Transformers: IDW Collection Phase Two Volume 1 Pre-Order

This is full of win. Cannot wait!!

About darn time!

Though, what of all the other things to come out of this era besides MTMTE and RID? Like, how will these compile Autocracy, Monstrosity, Primacy, and the Dark Prelude spotlights when those all take place at differing points in the timeline?

Sabrblade wrote:About darn time!

Though, what of all the other things to come out of this era besides MTMTE and RID? Like, how will these compile Autocracy, Monstrosity, Primacy, and the Dark Prelude spotlights when those all take place at differing points in the timeline?

Well, the other IDW Collections haven't exactly been exemplars of putting things in order. But O imagine that if they were to do so, they would put the Dark Preludes together with Dark Cybertron as well the Road To Dark Cybertron stories. That would be a sizeable read; 4 spotlights, 12 chapters and...was it 5 "Road To" stories?

Hey guys first post here, long time Transformers fan. I've actually been wanting to get into the comic books, but it seems like there are just so many to track down. I actually prefer getting comic runs in the collection releases, and was wondering if the Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume 1 - 8 are a good place to start.

I'm not really sure what is considered "canon" if anything with all these comic release or if it roughly equivalent of extended universe (non-canon) or just fan fiction. Is IDW the only one who releases collections of this sort? What makes one publisher's line of comics different from another in this series?

The great and powerful Roberts has Tweeted - https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/447877880161533952

In response to questions: as I understand it, the Phase 2 hardcovers will include Autocracy, Monstrosity, the Spotlights and the prose stuff

Preordered it as soon as I finished reading about it. Love these collections!!

I am very happy to hear this news. Been waiting a long time. I just started reading paper trade back MTMTE vol.1 Even though I am hooked on the series already, I am glad I held off buying the rest of the trade backs so I can buy this instead.

Does this Hardcover series signify the end of MTMTE?

Has anyone noticed the preorder for this is $5 more than Vol 1 - 8?

Climhazzard wrote:Hey guys first post here, long time Transformers fan. I've actually been wanting to get into the comic books, but it seems like there are just so many to track down. I actually prefer getting comic runs in the collection releases, and was wondering if the Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume 1 - 8 are a good place to start.

I'm not really sure what is considered "canon" if anything with all these comic release or if it roughly equivalent of extended universe (non-canon) or just fan fiction. Is IDW the only one who releases collections of this sort? What makes one publisher's line of comics different from another in this series?

Not exactly sure what you mean. Maybe I'm just not reading it correctly.

The IDW universe continuity is only relevant to itself and nothing else. If you're talking other publishers, IDW has the rights to publish ANY existing comic book series, such as those previously owned by Marvel or Dreamwave, but those series have no relevance to the current running series.

Apart from one Transformers/Marvel crossover comic that was randomly placed into one of the collections, everything in the collections is canon to IDW Universe, and the collections so far encompass everything up to the 'split' where the comics were given to two separate writers and turned into More Than Meets The Eye and Robots In Disguise.

Also for some reason I can only see your post when I'm looking at the article. When I go to the thread to post, you're not there. Had to manually quote the post.

Stormrider wrote:Has anyone noticed the preorder for this is $5 more than Vol 1 - 8?

It is about the same as The Star Date Collection Volume 2 for Star Trek that comes out in April.

Nerv103 wrote:

Stormrider wrote:Has anyone noticed the preorder for this is $5 more than Vol 1 - 8?

It is about the same as The Star Date Collection Volume 2 for Star Trek that comes out in April.

Something similar happened with the 6th volume of the Transformers: Classics TPBs and the upcoming 7th Volume. Volumes 1-5 were $24.99, while volumes 6 and 7 are $29.99. despite their being no bigger than 1-5. I blame the economy.

Stormrider wrote:Does this Hardcover series signify the end of MTMTE?

It shouldn't, what with both MTMTE and RID continuing into the new "Dawn of the Autobots" event.

Sabrblade wrote:

Stormrider wrote:Does this Hardcover series signify the end of MTMTE?

It shouldn't, what with both MTMTE and RID continuing into the new "Dawn of the Autobots" event.

Not to mention MTMTE is IDW's most beloved ongoing, and one of the most beloved pieces of TF fiction inna long time, comics-wise.

Sabrblade wrote:

Nerv103 wrote:

Stormrider wrote:Has anyone noticed the preorder for this is $5 more than Vol 1 - 8?

It is about the same as The Star Date Collection Volume 2 for Star Trek that comes out in April.

Something similar happened with the 6th volume of the Transformers: Classics TPBs and the upcoming 7th Volume. Volumes 1-5 were $24.99, while volumes 6 and 7 are $29.99. despite their being no bigger than 1-5. I blame the economy.

Everything keeps going up these days, at least we are not paying cover price. I am just happy that they are continuing to put these out. These books are great and are a great collection to show off on my bookshelf. Now if they would just start issuing the original Marvel run in hardcover like they did with G.I. Joe I would be one happy camper.

Amazon has updated their pre-order for Transformers: IDW Collection Phase Two Volume 1 [Hardcover] with cover art, which we've mirrored below. The release date is listed as September 2nd with a price of $34.83. Descriptions and product details can be found below.

Update: According to a tweet from James Roberts the Phase 2 Hardcovers will also include Autocracy, Monstrosity, and various Spotlights.

James Roberts wrote:In response to questions: as I understand it, the Phase 2 hardcovers will include Autocracy, Monstrosity, the Spotlights and the prose stuff

Transformers: IDW Collection Phase Two Volume 1

The war for Cybertron is over, but Bumblebee and his fellow Autobots struggle to maintain control of a world without Optimus Prime. The provisional government is struggling and Prowl will defend it against the Decepticons at seeminly all costs. Meanwhile, Hot Rod and a group of Autobots and Decepticons embark on an epic quest to the farthest reaches of the Universe. Collects the one-shot Death of Optimus Prime, More Than Meets The Eye issues #1-5, and Robots in Disguise issues #1-6.

Product Details
Hardcover: 272 pages
Publisher: IDW Publishing (September 2, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1631400401
ISBN-13: 978-1631400407

Why did they have to use Optimus' head again? Couldn't they have gone with someone they haven't featured before? Ultra Magnus would seem like a good choice.

I mean, the art is good, and I really REALLY like the red - it looks awesome against the black and white.

Nemesis Maximo wrote:Why did they have to use Optimus' head again? Couldn't they have gone with someone they haven't featured before? Ultra Magnus would seem like a good choice.

I mean, the art is good, and I really REALLY like the red - it looks awesome against the black and white.

Ah, but this here is Orion Pax.

Sabrblade wrote:

Nemesis Maximo wrote:Why did they have to use Optimus' head again? Couldn't they have gone with someone they haven't featured before? Ultra Magnus would seem like a good choice.

I mean, the art is good, and I really REALLY like the red - it looks awesome against the black and white.

Ah, but this here is Orion Pax.

I can't believe I didn't make the distinction right away. Much easier to tell the difference when he was strapped to the nose of a run-away shuttle.

Seriously though, it is astounding art and since I'm missing a few back issues along the way this will make the perfect format in which to get some of those caught up as well as any Spotlights I may have missed out on. Besides, I have a few other Transformer books that could use some company upon the shelf and that's as good an excuse as any to pick this one up.

El Duque wrote:Amazon has updated their pre-order for Transformers: IDW Collection Phase Two Volume 1 [Hardcover] with cover art, which we've mirrored below. The release date is listed as September 2nd with a price of $34.83. Descriptions and product details can be found below.

Update: According to a tweet from James Roberts the Phase 2 Hardcovers will also include Autocracy, Monstrosity, and various Spotlights.

James Roberts wrote:In response to questions: as I understand it, the Phase 2 hardcovers will include Autocracy, Monstrosity, the Spotlights and the prose stuff

Transformers: IDW Collection Phase Two Volume 1

The war for Cybertron is over, but Bumblebee and his fellow Autobots struggle to maintain control of a world without Optimus Prime. The provisional government is struggling and Prowl will defend it against the Decepticons at seeminly all costs. Meanwhile, Hot Rod and a group of Autobots and Decepticons embark on an epic quest to the farthest reaches of the Universe. Collects the one-shot Death of Optimus Prime, More Than Meets The Eye issues #1-5, and Robots in Disguise issues #1-6.

Product Details
Hardcover: 272 pages
Publisher: IDW Publishing (September 2, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1631400401
ISBN-13: 978-1631400407

I hate it. I don't like the styling and they should have put someone other than Prime/Pax or Megatron on the cover. Sad that they are not using main characters from RiD or MTMTE.

They probably went with him because of "The Death of Optimus Prime" issue included in here.

I definitely would have preferred someone else on the cover, really. Eh, it's what's on the inside that counts anyway. Besides, I never see the front of any of the books when they're sitting on my shelf.

It looks like this art was done by Sarah Stone!

She's posted a larger version of it - http://monsterboysandrobots.com/post/81432300295/this-went-up-on-amazon-so-i-hope-i-can-share

We reported the Amazon listing of the IDW Publishing Transformers: Phase Two Hardcover collection, but we now have news of its antecedent Phase One paperback! Check out the listing here, though still lacking a cover image, and read on below for details on what will be included in this mammoth book, priced at $21.34 (discounted from $29.99 RRP).

Phase One collects the first three arcs of IDW's Transformers continuity, Infiltration, Escalation, and Devastation, written by longtime TF scribe Simon Furman, with art by E.J. Su, Nick Roche, and Robby Musso.

Paperback: 404 pages
Publisher: IDW Publishing (September 16, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1631401130
ISBN-13: 978-1631401138

Paperback?! Why didn't they do this with the Phase 1 volumes? That could have said me some money.

Sabrblade wrote:Paperback?! Why didn't they do this with the Phase 1 volumes? That could have said me some money.

I may be misunderstanding something here, but isn't that what this article is about? The Phase 1 collections are now coming out in paperback.

I still think I'll pick up the hardcover versions though. The few volumes I already own are quite nice.

Darth Jumpy wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:Paperback?! Why didn't they do this with the Phase 1 volumes? That could have said me some money.

I may be misunderstanding something here, but isn't that what this article is about? The Phase 1 collections are now coming out in paperback.

I still think I'll pick up the hardcover versions though. The few volumes I already own are quite nice.

I mean, for the paperbacks of the hardcovers that originally came out. Thuis one contains only Infiltration, Escalation, and Devastation. The original hardcover volumes utilized a "suggested reading order" that kept those three particuler mini-series mostly separate and space out between Spotlights and other mini-series like Stormbringer.

I like the cover art, it's great just like the previous HCs. And I would like it along with the others as posters or something.

How are people feeling about getting this series. I love MTMTE reviews. Are the RiD comics good enough to buy this? Or am I better off buying the TBP editions of MTMTE?

Storm, IMHO, the early run of RID was better than the concurrent issues of MTMTE (the early run being anything before Starscream banishes the Autobots and Decepticons). So I think this would be worth your while, if you're into somewhat political thrillers.

Nemesis Maximo wrote:Storm, IMHO, the early run of RID was better than the concurrent issues of MTMTE (the early run being anything before Starscream banishes the Autobots and Decepticons). So I think this would be worth your while, if you're into somewhat political thrillers.

Thanks.

i've always liked MTMTE more, but the early RID was pretty good. I found myself enjoying it less as it went on though, so glad they've changed it up for the new seasons.

craggy wrote:i've always liked MTMTE more, but the early RID was pretty good. I found myself enjoying it less as it went on though, so glad they've changed it up for the new seasons.

Are the later RID comics too slow and little action, or is the story line choppy, or something else?

Stormrider wrote:

craggy wrote:i've always liked MTMTE more, but the early RID was pretty good. I found myself enjoying it less as it went on though, so glad they've changed it up for the new seasons.

Are the later RID comics too slow and little action, or is the story line choppy, or something else?

There's a lot of magic hand-waving and not really satisfying explanations for what happens. And Megatron is brought back in an unfortunately disappointing manner, too.

Sabrblade wrote:

Nerv103 wrote:

Stormrider wrote:Has anyone noticed the preorder for this is $5 more than Vol 1 - 8?

It is about the same as The Star Date Collection Volume 2 for Star Trek that comes out in April.

Something similar happened with the 6th volume of the Transformers: Classics TPBs and the upcoming 7th Volume. Volumes 1-5 were $24.99, while volumes 6 and 7 are $29.99. despite their being no bigger than 1-5. I blame the economy.

I'm actually reading those Classics volumes right now. They are great. I'm half way through volume 5 and already have volume 6. Looking forward to volume 7 in June. Then I will read Regen One and the Gen 2 stuff. Then I'm thinking of reading the UK series.

the UK g1 series is my favourite of the old stuff. Did a re-read of the UK Comics recently, and ended up just skipping most of the US originated stuff, because it was getting painful to force my way through it

A new listing has appeared on online retailer Amazon.com, for the August 2015 release of the second volume of the IDW Publishing Transformers Phase Two! Volume one, you might remember, ended with RID and MTMTE #5 - the second book not only starts where the previous left us, but includes Dark Prelude Spotlights Trailcutter, Hoist and Orion Pax, plus the entire Autocracy run, and is currently priced at $49.99. No cover has been shown, but one might suspect Sarah Stone will be back for this hardcover too.

Before Optimus was Prime, before Megatron became a conqueror, they stood against Autocracy! Plus, spotlights featuring Trailcutter, Hoist, and Orion Pax. And the Dinobots are back! Volume 2 of The IDW Collection Phase Two collects the Autocracy mini-series, Spotlights: Trailcutter and Hoist, Robots In Disguise issues #7-9, More Than Meets the Eye issues #6-8, and Spotlight: Orion Pax.

Product Details

Hardcover: 332 pages
Publisher: IDW Publishing (August 4, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1631403648
ISBN-13: 978-1631403644

Sweet! I will get that for sure.

Interesting selection they've included in this one. I presume Volume 3 might contain Monstrosity?

Sabrblade wrote:Interesting selection they've included in this one. I presume Volume 3 might contain Monstrosity?

Probably, yes. I'd expect them to just keep them running in this order from here onwards.

Meh. I hate that they broke up Dark Prelude in half. It defeats the whole "Metroplex is tied into these characters" theme the original TPB had going for it (albeit tangentially in Hoist's case). Other than that, seems fair enough.

We had already seen the glorious Sarah Stone cover art for the IDW Publishing Transformers Phase Two Volume 1 hardcover collection a long while back, and we did report on the Amazon listing for the second volume in the series - but we now finally have the cover reveal from the listing, with a sadfaced Bumblebee crowning the front of the book! Refresh your memory on the contents below, now at $44.99, and check out the little bot that could, too.

Before Optimus was Prime, before Megatron became a conqueror, they stood against Autocracy! Plus, spotlights featuring Trailcutter, Hoist, and Orion Pax. And the Dinobots are back! Volume 2 of The IDW Collection Phase Two collects the Autocracy mini-series, Spotlights: Trailcutter and Hoist, Robots In Disguise issues #7-9, More Than Meets the Eye issues #6-8, and Spotlight: Orion Pax.

Product Details

Hardcover: 332 pages
Publisher: IDW Publishing (August 4, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1631403648
ISBN-13: 978-1631403644

Awesome, I will be getting this for sure.

Dare say cute, he looks like a pouting 6 year old.

Being that I have them already. I think I'll still get this. I'm feeling it will be an easier read, and I don't have to finger print my paperbacks.

I love the covers of these collections, and the colours on this one pop so incredibly well too.

Sarah Stone is a fantastic artist, I like her art almost as much as I do EJ Sue's.

I just noticed that Amazon is listing a preorder to Book 3 of Phase 2. There is no cover image, but it does give the release date of March 3, 2016.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1631405403/ref ... P6XNHH07GB?tag=seibertron07-20&

The description is as follows

"The Lost Light finally reaches the Crystal City while Orion Pax follows a rogue group of Decepticons. Meahwhile, back on Cybertron, violence breaks out in the heart of the city and Prowl looks for someone to blame! Collects "More Than Meets The Eye" #9-13 and the 2012 Annual, "Robots in Disguise" #9-11 and the 2012 Annual, plus the Thundercracker, Bumblebee, and Megatron Spotlight issues."

The price is a bit high, but I have always seen the price go down to around $35 by the time it releases.

I was doing some online shopping today and I noticed that Amazon updated their page for Volume 3 of Phase 2

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1631405403/ref ... P6XNHH07GB?tag=seibertron07-20&

It has changed the release date to slightly earlier (Feb 25, 2016), the page also includes a picture of the cover. I am not sure who is on the cover. I don't really keep up to date on the comics, I mainly just pick up the collections to read.

I just noticed that IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 4 is up for pre-order at Amazon with a release of September 6, 2016 and price of $44.99. I am not sure how many collect these. I still like this format.


http://www.amazon.com/Transformers-IDW- ... on+phase+2?tag=seibertron07-20&

The description is:

"In the early days of the war on Cybertron, two leaders start down their paths towards destiny. Meanwhile, on current day Cybertron, Megatron is back! Everything Bumblebee and his Autobots have built teeters on the edge of collapse–and Starscream has to make the choice his whole life has been leading to. On the Lost Light, a secret prisoner is confined in the bowels of the ship. Collects the Monstrosity mini-series, Robots in Disguise #12–18, and More Than Meets the Eye #14–16."

And it looks like Prowl is on the front.

Yep yep! http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/ ... e-4/35255/

Dr Va'al wrote:Yep yep! http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/ ... e-4/35255/

Sorry for the double post, I missed that it was covered in another thread. I thought this was the main thread for the phase two collection.