The Energon Pub

[Va'al]

The last time we saw anything about the UK Classics collections from IDW Publishing was two years ago - but that looks like it's about to change! A listing on online retailer Amazon.com shows that volume 6 is due in January 2017, bringing the reprinting project to a close with all 332 issues finally released again (between Classics and Classics UK, that is). Check out the little info we have below, and keep an eye out for updates as they happen!

by Simon Furman (Author), Dan Abnett (Author), Ian Rimmer (Author), Dan Reed (Artist), Dougie Braithwaite (Artist), Lee Sullivan (Artist), Jeff Anderson (Artist), Andrew Wildman (Artist), Robin Smith (Artist)

Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Idea & Design Works (January 24, 2017)
ISBN-10: 1631404946
ISBN-13: 978-1631404948
Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds

[ausbot]

FINALLY!

[jamarmiller]

it hardly finishes things though. there is like close to 300 more pages of black and white issues ( some were later colored ).

thats the volume I want . would kill for it to be colored though

[Seibertron]

That's funny ... I was just searching for this on Amazon a few days ago. I've been anxiously awaiting this volume. These Classics UK books are the best things out there and are what turned me into a fan of James Roberts after being able to connect with him through his writings throughout the immense amount of special features and interviews he wrote that are in these books.

The biggest thing I enjoyed from him in these books was his story/stories of being a kid walking down to the local newsstand to get his weekly copy of Transformers. His recounting of those memories and the excitement he felt really brought home to me that he is a true long-time Transformers fan (i.e. someone who has been committed to this brand throughout its and his lifetime). It made a connection with me because that's how I felt every month when I would find the latest copy of the Transformers comic when I was a kid. The Marvel comics were such a special monthly treat for almost 7 years of my life. There were no advanced solicitations at that time, no internet to have covers spoiled or synopsis spoiled. No leaked teases of upcoming storylines and no conventions where Transformers comics were being discussed ad nauseam. It was an innocent pilgrimage that I took part in monthly for almost 7 years (I guess almost 8.5 if you count the G2 years) and it's so neat to read about others who were participating in that enjoyment during that time.

Anyways, short story long ... these Classic UK books are some of my favorites. I have intentionally never read Time Wars because I haven't been able to hunt down all of the original issues yet, refuse to read the scanned copies that I have on my laptop (and that were once on Seibertron.com before reprints started happening), and have been anxiously awaiting this tradepaperback so that I can at long last read Time Wars for the first time ever.

I would also like to see them tackle the black and whites. I have the digest sized reprints of those books but would really like to see them collected altogether in one complete volume (colored or not). Those are some unique stories that are a lot of fun to read, especially since they don't really fit in the US or UK storylines (though there have been so many inconsistencies throughout the 30+ year history of Transformers comics that I just overlook the problems caused by the black and whites).

[Sabrblade]

About darn time!

[ScottyP]

With the sixth volume of IDW's Transformers Classics UK series drawing towards release at last, we now have a look at the cover artwork for the book. Andrew Wildman returns with a stellar new cover, which has been revealed on the Amazon listing for Volume 6. Check out the cover below featuring the Quintesson Judge, Metroplex, Optimus Prime, Galvatron, Arcee, and even Carnivac and Snarler.



The listing has also confirmed the contents of this collection, which is currently set for release on January 24, 2017:

IDW's celebration of the British Transformers comics continues! Volume 6 presents another set of epic stories that were exclusive to the UK, including "Space Pirates," "Dry Run" and "Time Wars." Want more? How about in-depth interviews with Transformers UK's creative team, unused artwork, original scripts, and reproductions of TFUK's feature pages, covers, and free gifts?

Collects issues #181 to #214 of Transformers UK!

Are you excited to be another step closer to completing your collection of original Transformers comic stories? Let your fellow fans know by replying to this post in the Energon Pub Forums, and as always, keep your optics honed in to Seibertron.com for all the latest Transformers news.

[Sabrblade]

Aw YEAH!

Been waiting for this one. Wish it was coming sooner than next year.

Two more volumes to go after this one.

[steve2275]

Aw YEAH!

Been waiting for this one. Wish it was coming sooner than next year.

Two more volumes to go after this one.

im with ya

[Bumblevivisector]

Yeah, the use of the word "complete" in this story has me worried. I assumed we'd eventually get the B&W stories with any that got reprints back in the day in full color, and in order, something those manga-sized trades didn't pull off. Has manga-to-anime logic led so many fans to ignorantly dismiss the TF:UK stories as "filler" that it's not economically viable to release them? Is some necessary material lost?

Regardless, I'd better preorder this ASAP to send the right message. Whether or not we get CW G2 Defensor suddenly seems like small potatoes compared to the prospect of not getting all of the continuity that gave us the Primus mythos reprinted!

[ScottyP]

I was using the earlier story in this thread as reference, so I thought this was it. Looks like I need to do some more research and then corrections!

[Quint]

Oh, Andy Wildman... I used to be such a fan. I can still remember when you took pride in your work for the Transformers, even if it was nearly 30 years ago. Nigh on tanking Re-Generation 1 with rushed / half-assed interior work has figuratively left a bitter taste though, it has to be said. This was made all the more frustrating by the fact some of your covers remained absolutely fantastic.

Perhaps this latest cover though is a fine example of how your work has fallen from the sublime to the ridiculous. Some lovely call backs to your previous TFUK front work combined with what looks like a dyspeptic lapdog on an S&M trip.

Aw YEAH!

Been waiting for this one. Wish it was coming sooner than next year.

Two more volumes to go after this one.

Would IDW colour the post Time Wars stories? It seems Titan Books never bothered when they reprinted them.

[Sabrblade]

Would IDW colour the post Time Wars stories? It seems Titan Books never bothered when they reprinted them.

IDW didn't color the B&W pages of "Raiders of the Last Ark" in Volume 1.

At most, I could see them using the colored versions of the few post-Time Wars stories that did eventually get colorized in certain reprints, but those that didn't I could see staying B&W.

Though, there is also that other thing happening in the UK that will be coloring the B&W Marvel UK comics.

[Marcdachamp]

I haven't bought any of the previous IDW trades, because I own a bunch of the Titan reprints. Can anyone tell me if these are published in a similar size and format, or if they're shrank down to the "traditional" US format?

[Sabrblade]

I haven't bought any of the previous IDW trades, because I own a bunch of the Titan reprints. Can anyone tell me if these are published in a similar size and format, or if they're shrank down to the "traditional" US format?

I don't know how big the Titan reprints were, but I do know that these IDW reprints don't simply contain the UK issues, but also contain a whole host of extra material within each volume. James Roberts went all out on these volumes by including extensively-written editorials chronicling the entire history of Marvel UK (the company itself) and its involvement in creating the UK Transformers comics, with tons of behind-the-scenes interviews with so many of the people who were involved in creating the comics (as in, not just Simon Furman). Each volume opens with a huge recounting of Marvel UK's history in each year that the issues within each volume were published, and then each issue is given its own lengthy editorial that describes the history and significance of said issue.

Plus, all of the UK comics and text stories that Titan omitted from their reprints are included in these volumes.

[Marcdachamp]

I haven't bought any of the previous IDW trades, because I own a bunch of the Titan reprints. Can anyone tell me if these are published in a similar size and format, or if they're shrank down to the "traditional" US format?

I don't know how big the Titan reprints were, but I do know that these IDW reprints don't simply contain the UK issues, but also contain a whole host of extra material within each volume. James Roberts went all out on these volumes by including extensively-written editorials chronicling the entire history of Marvel UK (the company itself) and its involvement in creating the UK Transformers comics, with tons of behind-the-scenes interviews with so many of the people who were involved in creating the comics (as in, not just Simon Furman). Each volume opens with a huge recounting of Marvel UK's history in each year that the issues within each volume were published, and then each issue is given its own lengthy editorial that describes the history and significance of said issue.

Plus, all of the UK comics and text stories that Titan omitted from their reprints are included in these volumes.

Thanks for the reply, but I actually meant in terms of height. The original UK comics were printed in a taller format, which Titan's reprints emulated. I was wondering if IDW's reprints shrank the comics to the same height as their other TF books/traditional US comics.

[ScottyP]

I haven't bought any of the previous IDW trades, because I own a bunch of the Titan reprints. Can anyone tell me if these are published in a similar size and format, or if they're shrank down to the "traditional" US format?

I don't know how big the Titan reprints were, but I do know that these IDW reprints don't simply contain the UK issues, but also contain a whole host of extra material within each volume. James Roberts went all out on these volumes by including extensively-written editorials chronicling the entire history of Marvel UK (the company itself) and its involvement in creating the UK Transformers comics, with tons of behind-the-scenes interviews with so many of the people who were involved in creating the comics (as in, not just Simon Furman). Each volume opens with a huge recounting of Marvel UK's history in each year that the issues within each volume were published, and then each issue is given its own lengthy editorial that describes the history and significance of said issue.

Plus, all of the UK comics and text stories that Titan omitted from their reprints are included in these volumes.

Thanks for the reply, but I actually meant in terms of height. The original UK comics were printed in a taller format, which Titan's reprints emulated. I was wondering if IDW's reprints shrank the comics to the same height as their other TF books/traditional US comics.

As I understand it these are smaller. Standard US page size for trades/collections with white margin around the comic content itself. One sec, I have a ruler.

:digs out ruler:

Book itself: 6 3/4" x 10 1/4" = ~17.1 x 26 cm
Comic page reprint borders: 6" x 8" = ~ 15.25 x 20.3 cm
Comic art size (leaves yet more margin space around comic page borders!): 5" x 7 1/4" = ~ 12.7 x 18.4 cm

[Va'al]

Actually out in March 2017.

http://www.previewsworld.com/Catalog/NOV160409

[Sabrblade]

Actually out in March 2017.

http://www.previewsworld.com/Catalog/NOV160409

[ScottyP]

Actually out in March 2017.

http://www.previewsworld.com/Catalog/NOV160409

Agreed.

At this rate Volume 7 will come out after the heat death of the universe.

[Sabrblade]

Actually out in March 2017.

http://www.previewsworld.com/Catalog/NOV160409

Agreed.

At this rate Volume 7 will come out after the heat death of the universe.

And then Volume 8 won't get released at all.

[o.supreme]

So, I've had this on my Amazon with list for over a year-and-a-half now. It stated the original publication date was June 2017 (pretty sure that never happened), but now it just shows as "unavailable"...has IDW ever made a statement on whether this series was just cancelled altogether or what?

[Sabrblade]

So, I've had this on my Amazon with list for over a year-and-a-half now. It stated the original publication date was June 2017 (pretty sure that never happened), but now it just shows as "unavailable"...has IDW ever made a statement on whether this series was just cancelled altogether or what?

*sigh* Pushed back again, this time to March 28.

https://www.tfaw.com/Graphic-Novels/Pro ... rld,%20Inc.

[ScottyP]

So, I've had this on my Amazon with list for over a year-and-a-half now. It stated the original publication date was June 2017 (pretty sure that never happened), but now it just shows as "unavailable"...has IDW ever made a statement on whether this series was just cancelled altogether or what?

*sigh* Pushed back again, this time to March 28.

https://www.tfaw.com/Graphic-Novels/Pro ... rld,%20Inc.

I'll believe it when it happens :/

[o.supreme]

ok, so the release date for this thing is now 11/28/18. It's been that way for a while, and we are less than 2 weeks away. Has the release date ever actually come/gone and then a postponement date has been released after the fact? I'm not even really a fan of the UK comics, I just like seeing things through to completion, but at this rate the Beastie Boys may release their next album before this comes out. I dont want to use the word "hope", but has anyone heard any rumblings that 11/28 may in fact actually be *the day* ?

http://www.idwpublishing.com/product/tr ... -uk-vol-6/
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/16314 ... 77YDQ1DJDG

*edit* well this was unexpected, I actually got a response from IDW within 15 minutes, unfortunately it's not good news:

This title has actually been cancelled and will not be released.

Sorry for the bad news,
IDW Store

So it appears the UK re-release will not be completed...bummer.

[Sabrblade]

Up until now I was thinking they were just waiting for the new colorized versions of the the black-and-white UK issues to be released by Hachette so they could use those with these releases.