Question about TF comics

[DarkHyren]

I've been out of touch with Transformers comics (and comic books in general to be honest) for a great deal of time, mainly focusing on toys and cartoons, but with this whole combiner wars thing being in part a comic book storyline I want to start reading again.
My question is this though: where do I start?
I've done a little digging and found a list of all the publishers of the different series HERE but there are so many and it's all a tad confusing.

How many different continuities/timelines/dimensions/etc are there?
I obviously know about the Marvel comics line as it's the one I grew up with, I'm guessing the IDW comics are nothing to do with them or the G1 cartoon?
In the end I'd like some sort of order so I can make a checklist of what I've read and where it falls in the continuities so any help is much appreciated.
Eventually I'd like to read all the stories over all the continuities, though this may be a massive undertaking I'm guessing :P

[BigTransformerTrev]

All the different TF comic continuities are as massive and diverse as they are confusing and contradictory

To be honest, given how cheap and easy to find compared to say Marvel, Marvel UK, Dreamwave etc, id just start with the IDW-verse. They don't have much to do with the cartoon but over the years have become about the best I've ever read and there are enough of them you could read a new comic every day for a year

[tinyJazz]

Check out the IDW TF comics suggested reading order thread on TFW. There's two orders you can follow: the short version and the long version.

To my understanding, IDW is a G1 reboot. What happens, or has happened, outside of these comics doesn't necessarily inform the IDW canon. There's a lot of interesting world building going on, characters have different origin stories and relationships etc.

As for the other publishers, pretty much the same. Seperate continuities. You wouldn't have had to have read any Dreamwave or Marvel comics to be up to speed on work by Devil's Due, for example. So you can pick up stuff from other publishers whenever you like really.


On a kinda related note, I'm still trying to get my head around the Marvel US/Marvel UK story order though. If I want to read everything in order, which reprints volumes should I be getting? sorry if this has been answered before.

[GoktimusPrime]

Yeah, the IDW G1 universe is a completely self-contained universe which isn't related to anything that's come before or after it, so you only have 10 years' worth of reading to catch up on (as opposed to say, 31 years' ). And the older stories should be available in trade paperback form, which makes things much easier than chasing up individual issues. Check out places like Kings Comics, Kinokuniya and other major comic book retailers. Kinokuniya lets you order books that are on their database but may not be currently in stock.

Here is a list of the comics in chronological continuity order:
http://tfwiki.net/wiki/IDW_Generatio...ntinuity#Media
Megatron Origin @ Books Kinokuniya; you can use their search engine to find the trades for the other series.

Happy reading!

[Paulbot]

On a kinda related note, I'm still trying to get my head around the Marvel US/Marvel UK story order though. If I want to read everything in order, which reprints volumes should I be getting? sorry if this has been answered before.

The IDW's Classic trades (regular and UK versions) will (eventually) have everything and be pretty much close to reading order.

Their US reprints do some odd things, like put the GiJoe crossover and Headmasters limited series right at the end instead of when they happen in continuity, but are otherwise in straight forward order.

Their UK reprints are in publication/reading order and have good explanations where the UK stories fit in connection with the US stories. (Avoid the Best of Uk collections through, go for the big volumes James Roberts has helped put together)

The best thing to do is read the Marvel G1 stories based on the order they were published in the UK comics.

Or you can read the entire US run and then go back and see the "hidden tales" from the UK that fit between the gaps of the US.

Because the UK had to fit with US continuity there's nothing in the UK books that's particularly spoilt by reading the US run first. There's only two times that come to mind in the US comics (near the end when Furman takes over) that events in the UK book are hinted at.

[Nevac]

I've got the same problem as DarkHyren I keep hearing good things about the current series. I've heard there is 2 main series that's "More Then Meets the Eye" and some other one. But dunno where I should start just looks so daunting I bought Volume 1 of MTME read a little of it got bored and just stopped. Was thinking I should just pick it up from where it's at now since it's what everyone's talking about.

How are most people here reading it? Physical books from the comic shop or digital via Comixology?

[Paulbot]

I've got the same problem as DarkHyren I keep hearing good things about the current series. I've heard there is 2 main series that's "More Then Meets the Eye" and some other one. But dunno where I should start just looks so daunting I bought Volume 1 of MTME read a little of it got bored and just stopped. Was thinking I should just pick it up from where it's at now since it's what everyone's talking about.

How are most people here reading it? Physical books from the comic shop or digital via Comixology?

The More Than Meets The Eye series is definitely one that grows as you get to know the characters. Jumping ahead would not be recommended.

The sister title (was called Robots in disguise, now just Transformers) is one that you could pick up from the "relaunch" after the Dark Cybertron crossover. That book is in many of the CW toys that come with comics and is very much a tie in to the current toy line.

[GoktimusPrime]

How are most people here reading it? Physical books from the comic shop or digital via Comixology?

Same way I've been reading Transformers comics since 1984. And I buy them from the same comic store that I've been getting TF comics from since 1991.

[DarkHyren]

Check out the IDW TF comics suggested reading order thread on TFW. There's two orders you can follow: the short version and the long version.

I saw that list but it's a bit all over the place and following the long version (as I would be doing) drums to leave out some issues, example Autocracy/Monstrosity.
Any idea why that is? I don't want to research too much so I don't ruin the story lol

Here is a list of the comics in chronological continuity order:
http://tfwiki.net/wiki/IDW_Generatio...ntinuity#Media

Is this list more complete then the other one or is there yet still more.
I also think I read that reading them out of release order can spoil certain plot points?
Also what's regeneration one then, I thought IDW was separate from G1 but the issue numbers start from the end of the marvel issues?

Oh what is this undertaking I have commenced...

[Paulbot]

I saw that list but it's a bit all over the place and following the long version (as I would be doing) drums to leave out some issues, example Autocracy/Monstrosity.
Any idea why that is? I don't want to research too much so I don't ruin the story lol Is this list more complete then the other one or is there yet still more.
I also think I read that reading them out of release order can spoil certain plot points?
Also what's regeneration one then, I thought IDW was separate from G1 but the issue numbers start from the end of the marvel issues?

Oh what is this undertaking I have commenced...

Reading in release order does give you the best approximation of the intended order. Nearly everything in reading order is in release order except for things like Autocracy/Monstrosity which are flashback stories, they won't ruin anything of the main story.

The "I want it all reading order" in the link TinyJazz shared looks pretty good actually. The lack of Autocracy/Monstrosity/Primacy just seems to be goof. I'd suggest reading those between Transformers 31 (end of the list) and before Death of Optimus Prime (near the top of the second list).*

Regeneration One is a special case. It's a sequel to the Marvel G1 series (which is why the numering continues) and thus is out of continuity to the rest of the IDW comics. (IDW's Beast Wars and Movie series comics are also in their own continuities.)

Edit:
* Actually there's a few things in that list are a bit odd - some of the limited series could be read in one go rather than spaced out the way they are in that list. Now I want to draw up my own list for you!