The Transformers: Windblade
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| The name or term "Windblade" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Windblade (disambiguation). |
The Transformers: Windblade is a four-issue mini-series published by IDW Publishing from April to July 2014. Debuting alongside the second "seasons" of More than Meets the Eye and Robots in Disguise under the "Dawn of the Autobots" banner in the wake of the "Dark Cybertron" crossover event, the series shines the spotlight on Windblade, the first officially fan-created Transformer developed through Hasbro's "Fan-Built Bot" poll.
A sequel was initially announced as a second miniseries called "Windblade Returns",[1] but as part of promotion for Combiner Wars, it was announced that it would return as an ongoing, again simply The Transformers: Windblade, with the first arc a Combiner Wars crossover with the former Robots in Disguise series.[2] The series concluded with issue #7 and was succeeded by The Transformers: Till All Are One in 2016.
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Volume 2:
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Overview
While More than Meets the Eye heads back into space, and Robots in Disguise takes the action to Earth, Windblade takes place on Cybertron as the planet tries to get back on its feet. In her role as a Cityspeaker, Windblade struggles to help the ailing Metroplex return to full health, and clashes with a suspicious Starscream. Windblade believes that she learns first-hand how dangerous Starscream can be when a mysterious explosion nearly kills her as she is investigating Metroplex's malfunctions. With the aid of bodyguard Chromia and a mismatched gang of patrons from Blurr's bar, she dedicates herself to learning the secret behind what is going on within the Titan. But although the culprit seems clear, all is not what it seems...
Volume 2 focuses on Windblade's efforts to help her ailing homeworld of Caminus by formally reopening contact between Caminus and Cybertron. However, Starscream's political maneuvers and recent acquisition of combiner technology threaten the freedom of the lost Titan colonies... a volatile situation that isn't helped by Prowl's misguided attempts to cut Cybertron off from the rest of the universe. Windblade must deal with the task of exploring the diverse colonies and securing political support for the new Council of Worlds, the only way to stymie Starscream's imperialistic ambitions.
Creative team
Windblade is the first official Transformers comic produced by an all-female creative team. The series is written by Mairghread Scott, who previously penned the Transformers Prime: Rage of the Dinobots and Beast Hunters comics for IDW, becoming the first female Transformers comic writer in the process, as well as working on the Prime and Rescue Bots cartoons. Art is handled by freelance illustrator Saren Stone, who was specifically recruited by Scott for the project after seeing the artist's work online.
Collections
- The Transformers: Windblade (October 1, 2014) ISBN 1631400525 / ISBN 978-1-63140-052-0
- Collects Windblade (2014) issues #1–4.
- Bonus material includes a cover gallery.
- Trade paperback format.
- The Transformers: Combiner Wars (August 12, 2015) ISBN 1631403869 / ISBN 978-1631403866
- Collects The Transformers (2012) issues #39–41, and Windblade (2015) issues #1–3.
- Bonus material includes covers from each issue.
- Trade paperback format.
- The Transformers: Windblade - Distant Stars (April 20, 2016) ISBN 1631406000 / ISBN 978-1631406003
- Collects Windblade (2015) issues #4–7, and Combiner Hunters #1.
- Trade paperback format.
- The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 6 (October 18, 2017) ISBN 1684050855 / ISBN 978-1684050857
- Collects Dark Cybertron #1, More than Meets the Eye issues #23–27, and Robots in Disguise issues #23–27, Dark Cybertron Finale, and Windblade (2014) issues #1–4.
- Hardcover format.
- Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 64: Windblade (August 9, 2017)
- Collects Windblade (2014) issues #1–4, and The Transformers (2012) issues #35–38.
- Includes a bio for Windblade, an overview of her conception, pictures of her Thrilling 30 toy, early design sketches by Hasbro, a cover gallery and an intro by Simon Furman.
- Hardcover format.
- Transformers: Windblade - The Last City (February 14, 2018) ISBN 978-1684052240
- Collects Windblade (2014) issues #1–4, and Windblade (2015) issues #1–7, but not the alternating chapters of Combiner Wars from The Transformers vol. 2 needed to complete the story. Um.
- Bonus material includes covers from each issue.
- Trade paperback format.
Windblade – cover art by Saren Stone
Combiner Wars – cover art by Casey Coller and Joana Lafuente
Windblade - Distant Stars – cover art by Naoto Tsushima and Jet Enter
The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 6 – cover art by Marcelo Matere and Tom B. Long
The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 64: Windblade – cover art by Guido Guidi and Saren Stone
Windblade - The Last City – cover art by Sara Pitre-Durocher
- Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 65: Combiner Wars (October 31, 2018)
- Collects The Transformers (2012) issues #39–42, and Windblade (2015) issues #1–4.
- Bonus material includes an article about the Prime Wars Trilogy, a cover gallery and an intro by Simon Furman.
- Hardcover format.
- The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 9 (June 19, 2019) ISBN 1684054842 / ISBN 978-1684054848
- Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 68: Empire of Stone (November 27, 2019)
- Collects Drift - Empire of Stone issues #1–4, and Windblade (2015) issues #5–7.
- Bonus material includes a cover gallery, and an intro by Simon Furman.
- Hardcover format.
- The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 10 (January 1, 2020) ISBN 1684055849 / ISBN 978-1684055845
- Collects Windblade (2015) issues #6–7, The Transformers (2012) issues #44–45, Combiner Hunters #1, Sins of the Wreckers issues #1–5, More than Meets the Eye issues #45–47 & #48–49, The Transformers Holiday Special: "Choose Me" & "The Thirteenth Day of Christmas".
- Hardcover format.
- Transformers: Best of the Beasts (July 13, 2022)
- Collects The Gathering #4, Windblade (2015) #6, Synergy: "Of Flying and Falling", Beast Wars #9: "Thicker Skin", and Sins of the Wreckers #3.
- Also includes a reprint of the "Optimus Primal vs Megatron!" toy pack-in comic.
- One-shot format.
- Transformers: Best of Windblade (December 7, 2022)
- Collects Windblade's first appearance from More than Meets the Eye #26: "Burning Bright: Dark Cybertron Chapter 8", Windblade (2014) #1: "A 'Bot and Her City", Till All Are One Annual 2017: "The Chosen One", and Transformers (2019) #9: "The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Three".
- Bonus material includes an art gallery.
- One-shot format.
The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 65: Combiner Wars – cover art by Don Figueroa and Livio Ramondelli
The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 9 – cover art by Marcelo Matere
The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 68: Empire of Stone – cover art by Guido Guidi and Dreamwave Productions
The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 10 – cover art by Marcelo Matere
Best of the Beasts – cover art by James Biggie
Best of Windblade – cover art by James Biggie
References
- ↑ TFW2005: Botcon 2014 IDW Transformers Comics Panel: "IDW explained that their plan is to have the two main series to be complemented with a miniseries. We have had Windblade, and more miniseries were hinted at. ... The next miniseries, coming in 2015, is Windblade Returns. It’s by the team of Scott and Stone."
- ↑ Newsarama: Big Boys Come To Play in TRANSFORMERS’ COMBINER WARS Crossover
