Newsarama is reporting that rather than directly start on Transformers Issue 81, Simon Furman will be starting with Transformers Issue 80.5 as a way for old fans to remember details long forgotten and for new fans to catch up.

Transformers 81 is due for release in 2012.

The true legendary scribe of Transformers, Simon Furman, have updated his blog with a small entry regarding the SDCC announcement by IDW that Transformers #81 will indeed be published with a special 20 part run (issue 80.5 through 100) with the original Generation One crew of Simon Furman and Andrew Wildman back on board.  Here is Simon's post

"Announced live yesterday at San Diego Comicon — the original Marvel Transformers comic series (cancelled back in 1991 at issue #80) is being continued by IDW Publishing, thanks in large part to an online fan petition (big shouts for Luke and Ron of the IDW forums) and the tireless efforts of IDW EiC Chris Ryall. Transformers (‘classic’) will (re-) launch in Spring 2012 with issue 80 and a half, and reunites the previous writer/artist team of myself and Andrew Wildman. The reinvigorated run will build to a monumental 100th issue conclusion, pulling together and tying up every dangling plotline you can think of and a whole lot you can’t! What else can I tell you about the series? Nada. Niente. Zilch. So don’t ask. For the time being anyway we’re keeping this tightly under wraps. But it is going to shatter your trousers! Guaranteed! "

Do not forget that Simon Furman and Andrew Wildman will both be in attendance at Auto Assembly next month in Birmingham where you can give them your reactions in person

­ Artist, Guido Guidi, has updated his ­deviantART page with a preview image that is from the comic story that will be included in Million Publishing's Transformers Generations 2011 Volume 2 book.  The image features Headmasters Chromedome and Highbrow along with Transformers United Stepper and Kup.  You can view the image by clicking the link above.

Here is how Guido described the piece:

"Courtesy of Million Publishing, here's a sneak peek preview of the comic that will be included in the Vol.2 of Transformers Generations 2011!

In this panel: United Stepper (the new exclusive targetmaster toy), United Sergeant Kup and... Headmasters Chromedome & Highbrow "old marvel" style...
Looks like the United continuity in Japan recovered old paths
Stay tuned for more!

Story by Simon Furman
Art by Guido Guidi
Published by Million Publishing"

We have added a new image gallery into the Books section of the resources area of the website containing 40 images from the Transformers: Generations 2011 Vol 1book that was released by Million Publishing.

The book covers figures from the Transformers: Revenge, Transformers: DarkSide Moon, Transformers Animated and Transformers United as well as some new images of the Generation One Rodimus Prime hardcopy that was shown of a few months ago within the page of Hyper Hobby magazine.  The book also includes two interviews, one with TakaraTomy the other with Kabaya, a small section on the Japanese toy leaflets, the final part of the Unite for the Universe comic and a look at the character designs for Transformers Animated.

The book is still for sale and we advise anyone who is interested to pick up a copy from a re-seller or direct from Amazon Japan.

­I thought I would take a few minutes to remind you all about two comic related things that are happening at the moment. First up on Thursday 24th March 2011 Death's Head will return in the pages of Marvel Heroes issue 33 that will be available from all good stockists, and plenty of bad ones.  So make sure to pick it up and show Marvel that not only do you want to see Death's Head return in comic format, but also to support the work put in by the two Simon's, Simon Furman and Simon Williams for making his return possible.

Secondly do not forget to drop by HomelandSecuityTheater.com for more web comic hilarity from the one and only Bill "he really does look like Monkeywrench" Forster.  If you have been lucky enough to sit down and talk to Bill then you know that he has seen a lot in his life so far, and now he is sharing part of his life as the basis of his own web comic which is updated three times a week.­

Our thanks go out to Simon Furman for submitting the following news story regarding Roll Out / Roll Call 2

"Next Sunday (March 6th), Simon Furman, Andrew Wildman, Geoff Senior and John Higgins will be in Fordingbridge, in Hampshire, for All the Cool Stuff’s combined Transformers/Action Force mini-con(vention), Roll Out/Roll Call 2 . The event kicks off at 10AM in Fordingbridge Town Hall and runs through until 5PM. "

We will also be in attendance, having already purchased our tickets and are looking forward to what should be a fun day out.

Deaths Head returns .. in his original form .. in Transformers Dark of the Moon!!!!   OK, maybe not.  The popular Bounty Hunter is however making a return in the Panini UK Issue 33 of Marvel Heroes, where he takes on The Hulk.

Here's what Simon Furman has to say.

The original Death’s Head is back — in a special story that pits him against none other than the Incredible Hulk! Issue #33 of Panini UK‘s Marvel Heroes comic features an amazing two-part clash between everyone’s favourite bounty hunter (um, freelance peacekeeping agent) and the jade giant. Part one is written by Ferg Handley and part two (the real head-to-head, as it were) by me, with art by the amazing Simon Williams. Marvel Heroes #33 is out (in the UK) on the 24th of March. Amazingly, this marks my first work on the original Death’s Head since the early 90s, when he guest-starred in the likes of She-Hulk, Marvel Comics Presents and Death’s Head. Don’t miss this special event and reserve your copy now!

In an update to his blog, Simon Furman has posted an entry regarding a stand-along one-shot comic that was going to be called "The Enemy Within" that would have been published by Dreamwave back in late 2004.

"I wanted the story to both pick up on what James and Adam has already established and tie G1 and my War Within series tighter together. The outline (it was never scripted) for ‘The Enemy Within’ (yeah, I know, but it fitted) follows. Enjoy!"

Simon Furman has updated his blog with the tenth entry in his series of scripts from the unfinished Dreamwave Transformers Energon series.  Today's update contains the second half of the outline for the unpublished Transformers Energon issue 35,  ‘Armageddon part 4?.

Back in 2004 Simon Furman was writing the comic book adaptation of Transformers Energon for Dreamwave.  Dreamwave went out of business before the final story arch was completed but now thanks Simon, everyone can find out just what he had in store for the characters.

Simon is posting a blog entry a day on Transformers Energon so the first two entries are up.

Yesterdays blog was entitled Energon, Revisited with todays entry called "Doomsday Redux"

"As, once again, we’re reasonably close to publication date, this script (w)rap also serves as pre-release teaser for Transformers: Nefarious #5, the penultimate issue of the official comic book sequel to Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Spoilers ahoy, though as always I will try not to give away too much here. So — the pieces are all in place. Soundwave has tried and failed to crack the remarkably resilient nut that is The Initiative (the human organization with some long-standing ties and kind-sized grudges to/against the earliest Transformers to reach Earth — Seekers). So now it’s a joint offensive, Soundwave and the Autobots — together. But first they have to find the Initiative, who — it soon becomes apparent — aren’t just going to sit still and wait for the next attack. And just what did (or who did) happen to Soundwave last issue? What isn’t he telling his newfound Autobot allies? And just who is the Seeker incarcerated within the Initiative’s base? Carter Newell, the embittered and vengeful mastermind behind the Initiative, takes a big step towards the glorious realization of a plan seventy years in the making. Trouble is, in achieving his ends, he may also wipe out the entire world! Story is by me, art by the ever-magnificent Carlos Magno. The issue should be in stores on 14th (US) or 15th (UK) of July."

Visit Simon's blog to leave him your comments and to view the cover art

Simon Furman has updated his blog with another Script (W)rap entry.

A sort of combined deal this time around, a script (w)rap for Transformers Nefarious #4 and also a pre-release teaser for the same, as it hits stores this coming week (June 16th in the US, 17th in the UK). Last issue saw Soundwave slip through the Autobots’ collective fingers and this issue he’s decided enough is enough. The human organization responsible for both the resurrection/usurping of Ravage and the manipulations that landed Soundwave in trouble in the first place is going down — hard! But the Initiative has tricks up its sleeve that, once again, even Soundwave hasn’t seen coming. And at last we learn some of the how and why about this mysterious and far-reaching organization (which seems to have an uncanny grasp of Cybertronian technology) and its coldly calculating director, Carter Newell. Just how long does his relationship with the robots in disguise go back? What traumatic event eventually gave rise to the Initiative? The answers will surprise you. And, meanwhile, director of national security Theodore Galloway is well and truly in the firing line — hunted by none other than Ransack! Things are looking distinctly terminal in that direction! Nefarious #4 is out in the next few days, with story by me art by the incredible Carlos Magno. Don’t miss it!

Visit Simon's blog to view the cover of the comic and to leave him your comments