The Neverending Story.
The Signature Comics. 2015-Present.
A year after Titan wrapped up, much to everyone’s surprise as it rather slipped out quietly, a brand new Transformers comic appeared, based on the Robots in Disguise cartoon, from prolific publishers of children’s tie-in titles Signature.
The first issue even appeared to have an original comic, written by Richard Mead and drawn by Dan Khanna. Effectively, it looked like UK stories were back like they’d never been away.
However, according to a poster on TMUK who asked Khanna, Look Before You Leap! was a story first published in France (a technicality I’m using to end more neatly with the last Titan issue). That there's still some wriggle room there (Dan wasn't entirely sure) shows how little we actually know about the series. Indeed, six years in and the Wiki only covers the first two issues.
Alongside the new story was a reprint of IDW's Free Comic Book Day special Fire When Ready!, by John Barber and Priscilla Tramotano.
This was then followed by a full reprint of the six issue IDW series by Georgia Ball and, again, Priscilla Tramotano (the last time the company tried to tie-into the current cartoon). With each story now having a new title. Which actually worked out at pretty decent value when you thrown in the various free gifts as well (more on that later).
But from issue 8, we’re back to our old friend, the screenshot comic. And that’s why there’s so little information about the series online, you have over 50 straight issues of poorly done rehashes of TV episodes that continue all the difficult to actually follow problems I’ve discussed before. Especially once its settled down to just ten pages an issue, meaning a lot of the flow gets lost.
From issue 29 the comic becomes simply Transformers (though what is presumably a mistake sees the Robots in Disguise subtitle return briefly on issue 32) and from issue 37 it switches to adapting Cyberverse. In theory, the shorter episodes should make creating a comic easier, but the strips are just made shorter as well instead. They do struggle with the format as a result from this point, sometimes one episode an issue, sometimes two, sometimes one split into two parts. There was then a brief experiment with three episodes an issue before settling down back to one (now 12 page) again as it crossed from the second to the third season of the show.
The advantage of a comic like this is that it’s cheap to produce, so not only has it had a six year run, but from 2017 an accompanying title devoted to Rescue Bots (Rescue Bots Academy from issue 23) joined it.
This actually works better, being aimed at pre-schoolers means the shorter strip adaptations have more, simple, text to cover the narrative gaps so it makes for a more coherent read. Its bonus features (which in the parent book are basically the same as we saw from Titan) tend to be more educational as well, explaining the concept of things like lifeboats and football.
The majority of issues also have short two page text stories, designed to be read with parents where various words are replaced by a symbol, such as Optimus Prime's face in place of his name. Though these have also been included in foreign versions of the comic (such as the Russian), they are most likely British created content, with at least an effort to tie them into the time they get published (one about a heatwave in August, or fireworks in November).
Issues without the text stories have very simple create your own adventure multiple choice option pieces instead.
The real main selling point of what is otherwise some really overpriced comics is the free gifts. Which, whilst mostly from stock and cheap are still fairly impressive in amount. You usually get a non-Transforming figure with each issue, and notable gifts include a DVD and Botbots. Not to mention the Optimus Prime grabber arm.
One especially stand out cheap aspect of both comics are the covers. They clearly only have a small amount of stock art, so the same pictures of the characters are used over and over. Sometimes flipped if they’re feeling bold, but it’s not uncommon to have the same two illustrations of Bumblebee alternating covers for three of four months. Or even the same back to back.
Of the actual screenshot era, there are probably four issues of special note. All from the main book.
Issue 39 of Transformers avoids the screencaps entirely, instead presenting, as a Bumblebee special, a partial reprint of the A New Car For Charlie storybook adapting the film. Illustrated by Guido Guidi it’s a lovely looking issue, with it only being a shame they cut the end to encourage you to go see the film.
Issue 45 meanwhile has a Create Your Own Bumblebee Story, which has random screengrabs and blank speech bubbles for you to fill in. Which at least lets you exercise your imagination.
Issue 46 (right after, suggesting someone was trying to care) then features a special BotBots comic, based around an advert. Which, again, at least has a bit more thought put into it than just describing an episode wholesale.
Most indicative of all though is issue 36, which (like issue 15 of Prime) has no comic at all. Presumably due to falling between the two cartoons, but it’s as lazy and half-arsed as it is possible to be for such an expensive comic (the most current issue is £5.99. Though that can vary with the gift).
At the time of writing, in mid 2021, the actual future of the books seems uncertain, with both cartoons winding down and the next wave of same age bracket shows won't be starting till 2022 (though with over 20 and 40 episodes of each show left to adapt, it's terrifyingly possible that they'll drag it out that far). Not to mention the impact of Covid on the schedule over the last two years that has seen erratic gaps between issues. Though they now seem to have settled down into a six weekly release pattern for both books.
There's also the issue that UK supermarkets, starting with Waitrose, are making moves to ban comics with cover mounted gifts. There are potential loopholes to exploit in the plans (educational stuff is allowed). Issue 42 of Rescue Bots Academy did experiment (and shout about) recyclable packaging for the gifts, but at the moment this seems to have been a one-off.
Even if the books end soon though, combined they’ve already done more issue that Titan did, with over 100 in total. And the main book is now the third longest running Transformers comic (or fourth depending on how you count Titan renumbering).
Despite the generic nature of the title, as information is so scarce, below is a list of the issues, their comics (where applicable) and virtually identical covers. If there are more issues, I’ll add them as they go along.
Which is a bit of a mediocre note to end on. But why not go full circle, all the way back to the beginning and revisit Marvel issue 1?
Note: For issues marked *, this is one episode presented as a separate two parter within the comic. Titles are given as they are on the strip, which means many added exclamation marks compared to the original episodes (and in the case of issue 44 of Rescue Bots, a working title for the episode being used). The main comic stopped titling the strip with issue 54.
A year after Titan wrapped up, much to everyone’s surprise as it rather slipped out quietly, a brand new Transformers comic appeared, based on the Robots in Disguise cartoon, from prolific publishers of children’s tie-in titles Signature.
The first issue even appeared to have an original comic, written by Richard Mead and drawn by Dan Khanna. Effectively, it looked like UK stories were back like they’d never been away.
However, according to a poster on TMUK who asked Khanna, Look Before You Leap! was a story first published in France (a technicality I’m using to end more neatly with the last Titan issue). That there's still some wriggle room there (Dan wasn't entirely sure) shows how little we actually know about the series. Indeed, six years in and the Wiki only covers the first two issues.
Alongside the new story was a reprint of IDW's Free Comic Book Day special Fire When Ready!, by John Barber and Priscilla Tramotano.
This was then followed by a full reprint of the six issue IDW series by Georgia Ball and, again, Priscilla Tramotano (the last time the company tried to tie-into the current cartoon). With each story now having a new title. Which actually worked out at pretty decent value when you thrown in the various free gifts as well (more on that later).
But from issue 8, we’re back to our old friend, the screenshot comic. And that’s why there’s so little information about the series online, you have over 50 straight issues of poorly done rehashes of TV episodes that continue all the difficult to actually follow problems I’ve discussed before. Especially once its settled down to just ten pages an issue, meaning a lot of the flow gets lost.
From issue 29 the comic becomes simply Transformers (though what is presumably a mistake sees the Robots in Disguise subtitle return briefly on issue 32) and from issue 37 it switches to adapting Cyberverse. In theory, the shorter episodes should make creating a comic easier, but the strips are just made shorter as well instead. They do struggle with the format as a result from this point, sometimes one episode an issue, sometimes two, sometimes one split into two parts. There was then a brief experiment with three episodes an issue before settling down back to one (now 12 page) again as it crossed from the second to the third season of the show.
The advantage of a comic like this is that it’s cheap to produce, so not only has it had a six year run, but from 2017 an accompanying title devoted to Rescue Bots (Rescue Bots Academy from issue 23) joined it.
This actually works better, being aimed at pre-schoolers means the shorter strip adaptations have more, simple, text to cover the narrative gaps so it makes for a more coherent read. Its bonus features (which in the parent book are basically the same as we saw from Titan) tend to be more educational as well, explaining the concept of things like lifeboats and football.
The majority of issues also have short two page text stories, designed to be read with parents where various words are replaced by a symbol, such as Optimus Prime's face in place of his name. Though these have also been included in foreign versions of the comic (such as the Russian), they are most likely British created content, with at least an effort to tie them into the time they get published (one about a heatwave in August, or fireworks in November).
Issues without the text stories have very simple create your own adventure multiple choice option pieces instead.
The real main selling point of what is otherwise some really overpriced comics is the free gifts. Which, whilst mostly from stock and cheap are still fairly impressive in amount. You usually get a non-Transforming figure with each issue, and notable gifts include a DVD and Botbots. Not to mention the Optimus Prime grabber arm.
One especially stand out cheap aspect of both comics are the covers. They clearly only have a small amount of stock art, so the same pictures of the characters are used over and over. Sometimes flipped if they’re feeling bold, but it’s not uncommon to have the same two illustrations of Bumblebee alternating covers for three of four months. Or even the same back to back.
Of the actual screenshot era, there are probably four issues of special note. All from the main book.
Issue 39 of Transformers avoids the screencaps entirely, instead presenting, as a Bumblebee special, a partial reprint of the A New Car For Charlie storybook adapting the film. Illustrated by Guido Guidi it’s a lovely looking issue, with it only being a shame they cut the end to encourage you to go see the film.
Issue 45 meanwhile has a Create Your Own Bumblebee Story, which has random screengrabs and blank speech bubbles for you to fill in. Which at least lets you exercise your imagination.
Issue 46 (right after, suggesting someone was trying to care) then features a special BotBots comic, based around an advert. Which, again, at least has a bit more thought put into it than just describing an episode wholesale.
Most indicative of all though is issue 36, which (like issue 15 of Prime) has no comic at all. Presumably due to falling between the two cartoons, but it’s as lazy and half-arsed as it is possible to be for such an expensive comic (the most current issue is £5.99. Though that can vary with the gift).
At the time of writing, in mid 2021, the actual future of the books seems uncertain, with both cartoons winding down and the next wave of same age bracket shows won't be starting till 2022 (though with over 20 and 40 episodes of each show left to adapt, it's terrifyingly possible that they'll drag it out that far). Not to mention the impact of Covid on the schedule over the last two years that has seen erratic gaps between issues. Though they now seem to have settled down into a six weekly release pattern for both books.
There's also the issue that UK supermarkets, starting with Waitrose, are making moves to ban comics with cover mounted gifts. There are potential loopholes to exploit in the plans (educational stuff is allowed). Issue 42 of Rescue Bots Academy did experiment (and shout about) recyclable packaging for the gifts, but at the moment this seems to have been a one-off.
Even if the books end soon though, combined they’ve already done more issue that Titan did, with over 100 in total. And the main book is now the third longest running Transformers comic (or fourth depending on how you count Titan renumbering).
Despite the generic nature of the title, as information is so scarce, below is a list of the issues, their comics (where applicable) and virtually identical covers. If there are more issues, I’ll add them as they go along.
Which is a bit of a mediocre note to end on. But why not go full circle, all the way back to the beginning and revisit Marvel issue 1?
Note: For issues marked *, this is one episode presented as a separate two parter within the comic. Titles are given as they are on the strip, which means many added exclamation marks compared to the original episodes (and in the case of issue 44 of Rescue Bots, a working title for the episode being used). The main comic stopped titling the strip with issue 54.
Transformers: Robots in Disguise.
From October 2015.
Issue 1: Look Before You Leap!/Fire When Ready!
Issue 2: Time for Team Work.
Issue 3: Return of Team Prime.
Issue 4: Double Agent Attack.
Issue 5: Centre Stage For Sideswipe!
Issue 6: Steeljaw’s Revenge.
Issue 7: Quary Breakout!
Issue 8: As the Kospego Commands!
From October 2015.
Issue 1: Look Before You Leap!/Fire When Ready!
Issue 2: Time for Team Work.
Issue 3: Return of Team Prime.
Issue 4: Double Agent Attack.
Issue 5: Centre Stage For Sideswipe!
Issue 6: Steeljaw’s Revenge.
Issue 7: Quary Breakout!
Issue 8: As the Kospego Commands!
Issue 9: Rumble in the Jungle!
Issue 10: Hunting Season!
Issue 11: More Than Meets the Eye!
Issue 12: True Colours.
Issue 13: Cover Me!
Issue 14: Overloaded! Part 1.
Issue 15: Overloaded! Part 2.
Issue 16: Adventures in Bumble-Bee Sitting.
Issue 10: Hunting Season!
Issue 11: More Than Meets the Eye!
Issue 12: True Colours.
Issue 13: Cover Me!
Issue 14: Overloaded! Part 1.
Issue 15: Overloaded! Part 2.
Issue 16: Adventures in Bumble-Bee Sitting.
Issue 17: Graduation Exercise.
Issue 18: Battlegrounds Part 1.
Issue 19: Battlegrounds Part 2.
Issue 20: Decepticon Island Part 1.
Issue 21: Decepticon Island Part 2.
Issue 22: History Lessons.
Issue 23: Strongarm’s Big Score.
Issue 24: Mighty Big Trouble.
Issue 18: Battlegrounds Part 1.
Issue 19: Battlegrounds Part 2.
Issue 20: Decepticon Island Part 1.
Issue 21: Decepticon Island Part 2.
Issue 22: History Lessons.
Issue 23: Strongarm’s Big Score.
Issue 24: Mighty Big Trouble.
Issue 25: Mini-Con Madness.
Issue 26: Worthy.
Issue 27: King of the Hill.
Issue 28: Defrosted.
Transformers.
Issue 29: Blurred.
Issue 30: Sphere of Influence.
Issue 31: Bee Cool.
Issue 32: The Great Divide.
Issue 26: Worthy.
Issue 27: King of the Hill.
Issue 28: Defrosted.
Transformers.
Issue 29: Blurred.
Issue 30: Sphere of Influence.
Issue 31: Bee Cool.
Issue 32: The Great Divide.
Issue 33: Combine and Conquer.
Issue 34: Enemy of My Enemy.
Issue 35: Freedom Fighters.
Issue 36: No Comic.
Issue 37: Fractured/Memory (start of Cyberverse adaptations).
Issue 38: Allspark.
Issue 39: Transformers Bumblebee.
Issue 40: The Journey.
Issue 34: Enemy of My Enemy.
Issue 35: Freedom Fighters.
Issue 36: No Comic.
Issue 37: Fractured/Memory (start of Cyberverse adaptations).
Issue 38: Allspark.
Issue 39: Transformers Bumblebee.
Issue 40: The Journey.
Issue 41: Whiteout/Megatron is My Hero.
Issue 42: Cube/Shadowstriker.
Issue 43: Maccadam’s.
Issue 44: Sabotage/Teletraan X.
Issue 45: Terminal Velocity/Create Your Own Bumblebee Story.
Issue 46: Siloed/The Story of Transformers Botbots/King of the Dinosaurs.
Issue 47: Matrix of Leadership/The Extinction Event.
Issue 48: Sleeping Giants/Eruption.
Issue 42: Cube/Shadowstriker.
Issue 43: Maccadam’s.
Issue 44: Sabotage/Teletraan X.
Issue 45: Terminal Velocity/Create Your Own Bumblebee Story.
Issue 46: Siloed/The Story of Transformers Botbots/King of the Dinosaurs.
Issue 47: Matrix of Leadership/The Extinction Event.
Issue 48: Sleeping Giants/Eruption.
Issue 49: Sea of Tranquility/Bad Moon Rising.
Issue 50: The Visitor/Bring Me the Spark of Optimus Prime.
Issue 51: Trials Part 1/Trials Part 2*.
Issue 52: Dark Birth Part 1/Dark Birth Part 2*.
Issue 53: Parley Part 1/Parley Part 2*.
Issue 54: Untitled: Episodes 26-28.
Issue 55: Untitled: Episodes 29-31.
Issue 56: Untitled: Episodes 32-34.
Issue 50: The Visitor/Bring Me the Spark of Optimus Prime.
Issue 51: Trials Part 1/Trials Part 2*.
Issue 52: Dark Birth Part 1/Dark Birth Part 2*.
Issue 53: Parley Part 1/Parley Part 2*.
Issue 54: Untitled: Episodes 26-28.
Issue 55: Untitled: Episodes 29-31.
Issue 56: Untitled: Episodes 32-34.
Issue 57: Untitled: Episodes 35-36.
Issue 58: Untitled: Episode 37.
Issue 59: Untitled: Episode 38.
Issue 60: Untitled: Episode 39.
Issue 61: Untitled. Episode 40.
Issue 62: Untitled. Episode 41.
Issue 63: Untitled. Episode 42.
Issue 64: Untitled. Episode 43.
Issue 58: Untitled: Episode 37.
Issue 59: Untitled: Episode 38.
Issue 60: Untitled: Episode 39.
Issue 61: Untitled. Episode 40.
Issue 62: Untitled. Episode 41.
Issue 63: Untitled. Episode 42.
Issue 64: Untitled. Episode 43.
Issue 65: Untitled. Episode 44.
Issue 66: Untitled. Episode 45.
Issue 66: Untitled. Episode 45.
Transformers: Rescue Bots.
From May 2017.
Note: The second story listed is the word substitution text story. Issues 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15, 18, 20, 22, 24, 33, 36, 40, 43 and 45 had a Make A Rescue Bots Academy Story (sometimes called Make Your Own Rescue Bots Story, or similar small variations) feature instead.
Issue 1: Family of Heroes/Blades to the Rescue.
Issue 2: Under Pressure/Rescue in the Forest.
Issue 3: Hotshots.
Issue 4: The Alien Invasion of Griffin Rock/A Very Tasty Reward!
Issue 5: Walk on the Wild Side.
Issue 6: The Return of the Dinobot/Lunchtime Rescue!
Issue 7: Christmas in July/Flying Help!
Issue 8: Deep Trouble.
From May 2017.
Note: The second story listed is the word substitution text story. Issues 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15, 18, 20, 22, 24, 33, 36, 40, 43 and 45 had a Make A Rescue Bots Academy Story (sometimes called Make Your Own Rescue Bots Story, or similar small variations) feature instead.
Issue 1: Family of Heroes/Blades to the Rescue.
Issue 2: Under Pressure/Rescue in the Forest.
Issue 3: Hotshots.
Issue 4: The Alien Invasion of Griffin Rock/A Very Tasty Reward!
Issue 5: Walk on the Wild Side.
Issue 6: The Return of the Dinobot/Lunchtime Rescue!
Issue 7: Christmas in July/Flying Help!
Issue 8: Deep Trouble.
Issue 9: Bumblebee to the Rescue/Boulder's Bad Dream Day!
Issue 10: The Lost Bell.
Issue 11: Big Game/Where's Servo?
Issue 12: In Search of the Griffin’s Nest.
Issue 13: Odd Bot Out/Heatwave's the King of Cool!
Issue 14: Land Before Prime.
Issue 15: The Phantom of the Sea.
Issue 16: Plus One/Firework Fun!
Issue 10: The Lost Bell.
Issue 11: Big Game/Where's Servo?
Issue 12: In Search of the Griffin’s Nest.
Issue 13: Odd Bot Out/Heatwave's the King of Cool!
Issue 14: Land Before Prime.
Issue 15: The Phantom of the Sea.
Issue 16: Plus One/Firework Fun!
Issue 17: Mayor May Not/Boulder's Animal Hunt!
Issue 18: An Uninvited Guest!
Issue 19: Part Time Heroes/Fishing Trip.
Issue 20: Turning the Tide.
Issue 21: Four Legged Hero/Team Boulder!
Issue 22: I Have Heard the Robots Singing!
Transformers: Rescue Bots Academy.
Issue 23: Recruits/Medix to the Rescue!
Issue 24: Tough Luck Chuck.
Issue 18: An Uninvited Guest!
Issue 19: Part Time Heroes/Fishing Trip.
Issue 20: Turning the Tide.
Issue 21: Four Legged Hero/Team Boulder!
Issue 22: I Have Heard the Robots Singing!
Transformers: Rescue Bots Academy.
Issue 23: Recruits/Medix to the Rescue!
Issue 24: Tough Luck Chuck.
Issue 25: Whirl’d View/Sea Rescue!
Issue 26: Plan Bee/And the Winner is...!
Issue 27: The Bot Who Cried Rescue/Call For Help!
Issue 28: If at First/Mini Mission!
Issue 29: Mount Botmore/Too Cool For Rules.
Issue 30: Mission Inaudible/Trees to the Rescue.
Issue 31: Glitch/Bridge Breakdown
Issue 32: Five Into Four/Ducks to Water!
Issue 26: Plan Bee/And the Winner is...!
Issue 27: The Bot Who Cried Rescue/Call For Help!
Issue 28: If at First/Mini Mission!
Issue 29: Mount Botmore/Too Cool For Rules.
Issue 30: Mission Inaudible/Trees to the Rescue.
Issue 31: Glitch/Bridge Breakdown
Issue 32: Five Into Four/Ducks to Water!
Issue 33: Rescue Promo.
Issue 34: Blame Game!/Ready to Roll.
Issue 35: Surprise, Medix!/Caught in a Web!
Issue 36: TX3000!
Issue 37: Little Bot Peep!/River Rescue!
Issue 38: Driving a Wedge!/Give it a Rest!
Issue 39: Big Small Rescue!/Snow Good!
Issue 40: Battle of the Bots!
Issue 34: Blame Game!/Ready to Roll.
Issue 35: Surprise, Medix!/Caught in a Web!
Issue 36: TX3000!
Issue 37: Little Bot Peep!/River Rescue!
Issue 38: Driving a Wedge!/Give it a Rest!
Issue 39: Big Small Rescue!/Snow Good!
Issue 40: Battle of the Bots!
Issue 41: About a Rock!/Duty First!
Issue 42: Dog Stray Afternoon/Hide and Seek!
Issue 43: Lucky Ducky.
Issue 44: Flight School (This was a working title for the episode called onscreen The Secret of Flight)/Propeller Rescue).
Issue 45: Go, Team, Go!
Issue 46: Fright at the Museum/Thunder Rescue!
Issue 42: Dog Stray Afternoon/Hide and Seek!
Issue 43: Lucky Ducky.
Issue 44: Flight School (This was a working title for the episode called onscreen The Secret of Flight)/Propeller Rescue).
Issue 45: Go, Team, Go!
Issue 46: Fright at the Museum/Thunder Rescue!
And a special treat for those who made it this far…
Black lives matter. Trans lives matter. Thank you and goodnight.
2015 ANNUAL
2014
COMMENT
KO-FI
Black lives matter. Trans lives matter. Thank you and goodnight.
2015 ANNUAL
2014
COMMENT
KO-FI
