The Energon Pub

I've just learned that the best English-language guide to Transformers Generation-One toys is going to once again become available. Cybertronian: The Unofficial Transformers Recognition Guide (volumes 1 - 3) are being reformatted as Cybertronian: Unofficial Transformers Guide Pocket Manga #1. This is excellent news! These books are impossible to find and fetch stupidly insane prices on the secondary market. They cover, in exhaustive detail, every Transformer released in the US from 1984 - 1987. All modes and reasonable permutations are present, along with every accessory.

You can see Metroplex 'powered-up' with scramble-city type robots on his arms and legs, or Trypticon connected to Motormaster and Onslaught. Abominus' unusual posability is demonstrated, and you can see every bit of Fort Max clear as day. It's really a terrific volume if you're at all a fan of the classic toys.

The book also goes into detail about merchandise available at the time and provide brief summaries of some of the television shows and comic issues.

Perhaps the ONLY flaw with this book is that to cover the whole G1 toyline, you need to get five volumes. This repackaging mitigates even that problem. I imagine that the 2nd manga compilation will cover V4-5 plus G2, putting all of these guide pages into just two book. At a price of $15, it's far far far too good to pass up. I pretty much can't recommend this book enough. Buy the Cybertronian now!

June 29th Update:

Doug Dlin, one of the authors, informs me that it's actually closer to the Field Guide, which covers the first three years of toys, with some new material added. So, unlike the Recognition Guide, no merchandise and a little lighter on the text. Still, in my mind, it's the photos that provide the real value and those are present. The book should be out in late July, and there should be some at the SDCC. Doug has also graciously allowed me to show the new cover by Kelsey Shannon. Obviously Transformers and all related characters are owned by Hasbro, but this specific cover image is copyright Antarctic Press, used with permission.