The Energon Pub

hiya, well i wanted to start reading hte graphic novels from DW. right now i just own the 1st G1 novel, and so wondering in order how should i get the next graphic novels. Also are they really good? which novels are interesting reads? any other transformer series i should acquire, i mostly just like the G1 line, instead of aramada and such. hope osmeone can help, thanks

Not all of the DW stuff is in print at the moment, but you should be able to find what isn't on ebay. Check out The War Within Vols 1 & 2, written by Simon Furman and set on Cybertron before Prime & Megs left for Earth, good stuff. Micromasters is set after the Ark and Nemesis departed but before the present day, bit of an aquired taste, not one of my favourites. I believe only Vols 1 & 2 of the DW main continuity ever saw print as TPBs before the company collapsed, Vol 3 was due at the time but you're not missing a lot with that as all 6 issues was basically just a long drawn out chase with new character Sunstorm giving everyone the run around and the story of the ongoing was never finished.

I'd suggest giving the IDW stuff a look instead. All their recent TPBs should be in print and easy to find, but if you hold out until a little later in the year there's a big hardback volume due out around September that collects Infiltration, Stormbringer, Escalation and the first five or so Spotlight titles. These are all by Furman and well worth a look, although it is a totally seperate continuity to the DW books or any other iteration of G1 that's come before.

waaaaghlord wrote:Not all of the DW stuff is in print at the moment, but you should be able to find what isn't on ebay. Check out The War Within Vols 1 & 2, written by Simon Furman and set on Cybertron before Prime & Megs left for Earth, good stuff. Micromasters is set after the Ark and Nemesis departed but before the present day, bit of an aquired taste, not one of my favourites. I believe only Vols 1 & 2 of the DW main continuity ever saw print as TPBs before the company collapsed, Vol 3 was due at the time but you're not missing a lot with that as all 6 issues was basically just a long drawn out chase with new character Sunstorm giving everyone the run around and the story of the ongoing was never finished.

I'd suggest giving the IDW stuff a look instead. All their recent TPBs should be in print and easy to find, but if you hold out until a little later in the year there's a big hardback volume due out around September that collects Infiltration, Stormbringer, Escalation and the first five or so Spotlight titles. These are all by Furman and well worth a look, although it is a totally seperate continuity to the DW books or any other iteration of G1 that's come before.

I agree with waaaaghlord. Since the DW stuff is incomplete and I would not invest my time in it. Also I personally prefer IDW's stuff all the TPD's are easy to come by. In fact I just got Infiltration. You may even be able to get them at Barns and Noble.

Start off at the beginning.

Get the Infiltration trade, and then work your way from there. Escalation, which continues on from Infiltration is also available as a trade.

If you really like those 2, then I suggest going and buying the Spotlight Trade, mainly for the ease of finding it compared to the individual issues. The Stormbringer miniseries trade is also worth a purchase, as both books tie into the main storyline of Infiltration/Escalation. There are also a couple more Spotlights out in single volumes.

If that doesn't wet your appetite enough to wait for Devastation (the continuation of Infiltration/Escalation), then try the Beast Wars Trade: "The Ascending", and maybe pick up some of the DW reprints: The War Within Volumes 1 & 2.

I would also suggest getting the Megatron Origins series, but the so far only the first issue has been released.

Pick up the IDW stuff (just to note to anyone, Stormbringer is actually considred vol. 02 in the series, its on the spine)
if you really want it, pick up vol. 1 and 2 of DW just to know waht everyone else is talking about, and Shockwave's cool in it. But, the War Within is well worth picking up, but there's no vol. 3 in TPB
I personally buy all transcomics in TPB. At times it takes a while, but I have good patience.

Definitely pick up War Within 1 and 2. While it's in the Dreamwave continuity and sadly those stories will never be completed, they are awesome and almost a must read. Humorously, my non-TF fan friends actually think they're some of the best stories they've read lately in comics. And, though I've no clue if there's been anything said about it officially, a fan could link War Within with the current IDW stuff fairly safely in their own head. One would only need to look at the similarity between Megatron and Optimus' forms in Stormbringer and War Within.

I'm a huge fan of the Spotlight graphic novel. I really, really hope they put out another one with the rest of the Spotlights. The Sixshot and Shockwave Spotlights were tremendously cool, IMO. I'd love to get the Kup one in a graphic novel form.

I'd see no reason why they wouldn't print a Spotlight vol. 02 when there's six more avalible...

Cyber-Kun wrote:I'd see no reason why they wouldn't print a Spotlight vol. 02 when there's six more avalible...

That's what I'm waiting for. Hopefully it is released soon so I can see the other Spotlights.

Thenedain wrote:And, though I've no clue if there's been anything said about it officially, a fan could link War Within with the current IDW stuff fairly safely in their own head. One would only need to look at the similarity between Megatron and Optimus' forms in Stormbringer and War Within.

Not really doable unfortunately. Vol 1 of War Within has Optimus receiving the Matrix after Sentinel's passing and Optimus doesn't have it in the IDW continuity. Depending on how the Sentinel aspects of the Megatron Origin series play out in the last couple of issues this could end up putting WW even further out of whack with the IDWverse. Much as I would have loved to see WW adopted by IDW and continued as part of that continuity there's just no way that you can retcon around Vol 1, Prime becoming Matrix bearer and coming to terms with his leadership role as a result was one of the main thrusts to the story.

Yeah, definitely get the Spotlight collection (it has Hot Rod, Ultra Magnus, Nightbeat, Shockwave, and Sixshot). It's all pretty good. And if you get that, get the Soundwave and Galvatron Spotlights as well. It's all tied together in one way or another. I just got the Kup Spotlight yesterday and it's good, too.

I definitely liked the War Within stories. Even if it's not complete, it's worth it.

And MOST definitely, the Infiltration, Stormbringer, and Escalation (Stormbringer isn't exactly super vital, but still a good read!).

Get the Megatron Origins. Hell, just get everything.

Cyber-Kun wrote:I'd see no reason why they wouldn't print a Spotlight vol. 02 when there's six more avalible...

Which six? I only have three others.

While at Barnes and Nobles earlier, I had them check their system for a release date on a "Spotlight 2". They've got it in their system, with a tentative November release. Megatron Origins' compilation is scheduled for December, also.

Oh yeah, and the Kup Spotlight is pure awesome. It's probably my favorite Spotlight so far.

Moonbase2 wrote:

Cyber-Kun wrote:I'd see no reason why they wouldn't print a Spotlight vol. 02 when there's six more avalible...

Which six? I only have three others.

I meant when they're released...

Thenedain wrote:While at Barnes and Nobles earlier, I had them check their system for a release date on a "Spotlight 2". They've got it in their system, with a tentative November release. Megatron Origins' compilation is scheduled for December, also.

Oh yeah, and the Kup Spotlight is pure awesome. It's probably my favorite Spotlight so far.

I agree, the Kup Spotlight is absolutely wonderful. I skipped over it the first time I saw it, but went ahead and bought it yesterday. I'm glad I did. I'm looking forward to the Optimus Prime Spotlight as well.

Cyber-Kun wrote:

Moonbase2 wrote:

Cyber-Kun wrote:I'd see no reason why they wouldn't print a Spotlight vol. 02 when there's six more avalible...

Which six? I only have three others.

I meant when they're released...

Brain fart.