Transformers Partworks Trial

[browny87]

lol! its crazy they still cant confirm the date of the initial package even though an email told me ages ago(they cant verify if that's correct)

[primenova]

Does anyone know what the print run is of the released ones? This is because I think they coudl have done small print run then they are going to correct everything then do another run but this correcting stuff, ie like having all UK covers & stating John Stokes did #44. This would make my copy first printing with errors worth something? They must have printed at least 1000 ?

[Andy Turnbull]

My copy of the Partworks arrived today.

No, not my sub - the one I acquired from Ebay.

I shall read it properly later today, but it's a good looking package and I am glad I have subscribed.

Andy

[Andy Turnbull]

[Andy Turnbull]

Some interiors

[blueshift]

God let's hope they fix the SEE US # and messing up that Target: 2006 iconic page for the proper print run (if it ever happens!)

[Andy Turnbull]

Sept 21, 2016 17:45:06 GMT blueshift said:

God let's hope they fix the SEE US # and messing up that Target: 2006 iconic page for the proper print run (if it ever happens!)

It's hardly messed up - it has a masthead on it. They might delete it but that is it as it' is from the IDW masters of t2006.

[browny87]

that actually looks dead good, if there are copie so n ebay how come subscribers haven't had owt?

[The Doctor]

Indeed. That does task me. Perhaps it isn't possible to subscribe when the test run is on?

-Ralph

[Fortmax2020]

There's a subscription leaflet with part 1 suggesting they want people to subscribe...

[primenova]

The Marvel collection has been run 3 times now - so I expect the Transformers run should be back at #1 in 6 years time again. That Spiderman Campbell cover was out about 2007 then 2009/2010 then started again 2016 - same issue

[Andy Turnbull]

It's not Pete.

It's been run twice. They have a second companion series with the red trade dress.

Andy

[Andy Turnbull]

Sept 21, 2016 18:44:45 GMT The Doctor said:

Indeed. That does task me. Perhaps it isn't possible to subscribe when the test run is on?

-Ralph

I've said elsewhere - when the Marvel How to Draw Partwork ran it's test - I subscribed. Got nothing during the test run, at the end they sent me three of the four issues for free and thanked me for my interest. When the partwork started properly, my subscription kicked in, I suspect this is what will happen here. As to whether they send anything, that all depends.

Andy

[inflatabledalek]

Yeah, subscriptions are mainly about gauging numbers. It's just a pain in the ass they don't explain this properly and actively hide the fact it's a test. Would less people really subscribe if they just said "This is to find out how much interest there is so we know if it's a goer or not"?

That's what made the "I hope you got paid for that advert" comment from a reader when I tried to be helpful and answer the main questions on my blog last week extra annoying however tongue in cheek. Because yeah, it's easier to pay me clandestine money rather than just have the people they're already paying run a better website...

IIRC at least a couple of people were told during the test of the Who one they hadn't printed enough to send out to all the subscribers...

However (or if) you get the test copies though they won't charge until they send you something.

[The Doctor]

Indeed. It's idiotic to have a subscription option but not to tell anyone they won't get anything. After all there will be folk who buy it from a newsagent, don't know it's a 'test', find the subs option doesn't work with no explanation and lose interest entirely or are pissed off and don't bother when the proper run begins. That is how to lose business.

Either don't have a subs option during a test run or explain that orders for subs can be taken but are not activated until the proper launch. Not difficult, makes better business sense, readers aren't pissed off. It's a real head scratcher that an experienced publisher can't do that.

-Ralph

[primenova]

Sept 22, 2016 19:03:48 GMT Andy Turnbull said:

It's not Pete.

It's been run twice. They have a second companion series with the red trade dress.

Andy

I thought the black cover & red cover where the same series

[browny87]

I just want my books !

[primenova]

Anyone thinking about not getting it because of paying £9.99 per issue - look at it this way. 3 issues of the RID UK comic are £10.47 at least for about 40 pages of comic strip while for 48p less you get 198 pages

[primenova]

#2 should be in the test areas today - so Manchester church st should have 10 copies in stock.

[inflatabledalek]

They're certainly good prices for books of that size new.

I think if anything undoes it it'll be how ubiquitous and cheap most of the older trades, especially the US Marvel stuff, are. The Titan stuff can still be found in the average Forbidden Planet dirt cheap. This being the fourth or fifth time round for a lot of this material means it's in competition with itself.

Here's hoping...

[The Doctor]

Sept 23, 2016 11:26:14 GMT primenova said:

Sept 22, 2016 19:03:48 GMT Andy Turnbull said:

It's not Pete.

It's been run twice. They have a second companion series with the red trade dress.

Andy

I thought the black cover & red cover where the same series

Two distinct series. One is character focussed, the other is story focussed.

-Ralph

[freeestyle]

I phoned them today and apparently it is live now. Not a test. Its because when you subscribe you get 2 issues per month so we won't get them till the month end. That's what I was told.

[Fortmax2020]

Interesting. Maybe it had a staggeringly good response already?

I'm in Manchester centre this afternoon so will look for #2.

[inflatabledalek]

Oh OK, that's odd considering even Spider-Man is being trialed when that would seem a sure thing. Has anyone actually seen the TF one outside of the Manchester area? That would clinch it.

If they're not trailing it that more suggests a lack of faith, no advertising, cheap stock imagery and poor proof reading of the website and secondary material.

It's certainly possible, and it'd be a shame if some of the glitches a trial would throw up won't have chance to be addressed...but it feels odd. If I were a betting man I'd wager the phone person was mistaken or pushing the "Don't tell potential subscribers it's a test" thing.

[Fortmax2020]

Part 2 obtained from big WHSmiths in Arndale Centre in Manchester. Plenty of part 1s were lingering too.

[The Doctor]

I can't see how it isn't a test if copies have only been found in the Manchester area and there seems to be zero advertising other that Furman talking about it on social media. In Edinburger, every Hachette partwork is very easy to find when it launches (then vanishes after a few issues). Transformers is the only one I haven't see in a shop.

-Ralph

[Andy Turnbull]

Yeah, unless the subscription numbers have been crazy it is still a test, as they are hardly going to bypass the rest of the nation for the early issues - which is where most casual purchases would be made.

Andy

[duffism1981]

I signed up for the subscription today, so sods law I will now find issue 1 in town over the weekend.

[primenova]

Newsagent 55 church st manchester - when I looked in whsmith last saturday there where no copies in at all #1. For anyone - there is a car park on Rochdale rd A664 £1 all day parking at weekends or £2 weekdays. Follow the road in Hinton st & its on right op Dulux trade.

[Pinwig]

Sept 23, 2016 13:49:45 GMT inflatabledalek said:

If I were a betting man I'd wager the phone person was mistaken or pushing the "Don't tell potential subscribers it's a test" thing.

I'd go with this. It can't be a full launch if it's only out in one city. The two books a month thing is right though, my Dredd books always come in pairs at the end of the month.