An encore run of Transformers issue #2 is on deck for arrival next month:
Available in comic book shops on December 20, 2023, the new TRANSFORMERS #2 covers by Jason Howard will feature Soundwave, Cliffjumper, and an ode to the epic first appearance of iconic G.I. JOE character Duke—celebrating a massive moment in the shared Energon Universe.
Share your thoughts about the cover artwork attached to this post with fellow readers on the 2005 boards!
Creator credits: Daniel Warren Johnson (Author, Artist, Cover Artist), Mike Spicer (Cover Artist), Afu Chan (Cover Artist), Orlando Arocena (Cover Artist), Bryan Hitch (Cover Artist), Tom Reilly (Cover Artist), Jason Howard (Cover Artist)
Novaburnhilde
Luke Stark
Is there a reason why Amazon says Issue 3 of Transformers is coming out the 6th where the Skybound site as the 13th?
Dictionaryabot8407
should they all be by starscream's hand, or do you want to spread the gore?
Thundershot
So far so good…
Runamuck86
i want a human squished in every issue
Johntimus Prime
Bruh have you READ the book?
It's not 'member berries, at least not to an egregious degree. The first issue feels a lot like G1 MTMTE at first, but it quickly diverges from there and the creators have wisely chosen to focus on smaller teams instead of throwing dozens of characters at us out the gate. The art is fresh and very kinetic and the characters act as outlined in the G1 show bible.
It's what a Transformers comic SHOULD be.
Ramberk Magnus
Just don’t buy the reprints/variant covers if you don’t like them. It’s product for collectors and folks who like cool covers. Kinda like overpriced merch at a rock concert. You don’t have to buy it to enjoy the show but it’s there to help the band make money.
Omegax80
I hear you. I've also worked in the industry and found that once they start doing 3rd and 4th prints, the store only orders a handful, because the previous printings are still on the shelf. It used to be the practice to do a second printing ONLY for the reason of a print sellout at distribution level. Not retail level. But these days, reprints are becoming commonplace to contribute to the draw of having "variants" or giving collectors more to clamor over.
UltraZachnus
I understand the complaints about reprint variants. It does feel a little silly and cash grabby at times. With that being said, most shops aren’t going to order every Quintesson face variant. Maybe a customer will special order each one, but I doubt most “normal” volume comic shops aren’t grabbing multiple copies of all five faces IF they’re even ordering all five faces at all.
And as you mentioned, reprints are for when books sell out and these books are definitely moving. They wouldn’t be getting reprints if there wasn’t demand. Reprints are more common nowadays post-pandemic. Publishers are tighter with their orders ‘cos paper and printing costs are higher. They won’t do reprints just to do them. I work in a comic shop. We’ve ordered 25+ copies of EVERY issue of Void Rivals, and then a handful of reprints when they’re announced. We have ZERO copies of any previous issue in the shop right now, and if we have any of issue 5 left it’s like 2 copies. Ordering consistent quantities for a book basically never happens nowadays (last time our shop did that was for Do A Powerbomb). No previous printings of the books are available for backorder, meaning those printings are selling out (at least through Diamond Distro).
It’s gonna vary shop by shop, but both Void Rivals and Transformers have been really strong for us. As long as there’s demand, they’ll keep reprinting books. At least, until the first trade is out. They won’t reprint much after that ‘cos they’ll be pointing customers to the TPBs.
Dbussy
What are your criticisms so far? We’ve only had 2 issues which are still very much in the setup phase but it’s competently done for sure. Not any worse than the first 2 issues of a lot of comics.
Thundershot
I need that cover!
CactusReporter
The entire series is just normal Transformers stuff? I'm sorry but if you're hating on this you're quite literally just hating the core of the franchise lmao.
GAUGE
those 3 covers look soooo bad.
Why Cliffjumper look like a 4 year old toddler?
Duke has a Potatoe thing going on.
Soundwave looks… Like Sam the American Eagle.
This entire series is just Key Jangling and Seal Clapping.
cloudballoon
8 yr old me: Muwaaa……
Me since 2007: Muwhahahahahahaha
KodyCrimson
I knew he'd be back. I was just happy because he was finally out of the spotlight for a while. Plus I always get a smile from watching the golden boy getting kicked around.
Novaburnhilde
I think I rolled my eyes but I don't remember really feeling anything other than amusement because I Knew he'd be back by the end.
Johntimus Prime
I CLAPPED WHEN I SAW IT BECAUSE I KNOW TRANSFORMERS!!!!!
KodyCrimson
Honestly I cheered when I saw BB get stabbed/EMPed in ROTB.
Johntimus Prime
Okay, who input a Big Head Mode cheat code for Cliffjumper?
I kinda get why; after Hasbro finally reacquired the rights to use that name in the toy space in 2007, they've aggressively used it everywhere and anywhere since to protect their ownership of it.