Bleeding Cool News has posted the solicits for IDW’s comics being published in August 2013 including a healthy dose of Transformers comics. There’s plenty of awesome things to come, including after July’s reveal that Star Saber would be joining the IDW Transformers comics universe, August will see Rattrap (of Beast Wars fame) join IDW’s cast of Transformers in Robots in Disguise #20!
In August 2013 we will see the next installments of the ongoing series from IDW with the release of Transformers Prime Beast Hunters #4, Regeneration One #94, More than Meets the Eye #20 and Robots in Disguise #20. The month’s releases are rounded out with two compilation issues, Transformers Monstrosity #3 of 4, collecting in print the digital-first sequel to Autocracy, and Transformers Prelude, collecting the six new spotlight one-shots Orion Pax, Thundercracker, Megatron, Bumblebee, Trailcutter, and Hoist.
Now updated with images of the cover art by way of Servo Slag! Transformers: Prelude
Nick Roche, John Barber, & James Roberts (w) • Steve Kurth, Chee, Nick Roche, David Daza, Matt Frank, & Agustin Padilla (a) • Nick Roche (c)
The Spotlight falls on Orion Pax, Thundercracker, Megatron, Bumblebee, Trailcutter, and Hoist in this collection of six individual stories that explain an important moment in each character’s life. From the distant past to current events each story adds to Cybertronian lore.
TPB • FC • $19.99 • 152 pages • ISBN 978-1-61377-716-9
Transformers: Robots in Disguise #20
John Barber (w) • Andrew Griffith (a) • Griffith, Casey Coller (c)
NEW CYBERTRON! It’s a brand new day—and STARSCREAM is in charge! But running a planet isn’t as easy as it looks… if BUMBLEBEE couldn’t do it, why does the former DECEPTICON think he can?
2 regular covers will be shipped in a 1-to-1 ratio
FC • 32 pages • $3.99
*Variant Covers:
Variant Livio Ramondeli cover, interconnected with issues 21 and 22!
■Introducing fan-favorite character RATTRAP into the world of ROBOTS IN DISGUISE!
■The dawn of a new age—or the end of everything?!
■The countdown to DARK CYBERTRON continues!
Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye #20
James Roberts (w) • Alex Milne (a) • Milne, Sean Chen (c)
NOWHERE TO RUN! The end is nigh for the surviving members of the Lost Light crew, as enemies old and new move in for the kill. But on the fringes of known space, an ancient visionary is about to eliminate the Cybertronian race with a wave of his hand.
2 regular covers will be shipped in a 1-to-1 ratio
FC • 32 pages • $3.99
*Variant Covers:
Variant Nick Roche cover!
■The penultimate part of the shocking Remain in Light!
■Not for the faint-hearted!
Transformers Regeneration One #94
Simon Furman (w) • Guido Guidi (a) • Andrew Wildman, Guidi (c)
CYBERTRON UNDER SIEGE! As BLUDGEON’s Blitz Engines wreak havoc, the AUTOBOTS struggle to muster a response to a threat that feels all too close to home! But their “greatest warrior,” ULTRA MAGNUS, has problems of his own… in the shape of a fighting mad GALVATRON. It’s the clash of titans you’ve (almost) never seen before!
*2 regular covers will be shipped in a 1-to-1 ratio
FC • 32 pages • $3.99
*Variant Covers:
Geoff Senior variant cover!
■Cover-to-cover battle action!
■ULTRA MAGNUS versus GALVATRON—the rematch of the millennium!
Transformers: Monstrosity #3 (of 4)
Chris Metzen & Flint Dille (w) • Livio Ramondelli (a) • Ramondelli x 3 (c)
MEGATRON UNCHAINED! In the early days of the war, MEGATRON—exiled on JUNKION—battles to reclaim the throne of CYBERTRON. But the TERRORCONS have other ideas… Meanwhile, GRIMLOCK and the DINOBOTS threaten OPTIMUS PRIME’s fledgling republic!
*3 regular covers will be shipped in a 1-to-1-to-1 ratio
FC • 32 pages • $3.99
■In print for the first time!
■Terror on Junkion!
Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters #4
Mairghread Scott & Mike Johnson (w) • Agustin Padilla (a) • Ken Christiansen (c)
PRIMEVAL PREDATORS! The DINOBOTS have stumbled upon some of SHOCKWAVE’S old experiments… now they are running rampant across the Cybertronian underground. It’s up to GRIMLOCK and SWOOP to subdue the enemy! But with pressure mounting and his foes wreaking havoc, can GRIMLOCK keep his own rage in check?
FC • 32 pages • $3.99
*Variant Covers:
Animation art variant cover!
Omegax80
Anyone have updated release dates? Just hit Diamond's site and there are no listings for TF books for the next couple of weeks.
Just trying to figure out when to expect my comic fix!
Everyone loves a Quintesson.
SMOG
Guess I'll find out when the trade is released… though I haven't been hearing great things about it.
zmog
CelticMutt
No, since I haven't read it.
Mechafire
You, uh… you guys do know there's a Quint in Monstrosity, right?
CelticMutt
I hate the Quints too, but sadly their inclusion always seems inevitable.
SMOG
I've always hated the Quintessons, and the tendency to try to find a way to squeeze that origin into the broader continuity.
However, I think there have been strong hints that the Quintessons ARE involved in IDW's continuity, though to what degree is not quite clear yet. Nonetheless, the "five-from-one" pantheon of Primus definitely makes me think of the Quintessons, whether I like it or not.
I still hate those little seats though.
zmog
CelticMutt
Probably wouldn't be that hard. We've already seen evidence they exist in the IDW 'verse. I think the idea would be that at some point in the past, after Cybertronians came to be but before Nova's time, the Quintessons conquered the planet for a while and were then driven off.
SMOG
Yes, but I don't think you could really call Skids a "big draw" character. Bringing in a character from another continuity who already has a strong following carries a lot of novelty appeal, much more than announcing "Oh, Megatron will be in the next issue of Transformers!"
Announcing a fan-fave Beast Wars character making an appearance in your series is new, and yes, it deserves to be announced. However, unless the character actually has a significant role to play, it ends up being pretty hollow… like I said, with Rattrap we'll have to wait and see. I hope it's not a big fanfare over nothing… and in my past experience of RID, I'm not especially hopeful.
Having more lines in this series doesn't mean much, since characters can talk a lot and ultimately say nothing worthwhile. But I think you're on shaky ground if you're trying to argue that Sky-Byte has been a significant addition to the storyline in RID. In my mind, he's really just been an over-emphasized cameo.
In RID, I find that characters tend to pop up and announce themselves, and then fade very quickly into the woodwork, so like I said initially… I can't help feeling a bit cynical.
To compare, it would be sort of like Roberts was like "Hey look everybody… next issue is going to feature Xaaron… or Siren..!" or whoever. It feels like playing a fanfare for a wallflower just because they made the trip to the dance.
Well, it was certainly related to the topic I raised, so I figured it was worth responding to.
I guess not, but the essence of the conversation is still the same, no? But yes… arguing about who has classier solicitation is a bit beside the point, I agree.
That only works if we can apply the G1 Cartoon Season 3 origin to all continuities… which is problematic, obviously. Based on what we've seen of IDW's Cybertronian history, that wouldn't fit at all.
Hey, on a totally different note, has it ever been established why Megatron was carrying Sweep heads around with him? Was that just to look cool? Probably I guess…
zmog
WilyMech
It Starscream he has no shame.
ArmoredSwampert
I've always thought that Exodus gave the best explanation for the cockpits: a holdover from Quintesson occupation. It explains it well, and it's the best use of the G1 toon backstory.
Chris McFeely
Put your window back on, for goodness sake, Starscream. Your seats are hanging out! Cover your shame!
moreprimeland
LOVE THIS COVER!!!
Escargon
I heard this theory on The Allspark on who the guy besides Rattrap and Starscream on the cover is.
Sockie
Also, I really don't think that guy in the background is BW Megatron. But… it really does look like him… and…
AUGH I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO BELIEVE
Digilaut
Hey, no problem at all.
WilyMech
IDW is doing more with unknown and relatively minor characters now is why I love them.
Skids, poor guy is going have rough moments in the near future. Yeah he is definite fair game.
Sockie
Metalhawk and Megatron are also native to the G1 family. Digilaut complained about solicts "relying" on them, so Skids is completely fair game.
See my above response. Also, seeing as how Waspinator and Rattrap haven't even shown up yet, the only character in RiD you can really say that about is Sky-Byte, who has STILL got to do more and had plenty of more lines than many other characters in the book.
Good thing that wasn't solely aimed at you then, huh?
As you said, that's your opinion. More power to you.
SMOG… please stop arguing on others' behalf and deciding what they said and didn't say. Digilaut specifically said that "MTMTE's sollicitation often doesn't need to rely on 'hey, this guy is in it, it's awesome!' and instead relies mostly on just a synopsis of the plot." You may not have been commenting on the solicits, but then I wasn't quoting you, now was I?
And no problem, Digilaut. I also apologize for maybe sounding a little harsh and snappy in that post… bad habit of mine.
WilyMech
He no longer a Decepticon. Screamer basically tore off the glass over his cockpit because it had the Decepticon's insignia. RID #16
Nope
Anyone recognize the other guy in the background of the cover of RiD (the guy climbing a ladder, opposite Rattrap).
MtMtE can't come soon enough.
Digilaut
You guys are absolutely right. I just threw my credibility right out the window with a post that was more based on personal feelings and false memories thant it was on facts (and totally drawing a blank when the very series I claim to do it better actually has the biggest offender: Overlord!).
So yeah, I'd like to apologize for that. I just rechecked past solicits of both series' past issues (lol) and both comics don't really use the tactic a lot, or one more than the other.
Some more replies to some of the things said. Not going to twist my own words, backpedaling, anything. I am wrong – but here's some clarifications.
I'm not opposed to stunting with character introductions. It's a common (and smart) tactic to raise further interest in your book, and companies have been doing it for ages. Mind that I never used the word 'awful'.
However, that kind of tactic has a downside: it's commonly used to promote books that just aren't very good. Look no further than what Marvel and DC have been doing for years (book needs a boost? Put Wolverine in it!), and what it has lead to: I can never seem to find a comic book by those two anymore that isn't one big chain of character introductions, shock value pageturners and all-star crossover events, all in the way of proper storytelling.
The original point that I was trying to make (very poorly, and now useless since I've already been proven wrong) was that apparently MTMTE doesn't need to rely on that tactic to do well, while RID does – which is a reflection of my opinion on both books' content: MTMTE IS riding on the success of the writer's previous effort, Last Stand of the Wreckers, but apart from that is mostly quality writing which has turned virtual nobodies into fan-favorite characters (Rodimus' chain of command excluded, of course).
RID on the other hand feels -to me- like a continuous chain of both high tier and obscure fan-favorite characters (and Turmoil) being airdropped in, which makes sense from a story perspective (every Cybertronian is coming home), but I don't feel has been handled very well at all, with most characters being absolutely boring or mishandled.
But again: I was wrong in claiming that the solicitations do that – because they don't, really.
I don't feel I'm 100% prejudging the content of a comic not out for four months. I'm basing my feelings on how this book has previously handled such introductions, which worries me.
My 'complaints' (which really is too harsh a word, but I know the internet/written text has a way of making it look like what you're saying is super-serious ) are with how this series overall is relying on character introductions, not on substance – and how I thought that was being reflected in the way they try to sell this book. But again, I've been proven wrong on that.
If a book is good, it's good. I have no problem picking up issues of this comic, but being burned by RID before (after continuing to support it financially for a long time, just hoping it would get better), it's no longer an impulse buy for me, and I'll wait for some reviews before I decide to pick up new issues. This series is probably not for me – and more power to the people who are in love with RID, because that way, with two consecutive series, everybody gets what they want –, but you can be sure I'll buy and read any RID issue if it's good, whether it keeps throwing in new characters into the mix or not.
I'm not sure if the introduction of Waspinator, Rattrap and BW Megatron (good catch Knightdramon!!) is because fans wanted it, you're probably right that it simply connects with what Hasbro is doing toywise.
We've been told from numerous interviews that Hasbro is actually pretty laidback when it comes to demanding things in the IDW comics, but that doesn't mean they won't request stuff – especially since the strength of franchises is more and more determined not just by a good quality main product, but by the overall experience (in Hasbro's case: not just the toys…but the movies, cartoons and comics as well).
In order to get maximum success/awareness/profit, they probably want(ed) to align all their products. That's why there's the 'aligned' continuity, and probably why upcoming Generations deluxes will have interconnected comics. And how about the current event in the Transformers Legends card game, that connects back to Beast Hunters?
We've already seen that BW Megatron is getting a toy, and Waspinator we've seen as at least a targetmaster for Cyberverse Starscream, after being present in Spotlight: Thundercracker (and upcoming RID issue).
I have the feeling there will be more Beast Wars era products coming from Hasbro in the upcoming line. And right now it makes perfect sense to use them in the comic's story. I am vocal about my disappointment in John Barber's writing, but I will admit this right away: the man is really really really really really really REALLY good at finding creative ways to tie things together – there's a reason he has a good reputation: he took the mess that was the movie comics universe and made it into a coherent whole. John Barber = continuity god. I have the feeling he will tie it all together into something bigger. Do I want to stay around and actually read those comics? I dunno…but the idea he will come up with will probably be good in theory.
My guesses for now:
1.Ironhide's vision of the future will not come to pass, and the future will be ruled by techno-organic development.
2.Ironhide's vision WILL come true, and the mechanical Transformers will move to Gorlam Prime, while Cybertron is slowly turning into a techno-organic world (thanks to the reset, and the influx of NAILS who have evolved into different shapes than the 'regular' Autobots and Decepticons).
Since I was busy checking up facts I got wrong for the solicitations, I found out a couple ones that mention that Cybertron will change and evolve (like RID #11 'The next stage of Cybertronian evolution begins here!'). Hinting to Megatron's plan of turning everybody into combiners? Or hinting at something else?
It is. Don't get me wrong, I love seeing characters I like. That was never the problem for me.