List of minor Transformers comics

"Note: This article is about minor Transformers comic books. Please see List of Transformers comic book series for more information about the fictional universes told in Marvel, Dreamwave and IDW's published comic books."

Publishers

Benchpress Comics

In spring 1999, new publisher Benchpress Comics proudly announced the acquisition of the rights to produce new G.I. Joe and Transformers comics. The plan was to release two Transformers monthly series, one would feature the Generation 1 cast of characters while a second title would focus on "Beast Wars". Benchpress went bankrupt before even one issue was published.

Blackthorne Publishing

In 1987, Blackthorne Publishing released "The Transformers in 3-D", a comic book series that ran separately from the Marvel Transformers comic book series. As part of Blackthorne's larger 3-D series, these comics featured red/blue art that created a three-dimensional effect when read with red-blue glasses. The series only ran for three issues, with 28 pages per issue. The comic was not widely distributed, which makes them very rare collector's items.

The series is set in the post-"" era, as it features characters like Galvatron and Ultra Magnus. Other characters featured include Optimus Prime, Ironhide, Cosmos, Cyclonus, Razorclaw, Ratbat, Scorponok, Octane and the Quintessons. [ [http://www.electric-escape.net/tf/comics/Blackthorne Blackthorne Publishing (Transformers In 3-D) ] ]

Devil's Due Publishing

With Devil's Due Publishing having experienced much success with their revived G.I Joe series, and Dreamwave Productions launching their Transformers series to huge sales both companies agreed to a crossover. However, rather than an intercompany promotion, both companies produced their own six-issue mini-series detailing a crossover between the two franchises. A second series from both companies followed in late 2004, but Dreamwave's loss of the licence prevented Devil's Due from using any of the Transformers after this. However, when IDW Publishing acquired the licence further crossovers following on from the first two series were approved.

G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers

Unlike previous efforts to bring the two properties together, the Devil's Due story, written by company president Josh Blaylock and illustrated by Mike S. Miller, takes place in an alternate present day where Cobra, just rising to prominence, has uncovered the Ark. Cobra removes the deactivated Transformers found inside and adapts them into Cobra assault vehicles( e.g., Optimus Prime, Ironhide and Ratchet are converted into Cobra HISS tanks). G.I. Joe is formed to stop Cobra and receives unexpected help from Wheeljack and Bumblebee, who managed to avoid being taken by Cobra. When the Transformers eventually break free, G.I Joe are forced to battle the Autobots, Decepticons and Cobra in order to stop a malfunctioning satellite weapons system and prevent the detonation of a nuclear device reacting with Energon to destroy them all. One notable difference is the origin of G.I. Joe: in the mainstream universe, G.I. Joe was formed to counter the Cobra Organisation. In this universe, it is formed in direct response to the advent of the Transformers and Cybertronian technology.

G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers 2

The second four-issue mini-series, written by Dan Jolley and drawn by Tim Seeley and E.J. Su, was a follow-up to the first story. Cobra was shattered in the first series, but Cobra Commander survived, and recruits Destro in order to help him steal the ultimate prize - Teletran-3 itself. As they are discovered by the Joes and transported to Cybertron and an accident causes several Joes and members of Cobra to be accidentally transported to Cybertron. The accident also pulls several Transformers to Earth as well as scattering them through time. The Joes and Cobra must travel into the past and future to retrieve the missing Autobots and Decepticons before the Earth is destroyed. This is complicated by the fact that most of Cybertron is under the control of the Decepticon Shockwave, who is waiting for them to return.

G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers 3: The Art of War

A five-issue series written by Seeley and drawn by Joe Ng (with help from James Raiz and Alex Milne), followed on from the events of the previous two series. Here, it is revealed that parts from Megatron have been used to create a reimagined version of the classic G.I Joe villain Serpentor. Freed by a Cobra raid, Serpentor travels to Cybertron and gathers a massive Decepticon army to seize the ultimate source of power - the Autobot Matrix of Leadership. With Cybertron itself hanging in the balance a disparate group of Joes and Autobots must unite to stop Serpentor.

G.I. Joe vs the Transformers 4: Black Horizon

A two-part series (written by Seeley and drawn by Andrew Wildman) that followed on from the end of "The Art of War". Hawk, now resigned from G.I. Joe in protest over the Serpentor debacle, has teamed up with a group of Autobots under Prowl to stop the spread of Cybertronian technology on Earth. However they are unaware that a bigger threat looms - the unholy alliance of Cobra-La and Unicron. Now Hawk, Optimus Prime, the Autobots and G.I Joe must unite to stop this threat to all mankind - if they can avoid Bludgeon's team of Decepticon mercenaries. The series consists of two double sized issues.

According to writer Seeley, the plot of "Black Horizon" is the one he initially wanted to use for "The Art of War", but was turned down by Hasbro, leading to the use of a reimagined Serpentor instead. The series' format was also changed from four regular issues to two double-sized issues, as Hasbro wanted to avoid competition with the 2007 Movie tie-in comics. [ [http://comicnewsi.com/article.php?catid=159&itemid=9230 Tim Seeley Talks G.I. Joe Vs Transformers IV: Black Horizon - Comics News, Reviews & Discussions ] ]

"See also Devil's Due's G.I. Joe vs. Transformers section in G.I. Joe (Comic)."

Hasbro mini-comics

A mini-comic that was packaged with various series of toys, and printed in various languages. The comics told small side stories relating to the premise of the associated toyline and exist in their own continuities.

Optimus Primal/Megatron - "Beast Wars"

An eight-page mini-comic that was sold with the Optimus Primal/bat and Megatron/crocodile Beast Wars toys.

As with all early Beast Wars toy marketing, the mini-comic establishes that the Maximals and Predacons are on present-day Earth. This contradicts the time-travel story later set by the Beast Wars television series and toy descriptions.

The mini-comic features appearances by Optimus Primal, Megatron, Cheetor, Razorbeast, Waspinator, and Tarantulas, but only Optimus and Megatron have speaking parts. [ [http://www.electric-escape.net/tf/comics/Hasbro/Beast-Wars Optimus Primal/Megatron Mini-Comic - "Beast Wars" ] ]

"Transformers: Armada"

A four-part series that was released throughout the Armada toyline. The series was produced by the same team that started on Dreamwave's "Transformers: Armada" comic: story by Chris Saccarini and pencils by James Raiz. However, it was not in the same continuity as Dreamwave's official title. The first 2 volumes were printed in English, Spanish, and French.

The story started out aimed at a younger audience, but matured somewhat over time. Volume 1 features Optimus Prime, Megatron (just mentioned), Hot Shot, Jolt, Cyclonus and Crumplezone. Volume 2 introduces Scavenger and Rollbar vs. the Mini-Con Destruction Team and Starscream. The third volume features the Mini-Con Air Defense Team who are captured by Galvatron before being rescued by Optimus Prime and Jetfire in their combined mode. In the final volume Optimus Prime, Overload, and Roll Out face off against Galvatron who cmbines with Tidal Wave. All are surprised by Unicron.

Each volume also contained an illustrated list of Armada toys available at the time.

"Transformers: Energon"

This four-part series was released throughout the Energon toyline.

Convention Comics & Official Transformers Collectors Club Newsletter Comics

The yearly official Transformers convention (under assorted ownership through the years) and Official Collectors Club [ [http://www.transformersclub.com/ The Official Transformers Collectors' Club ] ] have had comics printed as convention merchandise and an ongoing comic series within the official fan club newsletter. The comics were "Tales from the Beast Wars" (2 issues), "Transformers: The Wreckers" (3 issues) and "" (3 issues). With the licence acquired by Fun Publications they have issued a new series of comics called "Transformers: Timelines", a series of standalone tales set in existing universes and alternate ones. The most recent BotCon tale, Timelines: Dawn of Futures Past, acting as a prequel to the Beast Wars, was distributed generally by Diamond in November 2006. The next Timelines tale will also be distributed generally through Diamond in July 2007. [http://www.transformersclub.com/]

The current "Transformers: Cybertron" comic is included with the Collectors Club newsletter, which comes bi-monthly and is stapled in with the Master Collector's monthly magazine. There are six pages to the comic in every newsletter. This equals a full issue by the end of the year with 36 pages in six months. The full strips from the last two years were distributed by IDW in April as "Transformers Cybertron: Balancing Act".

The 2008 comic take place in the "Shattered Glass" universe, in which Classics Cliffjumper is hurled into an alternate reality where the Decepticons are good while the Autobots are evil tyrants.

Panini Comics

Panini Comics published a "" comic in the UK in 2003 aimed at younger readers which lasted nine issues. It was written by Simon Furman. The comics included backing stories (also by Furman) called "Tales of the Mini-Cons" which spotlighted those characters. [ [http://www.electric-escape.net/tf/comics/Panini Panini (Transformers: Armada) ] ]

Titan Magazines

To coincide with the release of the 2007 movie, Titan Magazines are producing a new UK monthly title called "Transformers"; the first issue went on sale on July 27 2007. The book contains a ten-page original lead strip, and reprints six or seven pages per issue of IDW's movie prequels and "Beast Wars: The Gathering". It is edited by Steve White, who also worked for Marvel UK's Transformers title; the UK strips are written by Simon Furman. Artists have included Geoff Senior and Nick Roche, and are to include Andrew Wildman, Don Figueroa and Nick Roche, with Guido Guidi and Marcelo Matere confirmed on issues 5 and 6. [ [http://transfans.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=6341 TransFans.net | View topic - TF UK COMIC ] ] [ [http://seibertron.com/news/view.php?id=9752 TF UK Comic - New Details Revealed ] ] [ [http://seibertron.com/news/view.php?id=9742 More Information about the New UK Transformers Comic ] ] [ [http://www.myspace.com/transformerscomicuk MySpace.com - Transformers Comic UK - 27 - Garçon - UK - www.myspace.com/transformerscomicuk ] ]

The UK original strips open each issue and tie into the continuity of . Each one focuses mainly on one character and is titled after them. The first two stories - "Optimus Prime" and "Megatron" - focused on Optimus sending the Allspark into space to keep it out of Megatron's hands (fighting Decepticon assassins in the process). Megatron heads after it, following his interrogation of Bumblebee in the movie prequel, and Jazz, Ratchet and Ironhide attempt to stop him. He sends Devastator after them with a foldspace warhead, causing all four to be "lost in space".

Each issue comes with a free gift. #1 had dogtags with Autobot or Decepticon logos on them, #2 had removable tattoos, #3 had a keyring, which would be either the Autobots or Decepticons logo, and #4 had 4 badges.

In #13 the comic had a pull-out section for the new TV show, with news that it will soon release a Transformers: Animated Comic. It is due out near September-October time.

References

External links

* [http://www.titanmagazines.co.uk/transformers "Transformers Comic" at Titan Magazines]