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IDW Transformers #12 Review

Date: Wednesday, September 18th 2019 8:45pm CDT
Categories: Comic Book News, Reviews
Posted by: william-james88

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Views: 27,145

IDW brought Transformers comics in a whole new spotlight starting with "Chaos Theory", followed by the "Death of Optimus Prime" and two new titles giving fans a wider breadth of the lore in a post war world. It brought a lot of fans into the fold. Roughly eight years have since passed, time marched on, fans slowly left through attrition and another completely fresh relaunch happened.

Now six months in, how's it been going? Well, Transformers fans are discussing X-Men comics instead and some of us aren't even really X-Men fans.

Since part of the goal here is to review Transformers #12, let's do that. The dialogue can get really grating in it's unnatural feel with lines like "We do not need to take this home with us. Home. If that is what it still is. We'll find out, I suppose." which feels more like it was written by Thundercracker for one of his films. Then there are just really excruciating sentences to read, filled to the brim with boredom, like these panels.



Everything isn't terrible, because seeing more Nautica is welcome and it's very fun to see Road Rage at all, in any capacity. Outside of a couple of fun interactions they're either world-building through exposition or doing just enough token actions to move the issue's "chase" plot forward. Ultimately, they're chasing an alien who planted a bomb, which is very similar to the oversimplified notions of radicalized insurgents we see in other fiction when trying to mirror aspects of the war on terror.

This brief interaction with an alien species reminds me of a problem that plagues the series and the various side plots dealing with alien/organic species and their politics. Why would we care about Transformers playing tightrope politics with random space aliens? We might if there were characters of said races helping out the Transformers or in direct conflict with them as a means of framing some wider message about expansionism or xenophobia or just the wonders of the unknown. This series really wants you to think it's doing that, even going out of its way with the first page of this issue being an info dump on random space alien species and some of the boring political climate surrounding them (now I know what those people felt when given reading material before seeing David Lynch's Dune on the big screen). However, the fact that little time is spent with the aliens overall make them feel more like a nuisance to the story rather than complimenting it.



What was enjoyable though was the notion that all mechanical creations have a mind, some are simply more basic than others and Nautica interacting with a bomb was probably the highlight of the issue. That complimented the Transformers mythos.

The goal of this issue seemed to be to introduce Nautica and Road Rage as a pair, not necessarily a romantic one, and it continues a general theme that's echoed throughout this series of recapturing the idea from the previous comics of fun relationships some bots have with eachother, without yet producing anything truly great. None of the pairs or interactions here are even close to Megatron and Rodimus from the previous series, for instance. Instead, with the partnerships we have seen, like Orion Pax and Megatron, Bumblebee and Windblade, Prowl and Chromia, the characters can be switched at random and aside from the change in political status (oh joy!) there would be little change to how they act with eachother.



For once I have no issues with the art. Sara Pitre-Durocher is on art duties here and she gives us a wonderful looking issue. She did a great job without a lot to work with. Colourist Joana Lafuente complimented the line art perfectly and all bots look as they should. I really like seeing the Road Rage MP toy used as a basis here for a smoother design and Nautica looks as great as you'd hope with her being the star of the issue.

The covers are easily the best part of this issue, they all look phenomenal. The main cover is handled by Alex Milne. The other covers are handled by Andrew Griffith and Jeffrey Veregge. You can also find all the cover images, full credits for the issue and a list of all the characters that appear in the book through our Vector Sigma Database page for Transformers #12.





The issue wasn't terrible but there was nothing in it I cared much for aside from the way the characters were drawn and that bit about all mechanical beings/inventions able to talk to eachother at a basic level. It made me appreciate how good my fridge has been to me, always being on the task, keeping my food cold and bacteria free.



The part that really works against this issue though is that it's technically an arc closer. Yeah, it doesn't feel like it in the slightest and will make for an odd first trade/hardcover, but that's what IDW chose to do. This makes it an odd issue to use to look back on the run so far, though I did try to cover that in my review. In the end, I am not enjoying this series much. The Transformers civil war offered us some great moments, the post war stories were on another level, but this pre war stuff is the most boring run I have ever read in any comic. And I worked in a comic store for years, reading everything I could. None of it is outrageously bad though, just uneventful and unengaging and I am not sure if that is worse or not.



You can pick it up at the Seibertron.com eBay store or at your local shop, check here to find the closest shop to you.

Full Preview for Issue 12 of IDW's Transformers Featuring Nautica

Date: Wednesday, September 18th 2019 2:49am CDT
Category: Comic Book News
Posted by: Stargrave | Credit(s): Graphic Policy

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Views: 23,736

Arriving in comic shops today is issue 12 of the ongoing IDW Transformers title and thanks to Graphic Policy we have the full preview. In this issue we see the introduction of long time fan favorite Nautica, seen here as a xeno-relations expert. Not sold yet? Enjoy the full preview below and see if it motivates you to get out to your local comic shop to get your issue today. You'll have your choice of covers too with cover A by the awesome Alex Milne, cover B by the amazing Andrew Griffith with colors by titanic Thomas Deer, and the retailer incentive cover by jamming Jeffrey Veregge.

Share your thoughts in the forum and as always stay tuned to Seibertron for the ultimate in Transformers news!

Here's the summary from Graphic's Policy:
"Out in the vast galaxy, Cybertronian explorers encounter all manner of beings—some friendly and some in stern opposition to Cybertronian expansion. When relations start to crumble and violence is threatened, there’s only one bot to turn to—Nautica, head of xeno-relations."

Next Chapter of Takara Tomy Manga for Selects King Poseidon Released

Date: Tuesday, September 10th 2019 6:58pm CDT
Categories: Comic Book News, Toy News
Posted by: D-Maximal_Primal | Credit(s): Snakas Blog

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Views: 27,954

Thanks to Snakas Blog, we have word that the next chapter of the King Poseidon manga is now available to read! The manga, which continues the adventures seen here, picks up with Star Convoy, based on his upcoming Takara Selects figure, doing battle with the assembling Seacons and the combined King Poseidon form. Important to note is that King Poseidon is based on his Masterforce depiction, where the limbs were just drones and not individuals and showed up in bulk mostly just to be destroyed.

The below manga is in Japanese, but we can expect some sort of translation in the coming days.

Check it out below, and let us know what you think in the comments section below!

Andrew Griffith Cover for IDW Transformers #12 Revealed

Date: Tuesday, September 10th 2019 6:50pm CDT
Category: Comic Book News
Posted by: D-Maximal_Primal | Credit(s): Andrew Griffith, IDW

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Views: 18,624

Thanks to IDW artist Andrew Griffith, we have a glimpse at one of the alternate covers for the upcoming IDW Transformers #12. The cover, which was done by Griffith, features Nautica in her favorite element: the deep sea, and very clearly enjoying herself.

Issue 12 of the IDW Transformers ongoing is set to be released within the next 2 weeks, and will star Nautica, marking her as another IDW 2005 original character that crosses over and plays some sort of major role in the new series.

You can check out the cover by Griffith below, and let us know what you think of it in the comments section below!

Apple Books Preview Three Page Preview for IDW Transformers Issue 12

Date: Monday, September 9th 2019 1:21pm CDT
Category: Comic Book News
Posted by: Stargrave | Credit(s): Apple Books Preview

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Just in from Apple books preview is a three page preview for IDW's Transformers issue #12! Here we get some insight to this incarnation of fan favorite Nautica, both from her internal narrative and an interaction with Starscream. Here's the description from Apple:

Transformers #12
Brian Ruckley & Sara Pitre-Durocher

Pre-Order
Expected Sep 18, 2019
$3.99
"Out in the vast galaxy, Cybertronian explorers encounter all manner of beings—some friendly and some in stern opposition to Cybertronian expansion. When relations start to crumble and violence is threatened, there’s only one bot to turn to—Nautica, head of xeno-relations."

Are you one of the Nauticons out there who are excited to see her return? Are you a fan of the new line art by artist Sara Pitre-Durocher? Enjoy the preview and let us know your thoughts in the forum, and as always stay tuned to Seibertron for the ultimate in Transformers news!

IDW Transformers: Galaxies #1 Review

Date: Saturday, September 7th 2019 1:12pm CDT
Categories: Comic Book News, Reviews
Posted by: ScottyP

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Views: 24,290

A brief editorial note: while most of our comics reviews are published just around an issue's day of release, IDW Publishing provided Seibertron.com with an advanced review copy of this book. The release date for this comic book is September 25th, 2019.


The first expansion of IDW Publishing's 2019 relaunch is set to arrive soon with Transfomers: Galaxies #1 providing a first look into both the Constructicons as well as this new ongoing anthology series. Many readers dissatisfied with the pacing of Transformers "bold new era" have found themselves already looking for something else new for a monthly Transformers comic fix. Will this first four issue arc fill this need for Transformers fans? In a word, yes. Read on to find out more!


One of the primary challenges in creating a combiner team is clearly defining each character within the team while not relying on shallow archetypes to prop up a member or three. With limited page space as an additional challenge, Galaxies takes an approach here that provides the basics of each member in a no-nonsense head shot sequence that's great for those not already generally familiar with the Constructicons. The basics are more-or-less faithful to their original incarnations, but it's a smart move to present said basics close to the start as new readers are less likely to have familiarity with a 35 year old cartoon with each passing day.


Hook and Scrapper are the stars of the first issue and are no doubt the characters with the most depth realized after 20 pages. Their interactions and conversations also help build up the definition of one another and I was left with a sense that these two have been very close for a very long time. Contrasting actions and reactions leave the reader with a clear idea of who these two are and what their place is within the larger unit that is the Constructicons. Long Haul and Bonecrusher have supplementary moments as well that provide substance to their personalities, leaving Mixmaster and Scavenger to fight for panels and dialogue. While these two aren't totally ignored by any means, there's not much to them here yet, but what is provided is enough to give me faith that this is merely a consequence of this being one issue out of four rather than an indication of what to expect in the future.


One thing that may be daunting to new readers is that this is part of a wider universe, regardless of the fact that said wider universe is only 11 issues and four months deep at the moment. These fears can thankfully be disregarded. While characters already seen in Transformers do appear, the nature of their presentation within this story is handled in a way that requires absolutely zero prior knowledge of their other exploits. In fact, I would go so far as to say that Termagax's prior appearances are enhanced and now mean more to me than they did upon my initial readings of her chat with Megatron over in Transformers #8. The interplay between the books is subtle enough that it manages to have importance while not at all being an obstacle to a new reader's enjoyment of the story.


Listeners of our Twincast Podcast interview with writer Tyler Bleszinski and artist Livio Ramondelli will recall their mention of the collaborative process used to bring this story to life. This really shows throughout with both the layouts and actions shown in the artwork supplementing the dialogue and vice versa. I can say without hesitation that Galaxies #1 is up there with Ramondelli's best work on Transformers and might possibly be his finest hour to date. While the sense of scale, lighting and coloring are what readers have come to expect, much of the line work is extremely crisp and suits these characters appropriately. The facial expressions are spot on, even on characters like Scrapper and Wheeljack without a true "mouth" to supplement their emotion. The letter work from Tom B. Long is exemplary as always, with a particular sequence featuring all six Constructicons on the page simultaneously using a dash of color within the speech bubbles to help the dialogue and art with their clear conveyance of precisely who's doing the speaking.

On covers, there are six available but most folks will only have two choices, those being the Livio Ramondelli A Cover featured in this review's news story thumbnail and the Nick Roche and Josh Burcham B Cover. George Caltsoudas provides a highly stylized 10 copy incentive cover with Casey Coller and Burcham chipping in with a tougher to get 25 copy incentive cover. Retailer exclusives are out in force as well, with both still available for preorder as of this writing! For the Clayton Crain Scorpion Comics exclusive click here, or look here for the Torpedo Comics Livio Ramondelli exclusive. Both are limited to 500 copies. As always, you can also find all the cover images, full credits for the issue and a list of all the characters that appear in the book through our Vector Sigma Database page for Transformers: Galaxies #1.


Transformers: Galaxies #1 does most everything that a first issue can do and does it well. An easy introduction to the characters provides an accessible path into this new Transformers universe and the final page hook (no pun intended) throws a curve ball that makes you want to read more without feeling dishonest or random. While I did find one page featuring Termagax and Wheeljack a bit slow its place in the issue is still deserving and it helped to clarify their perspectives on the other events witnessed. The fact that Scavenger really doesn't get much characterization keeps me from putting a perfect score on this one, but that's probably due to the fact that it's a first issue and my generally being stingy with said perfect scores moreso than anything else.

Transformers: Galaxies #1 is the finest work delivered so far in IDW's Transformers relaunch and provides great entertainment for both old-timers and anyone brand new to these comics. Look out for this issue on September 25th where you can pick it up at the Seibertron.com eBay store or at your local shop, check here to find the closest shop to you.

IDW Transformers Ghostbusters Ghosts of Cybertron Part 4 Review

Date: Wednesday, September 4th 2019 8:22pm CDT
Categories: Comic Book News, Reviews, Site Articles
Posted by: D-Maximal_Primal | Credit(s): IDW Publishing

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Views: 54,079

Just when you thought Grimlock saying he ain't afraid of no ghost was the highlight of the series, issue 4 comes along. Issue 4 of 5 takes us to the setting of the climax of the series, and with crossovers such as this, issue 4 truly is one of the most important: it needs to set up the finale and make you care and get you all excited for the finale.

And the Ghostbusters did not disappoint. All 6 of them.



One of the best things about this issue had to be the addition of Optimus Prime to the Ghostbusting crew. And we aren't talking about a Prime who is boring, who gives big heroic speeches, who monologues a lot, and who is fairly monotone. No, what we get here is a Prime from the original cartoon that plays basketball and cracks wise. It was refreshing and really fun to read Prime interacting with the Ghostbusters, especially with Venkman. It felt different in a great way and he contributed greatly to the story.

Oh and he gets of the best line of the series. Seriously, if you don't enjoy that last page, can you ever truly love anything?



Ectotron and the Ghostbusters also get their share of time, and this issue solidifies just how good of a team they are becoming, and also how disgusting us humans can truly be sometimes. Their chemistry is enjoyable, and Ectotron's first time out with the Proton Pack went about as expected, and it was enjoyable and entertaining all the while.



We also get to the crux of the story regarding what happened to the Decepticons, and who the mysterious red hooded figure is, and it's enjoyable. It's a bit straightforward, but sometimes you just need that.

That is a place where this crossover really shines: it isn't world ending serious, it is light-hearted, upbeat, and fun. You have quippy characters that make sense and fit into the theme of the series. It's a comedy action comic, and the whole tone of the series has followed that theme perfectly.

It's a very enjoyable series, and Issue 4 continues that trend.



Art duties fall to Dan Schoening, Luis Antonio Delgado, and Tom B. Long on art, colors, and lettering respectively, and they are a great trio that bring this comic to life in a wonderful way.

The ghosts continue to be wonderful brought to life(?), and the Kremzeeks in the issue are wonderful too. The team truly does a great job of bringing both of these strange and interesting concepts to life and making you enjoy what you are seeing as your are reading. It's quite a good look!



They also do a wonderful job of bringing the backgrounds to life, and this is the most evident in the scene whenever Kremzeek first shows up. The bright sunny day quickly changing over to a dreadful foggy scene was awesome, and the maintaining of this scenery was great too. No matter what part of the panel you are looking at, you get some awesome living characters, ghosts, and backgrounds. The art crew has done a great job, and this issue was the highlight of the background scenery part of that art.



Ghosts of Cybertron has been a great, enjoyable series. This is what a crossover can do when it follows a fun, light-hearted tone that allows its characters to interact in fun ways that still fit within their characterizations. It is great!

I have greatly enjoyed all 4 issues so far, and with the final panel of this issue, I am all set and excited for the conclusion. This crew of 6 meshes together wonderfully, and it makes me yearn for more of this kind of crossover. The Ghostbusters and the Transformers make for a great gang with great chemistry, and I could not be happier with how things have been going.

Alright guys, let's finish the job strong!

IDW Transformers Galaxies Constructicons Rising Issue 1 Full Preview

Date: Sunday, September 1st 2019 9:13pm CDT
Category: Comic Book News
Posted by: Stargrave | Credit(s): CBR.com

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Views: 24,401

Thanks to a new article posted today to CBR.com we have a full preview for the exciting new chapter in the new IDW Transformers universe, Transformers Galaxies #1 by writer Tyler Bleszinski and artist Livio Ramondelli!

Here we get the introduction to "Constructicons Rising" and get an idea of how our favorite goons in green fit into the rest of the ongoing story. Enjoy the previews below and make sure to hit up your local comic book shop for a pre order for this title which ships in just a few weeks on September 25th.

If you don't know where your local comic shop is you can find one here at comicshoplocator.com.

Here's the rundown from the listing:
"Cover A: Livio Ramondelli
Tyler Bleszinski (w), Livio Ramondelli (a & c)
Cybertron, a planet of vast beauty and extraordinary cities, wasn’t always so perfect. After the War Against the Threefold Spark, Cybertron was decimated, and new bots—the Constructicons—emerged to help rebuild it grander and more amazing than ever before. But where are these bots now? Why have they been erased from Cybertron’s history? And what are they planning to do about it? Find out in “Constructicons Rising,” Part One!
Written by one of the founders of Vox Media, Tyler Bleszinski!
An all-new series set in-universe, exploring the many characters and ideas in the Transformers galaxy!
A spotlight on the Constructicons and their ultimate destructive form—Devastator!
The bold new era continues!
Exploring the Transformers universe beyond Cybertron!
FC | 32 pages | $3.99"

IDW Transformers Galaxies All Constructicon Tech Specs Profiles Posted

Date: Sunday, September 1st 2019 11:17am CDT
Category: Comic Book News
Posted by: Stargrave | Credit(s): IDW/Tyler Bleszinski/Livio Ramondelli on Twitter

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Thanks to Twitter posts from IDW, series writer Tyler Bleszinski, and series artist Livio Ramondelli we have the tech spec profiles for all the new IDW Constructicons! These give some awesome flavor and backstory to these great characters who have been staples of the franchise for 35 years. Enjoy reading up on the bot with the plan Scrapper, the new and insecure (yet utterly valuable) Scavenger, the lofty Hook, stalwart and powerful Long Haul, the chemical genius Mixmaster, and the probably insane Bonecrusher.

The first issue of Transformers: Galaxies: Constructicons Rising is scheduled to ship this month! Be sure to pre-order your issue as soon as possible at your local comic shop. Pre-ordering is a huge help to the title and ensures you'll get your copy as soon as possible. You can find your local comic shop by going to comicshoplocator.com.

Do you love these G1 style tech specs? Publishers such as Marvel and DC have in the past gathered up character profiles in single special editions or even series of issues. Would you enjoy seeing something like this for all the new IDW Transformers characters to get caught up? Do you prefer learning about characters as stories unfold in the regular titles? Are you crazy excited about Transformers: Galaxies: Constructicons rising? Sound off in the forum and be sure to stay tuned to Seibertron for the ultimate in Transformers news!

IDW Transformers Galaxies Constructicons Rising Profile Tech Specs for Mixmaster and Scrapper

Date: Friday, August 30th 2019 9:22pm CDT
Category: Comic Book News
Posted by: Stargrave | Credit(s): IDW on Twitter

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Views: 37,095

Thanks to a few new posts to IDW's Twitter we have two new Constructicon profiles for you to enjoy. This round gives us the master at the turn tables and the chemistry lab, the Mixmaster, and the man with the plan, the chief engineer who the rest of the team fears, Scrapper! These profile cards are very much in the vein of the classic tech spec file cards that came with all the G1 bots that gave each character a distinct personality and power rating. These are definitely a fun lead up to the Transformers: Galaxies series debuting next month. Galaxies is written by Tyler Bleszinski with art duties handled by longtime Transformers artist Livio Ramondelli.

Enjoy the views and be sure to share your favorite Constructicon and Devastator memories with us in the forum. As always stay tuned to Seibertron for the ultimate in Transformers news!