Transformers Classics UK: Volume 1 - help needed

[Dave]

Yeah it definitely makes more sense that way around.

In other news, as the wiki provided the specifics of the Decepticon Dam-Buster error, I decided to flick through the UK story entries (not checked the annuals though) to see what else came up.

Wrath of Grimlock
"Grimlock lost his left hand to Prime's body's intervention, but it is his right hand that he 'tests' on Ratchet's jaw. This might simply be Grimlock's personal brand of humour. However in the reprints the panel was reversed (with the sound effect still reading forwards) so he now punches with his left hand."

Vicious Circle
"Goldbug's head is coloured blue (like the toy) and he sports a blue Autobot faction symbol. Both of these were colour-corrected for the trade paperback reprint."

Time Wars
"The first page of issue 201 was originally printed with the wrong colours. This was corrected in the subsequent Collected Comics"

That last one I knew about but had forgotten. The other two are new to me.

[MarvelManOz]

gift wise, but non story relevant:

In issue #3, the A4 Poster of Prowl and Jazz is incorrectly labelled as '"Evil Decepticons".

Issue #216 and #220 mixed up the May and June Classic Covers Calanders.

Perhaps you would keep them this way in the book for historical purposes....I dunno

[primenova]

Is it going to be the UK printing of US pages - some had text altered ie #107,108 in all these trades - or just printing the US comic. Also the V in US #5 reprint altered from the US comic which had something in it that any one know what it was?

[Grand Moff Muffin]

On the IDW forum, James writes:

Alright?

I thought I'd drop by to answer some questions about Volume 1 of TF Classics UK - which, by the way, I'm glad that people are excited about. You should be! It's ace!

OK, so as the name suggests this series is about the UK-only material from 'Man of Iron' onwards. Volume 1 covers everything up to and including 'Crisis of Command!' plus the strips and text stories from the first annual. Completists note: even the first two Robot War features are in there.

Rounding out this 300-page volume is a truck load of all-new material in the form of interviews with the creators and editors responsible for TFUK circa 1984/5, story reviews and cover galleries (of ALL the UK issues up to 44) -- plus a whole heap of rare images, from posters to free gifts to never-before-seen stuff that I won't spoil for you.

At one stage the plan was to literally recolor the UK strips but in the end the decision was taken to leave as is - and given that the original strips were hand-painted and generally look gorgeous, I think this was the right decision. A few pages of 'Raiders of the Last Ark' (reprinted for the first time EVER) are in black and white, as originally presented, but 'Man of Iron' and 'Enemy Within!' are taken from the Collected Comics editions and are therefore in color.

The strips have been touched up/cleaned up where necessary, and look lovely.

Like the new TF CLASSICS US, this series will be printed on "woodfree" paper -- the same paper used on all IDW's highest quality books. This helps preserve the vintage feel of the material while minimizing the garishness of old-school coloring.

Why was there a delay? Blame our perfectionist instincts. We really want this series to celebrate TFUK. So it's not just about reprinting the strips but finding space to include sample letters pages, editorial pages, scans of free gifts and even adverts. We crammed in as much bonus material as we can, and it took time to assemble it all. Now we've cracked the formula in terms of layout and presentation, future volumes will be easier to put together - and will come out on time.

I hope that clarifies a few things.

P.S. Pleased that issues 22 and 23 generally went down well. Hold tight for 2012

and

I don't know for certain that it's been pushed back to January, but I'll be back with a definitive answer.

Martin

[Dave]

If it is delayed until January that's unfortunate but at least they're making sure to get it right. It sounds like an excellent product.

[blueshift]

Absolutely! I'd have preferred Raiders to be completely in colour in a sympathetic style, but I can understand why it wasn't.

[verity]

I don't know for certain that it's been pushed back to January, but I'll be back with a definitive answer.

EDIT: We're hoping the book will come out the last week of October/first week of November.

[The Doctor]

Glad to hear that retouching has been applied to the strips rather than a full recolour. Hurray.

And that paper stock works very well for the US volume so glad it's being used. It's annoyingly rare that publishers consider paper stock when reprinting comics from certain publishing eras.

-Ralph

[Andy Turnbull]

The book will be worth the wait, and the paper stock will make it look really grand.

Glad the strips aren't being recoloured as well.

Andy

[Grand Moff Muffin]

Sept 6, 2011 9:42:47 GMT verity said:

I don't know for certain that it's been pushed back to January, but I'll be back with a definitive answer.

EDIT: We're hoping the book will come out the last week of October/first week of November.

Nice one - that'll do for me!

So! The challenge to colour Raiders, which has been made on this Forum in times past, remains for the taking.

But on the whole, glad the UK stuff isn't being recoloured. Unlike the early US stuff, it was relatively error-free.

Martin

[legios]

Nice to hear that as far as possible we will be getting this with things printed as they were. That pleases the old-timer in me. (You just wait until you get rust in your hip you young whippersnappers!).

Looking forward to this a great deal. It sounds like it will be an excellent package.

Karl

[The Doctor]

Updated cover!

www.amazon.co.uk/Transformers-Classics-UK-John-Ridgway/dp/1600109438/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1315943592&sr=8-1

-Ralph

[Andy Turnbull]

Sweet!

Andy

[Dave]

Spiffy!

[primenova]

It does have a slight feel of a link cover with some of the art on the right.

[legios]

That is a decent looking cover. Looking forward to holding it in my mitts in due course.

Karl

[Bogatan]

This looks really good, but as we'll soon be getting issue 81 wouldn't a coherent complete release now make more sense than these UK and US releases? Have it run issue 1 through 81/332 including miniseries and annuals etc and with conflicting stories like Goldbug put back to back if possible.

Or is this something more likely to be done after they get done with issue 100?

[grahamt77]

Someone wanted to see those "Raiders of the Last Ark" pages in colour?







And if you're a current Polaris Magazine subscriber, you'll see these in lovely glossy print in issue 19!

[legios]

Nice pages there Graham. The colouring job is rather spiffy.

Karl

[Grand Moff Muffin]

Sept 22, 2011 9:54:43 GMT grahamt77 said:

Someone wanted to see those "Raiders of the Last Ark" pages in colour?

Yes! Me!

Have some karma, Graham.

I think/hope I'm still a Polaris subscriber...

Martin

[The Doctor]

Hooray!

-Ralph

[Dave]

Good work Mr T! I pity the fools who ain't subscribed.

[Andy Turnbull]

Splendid!

Andy

[primenova]

I liek the cover to v2. It could slightly match up with the blue lighting.

[verity]

According to the latest reports, Classics UK vol. 1 will be out THIS WEDNESDAY!

[Grand Moff Muffin]

Oct 9, 2011 11:55:19 GMT verity said:

According to the latest reports, Classics UK vol. 1 will be out THIS WEDNESDAY!

The seller "The Book Depository" on Amazon UK who I have often used with satisfaction claims to already have it "in stock".

Martin

[Jaymz]

Yeah, it's on my invoice for next week, so will be hitting comic shops who ordered it on wednesday!

[Grand Moff Muffin]

Oct 9, 2011 12:12:26 GMT Grand Moff Muffin said:

The seller "The Book Depository" on Amazon UK who I have often used with satisfaction claims to already have it "in stock".

And they apparently posted me my copy today!

Which means it could arrive... tomorrow?!

Martin

[Jaymz]

Got one in hand, and honestly the size of the reprints is disappointing. They've been shrunk to fit into the book and don't fill the page properly with distracting empty white space around them.

Other than that, the additonal material and background info from James looks fascinating and I look forward to reading it.

[Jaymz]

Read through the opening "Complete History of Transformers UK" section and it's great stuff, well worth the read. A good wealth of information regarding Marvel UK as well as Transformers. Also nice to see some of the free gifts and posters which I haven't seen before.

The only downside to me is the size of the comic reprints and it's a shame these collections couldn't be done in the UK comic size [especially since IDW have done larger books like the Allspark Almanacs and cartoon lineart Ark collections].

Still, all in all the book is very well put together and thought out, and I'm looking forward to the rest of the volumes, mainly for the background info as I've read the stories before.