish up with another 3 pages on the history of Marvel UK and a short spotlight on Marvel UK artist Geoff Senior.
Vol. 36 has an introduction written by Simon Furman, an editorial on the creation of the IDW universe, then a whole lot of pages from inside the sketchbook of Don Figueroa, showcasing character models and alt modes he designed for the early IDW run.
There's a lot here. A whole bunch. In terms of what you're getting for your money, these volumes are above and beyond value, and I heartily endorse it to anyone who's on the shelf to at least give the first issue a shot at the trial price.
Final Score:
/
I'll start off by saying that I've bought the full subscription, with the intention of continuing to see this through right to the very end. I currently have a DeAgostini 'Build the Millennium Falcon' subscription that'll be finishing up in December, and this is half the price of that, so it'll fill that gap quite nicely. This means I'm entitled to get the 5 free subscription gifts, and issue #3 free. I started my subscription with issue 1, so I'll be receiving the first of the free subscription gifts with my second delivery.
The contents of my box is follows:
1 copy of volume 6 - Target 2006 (Marvel UK)
1 copy of volume 36 - Stormbringer (IDW)
1 leaflet
I was surprised here, immediately, as I was expecting to get both a book and a magazine for each issue. The book being purely the comics, and an accompanying magazine for each with all the features mentioned in the ad. In actual fact, these features are all contained within the volumes themselves. I'm a little bit mixed in my feelings on this, having them interspersed with the story is a little invasive, but not so invasive that they're placed in the middle of the stories. It also helps that the features are usually tied directly to the main stories as well, so rather than digging out the magazine and then matching volume, it's all in the one place. I do feel that the books would benefit from a contents page however, as it's difficult to find where specific issues and features are within the books, but seeing as this would've required printing numbers on the pages, I can see why they avoided this.
The leaflet details much the same as what was on the website, but with a nice little added bonus which I was not expecting: it folds out into a massive poster of some beautiful painted '84 G1 promo art. The artwork in question is a really interesting a curious piece as it features Bluestreak and the Constructicons in their Diaclone colours, along with a neat little cameo by a police decco Lamborghini, which I assume must be Clamp Down? He's missing the super-charger engine to be police-streaker. At any rate, this picture is a relic in itself of a time very early in the brand's history, before the character models, and toy colours were finalised. I'm going to have a real hard time finding a frame big enough for this bad-boy, but it is definitely going up on the wall.
Onto the books themselves. I'm immediately impressed by the size of them. They're large, thick, hardback volumes much bigger than the glossy, floppy collected edition volumes I'm currently used to collecting. The paper inside is of a nice thick matte finish stock, that has sort of a waxed paper feel to it. The construction of them is definitely of a level of quality that exceeds expectations. This, for me, instantly justifies the price of admission, as it works out at about £10 each, free delivery, for each of these, fortnightly. So £20 a month if you're paying by direct-debit.
The cover art is a little plain, but it's uniform across the volumes. Featuring one character prominently, with faded out image below the title featuring art from the pages of the comics within that particular volume. It definitely helps to tie the volumes together as one coherent set. The wide spines also help deliver the large mural-style artwork shown a bit more coherently as well.
It's important to mention a particular detail of the spines at this point, the numbering system. You won't get Volume 1 first. The books are arranged in order of original printing. That means Getting Target 2006 and Stormbringer for the sake of story and era diversity across the collection gives us Volume 6 & 36 respectively. It also means if you're in it for the long run, you won't see the spine art slowly printed sideways across your shelves, rather, it'll appear in slivers and slowly fill out over the course of 120 weeks.
Moving on to the content. The quality of printing in the books is flawless. I'd wondered if they'd attempt to create a stepped colour print, giving that sort of misaligned layers feel that the colours of the original comics might have had in hand. But no such nostalgia bombs here. Everything is clean and crisp. Incredibly, we not only get the full story advertised on the cover, but we also get bonus issues in the mix. Target 2006 contains the original Marvel UK #78-88 run of that story-line, as well as including Marvel US #21-23. We even get a few of the non-story pages from the original comics, for example 2 full page biographies on Ultra Magnus and Galvatron. Stormbringer collects that miniseries, along with the Spotlight issues for Soundwave, Shockwave, Hot Rod and Nightbeat. This starts to explain a little bit of the thickness.
I must mention that also included are newly coloured stories, which have only ever been printed in black & white before, only, I'm not quite up to scratch with my education in the Marvel comics, so I couldn't tell you which ones these are. I would have thought they'd stick out like a sore thumb, but either, there are none in these 2 volumes, or every effort has been taken by the colourist to make sure that the new inks match the style and tones of the original colourists.
As for original features, Vol. 6 Gives us and introduction with a little information about the goings on behind the scenes at Marvel UK at time of original print and a cover gallery of all the issues contained within. Then we get a few pages of editorial on Transformers the Movie, which actually includes a review written by Grimlock from when he was still running Grim Grams, back in the day. We also get a few brief character profiles of the full original wreckers line-up and finish up with another 3 pages on the history of Marvel UK and a short spotlight on Marvel UK artist Geoff Senior.
Vol. 36 has an introduction written by Simon Furman, an editorial on the creation of the IDW universe, then a whole lot of pages from inside the sketchbook of Don Figueroa, showcasing character models and alt modes he designed for the early IDW run.
There's a lot here. A whole bunch. In terms of what you're getting for your money, these volumes are above and beyond value, and I heartily endorse it to anyone who's on the shelf to at least give the first issue a shot at the trial price.
Final Score:
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Re: Review - Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription by Hachette (1830048)
Posted by Wheeljack808 on October 2nd, 2016 @ 11:59am CDT
Posted by Wheeljack808 on October 2nd, 2016 @ 11:59am CDT
I cannot begin to describe how irritated I am that thus is UK exclusive.
Re: Review - Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription by Hachette (1830090)
Posted by Easy Tiger on October 2nd, 2016 @ 4:24pm CDT
Posted by Easy Tiger on October 2nd, 2016 @ 4:24pm CDT
They've made the same mistake on the bios that they've made on the website!
Jazz's bio has a picture of Prowl. Hopefully this isn't indicative of the quality control throughout.
Jazz's bio has a picture of Prowl. Hopefully this isn't indicative of the quality control throughout.
Re: Review - Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription by Hachette (1830092)
Posted by Kurona on October 2nd, 2016 @ 4:32pm CDT
Posted by Kurona on October 2nd, 2016 @ 4:32pm CDT
Mine hasn't arrived yet. Maybe they do Scotland later than England?
Re: Review - Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription by Hachette (1830166)
Posted by Prime Nova on October 3rd, 2016 @ 1:43am CDT
Posted by Prime Nova on October 3rd, 2016 @ 1:43am CDT
It is available in a few different areas - with oversea details on the inner page. But not covering US. But you don't get the cardboard backing.
Re: Review - Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription by Hachette (1830206)
Posted by Mangamike on October 3rd, 2016 @ 8:03am CDT
Posted by Mangamike on October 3rd, 2016 @ 8:03am CDT
OMG I really wish they would release this in the US, I have been wanting something like this for a long time.
Re: Review - Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription by Hachette (1830207)
Posted by MemphisR56 on October 3rd, 2016 @ 8:10am CDT
Posted by MemphisR56 on October 3rd, 2016 @ 8:10am CDT
Edited my review, because it still contained typos, grammatical errors and gratuitous mis-use of commas as pauses. It's still grammatically awful, but at least I'll be able to live with it now.
I care about these things.
Good spot on the Prowl photo where it says Jazz. I completely overlooked this one.
In all honesty I didn't even read through the leaflet, because it just looked lifted 100% from the website, even in terms of page layout.
I care about these things.
Good spot on the Prowl photo where it says Jazz. I completely overlooked this one.
In all honesty I didn't even read through the leaflet, because it just looked lifted 100% from the website, even in terms of page layout.
Re: Review - Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription by Hachette (1830210)
Posted by Kurona on October 3rd, 2016 @ 8:23am CDT
Posted by Kurona on October 3rd, 2016 @ 8:23am CDT
Arrived just under an hour ago.
Been reading through Stormbringer and it's really wonderful. I haven't much to say yet - only read through Stormbringer 1 and the preceding spotlights - but I've gotta say I was pleasantly surprised with the hardcover; wasn't expecting that. It's just so beautiful and gives this sort of... premium feel.
Been reading through Stormbringer and it's really wonderful. I haven't much to say yet - only read through Stormbringer 1 and the preceding spotlights - but I've gotta say I was pleasantly surprised with the hardcover; wasn't expecting that. It's just so beautiful and gives this sort of... premium feel.
Re: Review - Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription by Hachette (1830227)
Posted by MemphisR56 on October 3rd, 2016 @ 9:32am CDT
Same here, the size and weight of it in hand was really a pleasant surprise.
Posted by MemphisR56 on October 3rd, 2016 @ 9:32am CDT
Kurona wrote:Arrived just under an hour ago.
Been reading through Stormbringer and it's really wonderful. I haven't much to say yet - only read through Stormbringer 1 and the preceding spotlights - but I've gotta say I was pleasantly surprised with the hardcover; wasn't expecting that. It's just so beautiful and gives this sort of... premium feel.
Same here, the size and weight of it in hand was really a pleasant surprise.
Re: Review - Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription by Hachette (1842415)
Posted by Va'al on November 21st, 2016 @ 4:40am CST
Posted by Va'al on November 21st, 2016 @ 4:40am CST
Fellow Seibertronian MemphisR56, who provided us with an excellent review of the Hachette Definitive G1 Comics Collection, has some odd and disappointing news from the subscription service, which we're reporting in full below. The message accompanies the second delivery of the subscription service, and seems to claim that the project is currently on hold, though not definitely cancelled - but still, this seems to go against what we had known from the initial news of the run. Read along, and let us know what you think in the Energon Pub.
The smaller than expected box came with no free gifts, just 2 issues,
A note was enclosed, here's a write-up, verbatim:
"Dear Subscriber,
Thankyou for subscribing to Transformers the Definitive G1 Collection.
The limited four-issue run has now come to an end, and we will be looking at the level of interest before making a decision about whether the collection will be launched nationally in the near future.
We would like to thank you for supporting Transformers the Definitive G1 Collection limited run. Your account has not been charged and we are enclosing some additional issues for you free of charge.
We hope that this is to your satisfaction and please look out for exciting titles coming soon from Hachette Partworks.
Kind Regards
Hachette Partworks Ltd."
Very saddening. At no point during the run was it implied this would be a limited run to gauge interest so I can only surmise that there weren't enough subscriptions or sales on the first 2 issues for it to be a financially viable project and they've dropped it. But then again, you never know, right? Sometimes these partworks companies will rework the product and bring it out better than before for a second try.
I really wanted that coffee mug. : /
Re: Review - Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription by Hachette (1842416)
Posted by Kurona on November 21st, 2016 @ 4:47am CST
Posted by Kurona on November 21st, 2016 @ 4:47am CST
Was wondering why I wasn't getting any more issues... that's a shame.
Re: Review - Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription by Hachette (1842417)
Posted by Danxdub on November 21st, 2016 @ 4:51am CST
Posted by Danxdub on November 21st, 2016 @ 4:51am CST
There was an extra note in the inside cover of one of my volumes saying the same thing but offering a "free gift" for subscribing as a thank you if you sent in your proof of purchase.
Maybe that's the subscriber gifts?
Maybe that's the subscriber gifts?
Re: Review - Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription by Hachette (1842421)
Posted by MemphisR56 on November 21st, 2016 @ 6:13am CST
Posted by MemphisR56 on November 21st, 2016 @ 6:13am CST
I'd kept my issues sealed so I hadn't noticed, but sure enough, it was inside the cover of Vol. 18.
"Dear Reader,
Thankyou for purchasing transformers the definitive g1 collections.
This limited four-issue run has now come to an end and we will be looking at the level of interest before making a decision about whether the collection will be launched nationally in the near future.
As a thankyou for supporting the transformers definitive g1 collection limited run, we would like to offer you a free gift. To recieve this free gift, simply send proof of purchase of the issues to the address below. Please remember to include your name and address.
Transformers collection
PO BOX 77
Jarrow
NE32 3BR
We hope that this is to your satisfaction and please look out for exciting titles coming soon from hachette partworks.
Yours faithfully,
Hachette Partworks
Alternatively,if you wish, we can offer you a refund on the issues you have purchased. Simply send proof if purchase to the address above. The above information relates to the UK only."
Well, i'm gonna be turning the house upside down looking for my reciepts : /. Wonder if they'll accept a printout of my confirmation emails. Good thing I kept them.
"Dear Reader,
Thankyou for purchasing transformers the definitive g1 collections.
This limited four-issue run has now come to an end and we will be looking at the level of interest before making a decision about whether the collection will be launched nationally in the near future.
As a thankyou for supporting the transformers definitive g1 collection limited run, we would like to offer you a free gift. To recieve this free gift, simply send proof of purchase of the issues to the address below. Please remember to include your name and address.
Transformers collection
PO BOX 77
Jarrow
NE32 3BR
We hope that this is to your satisfaction and please look out for exciting titles coming soon from hachette partworks.
Yours faithfully,
Hachette Partworks
Alternatively,if you wish, we can offer you a refund on the issues you have purchased. Simply send proof if purchase to the address above. The above information relates to the UK only."
Well, i'm gonna be turning the house upside down looking for my reciepts : /. Wonder if they'll accept a printout of my confirmation emails. Good thing I kept them.
Re: Review - Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription by Hachette (1842423)
Posted by wwelliott on November 21st, 2016 @ 7:09am CST
Posted by wwelliott on November 21st, 2016 @ 7:09am CST
Well, I'm rather miffed! I've never even seen the first volume - chased them up a couple of times, and was told most recently that I'd not received anything as they'd run out of stock. I'd hoped that at least meant that the full run would be viable, as it is looks like I'll get nothing.
Re: Review - Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription by Hachette (1842430)
Posted by BotsNotPlots on November 21st, 2016 @ 8:49am CST
Posted by BotsNotPlots on November 21st, 2016 @ 8:49am CST
First time posting as I thought I'd share my experience with a previous Hachette series.
A few years ago Hachette released a few issues of Marvels Mightiest Heroes and then stopped. I looked everywhere to get more than the single issue I had. Then, a year or so later the series began again, with the same issues and cover art, but with DIFFERENT spine art.
I think these initial issues are actually testing the water, so maybe expect the full series in a year? The downside is if anyone has already got the first four issues and they want the complete spine art, then chances are they'll have to rebuy them.
A few years ago Hachette released a few issues of Marvels Mightiest Heroes and then stopped. I looked everywhere to get more than the single issue I had. Then, a year or so later the series began again, with the same issues and cover art, but with DIFFERENT spine art.
I think these initial issues are actually testing the water, so maybe expect the full series in a year? The downside is if anyone has already got the first four issues and they want the complete spine art, then chances are they'll have to rebuy them.
Re: Review - Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription by Hachette (1842431)
Posted by wwelliott on November 21st, 2016 @ 9:03am CST
Posted by wwelliott on November 21st, 2016 @ 9:03am CST
Ah - After I posted on here earlier I emailed them to ask what's happening. They've said that they will send me the four issues that have already been sent out - when they launch nationally! So hopefully this is still happening. No more info than that though.
Re: Review - Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription by Hachette (1842435)
Posted by DR0hNO on November 21st, 2016 @ 9:21am CST
Posted by DR0hNO on November 21st, 2016 @ 9:21am CST
when did the collection start? becuase ive not seen a single issue in WHSmiths or outher newsagents at all.
Re: Review - Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription by Hachette (1842444)
Posted by BotsNotPlots on November 21st, 2016 @ 9:55am CST
Posted by BotsNotPlots on November 21st, 2016 @ 9:55am CST
I think it was some kind of pilot scheme, so would have only been in a select few places, as well as the online site.
Re: Review - Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription by Hachette (1842447)
Posted by MemphisR56 on November 21st, 2016 @ 9:58am CST
I know fromthe the deagostini sets that sometimes they reease test runs only to certain parts of thethe country. Maybe this is just that, orso it's only been releasedrelease as an online subscription so far.
Did anyone find issue 1 at least at brick and mortar?
Posted by MemphisR56 on November 21st, 2016 @ 9:58am CST
DR0hNO wrote:when did the collection start? becuase ive not seen a single issue in WHSmiths or outher newsagents at all.
I know fromthe the deagostini sets that sometimes they reease test runs only to certain parts of thethe country. Maybe this is just that, orso it's only been releasedrelease as an online subscription so far.
Did anyone find issue 1 at least at brick and mortar?
Re: Review - Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription by Hachette (1842473)
Posted by Carnivius_Prime on November 21st, 2016 @ 11:28am CST
Posted by Carnivius_Prime on November 21st, 2016 @ 11:28am CST
Didn't even know this had started. Hadn't seen any issues.
Re: Review - Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription by Hachette (1842495)
Posted by dragons on November 21st, 2016 @ 1:40pm CST
Posted by dragons on November 21st, 2016 @ 1:40pm CST
Glad I couldn't subscribe I be ticked find this out those people better get refund or keep making new books
Re: Review - Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription by Hachette (1842499)
Posted by Kurona on November 21st, 2016 @ 1:48pm CST
It said that we wouldn't be getting charged and that they may be making more books in the future.
As someone who subscribed to it I'm not really mad about it. It's disappointing to be sure but if they couldn't do it for some reason, they couldn't do it. And hey, one less expense to pay; and I STILL got a few Transformers stories collected for a very low price even if it's a fraction of what I expected to eventually get. If you signed up for it, this is disappointing, but it's not like you got nothing out of it.
Posted by Kurona on November 21st, 2016 @ 1:48pm CST
dragons wrote:Glad I couldn't subscribe I be ticked find this out those people better get refund or keep making new books
It said that we wouldn't be getting charged and that they may be making more books in the future.
As someone who subscribed to it I'm not really mad about it. It's disappointing to be sure but if they couldn't do it for some reason, they couldn't do it. And hey, one less expense to pay; and I STILL got a few Transformers stories collected for a very low price even if it's a fraction of what I expected to eventually get. If you signed up for it, this is disappointing, but it's not like you got nothing out of it.
Re: Review - Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription by Hachette (1842512)
Posted by Prime Nova on November 21st, 2016 @ 2:14pm CST
Posted by Prime Nova on November 21st, 2016 @ 2:14pm CST
Someone stated Previews had listed it up for Jan 2017 - I can't find it so if anyone has checked the Preview Nov 2016 for Jan 2017 listed items?
Re: Review - Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription by Hachette (1842668)
Posted by starfish on November 22nd, 2016 @ 8:05am CST
Posted by starfish on November 22nd, 2016 @ 8:05am CST
Okay, this changes nothing.
Partworks such as this ALWAYS begin with a four-issue trial in a limited area. This was not sold nationwide in stores, only in a small test area (Rochdale/Manchester, if I recall correctly).
Other Hachette titles went exactly the same way. Initial test run to gauge interest, followed by a full run if successful. Their Doctor Who book series did the same thing, as did their Judge Dredd partwork. Both ended up going national.
Another thing to bear in mind is that partworks (usually) tend to be launched in the New Year. It's absolutely no surprise to see that this will go national in January (the inital clutch of four issues released during the test run will be re-printed - with mistakes corrected - when it gets launched properly).
I realise this is a North American site, and the whole UK partwork thing might be a little bit confusing for some, but as an avid partwork nut I just thought I'd come in here and calm things down.
I would certainly advise that the front-page news article be toned down a little, to be less alarmist.
To reiterate: this is par for the course with partworks in the UK. That type of 'this is only a trial' letter is industry-standard. Every book of this sort begins with a four-issue trial before going national.
Partworks such as this ALWAYS begin with a four-issue trial in a limited area. This was not sold nationwide in stores, only in a small test area (Rochdale/Manchester, if I recall correctly).
Other Hachette titles went exactly the same way. Initial test run to gauge interest, followed by a full run if successful. Their Doctor Who book series did the same thing, as did their Judge Dredd partwork. Both ended up going national.
Another thing to bear in mind is that partworks (usually) tend to be launched in the New Year. It's absolutely no surprise to see that this will go national in January (the inital clutch of four issues released during the test run will be re-printed - with mistakes corrected - when it gets launched properly).
I realise this is a North American site, and the whole UK partwork thing might be a little bit confusing for some, but as an avid partwork nut I just thought I'd come in here and calm things down.
I would certainly advise that the front-page news article be toned down a little, to be less alarmist.
To reiterate: this is par for the course with partworks in the UK. That type of 'this is only a trial' letter is industry-standard. Every book of this sort begins with a four-issue trial before going national.
Re: Review - Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription by Hachette (1842742)
Posted by Va'al on November 22nd, 2016 @ 12:26pm CST
Sure, and thanks for the clarification!
However, there was no indication that any of this was the case when all previous news was given to us/was found by us, so we reported it as subscribers (all UK based) sent in their version of things.
Posted by Va'al on November 22nd, 2016 @ 12:26pm CST
starfish wrote:Okay, this changes nothing.
Partworks such as this ALWAYS begin with a four-issue trial in a limited area. This was not sold nationwide in stores, only in a small test area (Rochdale/Manchester, if I recall correctly).
Other Hachette titles went exactly the same way. Initial test run to gauge interest, followed by a full run if successful. Their Doctor Who book series did the same thing, as did their Judge Dredd partwork. Both ended up going national.
Another thing to bear in mind is that partworks (usually) tend to be launched in the New Year. It's absolutely no surprise to see that this will go national in January (the inital clutch of four issues released during the test run will be re-printed - with mistakes corrected - when it gets launched properly).
I realise this is a North American site, and the whole UK partwork thing might be a little bit confusing for some, but as an avid partwork nut I just thought I'd come in here and calm things down.
I would certainly advise that the front-page news article be toned down a little, to be less alarmist.
To reiterate: this is par for the course with partworks in the UK. That type of 'this is only a trial' letter is industry-standard. Every book of this sort begins with a four-issue trial before going national.
Sure, and thanks for the clarification!
However, there was no indication that any of this was the case when all previous news was given to us/was found by us, so we reported it as subscribers (all UK based) sent in their version of things.
Re: Review - Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription by Hachette (1842747)
Posted by Mr O on November 22nd, 2016 @ 12:50pm CST
Posted by Mr O on November 22nd, 2016 @ 12:50pm CST
I got the same letter and another one pretty much the same but with all references to TF changed to 'Disney Tsum Tsum Migurumi Collection'. I've no idea what that is but it backs up this being a standard thing.
Re: Review - Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription by Hachette (1842761)
Posted by starfish on November 22nd, 2016 @ 1:38pm CST
Hi, cheers for the smiley face (reading that last post back, it does come across a little patronising / mansplaining, glad you took it in good heart!)
It seems this whole thing is a little confusing to some (especially those who've never done partworks before), and I thought I might help by clarifying. It's not helped by Hachette's sightly ropey record at responding to emails etc.
If this follows the usual procedure, the following will happen:
1) Not all those who subscribed would have been sent copies of the trial issues (I got none of them!) This is due to the lower-than-usual print run of the test issues.
2) However, anyone who signed up and got no issues at all will likely receive a free copy of a single test issue thanking them for their interest.
3) Most people who registered will get a customer feedback survey to fill in (if this hasn't been done already).
4) Assuming the trial has gone well, the national roll-out will happen in the new year. The series will start again from scratch (as if the trial never happened) and start afresh from the Target:2006 issue.
[To reiterate, the UK partwork market is able to sustain a veritable smorgasbord of titles on the shelves, with subjects as varied as knitting, Warhammer, Zippo lighters and entomology. If something like "The Art of Quilting" can get greenlit, then anything can!!!]
5) There may be some TV advertising to market the new book, and subscription copies will start rolling out. There may well be changes to the books from the trial run, as stuff gets corrected, ironed-out, and feedback is taken into consideration.
6) Most regular High Street newsagents and magazine sellers will only stock the first ten-or-so issues before dropping the book. THIS IS NORMAL. The way these work is to get people hooked by giving early issues some in-store prominence, getting people to sign up to the subscription. Once enough people are signed on, these will slowly fade from view, only available to subscribers, the official Hachette online store, and in specialist comic retailers such as Forbidden Planet. I would advise anyone interested in this set not to rely on finding these at retail, and subscribe via the official route (or perhaps place a standing order at your newsagent, and get them to order it in for you).
7) One of the benefits of subscribing is that the price is locked in. Partworks generally go up in price as the run goes on, so if you go via Hachette you'll be safe from such increases. Although the books will be published fortnightly, you'll get them in batches of two issues, every four weeks.
8) The shipments will be randomly staggered, so don't worry if you don't receive your issues the same time as everyone else. Example:
Week 1: Half of all subscribers (the 'fast lane') will get their copies of the first 2 issues.
Week 3: The remainder of subscribers (the 'slow lane') get their copies.
Week 5: The 'fast lane' get issues 3 and 4
Week 7: The 'slow lane' get issues 3 and 4
So although everyone will get all the issues eventually, you might randomly get stuck in the 'slow lane' service and get your issues two weeks after some of your friends. Again, this is totally normal and is how these things are usually shipped. Be prepared to deal with it, or don't subscribe.
9) Be very prepared for the possibility that this will get extended beyond the initial run. Very rarely do partworks stop at the originally-intended end date. The Doctor Who Figurine Collection (for example) has had more than double the originally-intended issue count, and is still going.
You are of course able to cancel your subscription at any time, but OCD completists should know going in that this probably won't stop at the G1 stuff, and we may well end up getting the Beast Wars, Movieverse, Armada stuff (etc.) tacked on to the end, as ways are found to fleece the fans extend the series.
Sometimes these 'extensions' can lead to a bit of online rage, such as "I only signed up for 40 issues, but by extending the series my OCD nature means I can't possibly cancel. My completist nature is being taken advantage of! I'm being fleeced!" (This actually happens).
10) That's all I can think of at the moment. Hope that's been helpful and not at all condescending like my previous post was. I currently subscribe to three ongoing partworks, and have had experience with another half-dozen more - not just from Hachette but also the likes of Eaglemoss and (back in the day) Marshall-Cavendish.
Posted by starfish on November 22nd, 2016 @ 1:38pm CST
Dr Va'al wrote:Sure, and thanks for the clarification! :D
However, there was no indication that any of this was the case when all previous news was given to us/was found by us, so we reported it as subscribers (all UK based) sent in their version of things.
Hi, cheers for the smiley face (reading that last post back, it does come across a little patronising / mansplaining, glad you took it in good heart!)
It seems this whole thing is a little confusing to some (especially those who've never done partworks before), and I thought I might help by clarifying. It's not helped by Hachette's sightly ropey record at responding to emails etc.
If this follows the usual procedure, the following will happen:
1) Not all those who subscribed would have been sent copies of the trial issues (I got none of them!) This is due to the lower-than-usual print run of the test issues.
2) However, anyone who signed up and got no issues at all will likely receive a free copy of a single test issue thanking them for their interest.
3) Most people who registered will get a customer feedback survey to fill in (if this hasn't been done already).
4) Assuming the trial has gone well, the national roll-out will happen in the new year. The series will start again from scratch (as if the trial never happened) and start afresh from the Target:2006 issue.
[To reiterate, the UK partwork market is able to sustain a veritable smorgasbord of titles on the shelves, with subjects as varied as knitting, Warhammer, Zippo lighters and entomology. If something like "The Art of Quilting" can get greenlit, then anything can!!!]
5) There may be some TV advertising to market the new book, and subscription copies will start rolling out. There may well be changes to the books from the trial run, as stuff gets corrected, ironed-out, and feedback is taken into consideration.
6) Most regular High Street newsagents and magazine sellers will only stock the first ten-or-so issues before dropping the book. THIS IS NORMAL. The way these work is to get people hooked by giving early issues some in-store prominence, getting people to sign up to the subscription. Once enough people are signed on, these will slowly fade from view, only available to subscribers, the official Hachette online store, and in specialist comic retailers such as Forbidden Planet. I would advise anyone interested in this set not to rely on finding these at retail, and subscribe via the official route (or perhaps place a standing order at your newsagent, and get them to order it in for you).
7) One of the benefits of subscribing is that the price is locked in. Partworks generally go up in price as the run goes on, so if you go via Hachette you'll be safe from such increases. Although the books will be published fortnightly, you'll get them in batches of two issues, every four weeks.
8) The shipments will be randomly staggered, so don't worry if you don't receive your issues the same time as everyone else. Example:
Week 1: Half of all subscribers (the 'fast lane') will get their copies of the first 2 issues.
Week 3: The remainder of subscribers (the 'slow lane') get their copies.
Week 5: The 'fast lane' get issues 3 and 4
Week 7: The 'slow lane' get issues 3 and 4
So although everyone will get all the issues eventually, you might randomly get stuck in the 'slow lane' service and get your issues two weeks after some of your friends. Again, this is totally normal and is how these things are usually shipped. Be prepared to deal with it, or don't subscribe.
9) Be very prepared for the possibility that this will get extended beyond the initial run. Very rarely do partworks stop at the originally-intended end date. The Doctor Who Figurine Collection (for example) has had more than double the originally-intended issue count, and is still going.
You are of course able to cancel your subscription at any time, but OCD completists should know going in that this probably won't stop at the G1 stuff, and we may well end up getting the Beast Wars, Movieverse, Armada stuff (etc.) tacked on to the end, as ways are found to fleece the fans extend the series.
Sometimes these 'extensions' can lead to a bit of online rage, such as "I only signed up for 40 issues, but by extending the series my OCD nature means I can't possibly cancel. My completist nature is being taken advantage of! I'm being fleeced!" (This actually happens).
10) That's all I can think of at the moment. Hope that's been helpful and not at all condescending like my previous post was. I currently subscribe to three ongoing partworks, and have had experience with another half-dozen more - not just from Hachette but also the likes of Eaglemoss and (back in the day) Marshall-Cavendish.
Re: Review - Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription by Hachette (1842764)
Posted by Va'al on November 22nd, 2016 @ 2:08pm CST
Posted by Va'al on November 22nd, 2016 @ 2:08pm CST
That is really interesting, and enlightening - so thank you! And I mean every smiley face I use (I didn't think you were being condescending, for the record).
Which brings me to this one:
How does such a scheme actually run for so long, and people still signing up for it? But, more to the point with this thread: will there be more of the TF material that people were seriously enjoying?
Which brings me to this one:
How does such a scheme actually run for so long, and people still signing up for it? But, more to the point with this thread: will there be more of the TF material that people were seriously enjoying?
Re: Review - Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription by Hachette (1842772)
Posted by starfish on November 22nd, 2016 @ 2:42pm CST
The usual sales model assumes that there will be a glut of initial subscribers, and takes into account that readership will inevitably fall away as the run goes on.
The pricing reflects that model: I would say the price per issue is rather high for what you get, but it does help subsidise the later issues where readership will inevitably be lower. Also, as I said, the cover price will inevitably increase by £1-2 over the course of the run which will also help offset the natural slow reduction in readership.
By catering to niche/sci-fi/'geek' fans (who are inevitably more OCD than regular people), they figure most readers will probably stay the course. You always see partworks based on genre stuff such as Star Wars or model steam locomotives, but never on anything a bit more mainstream. There's a Classic Jazz music partwork where every issue comes with an actual vinyl album, but there's no way you'd ever see a pop music partwork packaged with a CD album on the cover - their business model relies on their readers being hardcore fans rather than middle-of-the-road punters. The spine picture (which builds up like a jigsaw as the collection grows) is another clever piece of marketing in this regard.
Another well-used tactic is to delay the 'big hitter' stories until later in the run, to act as a disincentive to stop subscribing. Get people engaged by offering up Target: 2006 and Edge of Extinction very early on, but hold other biggies such as (say) LSOTW or maybe the out-of-print Dreamwave stuff until the very end. As an example, it took 76 issues for the Doctor Who Figurine Collection to get around to doing a figure of all 14 Doctors, meaning that anyone just collecting for the various incarnations of the main character had to stay the course for over three years.
As for the stories themselves, I can't really comment as to what other people enjoy, but this series does promise to reprint all the G1 stories (Marvel, Dreamwave and IDW) in their proper reading order (for the first time, slotting the UK stories in context within the US stories that surround them), with 'liner notes' and with an attractive design. My main reason for subscribing is the promise that the old black-and-white UK stories (including classics like Raiders of the Last Ark and Flashback) will be presented in full colour for the first time ever (thanks to John Paul Bove).
I realise most people will already have a lot of this stuff in various other collections, and it may well be hard to convince people to re-buy all this again. But for the seasoned fan who wants a new presentation of classic stories, or the relative novice collecting these for the first time, I'd say there's enough here to satisfy both ends of the spectrum to various degrees.
Posted by starfish on November 22nd, 2016 @ 2:42pm CST
Dr Va'al wrote:That is really interesting, and enlightening - so thank you! And I mean every smiley face I use (I didn't think you were being condescending, for the record).
Which brings me to this one:
How does such a scheme actually run for so long, and people still signing up for it? But, more to the point with this thread: will there be more of the TF material that people were seriously enjoying?
The usual sales model assumes that there will be a glut of initial subscribers, and takes into account that readership will inevitably fall away as the run goes on.
The pricing reflects that model: I would say the price per issue is rather high for what you get, but it does help subsidise the later issues where readership will inevitably be lower. Also, as I said, the cover price will inevitably increase by £1-2 over the course of the run which will also help offset the natural slow reduction in readership.
By catering to niche/sci-fi/'geek' fans (who are inevitably more OCD than regular people), they figure most readers will probably stay the course. You always see partworks based on genre stuff such as Star Wars or model steam locomotives, but never on anything a bit more mainstream. There's a Classic Jazz music partwork where every issue comes with an actual vinyl album, but there's no way you'd ever see a pop music partwork packaged with a CD album on the cover - their business model relies on their readers being hardcore fans rather than middle-of-the-road punters. The spine picture (which builds up like a jigsaw as the collection grows) is another clever piece of marketing in this regard.
Another well-used tactic is to delay the 'big hitter' stories until later in the run, to act as a disincentive to stop subscribing. Get people engaged by offering up Target: 2006 and Edge of Extinction very early on, but hold other biggies such as (say) LSOTW or maybe the out-of-print Dreamwave stuff until the very end. As an example, it took 76 issues for the Doctor Who Figurine Collection to get around to doing a figure of all 14 Doctors, meaning that anyone just collecting for the various incarnations of the main character had to stay the course for over three years.
As for the stories themselves, I can't really comment as to what other people enjoy, but this series does promise to reprint all the G1 stories (Marvel, Dreamwave and IDW) in their proper reading order (for the first time, slotting the UK stories in context within the US stories that surround them), with 'liner notes' and with an attractive design. My main reason for subscribing is the promise that the old black-and-white UK stories (including classics like Raiders of the Last Ark and Flashback) will be presented in full colour for the first time ever (thanks to John Paul Bove).
I realise most people will already have a lot of this stuff in various other collections, and it may well be hard to convince people to re-buy all this again. But for the seasoned fan who wants a new presentation of classic stories, or the relative novice collecting these for the first time, I'd say there's enough here to satisfy both ends of the spectrum to various degrees.
Re: Review - Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription by Hachette (1842916)
Posted by Prime Nova on November 23rd, 2016 @ 12:34pm CST
Posted by Prime Nova on November 23rd, 2016 @ 12:34pm CST
Re: Review - Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription by Hachette (1842918)
Posted by Prime Nova on November 23rd, 2016 @ 12:42pm CST
Posted by Prime Nova on November 23rd, 2016 @ 12:42pm CST
forbiddenplanet.com/211009-transformers-definitive-g1-collection-volume-2-stormbringer-hardcover/
In stock #1 27/12/16
#2 15/1/17
#3 29/1/17
#4 12/2/17
#5 26/2/17
In stock #1 27/12/16
#2 15/1/17
#3 29/1/17
#4 12/2/17
#5 26/2/17
Re: Review - Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription by Hachette (1843029)
Posted by Va'al on November 24th, 2016 @ 4:33am CST
Posted by Va'al on November 24th, 2016 @ 4:33am CST
After the bizarre up and down news concerning the Hachette Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comic Collection, we have an update by means of PreviewsWorld, confirming that the trial subscription run was successful enough to guarantee a nation-wide (UK) release of the series - the first five issues are as seen below, with pricing, blurb and info!
TRANSFORMERS: THE DEFINITIVE G1 COLLECTION VOLUME 1: TARGET 2006 HC
Special Introductory Price of £1.99! First time in PREVIEWS UK! The classic Marvel UK & Marvel US Generation 1 Transformers storylines, represented together in sequential volumes for the first time ever! Witness the era spanning and ground-breaking ‘Target: 2006’, a mini-epic which spun out of Transformers (The Animated) Movie and changed the course of the UK comic forever. Plus, the essential US stories that followed it, along with new background material created especially for The Definitive Collection, including features on Marvel UK, The Wreckers, Transformers: The Movie and more. Includes a new contextual introduction by series editorial consultant, Simon Furman. Collecting Transformers UK #78-88 and Transformers US #21-23.
HC, FC SRP: £1.99
TRANSFORMERS: THE DEFINITIVE G1 COLLECTION VOLUME 2: STORMBRINGER HC
The IDW Generation 1 storyline in updated chronological order, bringing you the entire span of this masterful reinvention of the classic characters and scenarios. These key Spotlight issues, including the classic Spotlight: Shockwave (featuring the Dinobots), and the pulse-pounding Stormbringer mini-series, all showcase underpinning story beats that continue to influence the ongoing IDW/Transformers-verse. Plus new background material created especially for The Definitive Collection, including Creating The IDW-Verse (with new input from IDW Editor-in-Chief Chris Ryall) and more. Includes a contextual introduction by series editorial consultant, Simon Furman. Collecting Stormbringer #1-4 and Spotlight: Shockwave, Spotlight: Soundwave, Spotlight: Nightbeat, and Spotlight: Hot Rod.
HC, FC SRP: £6.99
TRANSFORMERS: THE DEFINITIVE G1 COLLECTION VOLUME 3: THE PRIMAL SCREAM HC
The classic Marvel UK & Marvel US Generation 1 Transformers storylines, represented together in sequential volumes for the first time ever. Featuring specially colourized (by fan favourite John-Paul Bove) UK stories ‘Race With the Devil’ and ‘Survivors’, the return of Megatron, the rise of Unicron and the honest-to-gosh origin of the Transformers, this volume is a true first, and a must-have for all collectors. Plus, new background material created especially for The Definitive Collection, including a feature on the colourizing process by John-Paul Bove and a contextual introduction by series editorial consultant, Simon Furman. Collecting Transformers UK #198, 213-222 and Transformers US #56-61.
HC, FC SRP: £9.99
TRANSFORMERS: THE DEFINITIVE G1 COLLECTION VOLUME 4: EDGE OF EXTINCTION HC
The classic Marvel UK & Marvel US Generation 1 Transformers storylines, represented together in sequential volumes for the first time ever. This time it’s a bumper feast of US Transformers, with the whole Unicron saga (US issues #68-75) complete in one volume for the first time. This is the storyline that thrilled a generation of readers, and set the bar for every Transformers story that followed. Plus, new background material created especially for The Definitive Collection, including features on Unicron, artist Andrew Wildman (with input from Andrew himself) and more. Includes a contextual introduction by series editorial consultant, Simon Furman. Collecting Transformers US #67-75.
HC, FC SRP: £9.99
TRANSFORMERS: THE DEFINITIVE G1 COLLECTION VOLUME 5: THE WAR WITHIN HC
(W) Simon Furman (A) Don Figueroa
The classic Marvel UK & Marvel US Generation 1 Transformers storylines, represented together in sequential volumes for the first time ever. Before Stormbringer, before the Beast Wars, before even Generation One, there was... The War Within. Four million years before the Transformers came to Earth, civil war rocks their home world of Cybertron, and Optimus Prime faces his first — and greatest — challenge. If you think you know the Transformers... think again! Plus, new background material created especially for The Definitive Collection. Includes a contextual introduction by series editorial consultant, Simon Furman. Collects Transformers: The War Within #1-6.
HC, FC SRP: £9.99
In Shops: (VOL. 1) FEBRUARY 2017 Item Code: DEC16 3227 SRP: £1.99
In Shops: (VOL. 2) FEBRUARY 2017 Item Code: DEC16 3228 SRP: £6.99
In Shops: (VOL. 3) FEBRUARY 2017 Item Code: DEC16 3229 SRP: £9.99
In Shops: (VOL. 4) FEBRUARY 2017 Item Code: DEC16 3230 SRP: £9.99
In Shops: (VOL. 5) FEBRUARY 2017 Item Code: DEC16 3231 SRP: £9.99
Re: Review - Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription by Hachette (1843246)
Posted by Carnivius_Prime on November 25th, 2016 @ 1:35am CST
Posted by Carnivius_Prime on November 25th, 2016 @ 1:35am CST
Cool. I shall grab that cheap first issue when it's out and see what it's like. I'm only interested in the Marvel ones anyways particularly any that have the later black and white strips coloured. 
Re: Review - Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription by Hachette (1848878)
Posted by Va'al on December 26th, 2016 @ 11:39am CST
Posted by Va'al on December 26th, 2016 @ 11:39am CST
We have an update on the Hachette Partworks Definitive Transformers G1 Collection subscription service, thanks to a fellow robot fan via our Facebook page - the initial run was apparently successful, and the company will be releasing the full project after all! You can check out the confirmation info below, and the original announcement coverage here.
Delivery & Gift Information
As part of our research we tested the first 4 issues of this series in selected locations in the UK and we are excited to confirm that the complete collection is now launching nationally! Issue 1 will be published on 28th December 2016, and your subscription will begin again from issue 1.
We will send you the new editions of issues 1, 2, and 3 free of charge, and of course you will receive your free subscription gifts.
During the test run for this collection, you weren't charged and for security reasons we were not able to hold onto your payment details whether these were credit card details or direct debit details. This means that you will be charged via invoice, however in your first delivery you will receive information about how to switch to card or direct debit payment.
1- Please allow 28 days from the acceptance of your order for delivery.
2- You will receive your first two issues for FREE plus your FREE Transformers keyrings with your 1st delivery.
3- You will receive 2 issues every 4 weeks delivered directly to your door (in exceptional circumstances, the content of your despatches may differ).
4- You will receive another FREE issue with your 2nd delivery plus your FREE Transformers wallet.
5- You will receive your FREE tin plate cover with your 3rd delivery.
6- You will receive your FREE Transformers mug with your 4th delivery.
7- You will receive your FREE Transformers bookends with your 5th delivery.
Re: Review - Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription by Hachette (1848885)
Posted by EagleBot13 on December 26th, 2016 @ 2:43pm CST
Posted by EagleBot13 on December 26th, 2016 @ 2:43pm CST
Any news on an international release? I live in the US and would love to subscribe.
Re: Review - Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription by Hachette (1848886)
Posted by Va'al on December 26th, 2016 @ 2:47pm CST
Not yet I'm afraid. :/
Posted by Va'al on December 26th, 2016 @ 2:47pm CST
EagleBot13 wrote:Any news on an international release? I live in the US and would love to subscribe.
Not yet I'm afraid. :/
Re: Review - Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription by Hachette (1848895)
Posted by dragons on December 26th, 2016 @ 4:32pm CST
Posted by dragons on December 26th, 2016 @ 4:32pm CST
As long they pull this stuff again with international release consider me preorder when it happens
Re: Review - Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription by Hachette (1849116)
Posted by fenrir72 on December 27th, 2016 @ 10:39pm CST
Posted by fenrir72 on December 27th, 2016 @ 10:39pm CST
That G1 battle scene painting is the BOSS! Wish I can score one without the JP or any English characters in front it.
Re: Review - Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription by Hachette (1849382)
Posted by ScottyP on December 29th, 2016 @ 8:12am CST
I know that doesn't really solve what you're asking for here, just throwing that out there in the possible event that you were interested for the material that was "UK only" until the 00's.
Posted by ScottyP on December 29th, 2016 @ 8:12am CST
Do yourself a favor and grab this if you want to check out the Marvel UK material and haven't before: https://www.amazon.com/Transformers-Cla ... 600109438/?tag=seibertron07-20&EagleBot13 wrote:Any news on an international release? I live in the US and would love to subscribe.
I know that doesn't really solve what you're asking for here, just throwing that out there in the possible event that you were interested for the material that was "UK only" until the 00's.
Re: Review - Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription by Hachette (1849732)
Posted by starfish on December 30th, 2016 @ 5:33pm CST
Posted by starfish on December 30th, 2016 @ 5:33pm CST
Can confirm at least one change between the four trial issues and the 'proper' wide-release issues: as with Hachette's previous Dredd partwork, they've had a re-think about the spine art.
To confirm: the spine art has changed, so if you were thinking of mixing and matching trial issues and the full run, the spines won't match.
To confirm: the spine art has changed, so if you were thinking of mixing and matching trial issues and the full run, the spines won't match.
Re: Review - Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription by Hachette (1850244)
Posted by Carnivius_Prime on January 3rd, 2017 @ 9:21am CST
Posted by Carnivius_Prime on January 3rd, 2017 @ 9:21am CST
Found a copy today and am really happy with it. Mainly buying for the Marvel stuff but a few of the others is fine too.
And love the poster the 'magazine' unfolds into
So yeah I went and subscribed for the free merchandise getting issue 3 free with issue 2 and getting them delivered to my door so I don't have to search around for them or pay £6.40 busfare if the only newsagents in this town that does stock it runs out. I hope it lasts at least until all the Marvel stuff is sitting all tidy and neat on my shelf.
And love the poster the 'magazine' unfolds into
So yeah I went and subscribed for the free merchandise getting issue 3 free with issue 2 and getting them delivered to my door so I don't have to search around for them or pay £6.40 busfare if the only newsagents in this town that does stock it runs out. I hope it lasts at least until all the Marvel stuff is sitting all tidy and neat on my shelf.
Re: Review - Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription by Hachette (1850425)
Posted by Va'al on January 4th, 2017 @ 9:49am CST
Posted by Va'al on January 4th, 2017 @ 9:49am CST
London-based Orbital Comics will be holding another signing session with Transformers comics creators, this time to celebrate the full launch of the Hachette Partworks Definitive G1 collection, as reported previously! The guests for the event on Saturday 14th January are Simon Furman, Stephen Baskerville, Jeff Anderson, Lee Sullivan and John-Paul Bove - check out more info below!
To celebrate the launch of Transformers The Definitive G1 Collection from Hachette Partworks, Orbital Comics is pleased to welcome creators from the original Marvel UK Transformers title to the store.
Joining us on Saturday 14th January 2017, from 2-4pm, will be creators Simon Furman, Jeff Anderson, Stephen Baskerville, Lee Sullivan and John-Paul Bove.
We will have copies of the first 3 releases available, which feature classic stories like Target 2006 and The Primal Scream. Hachette Partworks will also be on hand to take subscriptions to the series.
This is the perfect way to start a Transformers comic collection, or the chance to relive favourite childhood stories with the people that created them, don’t miss out!
Re: Review - Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription by Hachette (1850473)
Posted by BattleConvoy on January 4th, 2017 @ 1:54pm CST
Posted by BattleConvoy on January 4th, 2017 @ 1:54pm CST
Got issue 1 idk if I can get all of them due to pocket money being limited
Re: Review - Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription by Hachette (1850475)
Posted by BattleConvoy on January 4th, 2017 @ 1:59pm CST
AGain, llike I said, I cannot aford this, unless I start a job or selling some of my stuff
Posted by BattleConvoy on January 4th, 2017 @ 1:59pm CST
[/quote]Delivery & Gift Information
As part of our research we tested the first 4 issues of this series in selected locations in the UK and we are excited to confirm that the complete collection is now launching nationally! Issue 1 will be published on 28th December 2016, and your subscription will begin again from issue 1.
We will send you the new editions of issues 1, 2, and 3 free of charge, and of course you will receive your free subscription gifts.
During the test run for this collection, you weren't charged and for security reasons we were not able to hold onto your payment details whether these were credit card details or direct debit details. This means that you will be charged via invoice, however in your first delivery you will receive information about how to switch to card or direct debit payment.
1- Please allow 28 days from the acceptance of your order for delivery.
2- You will receive your first two issues for FREE plus your FREE Transformers keyrings with your 1st delivery.
3- You will receive 2 issues every 4 weeks delivered directly to your door (in exceptional circumstances, the content of your despatches may differ).
4- You will receive another FREE issue with your 2nd delivery plus your FREE Transformers wallet.
5- You will receive your FREE tin plate cover with your 3rd delivery.
6- You will receive your FREE Transformers mug with your 4th delivery.
7- You will receive your FREE Transformers bookends with your 5th delivery.
AGain, llike I said, I cannot aford this, unless I start a job or selling some of my stuff
Re: Review - Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription by Hachette (1850760)
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on January 5th, 2017 @ 11:20pm CST
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on January 5th, 2017 @ 11:20pm CST
Orbital Comics has let us know that there is an upcoming signing session for the Transformers: the Definitive G1 Collection, and this session includes several major figures! The signing is scheduled for January 14 of this year in Orbital Comics of London, UK, and will feature creators and contributors Simon Furman, Jeff Anderson, Stephen Baskerville, Lee Sullivan, Geoff Senior and John-Paul Bove. You can follow the link above to Orbital Comics Website, and we have mirrored the press release below. So get ready to get a whole bunch of G1 comics signed!
o celebrate the launch of Transformers The Definitive G1 Collection from Hachette Partworks, Orbital Comics is pleased to welcome creators from the original Marvel UK Transformers title to the store.
Joining us on Saturday 14th January 2017, from 2-4pm, will be creators Simon Furman, Jeff Anderson, Stephen Baskerville, Lee Sullivan, Geoff Senior and John-Paul Bove.
We will have copies of the first 3 releases available, which feature classic stories like Target 2006 and The Primal Scream. Hachette Partworks will also be on hand to take subscriptions to the series.
This is the perfect way to start a Transformers comic collection, or the chance to relive favourite childhood stories with the people that created them, don’t miss out!
Re: Review - Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription by Hachette (1852605)
Posted by Carnivius_Prime on January 16th, 2017 @ 7:43am CST
Posted by Carnivius_Prime on January 16th, 2017 @ 7:43am CST
Got the first three volumes now and my subscriber keyrings. Already this collection is getting kinda heavy. I forgot lots of paper weighs muchly lots. 
Re: Review - Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription by Hachette (1852606)
Posted by starfish on January 16th, 2017 @ 7:49am CST
Posted by starfish on January 16th, 2017 @ 7:49am CST
I see they're offering to re-print issue 1 (Target 2006) due to a misprint on the spine. The art doesn't line up properly...
Re: Review - Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription by Hachette (1852607)
Posted by Carnivius_Prime on January 16th, 2017 @ 7:50am CST
Yep. Think the shop release is coming with issue 7 and the subscribers one sooner? Something like that. Not a huge deal and it's good of them to fix it for free though it's not even bugging my OCD... yet...
Posted by Carnivius_Prime on January 16th, 2017 @ 7:50am CST
starfish wrote:I see they're offering to re-print issue 1 (Target 2006) due to a misprint on the spine. The art doesn't line up properly...
Yep. Think the shop release is coming with issue 7 and the subscribers one sooner? Something like that. Not a huge deal and it's good of them to fix it for free though it's not even bugging my OCD... yet...
Re: Review - Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription by Hachette (1852883)
Posted by BattleConvoy on January 17th, 2017 @ 1:50pm CST
Posted by BattleConvoy on January 17th, 2017 @ 1:50pm CST
Got 1 and 2, will get the ealry marvel strips and dreamwave when they come out.
Re: Review - Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription by Hachette (1865533)
Posted by Va'al on March 10th, 2017 @ 11:40am CST
Posted by Va'al on March 10th, 2017 @ 11:40am CST
You may not have been following the Transformers: Definitive Collection stories that the UK social media world has been posting, but it's worth pointing out some of the perks available to subsribers nonetheless - especially with the reveal of a number of their six Premium prints, by veteran Transformers artists such as Andrew Griffith, Alex Milne, E.J. Su, Joana Lafuente, Casey Coller and Sara Pitre Durocher. Check out the general banner below (with Milne, Su and one hard to read the signature), and the latest reveal (Pitre Durocher's) too!
Re: Review - Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription by Hachette (1865534)
Posted by Carnivius_Prime on March 10th, 2017 @ 11:44am CST
Oh well I was paying extra for those but hadn't see what they'd be. I'm likely going to have to cancel my sub anyways. I'm too poor. :/
Posted by Carnivius_Prime on March 10th, 2017 @ 11:44am CST
Va'al wrote:You may not have been following the Transformers: Definitive Collection stories that the UK social media world has been posting, but it's worth pointing out some of the perks available to subsribers nonetheless - especially with the reveal of a number of their six Premium prints, by veteran Transformers artists such as Andrew Griffith, Alex Milne, E.J. Su, Joana Lafuente, Casey Coller and Sara Pitre Durocher. Check out the general banner below (with Milne, Su and one hard to read the signature), and the latest reveal (Pitre Durocher's) too!
Oh well I was paying extra for those but hadn't see what they'd be. I'm likely going to have to cancel my sub anyways. I'm too poor. :/
