IDW Presents Transformers #80.5 Regeneration One on Free Comic Book Day
Friday, December 2nd, 2011 11:54AM CST
Category: Comic Book NewsPosted by: LOST Cybertronian Views: 46,926
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IDW Publishing
Transformers #80.5
Simon Furman (w); Andrew Wildman (p), Stephen Baskerville (i); Wildman (c)
The wait is over--after a 20-year hiatus, IDW proudly returns to the original TRANSFORMERS comic book universe, picking up right where 1991's TRANSFORMERS #80 left off! Optimus Prime, Grimlock, Kup, Hot Rod and all your favorite Generation One TRANSFORMERS characters charge into the future as fan-favorite writer Simon Furman and legendary Transformers artist Andrew Wildman present TRANSFORMERS #80.5! Reflecting back on the dizzying highs and the terrifying lows of the original run of Transformers comics, Optimus Prime watches over a Cybertron that hasn't faced Megatron for decades. But that peace shudders to an end, as we dive headlong into July's TRANSFORMERS #81!
Because the Fans demanded it! Thousands of TRANSFORMERS fans signed petitions urging us to make this book--and IDW listened!
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Posted by Joetx on December 2nd, 2011 @ 12:17pm CST
Posted by God Magnus on December 2nd, 2011 @ 12:44pm CST
Joetx wrote:I've never participated in a Free Comic Day before. Do you have to purchase something or is there a stack a free comics that you can simply take from?
Each store can handle it however they want. Check with your local comic shop for details.
Posted by Supreme Convoy on December 2nd, 2011 @ 2:24pm CST
Posted by JRFitzpatrick7 on December 2nd, 2011 @ 2:35pm CST
God Magnus wrote:Joetx wrote:I've never participated in a Free Comic Day before. Do you have to purchase something or is there a stack a free comics that you can simply take from?
Each store can handle it however they want. Check with your local comic shop for details.
The way FCBD works is the shop owner pays for the books out of pocket and offers them to any person, young or old at no charge. FCBD was created to encourage non-comic book readers to approach the media.
That being said, there are quite a few titles that are involved with FCBD. By that I mean there are many titles that shop owners don't always bring in, it may surprise you to know that Transformers comics are not highly sought after in my region (compared to juggernauts from Marvel and DC), it's sometimes difficult to get retailer incentive covers because my Local Comic Shop has a hard time selling 10 books. Most comic shops have a subscription service with which customers can get titles pulled for them ahead of time, had I not been signed up for all transformers comics I would have missed the last FCBD transformers comic as they only brought in 3 issues, 1 for myself and 2 other customers. As FCBD approaches, it may be advantageous to call your local comic shop and ask them to bring one in and set it aside for you.
Posted by Tigertrack on December 2nd, 2011 @ 2:39pm CST
Posted by Michael Alex Kawa on December 2nd, 2011 @ 2:44pm CST
Posted by Joetx on December 2nd, 2011 @ 4:16pm CST
Posted by Maquese on December 2nd, 2011 @ 4:42pm CST
Posted by CaSSeTteBOTs45 on December 2nd, 2011 @ 6:08pm CST
Posted by triKlops on December 2nd, 2011 @ 8:30pm CST
this should be an awesome read
Posted by Rodimus Prime on December 3rd, 2011 @ 9:19am CST
Posted by cannonfodder4000 on December 3rd, 2011 @ 5:19pm CST
Posted by Chaoslock on December 3rd, 2011 @ 6:43pm CST
Rodimus Prime wrote:I am very excited for this. I just hope it won't be an IDW turd, but rather in the style of the comics it follows storywise. If they do it right and pick up the story right where 80 left off, it should be good. But if it's like most of the IDW titles these days, I will be disappointed. I loved the G1 Marvel comics, so I will give this a shot, but I am a bit apprehensive. The comic audience is not the same as it was 20 years ago. I just hope they (writer, editor) have those of us from back then in mind as well.
The story will take place 21 years after the events of #80.
Posted by Michael Alex Kawa on December 5th, 2011 @ 6:03am CST
Chaoslock wrote:Rodimus Prime wrote:I am very excited for this. I just hope it won't be an IDW turd, but rather in the style of the comics it follows storywise. If they do it right and pick up the story right where 80 left off, it should be good. But if it's like most of the IDW titles these days, I will be disappointed. I loved the G1 Marvel comics, so I will give this a shot, but I am a bit apprehensive. The comic audience is not the same as it was 20 years ago. I just hope they (writer, editor) have those of us from back then in mind as well.
The story will take place 21 years after the events of #80.
Yeah ,i heard the news already ,and not really happy about the 21 years later .Also it won't lead into G2 ,but rather use story elements from G2 .Will we ever know how Megatron got control of the ark ,or if Grimlock got over the effects of the Nucleon ,now it's all up in the air ,but at least the first issue is free
Posted by Chaoslock on December 5th, 2011 @ 4:24pm CST
michael alex kawa wrote:Chaoslock wrote:Rodimus Prime wrote:I am very excited for this. I just hope it won't be an IDW turd, but rather in the style of the comics it follows storywise. If they do it right and pick up the story right where 80 left off, it should be good. But if it's like most of the IDW titles these days, I will be disappointed. I loved the G1 Marvel comics, so I will give this a shot, but I am a bit apprehensive. The comic audience is not the same as it was 20 years ago. I just hope they (writer, editor) have those of us from back then in mind as well.
The story will take place 21 years after the events of #80.
Yeah ,i heard the news already ,and not really happy about the 21 years later .Also it won't lead into G2 ,but rather use story elements from G2 .Will we ever know how Megatron got control of the ark ,or if Grimlock got over the effects of the Nucleon ,now it's all up in the air ,but at least the first issue is free
I just hope they will retcon Fort Max's death from G2. He was one of the most epic characters in the Marvel run, and in the end, got 1 panel to die?
Also, I still feel the story of Ratchets and Megatrons mind-link wasn't properly solved.
Posted by LOST Cybertronian on December 6th, 2011 @ 6:40am CST
Simon Furman explains what we can expect from the plot of the book.
Simon Furman wrote:Announced yesterday at Bleeding Cool News, Newsarama and a host of other sites, Free Comic Day 2012 (May 5th) will feature the official launch of Transformers: Regeneration One, the epic continuation/conclusion of the original Transformers comic series, originally published by Marvel (which ended with issue #80 back in 1991). Transformers: Regeneration One #80.5, featuring all-new story (by me) and art by Andrew Wildman and Stephen Baskerville, will be available FREE on May 5th at all good comic book stores, with #81 following in July. So what can you expect from #80.5? Clearly, I don’t want to give away salient plot points at this stage, but I can say… the story picks up 21 years after #80. Cybertron has been at peace (mostly) for all that time, but — of course — there are loose ends. And as those loose ends involve some of the biggest and baddest villains in the (original) Transformers Universe, it’s pretty safe to say that the ‘peace’ will be shattered in a fairly monumental way. The issue will be pretty balanced between stuff to bring readers up to speed and stuff that propels the new storyline onwards, so whether or not you read the original run, you can still easily jump onboard here. What else? Well, when I was doing the prep for the continuation, I re-read all eighty issues, plus mini-series, and made pretty extensive notes about anything and everything that needed attention or some kind of reference or wrap up, so you can expect a really comprehensive and thorough conclusion to the series (though that’s a ways off yet, in issue #100!), as well as copious nods to what has come before (and not necessarily just in the US comic). What else? Only that Andrew and Stephen are seriously knocking the ball out of the park on the art side. They’re managed that rare trick of recapturing the spirit of the original run but also bringing in another 20 years’ worth of experience to the pages, making each panel worth savouring again and again. Just wait until you see the opening splash and final page of #81. Both are stunning jaw-droppers! Oh yeah, one last thing – categorically, #81-100 are not a lead in to G2. But neither are we exactly ignoring G2 either. Weird as that sounds, I think/hope it’ll kind of work. I’m drawing on everything I can here, and because we know we’re building to a conclusion, you can expect some total bombshells as the issues unfold. Hope that’s whetted your appetite. Keep checking in for more Regeneration tidbits here and on the official IDW website.
Andrew Wildman goes into details about the cover and the interior colourist on the book.
Andrew Wildman wrote:So now that you have all seen the amazing front cover for the new Transformers ReGeneration comic many have asked who did the awesome colouring.
We did have a number of colourists approach us who wanted to do the job. For me the first and foremost choice was always going to be Jason Cardy . I have known Jason for a number of years and he has been an amazing contributor to the Draw the World Together project. His colours are some of the best around and he has already built up a portfolio of Transformers colour work for the UK Transformers magazine. Due to other commitments Jason is not able to colour the interiors so the search went on for an interior colourist. We considered many but the one that stood out as a great colourist for the interiors was John-Paul Bove. JP (as we call him) was kind enough to do us a sample page and with a few notes and nips and tucks and guidance he captured the look we were after. A successful blending of the old and the new. Something that harked back to the old Marvel Transformers comic but that also incorporated some of the modern techniques of colouring. I can’t show you the results yet as it would be a bit of a spoiler but rest assured it is great and I will show you something as soon as IDW let me.
I have also set up a Transformers ReGeneration Facebook page. If you do the Facebook thing why not pop along and take a look.
Posted by Heavy B on December 6th, 2011 @ 7:59am CST
Posted by Sabrblade on December 6th, 2011 @ 11:00am CST
You should go for the newest 2011-onward reprints from IDW. They're higher quality remastered and include all the missing from the previous 2008-2010 reprints.Dr. Heavy B wrote:i've still been trying to read issues 1-80. Those reprint TPB's are a bitch to find
Or, you could torrent the original comics online.
Posted by Seibertron on December 6th, 2011 @ 1:25pm CST
Sabrblade wrote:You should go for the newest 2011-onward reprints from IDW. They're higher quality remastered and include all the missing from the previous 2008-2010 reprints.Dr. Heavy B wrote:i've still been trying to read issues 1-80. Those reprint TPB's are a bitch to find
Or, you could torrent the original comics online.
Per our rules, please do not discuss the illegal downloading of comics, cartoons, movies, and music that should be purchased through other means. Thanks.
Posted by LOST Cybertronian on December 6th, 2011 @ 9:11pm CST
Posted by Heavy B on December 6th, 2011 @ 9:18pm CST
Sabrblade wrote:You should go for the newest 2011-onward reprints from IDW. They're higher quality remastered and include all the missing from the previous 2008-2010 reprints.Dr. Heavy B wrote:i've still been trying to read issues 1-80. Those reprint TPB's are a bitch to find
FINALLY. Got the first one and the U.K. reprint at mycomicshop.com
Posted by Galvatron X on December 6th, 2011 @ 9:29pm CST
I dunno, it looks kinda "amateur-ish". Something about the poses and "anatomy" looks off.
Kup doesn't look very old, does he?
Posted by Darth Bombshell on December 6th, 2011 @ 9:32pm CST
Galvatron X wrote:I'm guessing a lot of complaining about that art is gonna start right......now!
I dunno, it looks kinda amateur-ish. Something about the poses look off.
Kup doesn't look very old, does he?
This is Andrew Wildman's style, and how the last several issues of the original comic were drawn. I expect that if any complaints about the artwork were to happen, it'd be from people who don't know either of those things.
Posted by Galvatron X on December 6th, 2011 @ 9:50pm CST
Darth Bombshell wrote:
This is Andrew Wildman's style, and how the last several issues of the original comic were drawn. I expect that if any complaints about the artwork were to happen, it'd be from people who don't know either of those things.
Uhhhh, okay...
No, I didn't know that about Wildman and his style. But, now that I do:
I dunno, it looks kinda "amateur-ish". Something about the poses and "anatomy" looks off.
Kup doesn't look very old, does he?
Posted by Poyguimogul on December 6th, 2011 @ 11:24pm CST
A-Dubz gonna' kill it. (I know it's different team all together but) the retro-stepper manga pages really got me excited, and seeing this page now, makes me want this book so bad. Which I had not felt on the majority of IDW TF books since Megatron : Origin #1.
Posted by Seibertron on December 7th, 2011 @ 1:29am CST
I still can't believe we're getting this book. I'm extremely excited about it.
Posted by funeralthirst7 on December 7th, 2011 @ 2:11am CST
Posted by Blackstreak on December 7th, 2011 @ 6:15am CST
Posted by partholon on December 7th, 2011 @ 9:57am CST
I was wondeing how the new art would look and i have to say im delighted with it .
a lovely blend of the new and the old style andy had, with beautiful colours to boot.
cant belive how much i want to see this book now. about the only thing worrying me is im not sure if i can get regeneration 80.5 as it a "Free comic bood day" comicn and NONE of my local shops support that.
if memeory serves the last time IDW tried that was the "focus on decepticons" comic that previewed all hail megatron and that never showed up either.
hopefully my online retailer will allow me to buy it as im fecked if im going to miss this if i can help it.
Posted by T-Macksimus on December 7th, 2011 @ 10:01am CST
Posted by Supreme Convoy on December 7th, 2011 @ 1:42pm CST
Posted by Sabrblade on December 7th, 2011 @ 1:52pm CST
I though Furman said he was going to go a different route from it.Supreme Convoy wrote:I'm glad that G2 is still part of the story.
From what I could tell of this, he might be making little references to it without openly stating it to be in continuity with this. Wish it was, though.
Posted by gothsaurus on December 7th, 2011 @ 2:46pm CST
Posted by RhA on December 7th, 2011 @ 3:01pm CST
Posted by Windsweeper on December 7th, 2011 @ 4:13pm CST
As for Wildman's art, I don't like it. His UK work was good but his US work was when he gave us the fleshy faces which I disliked as much as the Bayfaces. Already hating his woefully small Ultra Magnus and those linked eyes. He seems to be of the Actionmaster mentality where all the TF's are the same size.Bring back Geoff Senior!
BTW, I'm an old fan who dislikes Wildman's art.
Gripes aside, I am looking forward to this greatly.
Posted by gothsaurus on December 7th, 2011 @ 4:18pm CST
But what I saw of Prime and magnus and kup. Not bad. Not a lot of complaints with the art. I'd just love to avoid some of those drooling spittle and human teeth kinda shots. Those were a little weird.
AND yeah, I'm loving me some Geoff Senior. His stylized versions of the characters always rocked. Windsweeper... ya got good taste, my friend.
Posted by RhA on December 7th, 2011 @ 4:55pm CST
GEEWUN, baby. GEEWUN.
Posted by partholon on December 7th, 2011 @ 5:55pm CST
but the fact is the guys hip deep in advertising now and just doesnt have the time.
im sure furman will coax some covers out of the guy.
maybe even the odd back up strip ala his G2 work.
but sadly were just not gonna get him. so ive no problem with andy as while his style is radically different, its just as iconic in his own way.
TBH now i think about it i'd LOVE it if IDW managed to get some of the old schoolers to do some covers.
guys like will simpson and dan reed. now THAT would be fun
Posted by Kiyza on December 7th, 2011 @ 6:56pm CST
I have a feeling that this series is going to be my gateway drug into comic books, since Transformers has gotten me into western animation on the whole, and now toy collecting.
I'm actually kind of afraid to go into a comic store, since I feel very... out of place there, especially if my main reason for going in Transformers comics. I'd have to imagine the guys there might poke fun at me a little for not buying something mainstream like Marvel or DC's stuff. I know that's a common stereotype of comic book owners, but I've been in the stores in my area and talked to the employees, and they seem very stuck up, and acted like they looked down on me a little because I'm big into manga. Maybe I'll pick up something else I have mild interest in to make myself seem a little less suspicious.
Posted by sto_vo_kor_2000 on December 7th, 2011 @ 10:11pm CST
Galvatron X wrote:I'm guessing a lot of complaining about that art is gonna start right......now!
no complaints from me, I love the retro look.Brings to life the idea that this is truly a continuation of the original run
Posted by Michael Alex Kawa on December 8th, 2011 @ 6:02am CST
Posted by Hans on December 8th, 2011 @ 8:46am CST
I really can't wait for this series!
Posted by Sabrblade on December 8th, 2011 @ 9:29am CST
Yet, the story's still set 20 years after 80.Hans wrote:I got an instant nostalgia kick out of that page. It's everything I hoped for, and it feels like the twenty years between now and issue # 80 never happened.
Posted by Galvatron X on December 8th, 2011 @ 10:11am CST
sto_vo_kor_2000 wrote:Galvatron X wrote:I'm guessing a lot of complaining about that art is gonna start right......now!
no complaints from me, I love the retro look.Brings to life the idea that this is truly a continuation of the original run
Well, I admit that when I posted that I didn't know that was the intent, but even after learning that I still figured a lot of people wouldn't like it (I didn't really like it).
But, it's been kinda cool reading all these positive responses about it, and seeing how it conjures up thoughts of the original; it's making me warm up to it!
Besides - who am I kidding? I was gonna get this even before I warmed up to it...
Posted by Dead Metal on December 8th, 2011 @ 10:20am CST
Posted by Sabrblade on December 8th, 2011 @ 10:31am CST
From what I can tell, 80.5 seems to be different from 81 in that it helps get things up to speed on issues 1-80 before 81's beginning proper (though, 81 may also do something like this as well).Dead Metal wrote:For anyone being afraid of missing out on this, don't worry. The last Free comic book day idw was just half of an existing issue, so this will likely be just the first half of issue #81. And even if that is not the case, they will reprint it at least 3 times the coming year alone.
Posted by Andante74205 on December 8th, 2011 @ 11:36am CST
Posted by Dead Metal on December 8th, 2011 @ 12:00pm CST
Sabrblade wrote:From what I can tell, 80.5 seems to be different from 81 in that it helps get things up to speed on issues 1-80 before 81's beginning proper (though, 81 may also do something like this as well).Dead Metal wrote:For anyone being afraid of missing out on this, don't worry. The last Free comic book day idw was just half of an existing issue, so this will likely be just the first half of issue #81. And even if that is not the case, they will reprint it at least 3 times the coming year alone.
It's still going to be reprinted numerous times though.
Posted by Sabrblade on December 8th, 2011 @ 12:30pm CST
Glad to hear it.Dead Metal wrote:Sabrblade wrote:From what I can tell, 80.5 seems to be different from 81 in that it helps get things up to speed on issues 1-80 before 81's beginning proper (though, 81 may also do something like this as well).Dead Metal wrote:For anyone being afraid of missing out on this, don't worry. The last Free comic book day idw was just half of an existing issue, so this will likely be just the first half of issue #81. And even if that is not the case, they will reprint it at least 3 times the coming year alone.
It's still going to be reprinted numerous times though.
Posted by Hans on December 8th, 2011 @ 12:52pm CST
Andante74205 wrote:Hmm. I thought Prime's forearms were blue after he was "reborn" and combined with Hi-Q. Still, I love the old school art.
The colorist, Jean Paul Bove, explained that in the 20 years that have passed, Prime has upgraded his form somewhat. He has enlarged his backpack to it's original size, and his colors are more original as well, pretty much like the Actionmaster figure that came with the New Year's Prime figure
In any case, some thought went into that