Transformers: The IDW Collection rolls into Volume 2 of Phase Three, gathering this batch of titles for a scheduled March 29, 2022 release date: Till All Are One issues #9–12 by Mairghread Scott and Sara Pitre-Durocher, Transformers: Optimus Prime issues #1–6 by John Barber, Kei Zama, and Alex Milne, and Transformers: Lost Light issues #1–7 by James Roberts and Jack Lawrence. Secure your Amazon pre-order for this hardcover here, then sound off on the 2005 boards!
The fate of Cybertron lies in the hands of Starscream and Windblade as each tries to win allies and support for control over the Council of Worlds. After the costly victory against the Titans, Iacon is in shambles and Starscream finds himself on shakier ground than ever. The key to his political (and likely literal) survival rests in the outcome of a very unlikely event: the trial of the Council’s first official war criminal–Chromia of Caminus!
Revolution is over—but the danger to Earth is just beginning. As Optimus Prime pulls Earth into the larger universe, he’s painted a target on it… and a new alien incursion begins when a corkscrew shaped craft drills into our world!
Plus, follow the adventures of the crew of the Lost Light! In the aftermath of Revolution, Rodimus and his crew are stranded with no ship–and no hope of escape!
Predakwon
I got mine on Monday (along with the Captain Britain Omni)
AzT
https://twitter.com/SaraLePew/status/1513957221662666755
NoiseMaker
So Volume 2 is delayed until April 5th in th UK (at least) now?
Anyone know if this the general release date delayed or just UK?
Predakwon
If I was a gambling man, I'd bet on "No". Apr is the next volume and even that could be delayed. Phase 3 Vol. 1 came out in Nov 2021, and they don't have the license in Nov 2022 for Vol.3, right?
I'd love for another HC, but it is what it is.
zelse
Since this one is going to be released and there isn't another one announced. I guess we're not getting anymore?
Q Prime
TFWiki has an article on them, but the short of it is that it reprints almost every Transformers comic set in a G1 universe released up to 2019 (aside from a couple of crossovers, prose stories, and one of the Marvel UK Christmas specials). The IDW stories are presented in a pseudo-chronological way, which can sometimes be a bit odd. You also get a big picture if you allign all of the spines. TFWiki's page it is more comprehensive, so I'd reccomwnd reading that.
Blackarachnia1996
Awesome, great to hear there are alternatives! I’m pretty interested in the UK G1 Definitive collected volumes… does anybody have those that can shed some light on their presentation, reading order etc?
Shepard Prime
Wouldn't be a bad thing. One of the things that I dig about the HCs is the restructured reading order. But once LL, Optimus Prime etc kicks in, there isn't as much overlap between the main series (especially LL) and can be read in TPB. I have the first two phases complete with the HC editions, which is my favorite of the IDW continuity anyways so picking and choosing the rest of the way to Unicron in TPB would be fine.
Don't get me wrong, I prefer they finish the set, just saying I can live with the rest being TPB.
NoiseMaker
I was given Unicron for Xmas last year, so I'm pretty sure theyre all in TPB. Ive already got em digitally, but its not the same as the hardbacks. Will be so pissed if they dont get to finish it. Was the best continuity all in all
Q Prime
The Polish version of the definitive collection ran up till volume 80 (requiem of the wreckers), they finished the IDW continuity in volume 88 in the UK release.l.
Blackarachnia1996
Were the rest of the stories that came after the events from P3V2 printed in TPB form? I have a feeling if I want collected copies of the rest I’ll need to switch over to those…
How far along did they get with this? I take it they never finished the IDW G1 continuity?
Q Prime
Well, looking at the cancellation (or rather lack of extension) for the definitive collection from Poland, these are my best way to finish IDW (unless I'm able to grab UK issues 81-100)
Shepard Prime
Possibly. Some companies have that kind of deal in place.
Blackarachnia1996
So we should have gotten a pre-order for volume 3 by now… I’m fearful they’re going to scrap these.
Can IDW still release collected volumes even if they no longer hold the license, as long as it’s not new material?
NoiseMaker
Same here – I've been really looking forward to completing the full continuity. Some of the art towards the end of the run is the best we've had.
I bought em all digitally, and i guess there is the option of the trades – but they are nothing compared to the hardbacks.
Been wanting to see Kei Zama's art on actual paper…
Moos Crew
I hope you are right!
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I have a burning desire to finish the set
Girl Pants
17 issues feels like a lot in one book. Maybe I'm forgetting how many where in the earlier P1/P2 volumes, but this feels bigger.
I'd assume if they wanted to trim it down to it's minimum they could just finish it out with only the remainder of LL, OP, and Unicron – which would be ~40 issues which you could split over 2-3 volumes. Although it'd be nice to get stuff like Wreckers 3, ROM vs TF, Visionaries vs TF, etc in there too as they do ultimately tie in. Honestly, even if they had all the time in the world I don't think putting in every single Hasbroverse book would have been a great idea, even if they did star the odd TF here and there.
zelse
I really wish they would do the work and and put out all books every 2 months like you said. They have been very slow with these. So I won't be surprised if they come up short. I've wondered why they where so slow in putting these out.
NoiseMaker
I worked it out to be about 8 books for all of phase 3 a good while ago, including all the relevant cross overs… i dont think we're gonna be able to get them all, if they wont be allowed to publish after the license is up. Wonder how hard is could be for them to ratchet up the schedule of release to get em all out by a year?
Edit: after volume 2, it would have to be a new hardack every 2 months to finish in march 23
The 14th prime
So with IDW about to lose the license are we even going to get the rest of the hardcovered collections. They'd probably be able to sneak in one more before next year 2 if theyre lucky.