The Energon Pub

[Bronzewolf]

(Sorry about the rant, cars are my main passion. )

[WreckerJack]

(Sorry about the rant, cars are my main passion. )

Don't worry about it. Most of it goes over my head but I am never one to turn down pics of cool cars.

[Va'al]

We also have a new piece of cover art from regular artist on the prequel comics series for the Bumblebee movie - Andrew Griffith - and its first issue due later this month! Check out below the cover for From Cybertron with Love #1, and let us know what you think in the Energon Pub discussion boards.

(W) John Barber (A/CA) Andrew Griffith
Some call him Goldfender, but the name's Bee... Bumblebee. On loan to MI6 and teamed with a human partner, Bee's trapped in the middle of a Cold War plot to disrupt British Secret Intelligence. But when things go wrong, it's up to Bee to discover if there's a traitor in their midst. In the spy world, allegiances can change just as easily as a Transformer.

*The prequel to the new Bumblebee film (coming this winter), geared toward a younger audience!
In Shops: Jun 27, 2018
SRP: $3.99

[Va'al]

On the topic of the Transformers Bumblebee Movie - or rather its licensed IDW Publishing prequel comic, by John Barber, Andrew Griffith, and Priscilla Tramontano, From Cybertron with Love - we have some new information courtesy of digital comics reader and service ComiXology, in the form of synopses for the first three issues out of the four that make up this miniseries.

There are some spoilers, of course, so read along below at your own peril of reduced enjoyment of the series, and let us know if you'll be picking this up as it comes out, in preparation for the movie in December!

Transformers: Bumblebee Movie Prequel #1 (of 4)

Some call him Goldfender, but the name's Bee... Bumblebee. On loan to MI6 and teamed with a human partner, Bee's trapped in the middle of a Cold War plot to disrupt British Secret Intelligence. But when things go wrong, it's up to Bee to discover if there's a traitor in their midst. In the spy world, allegiances can change just as easily as a Transformer.

Transformers: Bumblebee Movie Prequel #2 (of 4)

THE LIVING HEADLIGHTS! In swinging 1960s London, Bumblebee teams with a pair of bickering master spies to unravel a Decepticon conspiracy— but is one of Bee’s friends a double agent?

Transformers: Bumblebee Movie Prequel #3 (of 4)

Energon is Forever. It's war in the streets of swinging 1960s London, baby—and it's freaking Bumblebee out! The Decepticon scheme to lure the world's top espionage organizations into war shifts into high gear—so Bee and his super-spy friends call in some international help!

[Bronzewolf]

This concept is campy as all hell and ridiculous, but I am here for it! My question is, how do I get a hold of that B cover? Is it a retailer exclusive? Or just a luck of the draw thing?

[william-james88]

This concept is campy as all hell and ridiculous, but I am here for it! My question is, how do I get a hold of that B cover? Is it a retailer exclusive? Or just a luck of the draw thing?

The best thing to do is reserve it at your local comic book store. Its not a retailer exclusive.

[Va'al]

This concept is campy as all hell and ridiculous, but I am here for it! My question is, how do I get a hold of that B cover? Is it a retailer exclusive? Or just a luck of the draw thing?

The best thing to do is reserve it at your local comic book store. Its not a retailer exclusive.

Yep, A and B covers can be easily ordered from the store, just ask them to be put aside.
The others take some extra fiddling, but if your store orders in enough, you might get some of the extras (depending on their order number).

[D-Maximal_Primal]

Via iTunes we have our first preview for the upcoming Bumblebee movie sequel comic! The first 3 pages of this comic feature some pretty classic British spy scenes, lines, and the over-picture typing of the mission at hand. While the preview is entirely humans, there is a brief appearance of the Autobot logo on a ring.

Check out the preview below, and let us know what you think of this upcoming prequel comic, the first movie comic in some time that wasn't a one-shot, below!

Some call him Goldfender, but the name's Bee... Bumblebee. On loan to MI6 and teamed with a human partner, Bee's trapped in the middle of a Cold War plot to disrupt British Secret Intelligence. But when things go wrong, it's up to Bee to discover if there's a traitor in their midst. In the spy world, allegiances can change just as easily as a Transformer.

[TulioDude]

John Barber had a lot of fun writing this.You can feel it in these preview pages.

[WreckerJack]

His skin couldn't breathe? That just sounds awkward. Makes me think of stinky feet.

[ZeroWolf]

I had the James bond theme in my head while reading that.

[DeadCaL]

His skin couldn't breathe? That just sounds awkward. Makes me think of stinky feet.

<cough> James Bond reference <cough>

[D-Maximal_Primal]

Thanks to the SyFy Wire, we have a full preview available now for the IDW Bumblebee Movie Prequel comic! The full preview includes all 4 covers as well as the first 5 pages of the story, with some very James Bond-esque vibes coming from the story. And we do get to see Bee begin to transform, though it appears as though page 6 is where we will get his full reveal.

Check it out below, and let us know what you think of this new IDW movie series comic, the first in a long time (other than that one about the Schick Hydro bot) we might add! And be ready, for the first issue is set to hit the streets here very soon!

[DeadCaL]

Corr blimey. He certainly was a bit snookered there, apples and pears. Red buses full of pudding Gov'ner

[RotorstormNZ]

Has anyone here picked up or read #1 yet? There's a very detailed TFWiki page already!

[Va'al]

Has anyone here picked up or read #1 yet? There's a very detailed TFWiki page already!

Review incoming! Just had a bad connection this week..

[Va'al]

B.U.M.B.L.E.B.E.E
(Spoiler free-ish)

Synopsis
Some call him Goldfender, but the name's Bee... Bumblebee. On loan to MI6 and teamed with a human partner, Bee's trapped in the middle of a Cold War plot to disrupt British Secret Intelligence. But when things go wrong, it's up to Bee to discover if there's a traitor in their midst. In the spy world, allegiances can change just as easily as a Transformer.

well, kinda

Story
It has been a very long time since we saw anything in print or digital as a tie-in or lead-in or even just promotion, for the Paramount live action universe, as directed by Michael Bay. It looks as though, now that the plans are changing - and very much so - we're back in business however, and the old movie comics making team is back for the ride!

with a theme song!

John Barber is clearly having fun with this mini-series, even just from the first issue, as the puns are aplenty, the references even more so, and the dynamic between Bumblebee and Omega Zero / David Reeve is hard to shake too far away from Ian Noble-Action Man and Kup, from the pages of Revolutionaries. The action is worthy of something that can be a movie blockbuster for sure, but it's their dialogue (and the acronyms) that sticks the most.

and the cheesy one-liners

That said, I am a little confused at the pitching of this series - as it's intended to be aimed at a younger audience, yet has very pulp, noir, crime references and context which a younger audience may very well not get at all. Plus, if it is indeed to lead into the upcoming Bumblebee movie, I'm very curious to see what this story established about the current Cybertronian situation on Earth.


Art
As team is back, Andrew Griffith returns next to Barber to work on the visuals for the former's script as the A.R.T.I.S.T., and as we already knew, his mechanical-but-organic, movie designs work amazingly (as does his architecture), and are dynamic without fault in their execution - which cannot otherwise be entirely said about some of the human renditions of the other side of the cast, unfortunately. It may, at this point, just be my personal taste getting in the way, however.

from Griffith's Twitter

Priscilla Tramontano does some seriously impressive work as the C.O.L.O.R.I.S.T. to go with the excellent base lines, and manages to bring both a fresh coat over some old-style looks, and make it all work as a new perspective on an old visual aesthetic. Partnering that up with some well placed, even spot on, SFX from regular L.E.T.T.E.R.E.R. Tom B Long, and you get an explosive mix that works extremely well with the punchy script for this opening issue.

boomboom

The covers for this series so far have been a huge selling point for myself and several other fans online, be it the regular Griffith / Tramontano variant, the Fico Ossio, Megatron-cameoing version, or the pulpy Sara Pitre Durocher take on the story - you can view them all in our comics database here, with credits!

Thoughts
Spoilerish ahead

Consider my interest very slightly piqued, at least insofar as we're getting some more human-bot interaction from Barber - as well as his usual net weaving, with Sector Seven, various continuity issue jugglings and fun dialogue - along with what this story will say about Bee losing his voice, how the movie version we saw develops from this very different character, and what other cameos might make it in both character and style.

but we are

The movie aesthetic may turn off a fair few regular IDW style accustomed readers, but keeping the target in mind, younger fans will probably have grown up with this style and it's a great idea to have something Transformers comics based for them in the hands of Griffith and Tramontano. The covers are definitely also a big draw, and not one to be underestimated.

. 1/2 out of

[ZeroWolf]

This does look pretty fun and doesn't seem to take itself too seriously which is a plus for me. Depending on other reviews I may pick this up when completed.

[Carnivius_Prime]

I bought it because I really miss having movie comics and it's the only TF thing from IDW I really used to enjoy. This issue was alright though my main problem with it was I'm really not a James Bond fan and so this whole Bond homage thing doesn't do much for me. Also a bit strange having movie Bee actually talk. I'm so used to his soundbites and such that it feels like too different a character. Still, what I did like were some more movie-style Decepticons with Wild Rider, Runabout and Diabla joining the roster even if just in comic form. Toys would be nice.

[Va'al]

And finally, from the iTunes page for the next issue, we also have a three page preview for the movieverse comic book that will tie in to the upcoming Transformers Bumblebee Movie - written by John Barber with art by Andrew Griffith and Priscilla Tramontano - all mirrored out below for your convenience!

THE LIVING HEADLIGHTS! In swinging 1960s London, Bumblebee teams with a pair of bickering master spies to unravel a Decepticon conspiracy— but is one of Bee’s friends a double agent?

[Va'al]

Out this week with IDW Publishing are three new issues in their Transformers comics as we rush towards the end of it all in the Summer of Transformers - starting below with the second part of the Bumblebee Movie prequel comic: From Cybertron With Love! Check out the preview and join the conversation in the Energon Pub discussion boards.

Transformers: Bumblebee Movie Prequel #2 (of 4)—Cover A: Andrew Griffith
John Barber (w) • Andrew Griffith (a & c)
THE LIVING HEADLIGHTS! In swinging 1960s London, Bumblebee teams with a pair of bickering master spies to unravel a Decepticon conspiracy—but is one of Bee’s friends a double agent?
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Transformers: Bumblebee Movie Prequel #2 (of 4)—Cover B: Fico Ossio
John Barber (w) • Andrew Griffith (a)• Fico Ossio (c)
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Bullet points:
The prequel to the new Bumblebee film (coming this winter), geared toward a younger audience!
Sometimes serious, sometimes campy action spy adventure for fans of James Bond or Mission Impossible!
Variant cover by Andrew Griffith!

[Va'al]

From Previews World, we have three new covers - with two effectively new pieces of artwork, as you'll see - for the third issue of the Transformers Bumblebee Movie tie-in comic, written by John Barber and with art by Andrew Griffith and Priscilla Tramontano.

The third chapter (out of four) features the usual main and retail incentive work from Griffith, coloured (without credit, again) in the former and with plain line art in the latter, while Fico Ossio (plus colourist) takes on the B variant for the issue. Check them out below!

Energon is Forever. It's war in the streets of swinging 1960s London, baby-and it freaks Bumblebee out! The Decepticon scheme to lure the world's top espionage organizations into war shifts to high gear-so Bee and his super-spy friends call in some international help!
In Shops: Aug 29, 2018

[MarkNL]

Oh my god, that island underneath Bumblebee.. Le Mont Saint-Michel in France! That's awesome! I've been there several times. Last time was the summer of 2017. This comic surely is a must have for me now, haha!

[Va'al]

In comics news from IDW Publishing, we have a quick iTunes preview of next week's release in Transformers comics, with the third issue of the four-issue prequel mini-series to the Bumblebee Movie due this December - From Cybertron With Love - by John Barber, Andrew Griffith, and Priscilla Tramontano!

Energon is Forever can be seen in the images below, and we get the first (chronological, at least) appearance of jet Blitzwing, plus more wordplay, references and acronyms than a single news post can handle. Check it out, and let us know what you think!

Description

Energon is Forever. It's war in the streets of swinging 1960s London, baby—and it’s freaking Bumblebee out! The Decepticon scheme to lure the world's top espionage organizations into war shifts into high gear—so Bee and his super-spy friends call in some international help!

[ZeroWolf]

So blitzwing is a triple changer in the comics at least...everyone looks like they are having a lot of fun making this series.