Transformers Graphic Novels Part 7: IDW
In part seven of the GNA’s eight part Transformers Graphic Novels overview - the current Transformers comic licensee, IDW Publishing.
Read on for more.
[Following the demise of Dreamwave, Hasbro awarded the Transformers comic book license to IDW Publishing in late 2005, a comics studio well known for its handling of licensed properties.
Besides the various IDW Transformers collections mentioned earlier (reprinting material from other comic companies), IDW has also created a wealth of original Transformers stories, many of which have been collected in graphic novel form. And like Dreamwave before it, IDW has opted to create Transformers comics based on the many Transformer developments introduced over the years, including G1, Beast Wars, and of course, the 2007 live action/CGI film.]
IDW’s Transformers: Beast Wars
[Though Dreamwave had planned to produce a Beast Wars related comic series of their own, IDW actually accomplished the task with Beast Wars: The Gathering, a four issue mini-series.
Beast Wars: The Gathering (and its sequel, Beast Wars: The Ascending) are actually unique amongst Transformers comics. Instead of establishing a separate continuity - per the usual - IDW chose to instead place the comic's overall storyline within that of the animated series, essentially overlapping the two.]
Transformers: Beast Wars: The Gathering
Trade Paperback- $17.99 (suggested retail)
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Behold, the Beast Wars! As one strand of the Beast Wars rages on, another is just beginning. PREDACON general MAGMATRON is on a mission to capture the renegade MEGATRON, but his true intentions are far more terrifying and revolutionary; his ultimate aim–to bring CYBERTRON itself to its knees. All he needs… is an army. And he knows exactly where to find one! Join writer Simon Furman in this tale pitting the heroic MAXIMALS against the evil PREDACONS, and see for yourself how the Beast Wars have become a TRANSFORMERS legend.
- IDWPublishing.com
[Collects Beast Wars: The Gathering #1-4. Also available in black and white manga format. Content previews available via Amazon.com and IDWPublishing.com.]
Transformers: Beast Wars: The Ascending
Trade Paperback- $17.99 (suggested retail)
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Spiraling out of the events in Beast Wars: The Gathering… MAGMATRON–now a disembodied entity, existing out of time and space–is witness to CYBERTRON’s unchecked descent into chaos and madness, all of which is a prelude to its complete and utter destruction! Powerless to directly affect this terrifying apocalypse, MAGMATRON’s last desperate recourse is to try and bring his greatest enemy, RAZORBEAST, together with fellow MAXIMALS LIO CONVOY and THE PACK! By The Gathering team of Simon Furman, Don Figueroa, and Guido Guidi, with an art gallery featuring images by Figueroa and variant cover artist Nick Roche.
- IDWPublishing.com
[Collects Beast Wars: The Ascending #1-4. Content preview available via IDWPublishing.com.]
Transformers: Beast Wars Sourcebook
Trade Paperback- $19.99 (suggested retail)
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Simon Furman (Transformers: Beast Wars: The Gathering) and Ben Yee (consultant on the Beast Wars TV series) team up to present an all-encompassing, unifying resource book highlighting the characters, worlds and technology from all generations and incarnations of BEAST WARS. From AIR HAMMER to WOLFANG and beyond, and featuring all-new art from a host of the greatest TRANSFORMERS artists like Don Figueroa, Nick Roche, Rob Ruffolo, and many more, this is the series everyone’s been clamoring for! This special series will be comprised of three 48-page, ad-free editions.
- IDWPublishing.com
[Collects Beast Wars Sourcebook #1-4. Scheduled for a future release.]
IDW’s Transformers: Generation One
[Despite IDW's decision to publish collections of Dreamwave's G1 work, IDW's own take on G1 is an entirely new continuity, rebooting the G1 universe, setting the storyline within modern times. Many liberties have been taken, including ignoring the idea of the Transformers having crash landed on Earth millions of years ago.
IDW has yet to publish an on-going G1 series, instead opting to promote various mini-series story arcs and one-shots, all falling within the same general continuity. As is standard anymore, much of this material has been collected in graphic novel format.]
Transformers: Infiltration
Trade Paperback- $19.99 (suggested retail)
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Earth: 2006, and the fate of the planet is already sealed, its destiny decided… by the marauding mechanical beings known as DECEPTICONS. In their way stand an embattled crew of seven hardy AUTOBOT warriors, sworn to prevent the impending Armageddon at any cost, and an unlikely trio of human misfits, pulled kicking and screaming into a hitherto hidden world of pain and hurt. The can of worms is open, the genie out of bottle… and nothing will ever be the same again!
- IDWPublishing.com
[Collects Transformers: Infiltration #0-6. Also available in black and white manga format. Content previews available via IDWPublishing.com and Amazon.com.]
Transformers: Stormbringer
Trade Paperback- $17.99 (suggested retail)
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For those of you craving unchecked, giant robot action on an epic scale, look no further than this special space epic. In Infiltration, we had tantalizing hints about the state of play elsewhere in the TRANSFORMERS universe, but now we look in on CYBERTRON itself, unlocking a dark, dark chapter in the planet’s history, one that is about to hit the AUTOBOTS and DECEPTICONS again… full force! By the Beast Wars team supreme of Simon Furman and Don Figueroa.
- IDWPublishing.com
[Collects Transformers: Stormbringer #1-4. Also available in black and white manga format. Content preview available via IDWPublishing.com.]
Transformers: Escalation
Trade Paperback- $19.99 (suggested retail)
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The saga of the TRANSFORMERS secret war on Earth–begun in Infiltration–continues with Phase Two: Escalation. With the monumental menaces of MEGATRON and Ore-13 looming, the AUTOBOTS could be forgiven for thinking things couldn’t get much worse. But, as OPTIMUS PRIME musters his response to the mounting threat, the Machination strikes- with shocking and tragic consequences! By Simon Furman (The Transformers: Infiltration) and E.J. Su (The Transformers: Infiltration). Variant covers provided by Klaus Scherwinski.
- IDWPublishing.com
[Collects Transformers: Escalation #1-6. Content preview available via IDWPublishing.com.]
Transformers: Spotlight Volume 1
Trade Paperback- $19.99 (suggested retail)
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Collecting a series of five one-shots focusing on some of the best-loved (or loathed) characters from the TRANSFORMERS Universe - HOT ROD, SIXSHOT, SHOCKWAVE, NIGHTBEAT, and ULTRA MAGNUS. Each Spotlight is written by long-time Transformers scribe Simon Furman, whose words accompany artwork by the likes of Nick Roche, M.D. Bright, Rob Ruffolo and Robby Musso.
- IDWPublishing.com
[Collects Transformers Spotlight: Hot Rod, Transformers Spotlight: Sixshot, Transformers Spotlight: Shockwave, Transformers Spotlight: Nightbeat, and Transformers Spotlight: Ultra Magnus. Content preview available via IDWPublishing.com.]
Transformers: Spotlight Volume 2
Trade Paperback- $19.99 (suggested retail)
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IDW’s one-shots focusing on the most celebrated TRANSFORMERS characters continue in this second collection of Spotlights. This time around, see how and why SOUNDWAVE, KUP, GALVATRON, OPTIMUS PRIME and RAMJET fit into the TRANSFORMERS’ ever-expanding IDW-verse. Simon Furman handles scripting duties on all but KUP, where Nick Roche tackles writing and illustrating duties.
- IDWPublishing.com
[Collects Transformers Spotlight: Soundwave, Transformers Spotlight: Kup, Transformers Spotlight: Galvatron, Transformers Spotlight: Optimus Prime, and Transformers Spotlight: Ramjet. Content preview available via IDWPublishing.com.]
Transformers: Spotlight Volume 3 TPB
Trade Paperback- $19.99 (suggested retail)
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This volume focuses on Blaster, Arcee, Grimlock, Mirage, and Wheelie. Written by long-time Transformers scribe Simon Furman and screenwriter George Strayton, with art by popular Transformers artists Guido Guidi, Marcelo Matere, Alex Milne, Emiliano Santalucia, and Klaus Scherwinski. - Amazon.com
[Scheduled for a September 2008 release, this collection is scheduled to reprint Transformers Spotlight: Blaster, Transformers Spotlight: Arcee, Transformers Spotlight: Grimlock, Transformers Spotlight: Mirage, and Transformers Spotlight: Wheelie.]
Transformers: Megatron: Origin
Trade Paperback- $17.99 (suggested retail)
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Before allegiance, rank and function–before war–a civilian will become a warrior, a warrior will become a leader. As a leader he will learn of the most powerful weapon on the planet–a weapon powerful enough to bind legions to his will–a faction named DECEPTICON. This landmark story brings the major players of the faction together for the first time in a seminal story for MEGATRON, the DECEPTICONS, and THE GREAT WAR.
Written by Eric Holmes with art by Alex Milne.
- IDWPublishing.com
[Collecting the Megatron: Origin four issue mini-series. Content preview available via IDWPublishing.com.]
The Transformers Premiere Edition Volume 1
Hardcover- $100.00 (suggested retail)
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For strengthening forearm muscles, or getting the full story of the TRANSFORMERS’ “IDW-verse,” look no further than The Transformers: Premiere Edition. At just over 500 pags of non-stop ‘bot action, if you only buy one TRANSFORMERS book, ever, this is the one you need! Journey from CYBERTRON to Earth and back as the TRANSFORMERS’ legendary war spans the galaxy in a quest to return peace to their home planet, and restore harmony between all mechanoids. But while the noble AUTOBOTS seek their freedom, the DECEPTICONS await with treacherous plans of their own. Including Infiltration, Stormbringer, a collection of Spotlights (SHOCKWAVE, NIGHTBEAT, HOT ROD, SIXSHOT, ULTRA MAGNUS), and the latest addition, Escalation.!
- IDWPublishing.com
[Collects Infiltration #0-6, Stormbringer #1-4, Escalation #1-6, Spotlight: Shockwave, Spotlight: Nightbeat, Spotlight: Hot Rod, Spotlight: Sixshot, and Spotlight: Ultra Magnus. Various previews available from IDWPublishing.com: Infiltration, Stormbringer, Escalation, and the Spotlights.]
IDW’s Transformers: Evolutions
[IDW's "Elseworlds" take on the Transformers, the Evolutions sub-line of Transformer comics has only produced one collected series, thus far.]
Transformers: Evolutions: Hearts of Steel
Trade Paperback- $19.99 (suggested retail)
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Ever wondered what form your favorite TRANSFORMERS would take if they existed in different eras? Wonder no more, as IDW’s new Evolutions line will look at some special out-of-continuity tales involving the Robots in Disguise. In the five-part debut miniseries, “Hearts of Steel,” writer Chuck Dixon and artist Guido Guidi transplant the ‘bots to the Industrial Revolution, where a charismatic hammer-man named John Henry discovers that a steam drill is really an alien robot named BUMBLEBEE. Before he can process this information, the pair are attacked by DECEPTICONS disguised as tanks, trains and walking engines. Is this all part of a larger scheme by STARSCREAM? And if so, will the other AUTOBOTS arrive in time to stop his nefarious plans?
- IDWPublishing.com
[Collects Transformers: Evolutions: Hearts Of Steel #1-4. Content preview available via IDWPublishing.com.]
IDW’s Transformers: The Animated Movie
[In conjunction with the 20th Anniversary DVD release of the animated film, IDW released a four issue movie adaption in late 2006, since collected in trade paperback. Note: while scripted by the same writer, this is not a reprint of Marvel's adaption of the film.]
Transformers: The Animated Movie
Trade Paperback- $17.99 (suggested retail)
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20th Anniversary Celebration! Before the release of the all-new, live-action TRANSFORMERS movie, take an extended look back at a classic-the animated 1986 TRANSFORMERS: THE MOVIE. Joining present-day TF legend, artist Don Figueroa, is returning writer and fellow TF master Bob Budiansky, the man responsible for some of the most beloved ’80s TRANSFORMERS comics. Together, they present this four-part adaptation, adding in little touches for fans of all ages.
- IDWPublishing.com
[Collects Transformer: The Animated Movie #1-4. Content preview available via IDWPublishing.com.]
IDW’s Transformers (2007 movie)
[In the right place at the right time, IDW was primed (no pun intended) to make the most of the Transformers live action/CGI movie, and make the most of it, they did. Two comic book series have been collected - one adapting the feature film, the other providing a prequel-esque storyline, and described as officially canon within the movie continuity. A third series - this time a movie sequel of sorts - is planned for a future release.]
Transformers: The Movie
Trade Paperback- $17.99 (suggested retail)
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Kicking off a month-long spectacular event to celebrate the July 4 opening of the big-screen TRANSFORMERS movie! The official adaptation of Transformers: Movie Adaptation picks up directly where the Movie Prequel leaves off–the TRANSFORMERS’ brutal war has come to Earth and perhaps our only chance for survival may be with the young boy who just might hold the key to ending the war forever. Each issue of the adaptation will offer 32 ad-free pages and include concept art, interviews, and additional never-before-seen material. Subsequent issues of the official adaptation of Transformers: Movie Adaptation will be released on a weekly schedule throughout the month of June. Issue 1 features a special wraparound cover by interior artist Alex Milne (The Transformers: Megatron Origin)! Issue 1 will be in stores on June 6.
- IDWPublishing.com
[Collects Transformers: Official Movie Adaption #1-4. Content preview available via IDWPublishing.com.]
Transformers: The Movie Prequel
Trade Paperback- $19.99 (suggested retail)
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On a wholly metallic planet populated by robotic beings given life and “Spark” by an energized ALLSPARK of unknown origin, war has taken hold–a war for control of the ALLSPARK! With peace shattered, OPTIMUS PRIME takes a daring chance to protect the ALLSPARK from the malevolent MEGATRON, casting the planet’s very life force into the depths of space. But now, after countless time has passed, the search for the power to rule CYBERTRON–as well as the AUTOBOTS and DECEPTICONS charged with finding it–has come to Earth.
In this four-part prequel to this summer’s Transformers live-action movie, discover the secrets of CYBERTRON’s past as we see for the first time what momentous events led to the TRANSFORMERS bringing their war to our world.
- IDWPublishing.com
[Collects Transformers: Official Movie Prequel #1-4. Content preview available via IDWPublishing.com. Reinforcing this graphic novel's status as canon material, a semi-animated DVD adaption of this collection was included as a Wal-Mart exclusive bonus with the movie's DVD release.]
Transformers Movie Sequel: The Reign of Starscream TPB
Trade Paperback- $19.99 (suggested retail)
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When Megatron falls in battle, Starscream assumes the role of Decepticon leader on Earth. Mustering his surviving allies, he sets out to put his own plan in motion. But before he can do that, he’ll need to retrieve a fallen comrade, carry out a plan of revenge, and leave the Earth to meet up with a major player in the Decepticon army. Picking up where the film ended, The Reign of Starscream also reveals the fates of other surviving film characters, as co-writers Chris Ryall and Chris Mowry present a tale of intrigue, betrayal, and dark ambition featuring both old and all-new Transformers characters. - Amazon.com
[Scheduled for a November 2008 release, this softcover will be collecting the five issue Transformers Movie Sequel: The Reign of Starscream mini-series.]
IDW’s Transformers Animated
[Based on the Transformers animated series, IDW is producing "cine-manga" style graphic novels, crafting frame captures of the animation into graphic novel episode adaptions.]
Transformers: The Animated Series Volume 1
Digest - $7.99 (suggested retail)
Check for availability and discount pricing from Amazon.com
The TRANSFORMERS Animated Series takes the concept of ROBOTS IN DISGUISE and reinvents it for an all-new generation of fans! And now the animated shows can be enjoyed in print, too–in the form of all-new books that use actual still frames from the new animated series to offer a unique reading experience for TRANSFORMERS fans of all ages. This first volume contains the entire 70-minute kick-off adventure!
- IDWPublishing.com
Transformers: The Animated Series Volume 2
Digest - $7.99 (suggested retail)
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In this second volume of the TRANSFORMERS ANIMATED SERIES, TRANSFORMERS fans can experience two complete episodes of the all-new animated series. The TRANSFORMERS have come to New Detroit, and nothing will ever be the same again! Volume two contains two stand-alone episodes of this exciting new show.
- IDWPublishing.com
Transformers Animated Volume 3
Digest- $7.99 (suggested retail)
Check for availability and discount pricing from Amazon.com
Continuing the series of books capturing the action of The Transformers Animated Series Share the adventures of Autobot heroes like Optimus Prime, Hot Rod, and Jazz as they battle Megatron and the dangerous Decepticons! - Amazon.com
[Scheduled for a May 2008 release.]
Transformers Animated Volume 4
Digest- $7.99 (suggested retail)
Check for availability and discount pricing from Amazon.com
Continuing the series of books capturing the action of The Transformers Animated Series Share the adventures of Autobot heroes like Optimus Prime, Hot Rod, and Jazz as they battle Megatron and the dangerous Decepticons! - Amazon.com
[Scheduled for a July 2008 release.]
Transformers Animated Volume 5
Softcover Digest- $7.99 (suggested retail)
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Share the adventures of Autobot heroes like Optimus Prime, Hot Rod, and Jazz as they battle Megatron and the dangerous Decepticons! Using actual still frames from the animated series itself, The Transformers animated series puts new TF action in your pocket! - Amazon.com
[Scheduled for a September 2008 release.]
Transformers Animated Volume 6
Softcover Digest- $7.99 (suggested retail)
Check for availability and discount pricing from Amazon.com
Share the adventures of Autobot heroes like Optimus Prime, Hot Rod, and Jazz as they battle Megatron and the dangerous Decepticons! Using actual still frames from the animated series itself, The Transformers animated series puts new TF action in your pocket! - Amazon.com
[Scheduled for a November 2008 release.]
[Next, I'll wrap up my look at IDW's Transformers graphic novels, including their "Best Of" books and themed collections.]
Continue with Transformers Graphic Novels, Part 8.