Well best is going to be subjective, but I like the Marvel and DW ones.. But you can buy them at comic shops, and book stores like Barnes & Noble and Borders will have trades.
You can't go wrong with Marvel UK G1 and G2. You can find it split up in trades. IDW's main continuity(bar Megatron:Origins) was good before All Hail Megatron. The only good book since has been Last Stand of the Wreckers, which is excellent.
My favorites are the Marvel and IDW comics. DW is also pretty good, despite the fact that some of the stories weren't completed.
The collected trade paperback editions, yes. That should cover some of IDW's stuff, reprints of most of the Marvel stuff, and some movie-verse stuff as well. The best Transformers G1 comic is the G1 Marvel run issue #24, "Afterdeath". You'll have to get it off ebay.
The Best? Hmm... Well for old school thrills, it has to be Titan's collections of the original US run (all collected bar the G.I. Joe crossover, Universe and one issue of the US run that was just an adation of the cartoon episode 'big broadcast of 2006'). Of Bob Budiansky's run, go for: Beginnings, New World Order, Cybertron Redux & Showdown (First 24 issues of the US title are colelcted here). After that, the US title starts a steady, and painful decline. Save for Headmasters, which is excellent. For Simon Furman's best bits (from Marvel UKs run) Target: 2006, Fallen Angel, Legacy Of Unicron, Space Pirates & Time Wars (collecting the best UK tales, that largely pick up events after the animated film. Lots of Galvatron craziness, time travel, Death's Head, Unicron and the origin of the Transformers - written ahead of its eventual 'official' induction into canon in the US comic). Simon Furman's best bits (from Marvel US) Primal Scream, All Fall Down & End Of The Road (Wrapping up the original US title. I left out Matrix Quest, as although hailed as something of a work of genius at the time, its obvious movie and literary references and themes make for a very disjointed and unsatisfactory read). From the original run, the above are all pretty much essential reading. Titan's collection of Time Wars may be difficult to come by (it is scarce now in the UK), so pick up IDWs collection instead. Then, from the 1990s, there's the superb Tarnsformers: Generation 2 run. Twelve issues from 1993 - 94 split across two collections from Titan as 'Dark Designs' & 'Rage In Heaven'. A much more tougher and imaginative spin on Transformers, which further expands their origins and lays a lot of the groundwork that Bob Forward and Larry Ditillo would draw on when they came to write 'Beast Wars'. This remains my all time favourite Transformers story. There are also four lead-in issues in G.I. Joe #139 - 142 that Titan have not collected. Basically, Cobra discover and reactive/refit Megatron. Fighting ensues. As for the modern era, well. Dreamwave. James McDonagh & Adam Patyck were constructing an interesting tale that was setting up events as we neared 2005 and the events of the Animated film. However, Dreamwave's collapse meant their work was unfinished. So, what does that leave us with: War & Peace. : Look past the awful and confusing art of Pat Lee. The story is good, although the last issue with Shockwave doing the whole Bond villain 'my evil plan' speech for the entire issue spoils things some what. Ongoing # 0 - 10. The only published issues of the McDonagh/ Patyck masterplan. The smaller story threads that are building towards the Movie are great. The larger framing stories concerning Sunstorm and The Insecticons are pretty dull though. Simon Furman pops up again. Check out 'The War Within' vol 1 (now available via IDW in the war within omnibus). A good solid tale of the early days of the Autobot and Decepticon war. Although Optimus as a records clerk, is, er, interesting... Then we get to the contentious IDW era. marred by cold feet, falling sales and editorial clumsiness, their comics are as a result, very uneven. They can be roughly split between Simon Furmans Ultimates style take with the -ation books (great ideas,good stories, bit of a lack of characterisation for 90% of the cast used) and the All Hail Megatron reboot (of sorts). Furman's Best work for IDW: Infiltration, Escalation, Devastation, Spoltight series vol 1 - 3. Some folk love Stormbringer. I don't. Its one of Furman's psuedo-scientific technobabble pieces, and as such, is as exciting as a Geography lesson. The concluding 'Revelations' book is a rushed mess. Avoid. Other IDW stuff: All Hail Megatron . Suprisingly good. Despite what most folk say (including a sizeable portion of forum users here!), Shane McCarthy has written a decent enough, character driven tale. What spoils it, and why it is so controversial, is that IDW fudged the issue of whether this was to be a stand alone tale, a reboot of the franchise, or continuation of what went before. If they'd have been less scared of provoking fanboy wrath and had billed this as a new start and not forced McCarthy to throw in some -ation era crumbs as a sop to fans, then it would have been more universally accepted as the fun piece of work it is. That said, its not without its faults. The pacing is a little off, and it feels like a Dreamwave series that never was. Guido Guidi's artwork is lovely though. Chris Mowry's ongoing, is as yet too meandering to pass proper judgement on. There seems to be some kind of design, but we're stopping off along the way to get inside the heads of various characters and their internal monologues regarding the war sao far. Then 'Last Stand Of The Wreckers'. Nick Roche & James Roberts Tour de force. The best Transformers comic since 1993's Generation 2. Witty, emotional, dramatic and unafraid to pull its punches. A superb series and highly recommended. Perhaps above all else, and a lesson for all other writers tackling Transformers. This is how it should be done.
Actually, Titan omitted THREE issues - as well as #43 ("Big Broadcast of 2006") they didn't reprint #33-34 ("Man Of Iron", itself a reprint of a UK story). Titan also never reprinted the TFTM move adaptation though I understand IDW will be. As to the original OP - Marvel all the way, esp. the UK stuff. IDW has some good bits as well.
I agree, especially for the UK stories, and the Christmas Special feel good issues! I do like all series though, except maybe War Within and that Sunstorm guff that came out of later Dreamwave.
I gotta go with the IDW stuff, simply because as good as the Marvel stuff was, it was too dictated by the toyline, so only a afew characters really get any development. As as IDW, (IMO), The first three mini-series (Infiltration, Escalation and Devastation) are flat out awesome, the best TF comics I've ever read. If I was re-doing the movie, I would base it on "Infiltration". The spotlights are awesome and make you care about characters like Wheelie. All Hail Megatron is really good, despite what people say, but it's not perfect. The ongoing series that is currently out is very good also, despite that a lot of people (myself included) don't like Don's new drawing style. Megatron Origin and Stormbringer aren't terrible, but they are a little confusing, and there is too much going on a lot of times, but if you don't mind that kind of stuff, then check them out. --->However, this is all suggestive, as everyone who posted a reply likes something different. Best advice is to check out a little of everything and see what you like. What's good for me, might not be good for you
Seriously? Didn't most fans HATE the ending for that one? I know I did. I second everything Skyquake87 recommended on Marvel TF G1 and G2 as well as IDW's "-ation" series and the "Spotlight" series...the latter of which I had to wait almost a couple decades for. After reading the "GI Joe: Special Missions" titles back in the day I would write Marvel faithfully to request the same for TFs to no avail. There were never enough solo character features in the Marvel TF run to satisfy my fanboy appetite. And thank you, Skyquake97, for taking the time to write such an informative and helpful post.
Marvel/DW. I really dislike anything I've read from IDW other than LSOTW, which is admittedly awesomesauce.
Idw Furman run with the spotlights read in chronological order is awesome. Love how it had very mature tone and how everything was connected through series of events from past to present. To bad Idw had to end Furman’s series for the shitty AHM and Ongoing. LTSOW is also excellent. Main Series : Megatron Origin, Infiltration, Stormbringer ,Escalation, Devastation ,Revelation ,Maximum Dinobots and LSOTW Spotlights : Shockwave, Soundwave, Blaster, Ultra Magnus, Hot Rod, Sixshot, Ramjet , Nightbeat, Kup, Galvatron , Optimus Prime, Mirage, Arcee, Grimlock
Mike Costa is doing the ongoing. Chris Mowry has only done the movie comics. I agree with you about All Hail Megatron. It really struggled as a monthly book, but reading my trades again it is a lot more enjoyable.
