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> Transformers character

Megatron is a fictional character and the main antagonist of the Transformers media franchise produced by the American toy company Hasbro and the Japanese toy company Takara Tomy. He is the tyrannical leader of the Decepticons, a villainous faction of alien robots that seeks to conquer their home planet of Cybertron and the rest of the known universe, and serves as the archenemy of Optimus Prime, the leader of the rival Autobot faction. As with all Cybertronians, Megatron can disguise himself by transforming into vehicles or weapons. His alternate modes have included a Walther P38 handgun, a particle-beam weapon, a telescopic laser cannon, a Cybertronian jet, and various tanks, depending on which continuity he is depicted in. In some continuities, his original name is D-16.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grimlock</span> Transformers character

Grimlock is the name of several fictional robot characters in the Transformers robot franchise. He is usually portrayed as the leader of the Dinobots, which are a subfaction of Autobots who can transform into metal dinosaurs. Grimlock is known for his dialogue being spoken in the third person. He appeared on screen along with other Dinobots in the fourth installment of the Transformers film series.

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

The Autobots are a fictional faction of sentient robots in the Transformers multimedia franchise. The Autobots are living robots from the planet Cybertron who, like most Transformers, are each imbued with a unique "life force" known as a "spark." Led by Optimus Prime in most stories, the Autobots believe "freedom is the right of all sentient life" and are often engaged in a civil war with the Decepticons, a faction of Transformers dedicated to military conquest and usually headed by Megatron. In a mirror universe portrayed in Transformers: Shattered Glass, the Autobots are villains opposed by the heroic Decepticons.

Transformers, is a media franchise produced by Japanese toy company Takara Tomy and American toy company Hasbro. 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.

<i>Deaths Head</i> Fictional character in Marvel Comics

Death's Head is a fictional comic book character, created by writer Simon Furman and Geoff Senior. Originally published by Marvel UK, he later appeared in comics produced by their parent company. Death's Head is a robotic bounty hunter and superhero. He has a characteristic habit of adding "yes?" to the end of his sentences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simon Furman</span> British 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 Comics'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.

<i>Transformers: Energon</i> Television series

Transformers: Energon, known in Japan as Transformers: Superlink, is a Japanese anime series which debuted on January 9, 2004. It is a direct sequel to Transformers: Armada. It is also the first Japanese Transformers show where the Transformers are computer-generated (CG), in a cel-shaded technique similar to the Zoids anime, which was a trend that would continue into the next series, Transformers: Cybertron.

There have been four 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 concluded in June 2022. There are also several limited series being produced by IDW as well. Skybound Entertainment began publishing Transformers comics starting in June 2023, kicking off the Energon Universe. In addition to these four main publishers, there have also been several other smaller publishers with varying degrees of success.

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

The Transformers: Generation 2 was a Transformers toy line that ran from 1992–1994, in conjunction with a corresponding comic book series and edited reruns of the original cartoon beginning in 1993. The prior Transformer television series, comic books and toys became known as 'Generation 1' or G1 retroactively, and are now officially referred to as such by toymaker Hasbro. Generation 2 was discontinued as the first Beast Wars: Transformers toys began hitting the shelves.

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.

<i>The Transformers: Infiltration</i> Comic book

The Transformers: Infiltration is a six-issue comic book mini-series, published by IDW Publishing, based on the Transformers. The series was previewed with a #0 in October, 2005, formally launched with #1 in January 2006 and ended with #6 in July.

<i>The Transformers: Stormbringer</i> Comic book mini-series

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

Transformers: Generation 1 is a toy line from 1984 to 1990, produced by Hasbro and Takara Tomy. It was a line of toy robots that could change into an alternate form by moving parts into other places, and it was the first line of toys produced for the successful Transformers toy and entertainment franchise. The line was originally called The Transformers, with "Generation 1" originating as a term coined by fans of the toys when the Transformers: Generation 2 toy line was released in 1992. Hasbro eventually adopted the term "Generation 1" to refer to any toy produced in that era.

Transformers: Generation One was a Dreamwave Productions comic book series, consisting of two six-issue limited series and an ongoing title. Within the same continuity were three other Dreamwave series: a series of character profiles entitled Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye, a prequel miniseries entitled, Transformers: Micromasters and another prequel ongoing miniseries called Transformers: The War Within. In addition, a single story was part of the Transformers Summer Special. All ongoing series were cancelled in 2005 due to Dreamwave's bankruptcy, leaving their plotlines unresolved.

<i>The Transformers</i> (IDW Publishing) Comic book line

The Transformers is a comic book line by IDW Publishing based upon Hasbro's Transformers characters and toy line, featuring many writers and artists across multiple series. It is notable for being the longest continuously running Transformers continuity to date, beginning in October 2005 with The Transformers: Infiltration and ending in November 2018, after the six-issue Unicron event comic. The following year, it would be rebooted and succeeded by a new comic book series on 2019.

Star Wars Comic was a British comic book series published monthly by Titan Magazines from 1999 to 2014. For its first five volumes of publication, the title featured comic strips reprinted from Star Wars comics originally published in the United States by Dark Horse Comics. From volume six onwards, each issue featured an original comic strip based on the Star Wars franchise.

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.

<i>G.I. Joe and the Transformers</i> 4-issue comic book limited series

G.I. Joe and the Transformers is a 4-issue comic book limited series featuring characters from G.I. Joe and the Transformers and published by Marvel Comics in 1987.

Star Trek vs. Transformers is a five-issue comic book limited series published by IDW Publishing. It is a crossover between the Star Trek and Transformers franchises, using the characters and art styles from the 1973 cartoon Star Trek: The Animated Series and the 1984 cartoon Transformers The first issue was released in September 2018. The comic was issued as a five part mini-series and has met with favorable reviews for mixing the two science fiction universes. In particular, they praised artist Philip Murphy artistic style with character's which were compared to cel animation.

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.