Transformers Classics: UK

Sunday, June 19th, 2011 4:35AM CDT

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Posted by: Dead Metal Views: 31,758

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It looks like IDW will be launching a new reprint series, and oh boy is this going to be spiffy!
Amazon.com has posted a pre-order page for a new title by IDW named "Transformers Classics: UK Volume 1", a collection reprinting the old Marvel UK run in chronological order! IDW has reprinted the odd story from the UK run before, but this series promises to reprint the entire run for the first time in the US.
The description also states that this series will feature recoloured artwork and is slated for a release on 6. of September 2011.
To get to the pre-order page just click here!

For those that do not know, the old Marvel UK run of the Transforemrs comics reprinted the US comic material but also included new original stories. And by doing so creating a new continuity that went beyond the original US comics, introducing new characters and concepts that have become fan favourites over the years, like Death's Head and the Wreckers. While the US continuity, with some changes, is cannon with the UK continuity, the UK continuity is not cannon for the US continuity.

And if you're a fan of the old Marvel comics continuity and want it to be continued, sign the petition here, sure this will ignore the UK continuity, but it's written by Simon Furman who will undoubtedly introduce a few UK original things, like Ultra Magnus actually existing in the comic universe beyond just one movie adaptation.

Credit(s): seibertron, Amazon.com

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Re: Transformers Classics: UK (1242571)
Posted by Dead Metal on June 19th, 2011 @ 4:36am CDT

I'll wait and see what the remastered artwork looks like, because this is actually really interesting. I enjoyed a few issues I've read of this. IT would be cool if it actually featured the US material as well.

Re: Transformers Classics: UK (1242575)
Posted by alldarker on June 19th, 2011 @ 5:20am CDT

Hello nostalgia! These are the comics I grew up with, back when I was living in England in '84 to '88! Excellent stories and excellent art-work: I remember the stories having a bit more depth than the Marvel run, but that might be youthful imagination playing tricks on my memory.

Anyhow, it seems I have some reading to do: I only recently bought IDW's Classic Transformers volumes 1 to 6. I also bought the IDW Best of UK Omnibus: looks like that one is going to be a bit redundant.

Re: Transformers Classics: UK (1242586)
Posted by Windsweeper on June 19th, 2011 @ 5:48am CDT

This sounds interesting. I only started reading it with Target 2006 whose artwork should not be touched as it is a masterpiece.

Love the splash page where Hot Rod, Kup and Blurr come back from the future. The bottom scene with Galvatron and Cyclonus chills me every time I've read it these past 25 years. There's a haunted look in their eyes and my alltime favourite narrative is the one on that page.

Most of the UK art was good. If anything, they should redo the art of the US comics.

Interesting how this new post uses a scene from the US comic. I liked Wildman's art when he started with Time Wars but his US stuff annoys me with the fleshy faces.

Re: Transformers Classics: UK (1242589)
Posted by Dead Metal on June 19th, 2011 @ 5:54am CDT

Windsweeper wrote:This sounds interesting. I only started reading it with Target 2006 whose artwork should not be touched as it is a masterpiece.

Love the splash page where Hot Rod, Kup and Blurr come back from the future. The bottom scene with Galvatron and Cyclonus chills me every time I've read it these past 25 years. There's a haunted look in their eyes and my alltime favourite narrative is the one on that page.

Most of the UK art was good. If anything, they should redo the art of the US comics.

Interesting how this new post uses a scene from the US comic. I liked Wildman's art when he started with Time Wars but his US stuff annoys me with the fleshy faces.

It is?
I'll change it then.

Re: Transformers Classics: UK (1242600)
Posted by Blackstreak on June 19th, 2011 @ 6:32am CDT

I've always been intrigued by the UK storyline, always wanted to read it. Pretty cool they are reprinting the whole series from the UK. I see they did a reprint of some of the US Marvel issues but would probably be too much to ask for the whole series on reprint. I personally wouldn't need it as I have the originals but no reason to show favoritism towards one series over the other.

Re: Transformers Classics: UK (1242603)
Posted by Dead Metal on June 19th, 2011 @ 6:36am CDT

Blackstreak wrote:I've always been intrigued by the UK storyline, always wanted to read it. Pretty cool they are reprinting the whole series from the UK. I see they did a reprint of some of the US Marvel issues but would probably be too much to ask for the whole series on reprint. I personally wouldn't need it as I have the originals but no reason to show favoritism towards one series over the other.

That would work for the most part, but form what I heard, the UK team made a few changes to the US material to let it work better with it's own comic material.

Re: Transformers Classics: UK (1242605)
Posted by Stormwolf on June 19th, 2011 @ 6:50am CDT

Dead Metal wrote:
Blackstreak wrote:I've always been intrigued by the UK storyline, always wanted to read it. Pretty cool they are reprinting the whole series from the UK. I see they did a reprint of some of the US Marvel issues but would probably be too much to ask for the whole series on reprint. I personally wouldn't need it as I have the originals but no reason to show favoritism towards one series over the other.

That would work for the most part, but form what I heard, the UK team made a few changes to the US material to let it work better with it's own comic material.

They usually only altered the dialogue a bit and added in a few pages.

It was nothing drastic.

Re: Transformers Classics: UK (1242611)
Posted by Mcluskyism on June 19th, 2011 @ 7:06am CDT

This book is only going to print the UK stories, not the US ones with altered dialogue/corrected spelling, etc.

Andy Schmidt posted the contents on the IDW forums a while back:

Here are the contents of volume 1 as I understand it.

All re-colored and with James Roberts "commentary".

Also, yes, we have worked out a deal with Marvel so that we can reprint Death's Head's issues--thank you, Marvel.

Man of Iron
The Enemy Within
Raiders of the Last Ark
Decepticon Dambusters
Wrath of Guardian/Wrath of Grimlock
Christmas Breaker!
Crisis of Command
A Plague of Insecticons
...And There Shall Come A Leader
Missing In Action (text story)
Hunted! (text story)

So basically all the UK stories from the first 44 issues and the first annual, which is great as I don't think the text stories have ever been reprinted and Raiders of the Last Ark has never been reprinted or been seen in full colour before.

New cover from Andrew Wildman, a pencilled version of which has been posted here before.

Re: Transformers Classics: UK (1242653)
Posted by First Gen on June 19th, 2011 @ 9:46am CDT

And here's our answer to TF #81. If this sells its gonna cause some havoc as Dead Metal mentioned the UK is non canon so to reprint its entirety is probably telling us it ain't gonna happen. And if so, the UK material will be official canon across the board and they'll pick up the story where the UK left off. The UK version made it waaaayyyyyyyyyy better anyway.

Re: Transformers Classics: UK (1242701)
Posted by Stormwolf on June 19th, 2011 @ 11:39am CDT

First Gen wrote:And here's our answer to TF #81. If this sells its gonna cause some havoc as Dead Metal mentioned the UK is non canon so to reprint its entirety is probably telling us it ain't gonna happen. And if so, the UK material will be official canon across the board and they'll pick up the story where the UK left off. The UK version made it waaaayyyyyyyyyy better anyway.

Agreed, it was far more epic. But let's be fair, Furman had way more liberties then Budiansky.

Re: Transformers Classics: UK (1242723)
Posted by Dead Metal on June 19th, 2011 @ 12:18pm CDT

First Gen wrote:And here's our answer to TF #81. If this sells its gonna cause some havoc as Dead Metal mentioned the UK is non canon so to reprint its entirety is probably telling us it ain't gonna happen. And if so, the UK material will be official canon across the board and they'll pick up the story where the UK left off. The UK version made it waaaayyyyyyyyyy better anyway.

I don't think this has anything to do with a yes or no to #81, it was Furman who stated that if #81 was made he wanted to ignore the UK and the G2 stuff.
IDW has reprinted a lot of stuff that's not in continuity with their own projects, and even publishes stuff that won't mesh with their own continuity.

I see this reprint collection solemnly as IDW's answer to those who've been demanding reprints of the UK stuff.

Re: Transformers Classics: UK (1242749)
Posted by First Gen on June 19th, 2011 @ 1:02pm CDT

Dead Metal wrote:
First Gen wrote:And here's our answer to TF #81. If this sells its gonna cause some havoc as Dead Metal mentioned the UK is non canon so to reprint its entirety is probably telling us it ain't gonna happen. And if so, the UK material will be official canon across the board and they'll pick up the story where the UK left off. The UK version made it waaaayyyyyyyyyy better anyway.

I don't think this has anything to do with a yes or no to #81, it was Furman who stated that if #81 was made he wanted to ignore the UK and the G2 stuff.
IDW has reprinted a lot of stuff that's not in continuity with their own projects, and even publishes stuff that won't mesh with their own continuity.

I see this reprint collection solemnly as IDW's answer to those who've been demanding reprints of the UK stuff.

Ignore that UK and G2 ever existed? I'm sure that's a mistake as they open the flood gates for possibilities. And I honestly don't think the UK reprint is a call to the fans as much as its a "our material is failing so lets throw a reprint at em to ignite the fandom" type approach.

On a side note, should they reinstate the marvel storyline with 80s art, I won't be buying it. Leave the bad pastels and horrible inks in the past please.

Re: Transformers Classics: UK (1242757)
Posted by Dead Metal on June 19th, 2011 @ 1:20pm CDT

First Gen wrote:
Dead Metal wrote:
First Gen wrote:And here's our answer to TF #81. If this sells its gonna cause some havoc as Dead Metal mentioned the UK is non canon so to reprint its entirety is probably telling us it ain't gonna happen. And if so, the UK material will be official canon across the board and they'll pick up the story where the UK left off. The UK version made it waaaayyyyyyyyyy better anyway.

I don't think this has anything to do with a yes or no to #81, it was Furman who stated that if #81 was made he wanted to ignore the UK and the G2 stuff.
IDW has reprinted a lot of stuff that's not in continuity with their own projects, and even publishes stuff that won't mesh with their own continuity.

I see this reprint collection solemnly as IDW's answer to those who've been demanding reprints of the UK stuff.

Ignore that UK and G2 ever existed? I'm sure that's a mistake as they open the flood gates for possibilities. And I honestly don't think the UK reprint is a call to the fans as much as its a "our material is failing so lets throw a reprint at em to ignite the fandom" type approach.

On a side note, should they reinstate the marvel storyline with 80s art, I won't be buying it. Leave the bad pastels and horrible inks in the past please.

Yea, he stated that the idea he has for #81 takes place right after Mervel G1 #80, set in the present and ignores the UK stuff for some reason and the G2 stuff since "it's too 90's and dark" he wants to try something different that feels more like the original run.

Re: Transformers Classics: UK (1242799)
Posted by First Gen on June 19th, 2011 @ 2:08pm CDT

Dead Metal wrote:
First Gen wrote:
Dead Metal wrote:
First Gen wrote:And here's our answer to TF #81. If this sells its gonna cause some havoc as Dead Metal mentioned the UK is non canon so to reprint its entirety is probably telling us it ain't gonna happen. And if so, the UK material will be official canon across the board and they'll pick up the story where the UK left off. The UK version made it waaaayyyyyyyyyy better anyway.

I don't think this has anything to do with a yes or no to #81, it was Furman who stated that if #81 was made he wanted to ignore the UK and the G2 stuff.
IDW has reprinted a lot of stuff that's not in continuity with their own projects, and even publishes stuff that won't mesh with their own continuity.

I see this reprint collection solemnly as IDW's answer to those who've been demanding reprints of the UK stuff.

Ignore that UK and G2 ever existed? I'm sure that's a mistake as they open the flood gates for possibilities. And I honestly don't think the UK reprint is a call to the fans as much as its a "our material is failing so lets throw a reprint at em to ignite the fandom" type approach.

On a side note, should they reinstate the marvel storyline with 80s art, I won't be buying it. Leave the bad pastels and horrible inks in the past please.

Yea, he stated that the idea he has for #81 takes place right after Mervel G1 #80, set in the present and ignores the UK stuff for some reason and the G2 stuff since "it's too 90's and dark" he wants to try something different that feels more like the original run.

Haha too 90s? But an 80s storyline is perfectly fine.

Re: Transformers Classics: UK (1242805)
Posted by Dead Metal on June 19th, 2011 @ 2:21pm CDT

First Gen wrote:
Dead Metal wrote:
First Gen wrote:
Dead Metal wrote:
First Gen wrote:And here's our answer to TF #81. If this sells its gonna cause some havoc as Dead Metal mentioned the UK is non canon so to reprint its entirety is probably telling us it ain't gonna happen. And if so, the UK material will be official canon across the board and they'll pick up the story where the UK left off. The UK version made it waaaayyyyyyyyyy better anyway.

I don't think this has anything to do with a yes or no to #81, it was Furman who stated that if #81 was made he wanted to ignore the UK and the G2 stuff.
IDW has reprinted a lot of stuff that's not in continuity with their own projects, and even publishes stuff that won't mesh with their own continuity.

I see this reprint collection solemnly as IDW's answer to those who've been demanding reprints of the UK stuff.

Ignore that UK and G2 ever existed? I'm sure that's a mistake as they open the flood gates for possibilities. And I honestly don't think the UK reprint is a call to the fans as much as its a "our material is failing so lets throw a reprint at em to ignite the fandom" type approach.

On a side note, should they reinstate the marvel storyline with 80s art, I won't be buying it. Leave the bad pastels and horrible inks in the past please.

Yea, he stated that the idea he has for #81 takes place right after Mervel G1 #80, set in the present and ignores the UK stuff for some reason and the G2 stuff since "it's too 90's and dark" he wants to try something different that feels more like the original run.

Haha too 90s? But an 80s storyline is perfectly fine.

Yup, that's what he said, on hindsight he does not seem to like the G2 material too much which is why he wants to use #81 as an opportunity to take the stuff in a different direction, and apparently the '80s material is a little more "neutral" style.

Re: Transformers Classics: UK (1242822)
Posted by First Gen on June 19th, 2011 @ 2:49pm CDT

Dead Metal wrote: Yup he said in hindsight he does not seem to like the G2 material too much which is why he wants to use #81 as an opportunity to take the stuff in a different direction, and apparently the '80s material is a little more "neutral" style.

I can buy that but picking up after the last autobot won't be an easy task.

Re: Transformers Classics: UK (1243157)
Posted by El Duque on June 20th, 2011 @ 1:10am CDT

I'll definitely be picking this up, been wanting to read the UK stuff for a while now.

Re: Transformers Classics: UK (1243295)
Posted by Pot Bot on June 20th, 2011 @ 8:07am CDT

Never read ANY of the original comics, us or uk, my first transformers comic was infiltration. Might be worth looking at methinks

Re: Transformers Classics: UK (1243456)
Posted by shamone on June 20th, 2011 @ 11:26am CDT

ah the warm duvet of nostalgia

as an irish resident, we got the UK scheduling, and boy did furman blow budiansky out of the water. Got a few of the IDW reprints, space pirates, target 2006, and they were still exceptional

Prefer to imagine that they ended before they did.

gen 2 never happened