IDW The Transformers 55 ROM the Spaceknight Variant Cover by Casey Coller

Can IDW use the Dire Wraiths, a deviant branch of Skrullkind as the main enemies again?

I would doubt it, but I'm not sure the last one they saw hem was? Seems like it might have been an issue of Thor or the X-Men.

In addition to the ROM the Spaceknight variant cover, IDW artist Andrew Griffith has shared the coloured artwork for his own cover (with Josh Burcham) for the conclusion of the All Hail Optimus arc, The Transformers #55. Check it out mirrored below!

He also said Issue 55 is going to be very special to him. I wonder why

some very cool art up in this.

D-Maximus_Primal wrote:He also said Issue 55 is going to be very special to him. I wonder why

He mentioned on Twitter last week that he's been offered a "great opportunity" and was wondering whether to take it.

https://twitter.com/glovestudios/status ... 7379083265

Dr Va'al wrote:In addition to the ROM the Spaceknight variant cover, IDW artist Andrew Griffith has shared the coloured artwork for his own cover (with Josh Burcham) for the conclusion of the All Hail Optimus arc, The Transformers #55. Check it out mirrored below!

I'm still surprised we haven't gotten a Soundwave based on this design. The FoC voyager was close, but some re-tooling could've made him this!

Anyone else a big fan of the comics lately? Just me?

itscramtastic wrote:

Dr Va'al wrote:In addition to the ROM the Spaceknight variant cover, IDW artist Andrew Griffith has shared the coloured artwork for his own cover (with Josh Burcham) for the conclusion of the All Hail Optimus arc, The Transformers #55. Check it out mirrored below!

I'm still surprised we haven't gotten a Soundwave based on this design. The FoC voyager was close, but some re-tooling could've made him this!

Anyone else a big fan of the comics lately? Just me?

There were rumours of having Soundwave wear the OP/Motormaster CW mold, but with the TR leader class toy coming out, I doubt that'll ever come to fruition. :/

Shame, I really like Barber/Griffith's Soundwave, too.

itscramtastic wrote:

Dr Va'al wrote:In addition to the ROM the Spaceknight variant cover, IDW artist Andrew Griffith has shared the coloured artwork for his own cover (with Josh Burcham) for the conclusion of the All Hail Optimus arc, The Transformers #55. Check it out mirrored below!

I'm still surprised we haven't gotten a Soundwave based on this design. The FoC voyager was close, but some re-tooling could've made him this!

Anyone else a big fan of the comics lately? Just me?

I like where ex-RID has been heading. All the characters seem very three-dimensional in their motivations, and Galvatron is a great villain. I've really been enjoying the focus on Arcee, as well as watching Optimus Prime head down a pretty dark path.

Dr Va'al wrote:There were rumours of having Soundwave wear the OP/Motormaster CW mould, but with the TR leader class toy coming out, I doubt that'll ever come to fruition. :/

Shame, I really like Barber/Griffith's Soundwave, too.

I've been hoping that was a possibility for a while. Also, you forgot the "u" in "mold" so I added it AND, watched your upload to the Seibertron YouTube for Titans Return at BotCon, nice job!

MrBlack wrote:

itscramtastic wrote:Anyone else a big fan of the comics lately? Just me?

I like where ex-RID has been heading. All the characters seem very three-dimensional in their motivations, and Galvatron is a great villain. I've really been enjoying the focus on Arcee, as well as watching Optimus Prime head down a pretty dark path.

I'm a big fan of Galvatron, who would've thought he wouldn't like the Enigma of Combination. It's a great tactical advantage but it isn't pure to him. Wow. His one-liner about being worried that Optimus was a "Prime in name only" was nice

D-Maximus_Primal wrote:

Seeing this cover, I thought it was Blackrock/Onyx in full mech form. Is he going by ROM now?

Did I miss something?

itscramtastic wrote:

Dr Va'al wrote:There were rumours of having Soundwave wear the OP/Motormaster CW mould, but with the TR leader class toy coming out, I doubt that'll ever come to fruition. :/

Shame, I really like Barber/Griffith's Soundwave, too.

I've been hoping that was a possibility for a while. Also, you forgot the "u" in "mold" so I added it AND, watched your upload to the Seibertron YouTube for Titans Return at BotCon, nice job!

Yo honor me with that wonderfl comment.

itscramtastic wrote:

D-Maximus_Primal wrote:

Seeing this cover, I thought it was Blackrock/Onyx in full mech form. Is he going by ROM now?

Did I miss something?

That is an incentive variant cover promoting the new ROM the SpaceKnight series from IDW - not an actual crossover (not yet, anyway).

itscramtastic wrote:

D-Maximus_Primal wrote:

Seeing this cover, I thought it was Blackrock/Onyx in full mech form. Is he going by ROM now?

Did I miss something?

Variant cover to celebrate the new ROM the Spaceknight series. Has nothing to do with the content of the issue.

Dr Va'al wrote:

itscramtastic wrote:AND, watched your upload to the Seibertron YouTube for Titans Return at BotCon, nice job!

Yo honor me with that wonderfl comment.

Bt of corse!

MrBlack wrote:

Dr Va'al wrote:

itscramtastic wrote:Seeing this cover, I thought it was Blackrock/Onyx in full mech form. Is he going by ROM now? Did I miss something?

That is an incentive variant cover promoting the new ROM the SpaceKnight series from IDW - not an actual crossover (not yet, anyway).

Variant cover to celebrate the new ROM the Spaceknight series. Has nothing to do with the content of the issue.

You see where I'm going though, right? WHAT IF BLACKROCK IS ROM!!

itscramtastic wrote:

Dr Va'al wrote:

itscramtastic wrote:AND, watched your upload to the Seibertron YouTube for Titans Return at BotCon, nice job!

Yo honor me with that wonderfl comment.

Bt of corse!

MrBlack wrote:

Dr Va'al wrote:

itscramtastic wrote:Seeing this cover, I thought it was Blackrock/Onyx in full mech form. Is he going by ROM now? Did I miss something?

That is an incentive variant cover promoting the new ROM the SpaceKnight series from IDW - not an actual crossover (not yet, anyway).

Variant cover to celebrate the new ROM the Spaceknight series. Has nothing to do with the content of the issue.

You see where I'm going though, right? WHAT IF BLACKROCK IS ROM!!

NOOOOOOOOOOOO

Dr Va'al wrote:

itscramtastic wrote:

Dr Va'al wrote:

itscramtastic wrote:AND, watched your upload to the Seibertron YouTube for Titans Return at BotCon, nice job!

Yo honor me with that wonderfl comment.

Bt of corse!

MrBlack wrote:

Dr Va'al wrote:

itscramtastic wrote:Seeing this cover, I thought it was Blackrock/Onyx in full mech form. Is he going by ROM now? Did I miss something?

That is an incentive variant cover promoting the new ROM the SpaceKnight series from IDW - not an actual crossover (not yet, anyway).

Variant cover to celebrate the new ROM the Spaceknight series. Has nothing to do with the content of the issue.

You see where I'm going though, right? WHAT IF BLACKROCK IS ROM!!

NOOOOOOOOOOOO

Fixed that for you too.

itscramtastic wrote:

Dr Va'al wrote:

itscramtastic wrote:You see where I'm going though, right? WHAT IF BLACKROCK IS ROM!!

NOOOOOOOOOOOO

Fixed that for you too.

In all seriousness, I'd really rather they didn't. There's a whole bunch of mythology to play around with before forcing a crossover that, right now, really would not work.

Dr Va'al wrote:

itscramtastic wrote:

Dr Va'al wrote:

itscramtastic wrote:You see where I'm going though, right? WHAT IF BLACKROCK IS ROM!!

NOOOOOOOOOOOO

Fixed that for you too.

In all seriousness, I'd really rather they didn't. There's a whole bunch of mythology to play around with before forcing a crossover that, right now, really would not work.

I need to find out who this ROM is. Searching the webs.

itscramtastic wrote:

Dr Va'al wrote:

itscramtastic wrote:

Dr Va'al wrote:

itscramtastic wrote:You see where I'm going though, right? WHAT IF BLACKROCK IS ROM!!

NOOOOOOOOOOOO

Fixed that for you too.

In all seriousness, I'd really rather they didn't. There's a whole bunch of mythology to play around with before forcing a crossover that, right now, really would not work.

I need to find out who this ROM is. Searching the webs.

Interesting. Still think he's Blackrock

Apples iTunes has provided us with our next preview, and it is for Transformers 55! The 3 page preview shows off Galvatron beating up some people, Arcee flying in to combat him, and some interesting interaction between some cassettes and Cosmos. Check out the preview and comment below!

I feel like Astrotrain is about to be wasted...

If Galvatron kills Astrotrain before he can be reunited with his true love Blitzwing I swear to fuck

Kurona wrote:If Galvatron kills Astrotrain before he can be reunited with his true love Blitzwing I swear to ****

I feel like Galvatron is about to toss Astrotrain right into Arcee, or right into the heart of the planet or something like that. And I like the guy too!

No, Galvatron! Don't do it before his toy is out! Think of the lost sales!

The second preview from IDW Publishing, once more via Nerdspan, and also out this week, is for Transformers #55, as we lead closer and closer to the conclusion of All Hail Optimus, before Titans Return and Revolution - check it out below, and come back for a review and discussion!

Transformers #55
John Barber (w) • Andrew Griffith (a & c)
ALL HAIL OPTIMUS—CONCLUSION! GALVATRON vs. SOUNDWAVE vs. ARCEE vs. COSMOS vs. OPTIMUS PRIME vs. humanity!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Bullet points:
The war for Earth extends to outer space!
Ultimate victory—or final defeat? Or... both?
Setting the stage for TITANS RETURN—and beyond!
Part of IDW’s month-long variant cover program, celebrating the return of ROM!
Variant cover by Carlos Valenzuela!

You know, I'm going to be pissed if:

A: starscream gets dethroned, and prime get's away with everything

B. Arcee doesn't come back with Galvatron's head.

SW's SilverHammer wrote:You know, I'm going to be pissed if:

A: starscream gets dethroned, and prime get's away with everything

B. Arcee doesn't come back with Galvatron's head.

You may be... a quarter pissed.

Dr Va'al wrote:

SW's SilverHammer wrote:You know, I'm going to be pissed if:

A: starscream gets dethroned, and prime get's away with everything

B. Arcee doesn't come back with Galvatron's head.

You may be... a quarter pissed.

don't do that to us man

Just a quick announcement:

We are postponing our review of The Transformers #55, as John Barber has let people know via Twitter that the issue's release date has been moved to next week (it may still digitally, though, at this point it seems there is some confusion at distribution level). As we aim to release reviews on the day of release for more readers to join in the conversation, we have chosen to follow suit. Titans Return and More Than Meets the Eye #55 will have their reviews up today as scheduled! Thank you for understanding.

The world is a cruel place. TF #55 is apparently next week. So, enjoy those music links over and over. And, you know, read MTMTE & Titans R.

I can confirm that it is available digitally on Comixology, at least as of 4 AM.

I read it on Comixology as well.

Interesting implications of it being delayed, as having read it, I'm pretty certain it takes place *before* the Titans Return one-shot, which is full of potential spoilers for issue #55.

Is that delayed too?

MemphisR56 wrote:Interesting implications of it being delayed, as having read it, I'm pretty certain it takes place *before* the Titans Return one-shot, which is full of potential spoilers for issue #55.

Is that delayed too?

Nope, but the crossover is minimal, and they don't FULLY address the events of TF55.
I'm just writing that section as I type this, coinkidentally.

Transformers #55 - Conversation Starter

Last issue was pretty loaded. Titan called and rose, combinations stopped, characters learned stuff, villains fled, humans scrambled…



Issue 55 is the wrap to the ‘All Hail Optimus Prime’ story arc. The events have led to this what could be a final confrontation. How does it end? Digitally, some of us already know. In print, some of us waited. It is time.



This issue in a nut shell… CHANGE comes to the forefront. The crux of what it seems to mean to be a Transformer (and a person for that matter). How one reacts, changes, adapts, or doesn’t, and the results…all come to a HEAD.



Galvatron makes like a banana ice cream sundae and SPLITS! His coup de grace, his 4th down drive, his last second shot… all came up short and he lost. Galvatron chooses the noble path: to live to fight another day. Or is he just choosing a more suitable place for what could be his final stand? Who will pursue him? Will he or another Transformer utter the phrase: one shall stand one shall fall?



The answers are found in (and on the cover) of the issue. While Galvatron has always been very staunch in his ideals of purity and expansion echoing Nova Prime (even though at times he found himself at odds with Nova), he does tend to over do at times (understated), and his ideals often mean that whole entire ‘impurities’ can be wiped out. He stretches the truth, he looks out for himself, and uses people. Hence why he’s pretty universally considered a ‘bad guy’.



But Optimus Prime has always been his opposite. Always wanting to preserve and support life. Trying to use noble, honorable, merciful, and peaceful means whenever possible, wanting to believe the best in all…which is pretty hard when you are overseeing a campaign of a four billion jillion year war. It’s these qualities that have always made Optimus Prime able to inspire loyalty.



Optimus' famous quote, his ideal to live by. His belief, along with his uncompromising ideal to seek peaceful solutions whenever possible.



It’s when these two ideals clash, and neither wants to give ground, that we see this arc ending. What will happen when the writing is on the wall? Who will change to achieve goals? Who if anyone will compromise themselves and their ideals?



This issue satisfyingly wraps up the arc, and begins the next. Characters have shown growth and steps have been taken. Like any well-written story, you’re left wanting to continue reading more because you have questions, and the story has answers. When the dust settles where does this leave Earth? With the end we received, Titans Return with perhaps a visit from Onyx Prime seem inevitable. The upcoming IDW REVOLUTION should help to answer other questions that we are left with as well.



The art in this book by Andrew Griffith is hands down incredible! He’s always done impressive work, but I think he’s getting better and better at his craft. The colors by Josh Burcham are well played to support the story, most notably as supportive of setting changes. And as Dr. Va’al credits often, and as an under appreciated part of the visual experience, Tom B. Long adds some incredible letters to the story with some very satisfyingly scripted 'CHOOMs', 'CHAKs', and 'AHs' along with the character dialogue.



I wasn’t really very kind the last time I reviewed Transformers. I felt like it was kind of doing over what had already been done. The upcoming REVOLUTION seems to address that and that’s what appears to lie in our immediate future. This issue allowed me to give the final exhale on this arc, it feels like a finale and I feel satisfied that things are for the moment, settled, and a firm direction has been set. Sadly, future solicits and sudden schedule changes have caused some cats to be out of the bag early, but the issue is still a nice resolution, before we get going again with TITANS RETURN and REVOLUTION.

I'll admit it really did feel like a directionless story. Like it was just setting up instead of paying things off and then the past 2 issues happened and it became "oh wow a lot of insane stuff is happening and stuff is getting paid off!"

I like the arc as a hole and it dawned on me last week that this and the dying of light were pretty much the finales of both books. Yeah we're getting some Titans return tie in and Revolution but after its all done, this and and MTMTE ends with ten trades each. I was going to get worried one series would have one more than the other. As a big picture, this was the end of RID and I'm satisfied.


Here's to The Lost Light and Optimus Prime! ...oh and Till all are One

Spoiler! So I removed it.

itscramtastic wrote:Holy shirt!! "I surrender..I surrender Prime!!" MURDERED!!

Would you consider shooting hitler murder? Galvatron was robot hitler for crying out loud. The dude was working toward genocide or the entire earth and any cybertronian who he didn't consider "pure".

And let's not kid ourselves, like I've said before, Galvatron isn't dead because he hasn't been alive for 6 million years. The dude was undead and his head is intact so...yeah he's coming back eventually

Edited, as Randomhero pointed out the spoiler filter doesn't work when the article is not in the forum.

Spoiler black outs don't show up on news feeds so it really doesn't matter in my opinion. None of the special codes work on the main page.

Thanks for the tip Randomhero. I've edited my posts.

Almost all the Decepticons are dead, and now IDW has started an Autobot war just like they always wanted.

So predictable.

To me it seemed like in his final moments Galvatron realized the truth of what he had become. But Optimus, who gave Megatron a second chance again, decides he will kill him anyway. To me, Optimus became less likable in this issue. But as others have said, Galvatron has no spark, he is undead and so as long as his head lives, he will live on to Master a new body. Probably one that matches the new Titans Return toy. Then maybe he will get Astrotrain's head and make him a new body too.

I still have an inkling that all this somehow will end up with the Lost Light arriving on Earth and Megatron and the Autobots confronting Optimus and the Decepticons in the crossover finale arc that leads up to the 100th issue of each story. Megatron vs. Optimus once again, but this time they both changed sides. (I mean, Optimus not really "joining" the Decepticons, just acting like them and taking command of them. Megatron is still co-captain of the Lost Light, isn't he?)

Rodimus Prime wrote:I still have an inkling that all this somehow will end up with the Lost Light arriving on Earth and Megatron and the Autobots confronting Optimus and the Decepticons in the crossover finale arc that leads up to the 100th issue of each story. Megatron vs. Optimus once again, but this time they both changed sides. (I mean, Optimus not really "joining" the Decepticons, just acting like them and taking command of them. Megatron is still co-captain of the Lost Light, isn't he?)

I like that idea!

Come on man! Astrotrain is one of my favorites!

Galvatron: fully deserved. Yes he was defenseless, but that was something regretable that needed done.

Overall, a good story arc. I'm wondering how they will do the whole explanation with Metrotitan, considering he did appear to blow up before and then he's on Earth.

and I like the Soundwave/Prime duo. Makes for some fun conversation

Wow IDW, you're doing a great job at killing favourites for absolutely no reason!

Wooooow having a new toy is really not enough to save you these days.

ASTROTRAIN ;-;

I want a reunion party between Soundwave and Megatron. Stat. It'd be wonderful.

And I've said it before, I'll say it again... there's just something so incredibly badass about seeing Optimus and Soundwave team up. Even more than Optimus with Megatron; there's just... I don't know. I love it so much.

So I mean, since Galvatron kicked the bucket, I was thinking about who's actually left of Nova's crew; who isn't dead or turned their back on it. Cyclonus has got new friends, Galvatron's dead, Scourge is dead, Nova's dead, Jhiaxus is dead, Straxus is dead, Grindcore's dead...

Known passengers on this first Ark include:
Nova Prime
Cyclonus
Galvatron
Grindcore
Jhiaxus
Scourge
Straxus
Tailpipe
Hyper-somebody


Looks like our next big bads are Tailpipe and Hyper-somebody. Can't wait

So, they were fighting in the upper clouds of Jupiter! The electromagnetic radiation environment is pretty heavy there, so they must have amazing shields. Also, the gravity is approximately 1000 times that of Earth, so their antigravity and/or retro-rockets must be 1000 times more powerful than we see when they're on Earth. I wonder how they all got so juiced up? Were they on Nucleon or Ore 13 or something?