Some time ago I completed 'Phase One' of the HC Collection. It started off so well with Simon Furman's -Ations, Spotlights, Megatron: Origin etc and then the quality began to drop. First with McCarthy and later the all time low of Costa (Although Space Opera was a welcome highlight there).
Now as I read exclusively through trades, I accept I am often months to years behind. I'm patient, it doesn't bother me. That said the general chatter I heard around the (then) RiD and MTMTE did concern me.
I've never been a fan of retcons and given how thorough Furman had been in laying down the foundations of the IDWverse, what I was hearing especially with characterisation, had me concerned. Long dead now, but I really liked the idea of Ultra Magnus as "Judge Dredd in Space".
So I bit the bullet and bought Phase Two vol.1, to continue the collection. Although the renumbering does mess with the prior aesthetic of the other books.. But I digress. So after reading that volume, my concerns were justified. So far removed from expectation it wasn't even funny. I actually sold the book on and cut my loses with 'Phase One' vol.8 and left IDWverse behind.
Better to read Origin, the original Spotlights etc than forcing regressive humanising traits on previously established characters and lore.
And that's why for many years, I once more quit Transformers. The second time since Beast Machines ended.
Rodimus Knight wrote:Phase 2 vol 2 on Amazon, and now that I looked again, they want $100 Plus.
A little late but try Book Depository. They are who I bought the IDW Collection from and more often than not the prices are more reasonable than Amazon.