The Energon Pub

Hi guys.

Long-time G1 fan here.

While I'm not a newb to Transformers, I'm a bit newbish at some of the latest stuff. Lately I've been working on my cartoons and comics collection, but am just a little disoriented and was hoping you guys could help me. I've tried looking around online and have not found great answers. Here are my questions:

1) I have the IDW collections Volumes 1-7 (need to pick up #8). I am a little confused about Phase 2. Is this an entirely new continuity, or a continuation of the one in volumes 1-8?

2) Am I missing anything from the IDW series in buying the collected volumes?

3) What is the deal with the IDW Omnibus? Is it somehow different than the other collections? Looks like it's just a huge paperback reprint. Which is fine. Just want to make sure I'm correct.

4) Switching to cartoons, I understand the Shout! versions are a lot better than the Rhino versions (which I own... darn). So I should pick those up. I was wondering what is special about the Matrix of Leadership edition compared to the other comprehensive Shout! release. It costs almost 3 times as much, but I can't see what if anything makes it worth it.

5) Also, while we're on the subject, does anybody know which version of the cartoon is on Netflix? Probably won't influence my decision on DVD buying, but it might help me decide on priorities. :3

Thanks, everyone. Till all are one!

With the IDW stuff, only a few bits aren't parts of their G1 stuff, like their movie comics, hearts of steel, x files/tfs crossover, avengers/tfs crossover and Mars attacks transformers. Interestingly the infestation crossover is part of their gen 1 stuff.

To be honest though All Hail Megatron! Is really rubbish and created all sorts of problems that writers at the moment are trying to fix.

its not great but all hail megatron isn't that bad -also the spotlights are good you should pick them up as well as megatron origin and the drift comics

The spotlights are essential for the storylines...well for the most part. All hail is by far the weakest of the IDW gen 1.

ZeroWolf wrote:The spotlights are essential for the storylines...well for the most part. All hail is by far the weakest of the IDW gen 1.

Hnng.

Debatable - but yes, probably, to most. Heart of Darkness is terrifying art-wise, but the story sort of works.

Though, to be honest, the Costa run felt worse than AHM to me. It was painful to read, and sometimes look at due to the attempt to reconcile Bayverse designs with IDW G1.

Threeleggedyoyo wrote:1) I have the IDW collections Volumes 1-7 (need to pick up #8). I am a little confused about Phase 2. Is this an entirely new continuity, or a continuation of the one in volumes 1-8?

Phase 2 is picking up where Volume 8 left off and continuing on with the next batch of issues. Volumes 1-8 were all the pre-2012 stuff, while Phase 2 begins with the 2012 stuff onward. Same continuity, though.

Threeleggedyoyo wrote:2) Am I missing anything from the IDW series in buying the collected volumes?

The 2012 Hardcover collection of "Last Stand of the Wreckers" contains several bonus stories not included in the collected volumes.

Threeleggedyoyo wrote:3) What is the deal with the IDW Omnibus? Is it somehow different than the other collections? Looks like it's just a huge paperback reprint. Which is fine. Just want to make sure I'm correct.

Yeah, that's just another reprinting of some of the same stuff that was already printed in the collection volumes.

Threeleggedyoyo wrote:4) Switching to cartoons, I understand the Shout! versions are a lot better than the Rhino versions (which I own... darn). So I should pick those up. I was wondering what is special about the Matrix of Leadership edition compared to the other comprehensive Shout! release. It costs almost 3 times as much, but I can't see what if anything makes it worth it.

The Matrix of Leadership set contains the whole series in one box and also contain two additional discs of DVD extras that are not available with any other set. Plus the packaging itself is gorgeous.

Threeleggedyoyo wrote:5) Also, while we're on the subject, does anybody know which version of the cartoon is on Netflix? Probably won't influence my decision on DVD buying, but it might help me decide on priorities. :3

More than likely the Shout! Factory version of the cartoon.