Transformers Comic UK

Last updated
Transformers Comic UK
Publication information
Publisher Titan Magazines
ScheduleMonthly
Format Ongoing series
Publication date
List
  • (vol. 1)
    July 2007 – 2009
    (vol. 2)
    2009 - 2011
    (vol. 3)
    2011
    (vol. 4)
    2011 - 2014
    (vol. 5)
    June 2014 – September 2014
No. of issues75
Main character(s) Autobots
Decepticons
Creative team
Written by Simon Furman
Robin Etherington
Artist(s) Geoff Senior
Andrew Wildman
Nick Roche
Colorist(s) Robin Smith
Editor(s)Steve White
Rona Simpson

Transformers Comic was a British comic book series based on the Transformers toyline and film series, published monthly by Titan Magazines from 2007 to 2014. It initially featured strips re-printed from American comics and graphic novels, but later included original comic strips. The first issue was published in July 2007 to tie-in with the release of the Transformers feature film. The comic went through five different volumes and title changes before the final issue was published in August 2014 after a run of seven years.

Contents

Publication history

Volume 1 ran for twenty-five issues before the second volume began in 2009 to tie-in with the theatrical release of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Volume 3 began in 2011 to tie-in with the third film in the Paramount Pictures series, while a fourth volume launched soon after in conjunction with the animated series, Transformers: Prime. The fifth and final volume began publication in June 2014, coinciding with the release of the fourth Transformers film, Transformers: Age of Extinction. [1] The title was ultimately cancelled after three issues, with the final issue going on sale on 21 August 2014.

For the last few issues of Volume 1, the Transformers: Universe toy line logo was used on the cover.

Content

A typical issue of Transformers during its first volume would feature the following content:

Strips

During the first volume, the comic printed three strips per issue. These included brand new strips written by Simon Furman, whose work continued into volume 2, and some reprints such as the Beast Wars series (also by Furman) and the Movie Prequel. By volume 3, the magazine had a lower page count and only one strip, now written by Robin Etherington, was typically included in each issue.

Free gift

As is common for children's magazines in the UK, each issue came with a free cover gift. #1 had dog tags featuring either Autobot or Decepticon logos, #2 had removable tattoos, #3 had a keyring, which would be either the Autobots or Decepticons logo, and #4 had a set of four badges.

Transformers Animated Comic

In October 2009, Titan debuted a second Transformers title, based on the animated TV series Transformers: Animated. [2] However, the title would last only for three issues due to low sales. The first strip to be published in the magazine was 'Burnout' written by Simon Furman. Another strip in the first issue was an adaptation of the episode 'Blast from the Past', using stills from the show as comic panels.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Megatron</span> Fictional character from the Transformers franchise

Megatron is a fictional character and the main antagonist of the Transformers media franchise produced by American toy company Hasbro and Japanese toy company Takara Tomy. Megatron is the cruel and tyrannical leader of the Decepticons, a faction of sentient, war-mongering robotic lifeforms that seeks to conquer their home planet of Cybertron and the rest of the known universe. He serves as the archenemy of Optimus Prime, the leader of the rival Autobot faction. As with all Cybertronians, Megatron has the ability to transform between his robot form and various vehicles or weapons. His alternate modes have ranged from a Walther P38 handgun, a particle-beam weapon, a telescopic laser cannon, and a Cybertronian jet, depending on which continuity he is depicted in.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Autobot</span> Faction of sentient robots from the Transformers universe

The Autobots are the main protagonists in the fictional continuities of the Transformers multimedia franchise, and are depicted in a collection of various toys, cartoons, films, graphic novels, and paperback books first introduced in 1984. The Autobots, led by Optimus Prime, are opposed by the Decepticons, the main antagonists in the universe of the Transformers, headed by Megatron. Both Autobots and Decepticons have "sparks", which function as souls and contain their minds and personality. They can transform into machines, vehicles and other familiar mechanical objects, as well as mimic organic lifeforms (Dinobots). Autobots typically transform into cars, trucks and other road vehicles; some exceptions transform into aircraft, military vehicles, communication devices, weapons, or robotic animals. These Autobots are often grouped into special "teams" that have the suffix "-bot" at the end, such as in Dinobot.

Transformers is a media franchise produced by American toy company Hasbro and Japanese toy company Takara Tomy. It primarily follows the heroic Autobots and the villainous Decepticons, two alien robot factions at war that can transform into other forms, such as vehicles and animals. The franchise encompasses toys, animation, comic books, video games and films. As of 2011, it generated more than ¥2 trillion in revenue, making it one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simon Furman</span> Comic book writer

Simon Christopher Francis Furman is a British comic book writer who is best known for his work on Hasbro's Transformers franchise, starting with writing Marvel's initial comic book to promote the toyline worldwide, as well as foundations for both Dreamwave Production's and IDW Publishing's takes on the Generation 1 minifranchise.

There have been three main publishers of the comic book series bearing the name Transformers based on the toy lines of the same name. The first series was produced by Marvel Comics from 1984 to 1991, which ran for 80 issues and produced four spin-off miniseries. This was followed by a second volume titled Transformers: Generation 2, which ran for 12 issues starting in 1993. The second major series was produced by Dreamwave Productions from 2002 to 2004 with multiple limited series as well, and within multiple story continuities, until the company became bankrupt in 2005. The third and fourth series have been published by IDW Publishing with the third series starting with an issue #0 in October 2005 and a regular series starting in January 2006 to November 2018. The fourth series started in March 2019 with issue #1 and is currently still being produced. There are also several limited series being produced by IDW as well. In addition to these three main publishers, there have also been several other smaller publishers with varying degrees of success.

<i>Transformers: Generation 2</i> TV series or program

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Transformers Generation 2 is a comic book series based on the Transformers: Generation 2 toy line, written by Simon Furman. It was published by Marvel Comics.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Optimus Prime</span> Fictional character from the Transformers franchise

Optimus Prime, known in Japan as Convoy, is a fictional character in the Transformers franchise. The Transformers characters were developed for an American market after Hasbro representatives visited the 1983 Tokyo Toy Show. The characters were modified and the coloring was changed; notably, Optimus Prime was colored red, white, and blue. The popularity of the Transformers toys resulted in comics, movies, and a TV series.

<i>The Transformers: Stormbringer</i>

The Transformers: Stormbringer is a comic book mini-series, published by IDW Publishing.

<i>The Transformers</i> (Marvel Comics)

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<i>The Transformers</i> (IDW Publishing)

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Fun Publications was a publishing company that ran the Transformers Collectors Club and the G.I. Joe Collectors Club under license from Hasbro. Besides releasing comics, Fun Publications released exclusive toys and ran conventions for their clubs.

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References

  1. Freeman, John (11 July 2014). "Titan Comics Launches New UK Transformers Title". downthetubes.net. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  2. Freeman, John (6 October 2008). "Transformers Animated #1 Heads for Stores". downthetubes.net. Retrieved 29 February 2020.