I didn't actually find this out - this was found by several Australians at newsagents around the country. (the two photos here are mine though) The UK Definitive Gen1 Comic collection, spanning 80 volumes across the original 1980s Marvel issues, Dreamwave issues and IDW issues, is now out in Australia. The first issue is AU$8, while each later issue (every 2 weeks) is AU$20. Just like in the UK, these are not being released in order - they are being released in a pre-set mixed up order - most likely the same order as in the UK. The in-store displays at the newsagents are the ones used in the UK (it's very worn, despite only being out for less than a week here), with a different price stuck over the UK price. . For those here who only want specific volumes (like the ones with the recoloured UK B&W stories), see if your newsagent can order them in when they are released. If they are able to, just be careful when asking for specific volumes, as they might be numbered in the system according to their order of release, rather than the numbers on the covers (note that "issue 1" is Volume 6). .
I just picked this up over the weekend. Went to a few newsagents and it's only half of what's pictured here, as in just the book and not the fold out poster. Looks good.
The poster wasn't enclosed with the book? It should still have a poster.... just a little smaller I think. It is interesting to note that this looks to be released in New Zealand and South Africa as well, based on the four different contact details inside the book. And the subscription form says that the offer is valid until 30th February 2018... but I wonder, if you subscribe at the end of February, do they catch you up with the 12 issues already sent out to people subscribed this month, or you still get them every 2 weeks, but stay 12 issues behind everyone else. Something I might have to ask. If anyone is thinking of subscribing, consider doing it online (compared to calling in, mailing or emailing), as you get the free mug with your second delivery if you order online. (it does note that the free gifts are "while stocks last" and may differ from the ones shown, but I would imagine that they would have received enough in Australia to cover a fair few early subscribers - they might not actually run out, but it covers them in case they get more subscribers than expected) The direct link to the Transformers Comic page on the Australian distributor's site is here (the UK website just redirects you to it anyway). Click on "Subscribe" and it will take you to their cart/checkout screen, for you to fill out your details. I think it will be interesting to see if we end up with the bad issues that needed to be reprinted and sent out to people in the UK, or if the reprints will be done in time for their later release here. . . .
There were two versions of issue one released in the UK (if you don't count the later corrected version): the one on the large card with the poster stuck next to the book, and one on a smaller card with the poster behind the book. It did cause an initial bit of confusion here. Not sure why there were even two versions. There might be a way to get an idea: Issue one was reprinted and bundled free with issue (I think) seven to correct the picture on the spine, so if that's the updated version you've got then it's likely the other error issues will be the corrected ones too. Issues sixteen and seventeen had the errors so that's plenty of lead time before they come out in Australia. I can't imagine they'd put out the error versions over there and then have to eat the cost of replacing them again.
Opened this up last night and yup, the poster was sealed and hidden between the book and card backing. Tossing up between keeping an order at my local newsagents, or subscribing?
Whenever I hear people talking about their subscriptions it's usually to complain about a problem. If I remember correctly one guy in the UK thread for this title even received a debt letter from their legal over something Hatchette ballsed up with his subscription. If you don't mind foregoing the extras that come with subscribing I'd suggest just getting it saved at a local newsagents, which is what I do. As much as I'd liked to have gotten the additional goodies, it just sounds like too much hassle.
This is old news for those following the UK subscription releases, but in Australia, the second shipment was sent out this week. I actually received the first shipment (with the free wallet and keyrings) because I subscribed in the second week of September, while people who subscribed during August received their second shipment this week (with the free tinplate and mug). Since these are being sent out in a plastic post bag instead of a box, there are already reports of damaged books and smashed mugs. The info letter included says that if you subscribe late, they will be sending 1 or 2 extra volumes with each shipment (and charging you for them of course), until you catch up... but that's after this first shipment. So my next shipment should have 3 or 4 volumes, while those who subscribed early will only get the regular 2 with theirs. The letter repeats what the earlier subscription flyer noted, in that they will be sending out two volumes every four weeks, not monthly, which I would have thought would be easier to keep track of, to look out for in the mail (if it were the same week every month). I guess this way, it could be like a fortnightly This first shipment included three volumes, which has the corrected first issue (the version with the wrong spine was actually being sold in stores here, despite the corrected version being printed up months ago for the UK), and the free third issue (Primal Scream). Since I already bought the first issue at the newsagents, I now have both versions, and was charged for it. (other people who nominated that they wanted their subscription to start from the second issue, because they also bought this one instore, were still sent it, and charged for it - it is not free in Australia like those in the UK, which were sent out as a free replacement) I still wish that they were sending the volumes out in order, so that each pair of volumes every four weeks would have been one from the start and one from mid-way. That way, people still have to stay subscribed to get the entire run of Gen1 or IDW, but it allows you to be able to sit down and read them from the start without having to wait 3 years to do that. Even though there are some stories contained within a single volume, with both UK and US stories blended together in order, it really needs to be read (for the first time) from start to finish.
Transformers Definitive Comic Collection update for Australia. For those who are subscribed to the Transformers Definitive Comic Collection, and were wondering why they didn't get two volumes sent to them last week, the Australian distributor (Bissett Magazines) has collapsed, and the UK publisher (Hachette Partworks) is still trying to set up a new distributor, as noted on the Subscription website (it may require an AUS IP to view) - Transformers The Definitive G1 Collection Hopefully they have the mailing list of subscribers, but just in case, please email Hachette in the UK ([email protected]) to make sure that they know that you were getting the series, and which volumes you last received (the last two sent out should have been Volume 14 & 43 in the second week of July). Updates from Hachette will be posted here and on the Ozformers website. The more Australian subscribers who are known by them, the quicker they might be at finding a solution, and the more likely one of us will be updated with some news about if, or when, the shipments will resume for us in Australia. .
