The Transformers Classics, Vol. 8

« The Transformers Classics, Vol. 8
Publisher	IDW Publishing
First published	April 22, 2015
Cover	Guido Guidi
Continuity	Marvel Comics continuity
ISBN	ISBN 1631401335 / ISBN 978-1631401336
Page count	312
Price	$29.99 US

The Transformers Classics, Vol. 8, the eighth in IDW Publishing's reprint series, reprints The Transformers Universe #1–4, all character biographies from The Transformers issues #47–49, #56–72, and #74–79, plus G.I. Joe and the Transformers #1–4. Also includes issue notes by Mark W. Bellomo.

Issue manifest

The Transformers Universe #1

Original date: August 1986
Profiles by: Bob Budiansky

The Transformers Universe #2

Original date: September 1986
Profiles by: Bob Budiansky

The Transformers Universe #3

Original date: October 1986
Profiles by: Bob Budiansky

The Transformers Universe #4

Original date: November 1986
Profiles by: Bob Budiansky

"Blood on the Tracks"

Original date: September 1986
Story by: Michael Higgins
Pencils by: Herb Trimpe

"Power Struggle"

Original date: October 1986
Story by: Michael Higgins
Pencils by: Herb Trimpe

"Ashes, Ashes..."

Original date: November 1986
Story by: Michael Higgins
Pencils by: Herb Trimpe

"...All Fall Down!"

Original date: December 1986
Story by: Michael Higgins
Pencils by: Herb Trimpe

Notes

Oh come ooon.

• Due to being recreated from scans of the original Marvel single issue printings, many characters' insignias are a garbled mess. Aside from a lot of the lineart being erased, Bluestreak (or "Blue Streak"), who sported a red Autobot insignia with a slightly orange-ish hue in vehicle mode in the original Marvel printing, has a very orange insignia in the IDW version. Of all the errors that could have been fixed, Ramhorn is once again depicted with a Decepticon insignia in both modes, specifically a yellow Decepticon insignia in cassette mode, like in the original Marvel printing, even though the error had previously been fixed for Marvel's own 1987 trade paperback reprint!
• The panel on Broadside's chest, which had a slightly more green-ish hue than the panel on his pelvis in the Marvel version, has the color contrast between those two panels severely more pronounced in the IDW reprint. Additionally, some of the yellow details for his plane mode are changed to blue, and the two red stripes on the front end of his aircraft carrier mode's flight deck are shortened to just half their original length in the IDW version, even hough some of the lineart for the missing portions of those stripes still remains.
• The bright blue color for the rim of Cliffjumper's rear wheel has been expanded to the surrounding circle, which was colored dark blue like the tire in the Marvel version.
• Like in the original Marvel single issue printing, Devastator's first appearance is incorrectly stated to be issue #16, in which he didn't appear at all, instead of issue #10, even though this error had previously been corrected for Marvel's 1987 trade paperback reprint.
• A part of the hinge for the canopy of Dirge's jet mode that was correctly colored blue (i.e. as part of the fuselage) in the Marvel version is now colored orange (i.e. as part of the canopy itself). Additonally, the red and white stripes on the wings of his jet mode have been recolored in an attempt to fix the coloring mess that was the Marvel version, but the end result is still an incoherent mess where the colors don't quite match the intent of the lineart. Notably, a thin line on the side of Dirge's fuselage that was colored dark blue (i.e. as part of the fuselage) in the Marvel version is now colored as an extension of one of the red stripes.
• A panel on Divebomb's right robot mode foot, whch was colored dark green in the Marvel version, is now colored yellow, in order to match the corresponding panel on his left foot (which was colored yellow in the Marvel version).
• Another error that has not been corrected is Menasor being labeled as a "Constructicon" rather than a "Stunticon", and his first apperance being incorrectly stated to be issue #10 (the first appearance of the Constructicons and Devastator), rather than issue #22.
• Soundwave has been recoloured blue in keeping with IDW's policy of trying to remove Marvel Comics purple Soundwave from the historical record.
• Slugslinger's artwork is missing a whole section of blue ink from his head (now white), which was not the case for the original entry in issue #60 of the original run.
• Someone apparently thought that Ultra Magnus's right upper arm being white was an error that needed to be fixed, hence it's now colored blue, like his shoulder and forearm. His left upper arm remains white regardless, making the choice all the more baffling.