The Transformers: Classics UK, Vol. 4

Target 2006 was the beginning of the best period for the comic, & the quality stories continue in this volume. We start off with a story that may not be a favorite of Simon Furman's but is definitely one of mine, Wanted Galvatron Dead Or Alive. This & the next three stories form a very good arc in which sets up the comics' version of the Post-Movie Transformers Universe & I have to admit, the stalemate is more interesting than the Autobots completely dominating Cybertron like in the cartoon. It also introduces Death's Head, the coolest "freelance peacekeeping agent" this side of Boba Fett. I thought this was a fantastic story all the way through. I personally would not have minded having to buy the Annual to complete the story (Marvel US did that a lot), but I can understand why many people were miffed about it. We then get an excellent little crossover with G.I. Joe (I know they said Action Force isn't G.I. Joe but I pretend that the Joes just happened to have finished a mission in England that turned out easier than expected which explains why they had so many vehicles at the ready). Again although it's not a favorite of the writer's it's a favorite of mine (as are most stories from this period). We do however come to a story that I do agree with him isn't one of his best, Worlds Apart. It's a good story, it's just not fantastic. It's certainly not as good as the Headmasters miniseries. But it's only 2 issues, and then we go back to favorites such as Kup's Story. Kup was my favorite of the Movie characters because he seemed the most interesting to me, so this story was exactly what I wanted to see. Headhunt is another excellent story. I personally think that with the exception of a couple black & white stories, all the stories set in the future are top notch. "What's In a Name?" and "Grudge Match" are also awesome; the last time the Dinobots were used well until Earthforce. Their fight against the Predacons was great, as was the rivalry between Swoop & Divebomb. Ladies' Night was probably the best human-centric story in the whole comic. Yes focusing on humans can turn off the fans, but for me it's only bad if the humans are annoying (like the kids in Child's Play & Spacehikers, & Sam from the live-action Movies). It was great seeing 3 good characters come together like they did here. Sadly, there is one real turkey in this collection: Stargazing which unfortunately happens to be the last of the regular issues in this volume. This is for me the worst of the Christmas stories. Starscream seems out of character, and the plot is just silly. We then come to the other 2 stories from the Annual. Ark Duty is a great little short story, but Doomsday for Nebulos is a mixed bag. The first part is just okay, but the third part is not very good. However the second part, which details the birth of the Headmasters told from Stylor's point of view, is very well written & intriguing. Still, there are quite a few vintage advertisements as well as profiles of characters from Transformers A-Z, so it's not exactly ending things on a bad note, but even if it did, this would still be a recommended collection. But besides the bad stories, you know what the only bad thing about this collection is? All that talk about the UK Thundercats comic in the introduction makes me want to read it. I'm a huge Thundercats fan. I heard the comic lasted 129 issues in the UK, so even after subtracting the US reprints there would be at least a few dozen issues' worth of stories that we didn't get here, and they've got to be much better than some of the crap Wildstorm produced (although I thought Reclaiming Thundera, Hammerhand's Revenge, Enemy's Pride & the one-shot issues were all worthy of the franchise, Dogs of War wasn't that good but it was better than The Return, which sucked). Anyways, I can't wait for Volume 5 so I can finally read the Legacy of Unicron.

Transformers Classics UK Volume 4 is a great book! This book is mostly about the post-movie (from the 1986 Transformers The Movie) Transformers characters from season 3. I think my favorite story in this book is Wanted Galvatron: Dead or Alive. Transformers character, Autobot leader, Rodimus Prime is introduced. It is very good book full of wonderful stories by UK writer Simon Furman. UK Transformers artist, Geoff Senior, is one of the comic artists in this book! This also reprints the Marvel UK Comics were Death's Head makes his first appearance in Transformers UK. I Highly Recommend it! This is one of my favorite Transformers books! A+++++

Aside from being the first appearance of Death's Head, there isn't much here. It is rather easy to see why Marvel UK fell apart. The writing is meh, as is the art--even for the time. Sure, the TransFormers were never brilliant literature, but this just seems pretty blah to me.

There were some excellent stories in this volume . Had a great time reading them. The new characters were fine even though nothing really compares to Optimus Prime. The writing continued to be very good even if the art was sketchy in places (pun intended!)

The fourth installment in the transformers uk series is another great read while not as good as volume three it's on par with volumes one and two. I highly recommend it.

back in the day, 1985-1990, it was hard to keep up with Transformers UK since I'm in America. But these books make sense of it all. I love this series.

I came for Death's Head, I wasn't disappointed.

IDW's collections of Transformers Classics UK are awesome. They are a must for any Transformers comics fan! The quality of the paperback and paper stock is good. The pages are not the glossy stock most comics and tpb's are the quality is still good and fits with the 80's style. But the extras are what make it worth it. Many times when a comic is reprinted and/or collected there isn't many extras included (except maybe cover reprints). So having in-depth articles, etc make it accessible for fans (such as myself) who wouldn't normally know all the cool little bits of info. and funner to read the stories because of it! The extras include in-depth articles with Simon Furman and others about the history of Transformers UK and each story. Plus there are adverts, covers and other bonus reprints.

Transformers: Classic UK Volume 4 continues with what was perhaps the strongest period of the long-running UK based Transformers series, and includes some of the best examples of Transformers storytelling of any media.Included in this volume are the following stories:'Wanted: Galvatron: Dead or Alive!': In the future, Autobot leader Rodimus Prime - uneasy after being unable to confirm Galvatrons destruction after Transformers the Movie, hires the intergalactic Bounty Hunter ('Peace keeper, yes?') Deaths Head, to track him down and destroy him for good.'Burning Sky': Stranded on Earth, Ultra Magnus is enjoying the peace and tranquility of a world not wracked by war - that is until the peace is shattered by an exploding volcano - and the discovery that an old enemy is behind the disaster...'Hunters': In his hunt for Galvatron, Deaths Head stalks the Decepticons mobile island fortress for information. Meanwhile Autobot leader Rodimus Prime travels to current-era Earth in order to clean up his own mess.'Fire on High': Rodimus, Ultra Magnus, Goldbug, Wreck-Gar and Deaths Head must team up to stop the maddened Galvatron from unleashing a weapon that could devestate the Earth.'Ancient Relics': When an enraged and insomniac Megatron is discovered in the sewers of London, the human Action Force team (AKA G.I Joe), along with the Autobots Grimlock and Blades, and human-built mechanoid Centurion must fight to stop him.'Worlds Apart': In this Headmasters related story, the Autobot High-Brow, uncomfortable with the process that has made him a Headmaster, must overcome his reluctance to defeat Scorponok and save his fellow Autobots.'Kups Story': Telling the origin of the Autobots oldest warrior, and his first meeting with friends Hot Rod and Blurr.'Headhunt': Seeking revenge against Rodimus Prime for reneging on the contract to eliminate Galvatron, Deaths Head hunts the Autobot leader - who is injured and unarmed - through the sewers of Cybetron.'Whats in a name?/Grudge Match': On Cybertron, the Autobot Swoop was once known as Divebomb - that was until a Decepticon flyer defeated him in combat, and to complete the humiliation also took his name for himself. Millions of years later on Earth, Swoop receives another opportunity to settle old scores.'Ladies Night': News reporter Joy Meadows (who previously appeared in the classic stories 'Dinobot Hunt' and 'In the National Interest') finds herself in an unexpected team-up with explorer Susan Hoffman (from 'Ancient Relics') and Cindy Newell (from 'Fire on High') against the Combaticons.'Stargazing': Starscream, recently awakened after being injured and placed in cold-storage during Target 2006, ponders the value of his role in the Autobot/Decepticon war, until a random meeting with an Earth boy on Christmas Eve teaches him the meaning of Christmas spirit.'Ark Duty': Whilst Kup is sent on a mission to transport the plans for the first Autobot city on Earth, Hot Rod is lumbered with Ark Duty, ordered to monitor transmission and not to leave his post under any circumstances, however when Kup is attacked by the Stuntacons, Hot Rod is forced to weigh what he is ordered to do with what he thinks is right.'Headmasters Saga': A text story from the Transformers annual telling the origins and stories of the Headmasters.Whilst not quite uoto the standards of previous volumes, this book nevertheless is still of a very high quality, and also includes a vast amount of additional material, such as fact files, adverts, interviews, 'Robo-capers' and cover galleries.

A brightly coloured retro treasure trove, that is chock full of comic delights. Far more than just being extensive toy adverts, these were brilliant tales of action and daring do.

THANKS VERY MUCH. A++++.

Issues 121 - 124 are missing, which is a continuity issue for references in Ancient Relics.

Excellent seller and good value for money. Book arrived ahead of time and in perfect condition. Thanks very much. A +++++