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News Credits: 209 · by **Va'al** » Thu Feb 23, 2017 6:00 am

Via iTunes, and with full credits shown in our Comics Database entry, we have a three-page preview of the upcoming Transformers Annual 2017, from IDW Publishing! Titled Ghost Stories, the book features writing from John Barber and art by Priscilla Tramontano, and appropriately features a lot of Bumblebee, being dead an' all - check it out below!

John Barber (w) • Priscilla Tramontano (a & c)
GHOST STORIES! Optimus Prime returns to Cybertron—only to be confronted by his rival for the Matrix, Pyra Magna! As Pyra's origin—before she was part of Victorion—is finally revealed, Optimus relives his own past—the first time he met Bumblebee!
FC • 48 pages • $7.99

by **SG Roadbuster** » Thu Feb 23, 2017 7:08 am

*crosses fingers and hopes that Bumblebee stays dead*

News Credits: 2 · by **MrBlack** » Thu Feb 23, 2017 8:57 am

Looks like fun.

News Credits: 11 · by **Targetmaster Kup** » Thu Feb 23, 2017 9:30 am

Does anyone know when (in relation to issues of OPTIMUS PRIME and TAAO) this story is supposed to take place?

News Credits: 1 · by **Randomhero** » Thu Feb 23, 2017 9:38 am

Nik Hero wrote:Does anyone know when (in relation to issues of OPTIMUS PRIME and TAAO) this story is supposed to take place?

Pretty sure it takes place after the Junkion story. Optimus has made a visit to Cybertron lately but Pyra Magna didn't come with she stayed on earth and we've seen them already have a spat about the matrix.

News Credits: 48 · by **Bounti76** » Thu Feb 23, 2017 10:42 am

Just a curiosity question..... why is this an "Annual", when the last one appeared 5 years ago? Shouldn't they be appearing, you know, ANNUALLY?

News Credits: 209 · by **Va'al** » Thu Feb 23, 2017 12:56 pm

Bounti76 wrote:Just a curiosity question..... why is this an "Annual", when the last one appeared 5 years ago? Shouldn't they be appearing, you know, ANNUALLY?

The last one was in 2015, but yes, annuals are in theory meant to be published every year.
Transformers didn't get that treatment in 2016, but then again, this is IDW.

Everything is on track, according to IDW standards. :-$

News Credits: 288 · by **D-Maximal_Primal** » Thu Feb 23, 2017 3:29 pm

This looks pretty cool. Wonder what Bee will be saying to Starscream since they are so close to his resting place

News Credits: 5 · by **Flashwave** » Thu Feb 23, 2017 3:35 pm

Va'al wrote:
Bounti76 wrote:Just a curiosity question..... why is this an "Annual", when the last one appeared 5 years ago? Shouldn't they be appearing, you know, ANNUALLY?

The last one was in 2015, but yes, annuals are in theory meant to be published every year.
Transformers didn't get that treatment in 2016, but then again, this is IDW.

Everything is on track, according to IDW standards.

In this case, I tyhink Annually refers to the publication length. This is a big one off for the year, not a continual bi weekly or monthly publication.

Which still doesn't exactly make sense given how closely they play these to their ongoings.

News Credits: 33 · by **WreckerJack** » Thu Feb 23, 2017 3:47 pm

I'll have to pick this up it looks interesting and I need more Pyra Magna in my life. I assume if its an annual there are things that come before it.

News Credits: 209 · by **Va'al** » Fri Feb 24, 2017 2:53 am

WreckerJack wrote:I'll have to pick this up it looks interesting and I need more Pyra Magna in my life. I assume if its an annual there are things that come before it.

Everything else! Annuals tend to not necessarily have a big impact on the ongoing story (though this one looks like it might) but feed directly off them.

News Credits: 1 · by **Randomhero** » Fri Feb 24, 2017 10:54 am

Va'al wrote:
Bounti76 wrote:Just a curiosity question..... why is this an "Annual", when the last one appeared 5 years ago? Shouldn't they be appearing, you know, ANNUALLY?

The last one was in 2015, but yes, annuals are in theory meant to be published every year.
Transformers didn't get that treatment in 2016, but then again, this is IDW.

Everything is on track, according to IDW standards.

Yeah annuals were intended to be yearly but it just didn't happen. Back in the day IDW said single issue specials or miniseries just don't sell well. Take that for what you will. That was Andy Schmidt's excuse. When asked back in 2013 if they'd return they said the opening and ending to dark Cybertron were intended to be treated like annuals in a way.

News Credits: 2 · by **MrBlack** » Fri Feb 24, 2017 2:06 pm

Va'al wrote:
WreckerJack wrote:I'll have to pick this up it looks interesting and I need more Pyra Magna in my life. I assume if its an annual there are things that come before it.

Everything else! Annuals tend to not necessarily have a big impact on the ongoing story (though this one looks like it might) but feed directly off them.

To be fair, the two Annuals in 2012 did have a pretty solid impact on their respective ongoings. They were both essentially extra long issues of MTMTE and RID.

News Credits: 209 · by **Va'al** » Fri Feb 24, 2017 2:12 pm

MrBlack wrote:
Va'al wrote:
WreckerJack wrote:I'll have to pick this up it looks interesting and I need more Pyra Magna in my life. I assume if its an annual there are things that come before it.

Everything else! Annuals tend to not necessarily have a big impact on the ongoing story (though this one looks like it might) but feed directly off them.

To be fair, the two Annuals in 2012 did have a pretty solid impact on their respective ongoings. They were both essentially extra long issues of MTMTE and RID.

That they did, yes. I was thinking of annuals more in general comics world, but yes, you make a fair point!

News Credits: 73 · by **Kurona** » Sat Feb 25, 2017 6:50 am

How did I not see this before?

Super excited - this seems to be setting up character development for Magna and some resolution (or at least SOME new information) on what's up with Bumblebee. Both of which I've really been wanting...

News Credits: 35 · by **Sunstar** » Sun Feb 26, 2017 2:14 am

I lost it.

What bumblebee said to Starscream made me roar with laughter. I NEED this.

News Credits: 209 · by **Va'al** » Tue Mar 07, 2017 3:00 am

And finally, the new Transformers book out this week with IDW Publishing is the Annual for 2017, Ghost Stories, by John Barber and Priscilla Tramontano, and three colourists: Thomas Deer, Josh Perez and JP Bove! Check out the opening pages below, and head back for a review on Seibertron.com this new comic book day.

Transformers Annual 2017—SPOTLIGHT
John Barber (w) • Priscilla Tramontano (a & c)
GHOST STORIES! Optimus Prime returns to Cybertron—only to be confronted by his rival for the Matrix, Pyra Magna! As Pyra's origin—before she was part of Victorion—is finally revealed, Optimus relives his own past—the first time he met Bumblebee!
FC • 48 pages • $7.99

Transformers Annual 2017—Subscription Variant
John Barber (w) • Priscilla Tramontano (a) • Andrew Griffith (c)
FC • 48 pages • $7.99

Bullet points:
Major repercussions for OPTIMUS PRIME—and the whole Hasbro universe!

by **lowman_x** » Tue Mar 07, 2017 3:51 am

I wonder if Bumblebee's spark brother is Starscream? Might explain a few things.

News Credits: 33 · by **WreckerJack** » Tue Mar 07, 2017 5:19 am

I need Bee's smiling face in my life. And of course more Pyra Magna!

News Credits: 17 · by **Ironhidensh** » Tue Mar 07, 2017 5:21 am

No, Starscream was constructed cold.

News Credits: 7 · by **Big Grim** » Tue Mar 07, 2017 5:40 am

Yay! Scrounge!

News Credits: 1 · by **Randomhero** » Tue Mar 07, 2017 8:17 am

lowman_x wrote:I wonder if Bumblebee's spark brother is Starscream? Might explain a few things.

Bumblebee was forged. Starscream was constructed cold. They wouldn't be related. Ghost bumblebee is just a manifestation of starscreams guilt or conscience

News Credits: 209 · by **Va'al** » Tue Mar 07, 2017 8:57 am

Randomhero wrote:
lowman_x wrote:I wonder if Bumblebee's spark brother is Starscream? Might explain a few things.

Bumblebee was forged. Starscream was constructed cold. They wouldn't be related. Ghost bumblebee is just a manifestation of starscreams guilt or conscience

-nods-

The line is just to mask BB's embarrassment at asking a celebrity (Blurr) for an autograph after having dismissed the whole thing in the previous panel.