Transformers: 30th Anniversary Collection

by Jim Sorenson

It's a celebration 30 years in the making! Relive the landmark comics that helped define the legacy of Transformers and read along with the creators that made these great comics as Jim Sorenson provides insight from a range of writers and artists that breathed life into the denizens of Cybertron. From Marvel to Dreamwave to IDW and other iterations in-between, this book is a must have for TF collectors!

Genres: Graphic Novels, Science Fiction

320 pages, Hardcover

First published June 25, 2013

About the author

Jim is a super-secret spy, has a motorcycle, marooned in space, meets Hercules ... or not ...

He's been a long-time fan of science-fiction literature in general and Transformers in particular. His guidebooks are well regarded by the fan communities for their exhaustive attention to detail. Reports of his incarceration in another dimension should be dismissed as the unfounded rumors they are."

Reviews

[cauldronofevil · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am in no way a Transformers fan. As a kid, it was pretty obvious to me that the cartoon was a scam to sell toys and really, they’re robots so who cares if they die and need to be repaired?

That whole period of geekyness seems to have passed me by. G.I. Joe, Transformers, Thundercats, He-Man. I must have been doing laundry.

So this review might not be too long. Or finish at all.

But here’s the thing. As a geek (you did know I was a geek didn’t you?), you can share the enthusiasm even if you don’t share the appreciation of the product.

”I know you’re doin’ your best, son, but you’ve always got your nose buried in a book…. And that bother me. I just wish you were doin’s somethin’ more useful to you… somethin’ that’ll lead to a job one day.”

Of course, when young Buster brings an intelligent talking shape-shifting car back to his father’s garage, his tune will change!

I can’t help but be amused by the melodrama that occurs when we take a visit back to the home planet of the bots. The evil oppression and cloak and dagger of the underground resistance.

While I’m not a fan of the artwork, it is pretty impressive considering that everything on Cybertron is new and machine-like. Even the oppressed wrecks before they are melted in smelting pool.

I have to admit the second story is pretty good. A dramatic rescue, as self-less suicide by the runty robot. Good fun writing, even if it is about toys.

”EAT HOT SLAG, DECEPTICONS!”

”I’ll tear off your head and rip the power core from the twitching husk of your corpse!”

Well, it truly pains me to stop reading this book but unfortunately while I was not made a fan I did gain a new found respect for fans of this franchise. The people that made these comics truly cared about the property and were very creative with it.

Unfortunately it’s just not for me. As a non-fan it’s still a 4 star cool book. For fans I think this would be 5 stars easy.

The artwork just keeps getting better over the years too! Maybe I should have started reading from the end!?

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of epic goings on from the start, distinct three-dimensional characters, cinematic comic panels, brilliant epic goings on and daring do! :D

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was both frustrated and intrigued by this book. I don't think it's a good starting place for learning about the stories of the Transformers, but it is very good at providing glimpses of things typical of various eras. It's a collection of about a dozen comics issues taken from thirty years of publication. There are no complete stories here, just enough to give a taste and to show the changing artwork and stories.

I had trouble reading the commentary and interviews in the book because they were, without exception, printed with white letters on a black background, something that my eyes really, really can't deal with. Each issue is introduced with at least a page of commentary that places it in the context of the history of the Transformers comics.