The Energon Pub

We have news of the official IDW solicitations for comics being released in August 2017 - first seen over on Forces of Geek - for Transformers titles, crossovers and the wider Hasbro Universe!

With Micronauts: Wrath of Karza, Rom vs Transformers, the lead-up to First Strike, plus MASK ending, Optimus Prime and Lost Light continuing, as is GI Joe, no news on Till All Are One... In the interest of keeping everyone informed on what is happening, all relevant titles have been mirrored below, with covers and synopses, and of course, steer away from the latter if you're trying to avoid some spoilers!

Rom Vs. Transformers: Shining Armor #2 (of 5)—Cover A: Alex Milne
John Barber & Christos Gage (w) • Alex Milne (a & c)

Starscream forges an unholy pact with the Dire Wraiths—and Bumblebee and Ultra Magnus are hot on his trail. Unfortunately for them, Rom and the Solstar Knights don’t know the difference between Autobots and Decepticons—and they’re ready to fight all comers!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Rom Vs. Transformers: Shining Armor #2 (of 5) —Cover B: Nick Roche
John Barber & Christos Gage (w) • Alex Milne (a) • Nick Roche(c)
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Rom Vs. Transformers: Shining Armor #2 (of 5)—Cover C: Bart Sears
John Barber & Christos Gage (w) • Alex Milne (a) • Bart Sears (c)
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Bullet points:

An all-star lineup of Christos Gage (Rom), John Barber (Optimus Prime), and Alex Milne (More Than Meets the Eye) tell the never-before-revealed secret history of Rom and the Transformers!
Don’t miss the cover by Ominous Press creator, Bart Sears, part of our Bart Sears cover month!

Optimus Prime #10—Cover A: Kei Zama
John Barber (w) • Livio Ramondelli & Kei Zama (a) • Kei Zama (c)

THE RETURN OF GALVATRON THE BARBARIAN! Optimus Prime meets with Alpha Trion, the ancient sage, who reveals a tale of Cybertron’s earliest days, when the original Thirteen Primes united the world. But even then, the warrior known as Galvatron was a wild card… shaping the future in unexpected ways.
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Optimus Prime #10—Cover B: Casey W. Coller
John Barber (w) • Livio Ramondelli & Kei Zama (a) • Casey W. Coller (c)
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Optimus Prime #10—Cover C: Andrew Griffith
John Barber (w) • Livio Ramondelli & Kei Zama (a) • Andrew Griffith (c)
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Bullet points:

Leads directly into this month’s First Strike event!
Variant cover by Andrew MacLean!

Transformers: Lost Light #9—Cover A: Jack Lawrence
James Roberts (w) • Priscilla Tramontano (a) • Jack Lawrence (c)

All sides converge on Troja Major as the race to unlock the secrets of a unique Cybertronian reaches its desperate, violent conclusion. As old secrets are revealed, Nautica must pay the ultimate price—by resorting to the ultimate currency.
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Transformers: Lost Light #9—Cover B: Nick Roche
James Roberts (w) • Priscilla Tramontano (a) • Nick Roche (c)
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Transformers: Lost Light #9—Cover C: Alex Milne
James Roberts (w) • Priscilla Tramontano (a) • Alex Milne (c)
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Bullet points:

Variant cover by Andrew MacLean!

Micronauts: Wrath of Karza #5— Cover A: Alex Ronald—SPOTLIGHT
Cullen Bunn & Jimmy Johnston (w) • Andrew Griffith (a) • Alex Ronald (c)

The final chapter! Baron Karza has conquered Earth! Only the Micronauts and the Transformers stand against him! Little do they know that a new enemy—a much more dangerous enemy—will rise to challenge friend and foe alike! And one hero makes the ultimate sacrifice!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Micronauts: Wrath of Karza #5— Cover B: Bart Sears
Cullen Bunn & Jimmy Johnston (w) • Andrew Griffith (a) • Bart Sears (c)
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Bullet points:

Don’t miss the cover by Ominous Press creator, Bart Sears, part of our Bart Sears cover month!
The death-defying finale before the epic crossover First Strike!
Variant cover by Ray Dillon!

G.I. JOE #9—Cover A: Aaron Conley—SPOTLIGHT
Aubrey Sitterson (w) • Giannis Milonogiannis (a) • Aaron Conley (c)

It all comes to a head for G.I. Joe! Can Roadblock and his team escape the underground in time? And is Scarlett prepared for all hell to break loose?
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

G.I. JOE #9—Cover B: Giannis Milonogiannis
Aubrey Sitterson (w) • Giannis Milonogiannis (a & c)
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

G.I. JOE #9—Cover C: Bart Sears
Aubrey Sitterson (w) • Giannis Milonogiannis (a) • Bart Sears (c)
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Bullet points:

Don’t miss the cover by Ominous Press creator, Bart Sears, part of our Bart Sears cover month!
The pulse-pounding final issue before this month’s First Strike crossover!
Variant cover by Dylan Burnett!

Rom #14—Cover A: Nathan Greno—SPOTLIGHT
Chris Ryall & Christos Gage (w) • David Messina, Guy Dorian & Sal Buscema (a) • Nathan Greno (c)

“Long Roads to Ruin” finale! Is this the last issue of Rom? Yes… and no! First Strike is upon us and out of that momentous event, a new Rom will arise! But before that, the fate of the Knights of the Solstar Order!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Rom #14—Cover B: Guy Dorian & Sal Buscema
Chris Ryall & Christos Gage (w) • David Messina, Guy Dorian & Sal Buscema (a) • Guy Dorian & Sal Buscema (c)
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Rom #14—Cover C: Andrew Griffith
Chris Ryall & Christos Gage (w) • David Messina, Guy Dorian & Sal Buscema (a) • Andrew Griffith (c)
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Rom #14—Cover D: Leonardo Manco
Chris Ryall & Christos Gage (w) • David Messina, Guy Dorian & Sal Buscema (a) • Leonardo Manco (c)
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Bullet points:
On the road to First Strike!
Final issue. Wait… what?! The portentous answers lay within!
Variant cover by Ray Dillon!

M.A.S.K.: Mobile Armored Strike Kommand #10— Cover A: Abel Ciccero—SPOTLIGHT
Brandon Easton (w) • Drew Moss (a) • Abel Ciccero (c)

In the final issue of M.A.S.K., Matt Trakker loses the trust of his friends and teammates, causing the group to disband. With mounting threats on the horizon, Mobile Armored Strike Kommand is no longer on the front lines, plunging them all into an uncertain future.
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

M.A.S.K.: Mobile Armored Strike Kommand #10— Cover B: Bart Sears
Brandon Easton (w) • Drew Moss (a) • Bart Sears (c)
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

M.A.S.K.: Mobile Armored Strike Kommand #10— Cover C: Nicoletta Baldari
Brandon Easton (w) • Drew Moss (a) • Nicoletta Baldari (c)
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Bullet points:

Don’t miss the cover by Ominous Press creator, Bart Sears, part of our Bart Sears cover month!
The jaw-dropping finale before the epic crossover First Strike!
Variant cover by Santipérez!

So, James Roberts indicated on Twitter that those wishing to avoid spoilers should avoid the Lost Light cover above.

That guy looks awfully Tyrest-y.

No Till All Are One or First Strike in August?

Nik Hero wrote:No Till All Are One or First Strike in August?

I hope with TAAO, it's just another break, or they didn't have a solicit ready. TAAO is the most involving TF book out right now.

NOTE: The IDW solicits folder I get material from is currently still empty (8pm UTC+2). This was an exclusive announcement for FoG. There may still be covers and comics to be announced between today and tomorrow.

while First Strike is going to be strike 3 I'm out for these larger crossover events, I am super stoked for ROM v. Transformers. Revolutionaries has been a very enjoyable series, and this series has promise to it. Really looking forward to it

Va'al wrote:NOTE: The IDW solicits folder I get material from is currently still empty (8pm UTC+2). This was an exclusive announcement for FoG. There may still be covers and comics to be announced between today and tomorrow.

I just realized that Mairghread Scott was writing this event/series. Perhaps TAAO is taking a short break while she does this. It would make sense.....timewise, Till All Are One is months ahead of the other two books. OP's narrative doesn't start until AFTER TAAO #8, which only came out last month. Lost Light is not really connected to the other two time-wise, so far. That would allow the narratives to catch up and essentially be happening concurrently.

Bounti76 wrote:

Va'al wrote:NOTE: The IDW solicits folder I get material from is currently still empty (8pm UTC+2). This was an exclusive announcement for FoG. There may still be covers and comics to be announced between today and tomorrow.

I just realized that Mairghread Scott was writing this event/series. Perhaps TAAO is taking a short break while she does this. It would make sense.....timewise, Till All Are One is months ahead of the other two books. OP's narrative doesn't start until AFTER TAAO #8, which only came out last month. Lost Light is not really connected to the other two time-wise, so far. That would allow the narratives to catch up and essentially be happening concurrently.

A very good point to make, thank you!

Just checked folder again, no updates on what we have so far.

Bounti76 wrote:

Va'al wrote:NOTE: The IDW solicits folder I get material from is currently still empty (8pm UTC+2). This was an exclusive announcement for FoG. There may still be covers and comics to be announced between today and tomorrow.

I just realized that Mairghread Scott was writing this event/series. Perhaps TAAO is taking a short break while she does this. It would make sense.....timewise, Till All Are One is months ahead of the other two books. OP's narrative doesn't start until AFTER TAAO #8, which only came out last month. Lost Light is not really connected to the other two time-wise, so far. That would allow the narratives to catch up and essentially be happening concurrently.

Oh, IDW scheduling and book restarts; you do slay me. I love these books more than any other fiction right now but things like this do start to make me wonder about IDW as a company...