Did my recommendation post get you interested? Here’s part two: a comprehensive guide on how to get into the MTMTE / Lost Light series, aka: the easiest jumping-in point into the Transformers franchise. Includes: reading order, where to read, and supplemental Transformer comic recommendations.
READING ORDER:
A timeline to help you keep track of what to read when. The list is far less messy than typical comic timeline lists, but it’s still worth having on-hand in case you get confused.
The Death of Optimus Prime (Recommended Reading)
- 1 issue
- This is essentially the prologue to MTMTE. A bit of backstory from other comics here, but ultimately it doesn't matter if a lot of it goes over your head. (It certainly went over mine!)
Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye (MTMTE)
- 57 issues
- The Transformers: MTMTE Annual 2012 (also called “Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations”) should be read after the 7th comic. Mandatory Reading; it gives you what’s essentially the creationism story equivalent for the Transformers universe (and it builds up some important relationships and character development that’ll be expanded on later).
- The Transformers Holiday Special. This is actually three different stories in one comic! Only one story ("Silent Light") has the MTMTE crew, but all of them are cute and funny. The MTMTE one is definitely the funniest and sweetest though! I highly recommend reading it when you need a mood boost. (I would recommend waiting to read this until you’ve read #45 of MTMTE, as it includes some of the newer characters).
Transformers: Lost Light
- 25 issues (currently only 18 out; series will be wrapping up this summer).
- Read after MTMTE issue 57.
- Continues the MTMTE story, they just call it "Lost Light" now.
For additional reading, as well as a list of good places to read the comic, look below!
OTHER:
You don’t have to read these comics to understand the main story, but they exist to build up character friendships and they give you a better understanding of certain character’s history and motivations.
The Transformers 2009, IDW volume #22 (Recommended Reading)
- A prologue to the prologue, can be read whenever.
- Gives insight into the beginning of the Autobot / Decepticon war, and gives flashback to Megatron and Optimus Prime’s relationship and past before they were leaders on opposing sides of the war.
- TLDR, if you like Megatron and Optimus Prime, this is a good read. It’s written by the same person who writes MTMTE / Lost Light, so you know it’ll be a great read. It’s tricky to find online (and even trickier to find a physical copy of it) but it’s well worth the effort.
The Transformers: Drift - Empire of Stone (Optional)
- 4 issues
- Can be read anytime after volume 40 or before volume 50 of MTMTE. A bit of a side-story, worth reading if you like Drift and Ratchet.
The Transformers: Drift (Optional)
- 4 issues
- What caused one of the Decepticon's most ruthless soldiers to turn his back on them? And what ancient secrets lie hidden deep within an alien planet? All this and more are revealed in this comic!
- TLDR: if you like Drift and want to know more about his backstory as a Decepticon and how he gave that up, this is the comic for you.
The Dark Cybertron Arc (Optional)
- Wondering why Megatron became an Autobot? Well, be prepared to read the one obligatory crossover MTMTE got roped into! Honestly, I put this under “Optional” because I accidentally skipped over the entire thing myself, and I wasn’t too thrown off by things. But if you’re determined, please refer to the Dark Cybertron arc on this list.
Nothing Will Ever Be the Same Again! (Optional)
- 1 issue
- About the Scavengers; the group of Decepticon losers. If you like them, this is a fun read!
WHERE TO READ:
I read the majority of the comics online and by checking them out from my local library, but I also bought three of my favorite compilation volumes. You can find the first two MTMTE comics voice-acted by a talented group called “Team Train-Wreck” on Youtube. (I highly recommend them; the videos finally got me to read Transformers)! You can also buy the comics digitally at comixology (they’re currently on sale!) or you can get the first issue on IDW’s site for just $1!. But if cash is a little tight (I totally commiserate) here’s a few other options for where to read them for free:
Comicextra
- By far the best of the bunch. Most organized, absolutely no ads with adblocker, and includes the “our story so far” summary at the beginning and author’s end notes at the end (also includes alt comic covers). However, it’s missing Drift: Empire of Stone and a few other comics on the optional / recommended reading list.
Readcomiconline
- Way too may ads, but it’s organized and comprehensive. Includes all the extra comics (including Drift: Empire of Stone and The Transformers #22) and the author end notes and alt covers. I read all the comics on this site, but I did it on my phone because it was easier to navigate around the ads.
View-comic
- Ok, but lists them out of order and doesn’t include the “our story so far” summary at the beginning or the author’s notes at the end. Also missing a few comics here and there.
There’s a few others, but these are the ones I know. Do some googling and I’m sure you’ll find one that’s right for you!
A character reference list will be the next big Transformers-related post.
01 CITY OF HEROES
02 FASTEST MAN ALIVE
03 THINGS YOU CAN'T OUTRUN
04 GOING ROGUE
05 PLASTIQUE
06 THE FLASH IS BORN
07 POWER OUTAGE
08 FLASH VS. ARROW
09 THE MAN IN THE YELLOW SUIT
10 REVENGE OF THE ROGUES
11 THE SOUND AND THE FURY
12 CRAZY FOR YOU
13 THE NUCLEAR MAN
14 FALLOUT
broken link? for the updated post + more shows click here!
