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Transformers Classics UK #1
Transformers Classics: UK Vol. 1
Classic Transformers tales from the UK continuity begins here! Re-mastered and re-colored, these vintage Transformers stories are presented in chronological order, many published for the first time in the United States! Writer and life-long Transformers fan James Roberts provides in-depth, historical perspective in each volume, and Transformers UK artist Andrew Wildman provides new covers.
297 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 16, 2011
21 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
About the author
Simon Furman
945 books56 followersSimon Christopher Francis Furman is a British comic book writer who is best known for his work on Hasbro/Tomy's Transformers franchise, starting with writing Marvel'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.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
September 15, 2022
This was rather different. I've read the US version of Transformers, but when I saw this collected version of the UK series I had to get it.
Transformers was released in the UK in their own series. While most of the story is the same there are slight differences. On the whole, I prefer the US story arc. But, the artwork for the UK series, especially considering the time, is superior. I liked the style and it was a little ahead of its time.
This volume includes a lot of extra stuff from cover art to little articles about the development of the comic series in the UK. It also had the ads for the toys as they were released in the UK. A neat little collection of UK version Transformers stories.
Transformers was released in the UK in their own series. While most of the story is the same there are slight differences. On the whole, I prefer the US story arc. But, the artwork for the UK series, especially considering the time, is superior. I liked the style and it was a little ahead of its time.
This volume includes a lot of extra stuff from cover art to little articles about the development of the comic series in the UK. It also had the ads for the toys as they were released in the UK. A neat little collection of UK version Transformers stories.
March 8, 2021
Great fun. A few chapters are missing that are in the US omnibus editions but the gist of the story is easily picked up.
November 19, 2018
Collects the best stories from the first year of the UK comics. I loved reading these as a kid and it brought back some great nostalgic memories. A must read for transformers G1 fans.
August 21, 2021
Back in the 80’s when Transformers first started, Hasbro commissioned Marvel to create a comic series to run alongside and drive interest and sales. When the series made its way to the UK it was published Bi weekly and Marvel UK realised that they would soon move past the main series in the USA.
As a result Marvel UK created its own stories, but before the US series had been seen, the UK writers only had an outline and the toy lines to work from. What was resulted was some of the most creative storytelling and fantastic art. This is the first collection of the UK stories.
The first story was Man of Iron, a beautifully illustrated story that set the transformers in rural England investigating a mysterious signal. The transformers are scary, deadly and far more otherworldly than in the main series (partly because there was nothing other than the outline and toys for writer Steve Parkhouse to work from). Story two was The Enemy Within, the first story written by Simon Furman who would go on to define the Transformers comic series, and there are plenty more.
It’s a wonderful nostalgia trip and still as great as ever. Definitely worth the investment.
As a result Marvel UK created its own stories, but before the US series had been seen, the UK writers only had an outline and the toy lines to work from. What was resulted was some of the most creative storytelling and fantastic art. This is the first collection of the UK stories.
The first story was Man of Iron, a beautifully illustrated story that set the transformers in rural England investigating a mysterious signal. The transformers are scary, deadly and far more otherworldly than in the main series (partly because there was nothing other than the outline and toys for writer Steve Parkhouse to work from). Story two was The Enemy Within, the first story written by Simon Furman who would go on to define the Transformers comic series, and there are plenty more.
It’s a wonderful nostalgia trip and still as great as ever. Definitely worth the investment.
September 19, 2024
Collecting the UK-exclusive stories from the first 44 issues of the Marvel UK Transformers comic, plus the 1986 Transformers Annual. This collection gets a lot of points just for how determined it is to collect every UK-exclusive tidbit from this era, plus all the behind-the-scenes commentary on the early days of the UK comic and the stories themselves. The actual comic stories here don't quite reach the lofty heights UK Transformers would in the future, but there are still some memorable inclusions here, particularly "Man of Iron" - a intriguing look at a very different course the comic could have taken. The major downside to this collection is the presentation - the magazine-sized UK stories feel a bit crammed in the US-sized trade format, and sometimes the text can even be a challenge to read (without a magnifying glass). Still, there's a lot here for veterans of both the US and UK Transformers fandoms. (B+)
July 23, 2022
The rest of the story
It was amazing to read the story of the Transformers UK comic book series. I was fascinated to find they re-printed the American comics but also added stories of their own in the second half of their issues. This series of collections volumes are the UK stories. I enjoyed the artwork, which was hand-painted and beautiful. The stories themselves were fun to read and because they had to be self-contained they all had a good resolutions and were complete stories in themselves. I can’t wait to read the rest of these. Top notch content and seeing the British dialog was a lot of fun, especially when a story was taking place in America.
It was amazing to read the story of the Transformers UK comic book series. I was fascinated to find they re-printed the American comics but also added stories of their own in the second half of their issues. This series of collections volumes are the UK stories. I enjoyed the artwork, which was hand-painted and beautiful. The stories themselves were fun to read and because they had to be self-contained they all had a good resolutions and were complete stories in themselves. I can’t wait to read the rest of these. Top notch content and seeing the British dialog was a lot of fun, especially when a story was taking place in America.
February 16, 2022
These stories are very good. Very imaginative imagining of the Transformers property with good illustrations. Transformers UK reprints the US series in part, but featured here are original stories for the UK comic. When this series is good, it is very good, though perhaps the stories here are not consistent. Still, this book is worth a read. Definitely recommended for Transformers fans. I didn't expect to enjoy the short text stories as much as I did, but they are a good read. I think this series probably hits its stride in later volumes.
January 29, 2021
Has a greater focus on continuity, and on writing style, than the US comics. I'm hooked! I love how complete it is, with even the chronological explanations between parts. Feels like a labor of love.
November 17, 2022
Gets better with Furman and Cybertronian settings.
March 3, 2017
The art is so weird and the stories just not there yet.
January 26, 2015
Bought this book out of nostagia for the Transformers comic I used to get as a child - certainly a superior incarnation than the current films.
The book comes with a bit of background about how it came to be created, which is quite interesting.
Credit is deserved for creating an interesting plot around something which could have been seen as a cynical marketing exercise.
Knowing now that the UK comics were non-canon, makes them seem limited in scope, although at the time they seemed to fit in quite well.
Did find I got tired of the constant changing of the characters eventually, but the comics did have a good run.
The book comes with a bit of background about how it came to be created, which is quite interesting.
Credit is deserved for creating an interesting plot around something which could have been seen as a cynical marketing exercise.
Knowing now that the UK comics were non-canon, makes them seem limited in scope, although at the time they seemed to fit in quite well.
Did find I got tired of the constant changing of the characters eventually, but the comics did have a good run.
July 5, 2015
I enjoyed this immensely. Full of shorter stories that were designed to complement the Us Transformers comics that were being reprinted in Marvel UK, they have a delightful style all of their own. It's rarely deep and the frustrating thing is that, both being exceptionally short and not being able to tread on the toes of its US counterpart, it rarely ventures into territory that's too dramatic or groundbreaking and one is left wondering if it could? Well, I'll get the chance to find out since Furman took over as writer of the main comics line later on down the road, but in the meantime this is a tasty side-dish to the main event.
January 25, 2016
Not all of the comics included here are worthy of five stars, but the presentation of the book alone warrants that grade. Besides some good (and some great) Transformers comics (better than the American comics being published at this time) there's a plethora of information on the comics presented and the creators presenting them. It's a fascinating and comprehensive look at the British Transformers scene, and for an American fan, it doesn't get any better.
October 26, 2015
Not bad!
Last two stories (text only) were not well written but wasn't bad. Loved how circuit breaker was in more then be story. I understand as a anti hero she'd have problems but still liked the character. As an ongoing character though to beat her would be easy since without the body suit she's paralyzed. To bad she was well thought out
Last two stories (text only) were not well written but wasn't bad. Loved how circuit breaker was in more then be story. I understand as a anti hero she'd have problems but still liked the character. As an ongoing character though to beat her would be easy since without the body suit she's paralyzed. To bad she was well thought out
June 10, 2012
Fun times.
August 8, 2014
3 1/2 stars.
The beginning of the UK Transformers is a little wobbly, but by issue 10 they seem to know where they're going with it. The art was great some issues, mediocre other issues.
The beginning of the UK Transformers is a little wobbly, but by issue 10 they seem to know where they're going with it. The art was great some issues, mediocre other issues.
Want to read
July 4, 2016Edición española en tapa dura.
July 31, 2016
Furman, viejo y peludo nomás, con su revolucionaria (para la época) historieta de Transformers en un tomote y tomazo que incluye las primeras épocas de estos Clásicos UK de los Autobots y cía.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews