Below are two reading orders, one for completists and one for people who just want to get into the current on-goings. I've gone for publishing order over in universe chronological order as a lot of plot points would be spoiled that way. There are a couple of minor exceptions to this, namely the placements of Autocracy/Monstrosity and the "missing MTMTE issues" that are Spotlights Hoist and Trailcutter.

Reading Order 1 - Get me to the new hotness.

• The Transformers: Chaos Theory (Collects a few ongoing issues 22 and 23 are the relevant ones)
• The Transformers: Autocracy #1 - #12
• The Transformers: Monstrosity #1 - #12
• The Transformers: Primacy #1 - #4
• The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers #1 - #5
• The Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime
• The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye #1
• The Transformers: Robots in Disguise #1
• The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye #2
• The Transformers: Robots in Disguise #2
• The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye #3
• The Transformers: Robots in Disguise #3
• The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye #4
• The Transformers: Robots in Disguise #4
• The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye #5
• The Transformers: Spotlight Hoist (despite when it was published, its designed to fit here, James Roberts said so!)
• The Transformers: Spotlight Trailcutter (despite when it was published, its designed to fit here, James Roberts said so!)
• The Transformers: Robots in Disguise #5
• The Transformers: Robots in Disguise #6
• The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye #6
• The Transformers: Robots in Disguise #7
• The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye #7
• The Transformers: Robots in Disguise #8
• The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye #8
• The Transformers: Robots in Disguise #9
• The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye Annual 2012
• The Transformers: Robots in Disguise Annual 2012
• The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye #9
• The Transformers: Robots in Disguise #10
• The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye #10
• The Transformers: Robots in Disguise #11
• The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye #11
• The Transformers: Robots in Disguise #12
• The Transformers: Spotlight Orion Pax
• The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye #12
• The Transformers: Robots in Disguise #13
• The Transformers: Spotlight Thundercracker
• The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye #13
• The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye #13 (text)
• The Transformers: Spotlight Megatron (despite when it chronologically fits, it was published here)
• The Transformers: Robots in Disguise #14
• The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye #14
• The Transformers: Spotlight Bumblebee (despite when it chronologically fits, it was published here)
• The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye #15
• The Transformers: Robots in Disguise #15
• The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye #16
• The Transformers: Robots in Disguise #16
• The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye #17
• The Transformers: Robots in Disguise #17
• The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye #18
• The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye #19
• The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye #20
• The Transformers: Robots in Disguise #18
• The Transformers: Robots in Disguise #19
• The Transformers: Robots in Disguise #20
• The Transformers: Robots in Disguise #21
• The Transformers: Robots in Disguise #22
• The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye #21
• The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye #22
• The Transformers: Dark Cybertron #1 - Dark Cybertron Part 1
• The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye #23 - Dark Cybertron Part 2
• The Transformers: Robots in Disguise #23 - Dark Cybertron Part 3
• The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye #24 - Dark Cybertron Part 4
• The Transformers: Robots in Disguise #24 - Dark Cybertron Part 5
• The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye #25 - Dark Cybertron Part 6
• The Transformers: Robots in Disguise #25 - Dark Cybertron Part 7
• The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye #26 - Dark Cybertron Part 8
• The Transformers: Robots in Disguise #26 - Dark Cybertron Part 9
• The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye #27 - Dark Cybertron Part 10
• The Transformers: Robots in Disguise #27 - Dark Cybertron Part 11
• The Transformers: Dark Cybertron #2 - Dark Cybertron Part 12
• Dawn of the Autobots / Season 2 of MTMTE/RID
• The Transformers: Windblade #1
• The Transformers: Robots in Disguise #28
• The Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye #28
• The Transformers: Windblade #2
• The Transformers: Robots in Disguise #29
• The Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye #29
• The Transformers: Windblade #3
• The Transformers: Robots in Disguise #30
• The Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye #30
• The Transformers: Windblade #4
• The Transformers: Robots in Disguise #31
• The Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye #31
• The Transformers: Robots in Disguise #32
• The Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye #32
• The Transformers: Robots in Disguise #33
• The Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye #33
• The Transformers: Robots in Disguise #34
• The Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye #34
• The Transformers: NOT Robots in Disguise #35
• The Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye #35
• The Transformers: Punishement #1 - #5

You may also want to throw in Drift #1-#4 and Spotlight: Drift as elements of that are relevant in MTMTE. Elements of Spotlight: Wheelie are relevant in RID, again this is purely optional.

Reading Order 2 - I want it all.

• The Transformers: Infiltration #0
• The Transformers: Infiltration #1
• The Transformers: Infiltration #2
• The Transformers: Infiltration #3
• The Transformers: Infiltration #4
• The Transformers: Infiltration #5
• The Transformers: Infiltration #6
• The Transformers: Stormbringer #1
• The Transformers: Stormbringer #2
• The Transformers: Stormbringer #3
• The Transformers: Spotlight Shockwave
• The Transformers: Stormbringer #4
• The Transformers: Spotlight Nightbeat
• The Transformers: Spotlight Hot Rod
• The Transformers: Escalation #1
• The Transformers: Escalation #2
• The Transformers: Spotlight Sixshot
• The Transformers: Spotlight Ultra Magnus
• The Transformers: Escalation #3
• The Transformers: Escalation #4
• The Transformers: Spotlight Soundwave
• The Transformers: Escalation #5
• The Transformers: Spotlight Kup
• The Transformers: Escalation #6
• The Transformers: Megatron Origin #1
• The Transformers: Spotlight Galvatron
• New Avengers/Transformers #1
• The Transformers: Megatron Origin #2
• New Avengers/Transformers #2
• The Transformers: Spotlight Optimus Prime
• The Transformers: Megatron Origin #3
• New Avengers/Transformers #3
• The Transformers: Devastation #1
• New Avengers/Transformers #4
• The Transformers: Megatron Origin #4
• The Transformers: Devastation #2
• The Transformers: Spotlight Ramjet
• The Transformers: Devastation #3
• The Transformers: Devastation #4
• The Transformers: Spotlight Blaster
• The Transformers: Devastation #5
• The Transformers: Spotlight Arcee
• The Transformers: Devastation #6
• The Transformers: Spotlight Mirage
• The Transformers: Spotlight Grimlock
• The Transformers: Spotlight Wheelie
• The Transformers: Spotlight: Revelation Cyclonus
• The Transformers: Spotlight: Revelation Hardhead
• The Transformers: Spotlight: Revelation Doubledealer
• The Transformers: Spotlight: Revelation Sideswipe
• The Transformers: Maximum Dinobots #1
• The Transformers: Maximum Dinobots #2
• The Transformers: Maximum Dinobots #3
• The Transformers: Maximum Dinobots #4
• The Transformers: Maximum Dinobots #5
• The Transformers: All Hail Megatron #1
• The Transformers: All Hail Megatron #2
• The Transformers: All Hail Megatron #3
• The Transformers: All Hail Megatron #4
• The Transformers: Spotlight Blurr
• The Transformers: All Hail Megatron #5
• The Transformers: All Hail Megatron #6
• The Transformers: All Hail Megatron #7
• The Transformers: All Hail Megatron #8
• The Transformers: All Hail Megatron #9
• The Transformers: Spotlight Jazz
• The Transformers: Spotlight Drift
• The Transformers: All Hail Megatron #10
• The Transformers: All Hail Megatron #11
• The Transformers: Spotlight Cliffjumper
• The Transformers: All Hail Megatron #12
• The Transformers: Spotlight Metroplex
• The Transformers: All Hail Megatron #13
• The Transformers: All Hail Megatron #14
• The Transformers: All Hail Megatron #15
• The Transformers: All Hail Megatron #16
• The Transformers #1
• The Transformers #2
• The Transformers: Bumblebee #1
• The Transformers #3
• The Transformers: Bumblebee #2
• The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers #1
• The Transformers: Bumblebee #3
• The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers #2
• The Transformers #4
• The Transformers: Bumblebee #4
• The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers #3
• The Transformers #5
• The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers #4
• The Transformers: Spotlight Prowl
• The Transformers #6
• The Transformers: Ironhide #1
• The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers #5
• The Transformers #7
• The Transformers: Ironhide #2
• The Transformers #8
• The Transformers: Ironhide #3
• The Transformers #9
• The Transformers: Ironhide #4
• The Transformers #10
• The Transformers: Drift #1
• The Transformers #11
• The Transformers: Drift #2
• The Transformers: Drift #3
• The Transformers #12
• The Transformers: Drift #4
• The Transformers #13
• The Transformers #14
• The Transformers #15
• The Transformers: Infestation #1
• The Transformers #16
• The Transformers: Infestation #2
• The Transformers #17
• The Transformers: Heart of Darkness #1
• The Transformers #18
• The Transformers: Heart of Darkness #2
• The Transformers #19
• The Transformers: Heart of Darkness #3
• The Transformers #20
• The Transformers: Heart of Darkness #4
• The Transformers #21A
• The Transformers #21B
• The Transformers #22
• The Transformers #23
• The Transformers #24
• The Transformers #25
• The Transformers #26
• The Transformers #27
• The Transformers #28
• The Transformers #29
• The Transformers #30
• The Transformers #31
• Now Go To Reading Order 1, starting from "The Death of Optimus Prime"

 

Nice lists, but what on Earth is Autocracy #0? I've never heard of it and can't find it on comiXology...

 

Autocracy #0 should be showing on Comixology, I'm pretty sure thats where I got mine from.

Oddly it seems to no longer be there, it was a free reprint of the relevant Autocracy era stuff from Chaos Theory

Chaos Theory Part 1 - Transformers Wiki
Chaos Theory Part 2 - Transformers Wiki

As it seems to have mysteriously vanished, is it in the TPB of Autocracy? I'll cut it from the list for now

 

Great lists! Thanks for putting this out there. I'm very new to Transformers comics, literally less than a year. I've used Comixology to go back and get Transformers #1-31, Last Stand of the Wreckers, got Autocracy 1-12, RiD and MTMTE as they came out. But I wasn't sure how far back to go, what to pick up and what order, so that everything is roughly in the same continuity. As I said, I'm new, but tend to be a completist when it comes to things like this, So I am definitely going back and working on your second list. Thanks again for this handy reference!

 

Hey great list, one question though, if i were to get the transformers IDW collection hardcovers, would it cover all of your "Reading Order 2" right up to Autocracy?

 

It should do yes, I assume the last on you'd need would be #8

 

Roger and thanks

 

Is it worth me editing in TPB/IDW collection numbers into this?

 

Most of the TPBs are fairly obvious, but yeah, it'd probably be worth adding the volumes for the Collections and the TPBs that are less obvious (eg. Spotlight volumes, SL: Prowl being in Police Action, etc.).

 

Well most people do tend to go for the collected issues rather than buying them all one by one so it wouldn't be a bad thing to have that as well.

 

I'll get on that this weekend then, will try and link to Amazon and Comixology where possible too in order to make life easier.

 

I also think that it's easier to read in forms of trades because that way you get the complete story fist and then you upgrade it with stuff like Spotlights and mini series and stuff.

I never could stop a series in the middle just to read a spotlight and then continue on with the series itself. It always bothered and destoryed the cointinuity of reading for me.

 

Unfortunately New Avengers/Transformers (2007) #1 onwards of these don't seem to be available on comixology.  

 

Thats probably for the best.

They're only in that reading order as thats *when* they happen but honestly they couldnt be more irrelevant if they tried.

 

Ah okay thanks again AdyCarter, appreciate the work. Also in that section you have listed Optimus Prime Optimus Prime. I think you meant Spotlight: Optimus Prime?

New Avengers/Transformers #2
The Transformers: Optimus Prime Optimus Prime
The Transformers: Megatron Origin #3

 

Whoops! Good spot, I've fixed that now.

Its taking me longer than expected to edit in the TPB/Comixology/Amazon listings too, rest assured they'll get there just as soon as I have chance. (Kids can only be distracted for so long!)

 

Yeah, literally the only thing of lasting relevance in the Avengers crossover is that Ramjet has arrived on Earth, but his Spotlight establishes that anyway, so it's most definitely no great loss.

 

The Avengers cross over is one of those things that's better left unread and forgoten forever.

 

Apologies for slackness with Comixology/Amazon links, just done a small update again,

 

Looks like the two new ones need to get popped in, but thanks for the list!
You made my life super easy with this!

"Spotlight Hoist like Spotlight Trailcutter is set between issues 5 and 6 of More than Meets the Eye"
via http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers...ye-spotlight-hoist-and-dark-cybertron-177286/