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Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription

PostPosted: Sun Sep 11, 2016 4:32 am
by Va'al
If you're a UK or Ireland based Transformers fan, and nice looking, shelf-weighing comics collections are your thing, Hachette Partworks's latest offering may be your new jam: the company has set up an officially licensed hardcover complete collection of Generation 1 stories, in reading order, which covers the entirety of Marvel US and UK, plus the Dreamwave era and the current IDW universe.

The set of planned fortnightly 60 issues, which works as a subscription service - and the fun part here is that you receive the books out of order for sake of variety, but the spine art lines up chronologically - includes a number of new exclusive bonus content to include Character profiles, Creator profiles and introductions from the likes of Simon Furman, Andrew Wildman, James Roberts, Bob Budiansky, IDW's Chris Ryall, Don Figueroa sketchbooks, fully remastered, recoloured artwork from the original books, and - if that is not enough - 5 Free subscription Gifts and 1 free issue if subscription is started with issues 1, 2, 3, or 4. Check out below for a sample of what you will be getting, here for their FAQ section and remember, currently only available in UK and ROI, for £1.99 the first book, £6.99 the second, and £9.99 from there onwards!

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Re: Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription

PostPosted: Sun Sep 11, 2016 4:40 am
by DR0hNO
Oh boy cant wait to see this!

Re: Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription

PostPosted: Sun Sep 11, 2016 4:48 am
by Kurona
I'm... not quite sure about this. I do want to read all the Marvel US and UK stories as well as the early IDW stuff, but this seems an extremely roundabout and gimmicky way to do it for anyone that actually wants to read it in order rather than just receive highlights.
And oh shoot it includes Dreamwave. ghhhhh...

Re: Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription

PostPosted: Sun Sep 11, 2016 5:00 am
by kriksix
hm yes I have just subscribed to this from an ad off fb, and it didn't have the above details (checked in to let Seibertron know but you already got it) - didn't realise this wasn't in chronological order, which isn't quite as cool.. might cancel after a few issues then..

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Re: Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription

PostPosted: Sun Sep 11, 2016 5:34 am
by Evil Eye
Hmm, this could be tricky. I really want to get hold of the complete Marvel G1 (and G2) series, including the issues exclusive to the US/UK, but this release schedule sounds...complicated. I'd much rather they left out the Dreamwave and IDW stuff and released the entire series in far fewer, much bigger, albeit more expensive volumes.

Re: Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription

PostPosted: Sun Sep 11, 2016 5:34 am
by Kurona
Looking over it again it seems at least worth it for the first few issues; even if I cancel after. Worst case scenario I get Target: 2006, the spotlights, Stormbringer, Primal Scream, a wallet some keyrings and a mug. Plus talking to my friend apparently this is pretty cheap as far as graphic novel prices go.

... I'd still be getting Dreamwave though. Uuuuuuuuuuugh.

Re: Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription

PostPosted: Sun Sep 11, 2016 9:01 am
by Carnivius_Prime
Even after all these years that Magnus Vs Galvatron battle art from Target: 2006 still looks fantastic and full of energy. Primus bless you, Geoff Senior. :)

Re: Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription

PostPosted: Sun Sep 11, 2016 10:30 am
by Windsweeper
Dammit I may have to pick this up if only for the recoloured Marvel stories.

And yay Dreamwave who brought back Transformers comics to us before IDW started churning crap out like Angry Birds, Gi Joe crossover and Barber's garbage.

Re: Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription

PostPosted: Sun Sep 11, 2016 10:52 am
by Kurona
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Well it's certainly going to take it's time getting here.

In any case, kinda excited :D

Re: Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription

PostPosted: Sun Sep 11, 2016 11:08 am
by dragons
Kurona wrote:Image

Well it's certainly going to take it's time getting here.

In any case, kinda excited :D


Hate to break it to you I was on site they say they can't send issues outside uk which fans who live us are screwed

I would have defiantly considerd making subscription purchase if they shipped to us and have paypal account

Re: Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription

PostPosted: Sun Sep 11, 2016 12:03 pm
by Kurona
dragons wrote:
Kurona wrote:Image

Well it's certainly going to take it's time getting here.

In any case, kinda excited :D


Hate to break it to you I was on site they say they can't send issues outside uk which fans who live us are screwed

I would have defiantly considerd making subscription purchase if they shipped to us and have paypal account

Well, I mean, I live in Scotland so it's not exactly a problem for me.

But yeah, it's kind of... kind of sad that there's not a US counterpart when this looks like a lot of fun.
Admittedly I might have to cancel it eventually and re-open my subscriptions based on changing addresses. Uni does that to you...

Re: Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription

PostPosted: Sun Sep 11, 2016 1:03 pm
by Ultra Markus
it says definitive, i dont see all the marvel issues from the begining :-?

Re: Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription

PostPosted: Sun Sep 11, 2016 1:08 pm
by Kurona
Ultra Markus wrote:it says definitive, i dont see all the marvel issues from the begining :-?

Dr Va'al wrote:the company has set up an officially licensed hardcover complete collection of Generation 1 stories, in reading order, which covers the entirety of Marvel US and UK, plus the Dreamwave era and the current IDW universe.

Re: Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription

PostPosted: Sun Sep 11, 2016 3:20 pm
by Ultra Markus
Kurona wrote:
Ultra Markus wrote:it says definitive, i dont see all the marvel issues from the begining :-?

Dr Va'al wrote:the company has set up an officially licensed hardcover complete collection of Generation 1 stories, in reading order, which covers the entirety of Marvel US and UK, plus the Dreamwave era and the current IDW universe.

all in one book?

Re: Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription

PostPosted: Sun Sep 11, 2016 3:31 pm
by Va'al
Ultra Markus wrote:
Kurona wrote:
Ultra Markus wrote:it says definitive, i dont see all the marvel issues from the begining :-?

Dr Va'al wrote:the company has set up an officially licensed hardcover complete collection of Generation 1 stories, in reading order, which covers the entirety of Marvel US and UK, plus the Dreamwave era and the current IDW universe.

all in one book?


The set of planned fortnightly 60 issues, which works as a subscription service - and the fun part here is that you receive the books out of order for sake of variety, but the spine art lines up chronologically - includes a number of new exclusive bonus content

Re: Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription

PostPosted: Sun Sep 11, 2016 3:31 pm
by Kurona
Ultra Markus wrote:
Kurona wrote:
Ultra Markus wrote:it says definitive, i dont see all the marvel issues from the begining :-?

Dr Va'al wrote:the company has set up an officially licensed hardcover complete collection of Generation 1 stories, in reading order, which covers the entirety of Marvel US and UK, plus the Dreamwave era and the current IDW universe.

all in one book?

Um, no. I'm not even sure if that would be physically feasible.

It's all of Marvel US/UK, Dreamwave and IDW split across 60 fortnightly issues.

Re: Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription

PostPosted: Sun Sep 11, 2016 3:32 pm
by Va'al
Windsweeper wrote:Dammit I may have to pick this up if only for the recoloured Marvel stories.

And yay Dreamwave who brought back Transformers comics to us before IDW started churning crap out like Angry Birds, Gi Joe crossover and Barber's garbage.


Enough of this, thank you.

Re: Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription

PostPosted: Mon Sep 12, 2016 12:38 am
by UltraMarginal
It's an interesting subscription. I have no doubt that it will eventually be available in the US an other countries.

Here in Australia, I expect the issue price to be about AU$20.
looking at their display of the spine artwork I counted 74 spines which means their initial plan of 60 issues is BS.

Given I have most of the IDW Generations collections, I hardly see the point for the little extra included. the total cost for us here is looking like being $1480, which is a lot of transformers worth of money.

It is very nicely presented however.

Re: Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription

PostPosted: Mon Sep 12, 2016 12:23 pm
by kriksix
thanks for the info! great to know.. so the Uk comics are chronological but all just received in a varied order. I can live with that!

Re: Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription

PostPosted: Tue Sep 13, 2016 1:35 am
by Va'al
kriksix wrote:thanks for the info! great to know.. so the Uk comics are chronological but all just received in a varied order. I can live with that!


Yes, the spine art follows the chronological reading order, but the books will be received mixed up to vary it uo a little. Not sure what I think of the strategy, but there ya go. :D

Review - Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription by Hachette

PostPosted: Sun Oct 02, 2016 6:50 am
by MemphisR56
I received my first delivery yesterday morning, so I've decided to pen a little review for you lucky people.

I'll start off by saying that I've bought the full subscription, with the intention of continuing to see this through right to the very end. I currently have a DeAgostini 'Build the Millennium Falcon' subscription that'll be finishing up in December, and this is half the price of that, so it'll fill that gap quite nicely. This means I'm entitled to get the 5 free subscription gifts and Issue #3 free. I started my subscription with Issue #1 so I'll be receiving the first of the free subscription gifts with my second delivery.

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The contents of my box is follows:
1 copy of volume 6 - Target 2006 (Marvel UK)
1 copy of volume 36 - Stormbringer (IDW)
1 leaflet

I was surprised immediately as I was expecting to get both a book and a magazine for each issue. The book being purely the comics and an accompanying magazine for each with all the features mentioned in the ad. In actual fact these features are all contained within the volumes themselves. I'm a little bit mixed in my feelings on this having them interspersed with the story is a little invasive, but not so invasive that they're placed in the middle of the stories. It also helps that the features are usually tied directly to the main stories as well, so rather than digging out the magazine and then matching volume it's all in the one place. I do feel that the books would benefit from a contents page, however, as it's difficult to find where specific issues and features are within the books, but seeing as this would've required printing numbers on the pages I can see why they avoided this.

The leaflet details much the same as what was on the website but with a nice little added bonus which I was not expecting: it folds out into a massive poster of some beautiful painted '84 G1 promo art. The artwork in question is a really interesting and curious piece as it features Bluestreak and the Constructicons in their Diaclone colours along with a neat little cameo by a police decco Lamborghini which I assume must be Clamp Down? He's missing the super-charger engine to be Police-Streaker. At any rate, this picture is a relic in itself of a time very early in the brand's history; before the character models and toy colours were finalised. I'm going to have a real hard time finding a frame big enough for this bad-boy but it is definitely going up on the wall.

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Onto the books themselves. I'm immediately impressed by the size of them. They're large, thick hardback volumes much bigger than the glossy, floppy collected edition volumes I'm currently used to collecting. The paper inside is of a nice thick matte finish stock which has sort of a waxed paper feel to it. The construction of them is definitely of a level of quality that exceeds expectations. This, for me, instantly justifies the price of admission as it works out at about £10 each, free delivery, for each of these fortnightly... So £20 a month if you're paying by direct-debit.

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The cover art is a little plain, but it's uniform across the volumes, featuring one character prominently with a faded out image below the title featuring art from the pages of the comics within that particular volume. It definitely helps to tie the volumes together as one coherent set. The wide spines also help deliver the large mural-style artwork shown a bit more coherently as well.

It's important to mention a particular detail of the spines at this point: the numbering system. You won't get Volume 1 first, the books are arranged in order of original printing. That means getting 'Target 2006' and 'Stormbringer' for the sake of story and era diversity across the collection; which gives us Volume 6 & 36 respectively. It also means if you're in it for the long run you won't see the spine art slowly printed sideways across your shelves, rather, it'll appear in slivers and slowly fill out over the course of 120 weeks.

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Moving on to the content: The quality of printing in the books is flawless. I'd wondered if they'd attempt to create a stepped colour print, giving that sort of misaligned layers feel that the colours of the original comics might have had in hand, but no such nostalgia bombs here; everything is clean and crisp. Incredibly we not only get the full story advertised on the cover but we also get bonus issues in the mix. 'Target 2006' contains the original Marvel UK #78-88 run of that story-line as well as including Marvel US #21-23. We even get a few of the non-story pages from the original comics, for example 2 full page biographies on Ultra Magnus and Galvatron. 'Stormbringer' collects that miniseries, along with the Spotlight issues for Soundwave, Shockwave, Hot Rod and Nightbeat. This starts to explain a little bit of the thickness.

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I must mention that also included are newly coloured stories which have only ever been printed in black & white before, only, I'm not quite up to scratch with my education in the Marvel comics, so I couldn't tell you which ones these are. I would have thought they'd stick out like a sore thumb but either there are none in these 2 volumes or every effort has been taken by the colourist to make sure that the new inks match the style and tones of the original colourists.

As for original features Vol. 6 Gives us an introduction with a little information about the goings on behind the scenes at Marvel UK at time of original print and a cover gallery of all the issues contained within. Then we get a few pages of editorial on Transformers the Movie which actually includes a review written by Grimlock from when he was still running Grim Grams back in the day. We also get a few brief character profiles of the full original wreckers line-up and finish up with another 3 pages on the history of Marvel UK and a short spotlight on Marvel UK artist Geoff Senior.

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Vol. 36 has an introduction written by Simon Furman, an editorial on the creation of the IDW universe, then a whole lot of pages from inside the sketchbook of Don Figueroa showcasing character models and alt modes he designed for the early IDW run.

There's a lot here. A whole bunch. In terms of what you're getting for your money these volumes are above and beyond value and I heartily endorse it to anyone who's on the shelf to at least give the first issue a shot at the trial price.

Final Score:
:WRECKERS: :WRECKERS: :WRECKERS: :WRECKERS: :WRECKERS: / :WRECKERS: :WRECKERS: :WRECKERS: :WRECKERS: :WRECKERS:

Re: Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription

PostPosted: Sun Oct 02, 2016 10:59 am
by Wheeljack808
I cannot begin to describe how irritated I am that thus is UK exclusive.

Re: Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription

PostPosted: Sun Oct 02, 2016 3:24 pm
by Easy Tiger
They've made the same mistake on the bios that they've made on the website!

Jazz's bio has a picture of Prowl. Hopefully this isn't indicative of the quality control throughout.

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Re: Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription

PostPosted: Sun Oct 02, 2016 3:32 pm
by Kurona
Mine hasn't arrived yet. Maybe they do Scotland later than England?

Re: Transformers: The Definitive G1 Comics Collection Subscription

PostPosted: Mon Oct 03, 2016 12:43 am
by Prime Nova
It is available in a few different areas - with oversea details on the inner page. But not covering US. But you don't get the cardboard backing.