G.I. Joe vs. Transformers v1 TPB

I want you to imagine the craziest, most ridiculous comic book you’ve ever read. I have a promise for you. This book is crazier.

Tom Scioli is a lunatic, and from what I understand, he’s the driving force behind the madness in this book. John Barber’s work on Transformers is solid, but doesn’t have anything close to this level of insanity. That’s why I’m awarding Scioli the credit for this brilliant, insane masterpiece.

To be honest, so much happens in every single issue that the book barely has a plot. The action leaps from scene to scene, skipping over mundane details as if this were a Grant Morrison comic. When you read this comic, it honestly feels like the creative team has so much story to tell that they are just rushing to get it all out on the page. There simply isn’t time for deep characterization or motivations. There is always a new bit of madness waiting to be revealed after you flip the page!

Let me give you a quick summary. Unlike every other crossover between these properties, this one focuses on the Joes invading Cybertron. Utilizing the plant bomb technology from the old cartoon, the Joes have seeded Cybertron with oxygen, preparing it for an invasion. They rocket up there and quickly start swarming around the big ‘bots. Heck, one of the covers has a Joe dropping a grenade on poor Wheeljack’s head! The Transformers are having a hard time processing these little meat bugs, and Scioli addresses the insane sense of scale on every page. This is like two different stories that crossover due to proximity rather than logic.

Naturally, the Joes and Autobots start to make alliances, as do the Cobras and Decepticons. Of course, this had to happen since Destro is described as a “god of guns” at one point. And that’s not even the craziest thing in this collection.

Once you add in that Scioli is drawing this in his Kirby-like style, and this becomes the most exciting comic book on the stands.

This is an EXCELLENT comic, but only if you like concepts like the following:

• Tunnel Rat climbing into the nose of Fortress Maximus.
• The G.I. Joe pets forming their own combat team.
•  The October Guard re-imagined as Halloween-based, Rob Zombie-type villains in a Jack O Lantern ship.
• Broken Transformer parts used as jewelry on surviving robots.

Don’t pick this up if that type of ridiculous madness doesn’t appeal to you. 

Transformers: Regeneration One v2 TPB

Skorponok leads the charge! This second volume of the "original, continuing adventure" for the Transformers switches antagonists as Megatron fades from view. Instead, former headmaster Skorponok steps up with a pretty diabolical plan.

At the end of the series in the '80s, a bunch of the characters had used nucleon, a strange substance that removed the Transformers' ability to change forms, but souped up their energy levels or brought them back from near death. Grimlock has been searching for a cure, now that most of the recipients are unhappy or in agony after using the substance. Skorponok has a fix, but he wants Grimlock to help him with his little plan too. Skorpy has invented a device that turns Autobots evil.

This leads to a great little chase where more and more Cybertron-based Autobots are "freed" from the burden of morals. Grimlock gets the ball rolling when he turns Perceptor, but most of the Autobots quickly fall too. In the end, the Dinobots, Grapple, Hosehead, Blurr, and Crosshairs eventually represent the last 'Bots in control of themselves. (Hot Rod is still around too, but he's busy with other problems.)

In the end, Simon Furman has a nice little twist that shows the Autobots' ingenuity and gives the villain his appropriate comeuppance. There are also plenty of clues about where the rest of the series is headed. Galvatron, Soundwave, and Hot Rod all seem to have subplots percolating that should lead us into our next volume.

Andrew Wildman's art is still tremendous. I wish he was drawing a few more "classic" Transformers, though. He gets to draw a ton of Autobots as more and more of them start showing up, but since Megatron killed most of my old favorites in v1, we don't have enough cassettes, jets, or insecticons hanging around. Me Timbotron disappointed.

This isn't as strong as More Than Meets the Eye, but it is probably as entertaining as Robots in Disguise. Fans of the 80's series owe it to themselves to see how this GOOD comic ends.

Transformers: Regeneration One TPB

What a weird comic. It took me quite some time to work up the nerve to buy this trade, mostly because I was so lost after reading the free comic book day issue a few years ago. 

Listen, I’m clearly a Transformers fan, and I read the 80’s series all the way through the last issue. I’ve actually read a bunch of the Transformers UK material. And yet I had absolutely no idea what was happening when this book started.

SPOILERS AHEAD!

Let me break it down for you. Transformers Regeneration One takes place 20 years after the end of the 80’s Marvel title. Optimus Prime and his Autobots won the war. Prime is mentoring Hot Rod as a future leader. Many of the Autobots seem to have faded into the background of the story, leaving the focus on the Wreckers, the Autobots’ special strike team. Springer, Kup, Topspin, Broadside, RacknRuin, Whirl, and Roadbuster make up most of the team. Grimlock is trapped in robot form after ingesting a substance called Nucleon that has affected Inferno, Blaster, Huffer, and the other Dinobots. Maybe more! I can confirm a few other survivors like Smokescreen, Red Alert, Wheeljack, Trailbreaker, Cosmos, and Tracks.

On the Decepticon side, Soundwave now leads the Cybertron based villains. I must confess I didn’t recognize most of them, other than the 2^nd generation Insecticons. Most of the baddies I do recognize are basically zombies working for Megatron on a post-apocalyptic Earth.

Fortunately, reading these issues in order and all together kept things a lot clearer. Simon Furman does a nice job focusing on his new starring cast. While there are fewer “classic” Decepticons getting panel time in favor of guys like Bludgeon, the conflict is clear and satisfying when the metal fists start flying.

Andrew Wildman’s art is as enchanting to me now as it was when I was a kid. We are blessed with a plethora of talented Transformers artists these days, but Wildman’s art has nostalgia going for it in addition to everything else. Megatron in particular looks like he walked out of a book 20 years ago. I do lament the lack of backgrounds, but I suppose on a post-apocalyptic Earth and a monochrome robot planet, backgrounds are gonna be sparse.

This isn’t quite as excellent as IDW’s modern TF books, but it is still a GOOD comic for fans of the Transformers. 

FCBD: Transformers vs. G.I. Joe #0

Wow. A lot happened in that! I’m not sure exactly what John Barber and Tom Scioli are going for in their psychedelic mash-up of Jack Kirby and Herb Trimpe, but it sure isn’t boring!

The madness opens in space, where Starscream is chasing Bumblebee towards a backwater planet. The Cybertronian dialogue all shows up like wavy lines of static, with helpful translations from the editor in the bottom of the panel. This odd presentation immediately drills in the alien-ness of the Transformers. That’s hard to do with properties we know this well. It’s an effective tactic that holds up as the point of view switches to the residents of that backwater planet. The G.I. Joes on Earth.

There are a lot of Joes in this issue, but the spotlight is a bit more focused. Hawk, Scarlett, Snake Eyes, and Duke are the leads, but they aren’t exactly the versions we know and love. Hawk carries a tomahawk. Snake Eyes is a trained ninja, but he’s a handsome blonde with no mask. Duke is a rookie hitting on Scarlett during combat. Of the group, only Scarlett has consistent characterization (as a butt-kicker) from other Joe comics I’ve read. The cast is a lot more expansive, with Stalker, Heavy Metal, Bazooka, Roadblock, Doc, Ace, Wild Bill, and more all getting little ID cards. We also see Cobra Commander shoot and kill Zap and Short Fuse along with a few unnamed Joes. I guess it doesn’t pay to wear a generic green costume in this book; Steeler, Grunt, and the rest of the originals had better get some fancy new gear quick!

Things turn out a bit rough for the heroes in this. After the battle between Autobot and Decepticon clashes into the Joe/Cobra conflict, things get confusing, with the two battles combining, but no one really realizing just what’s going on. In the end, Bumblebee has lost his head and Snake Eyes might have some scarring to blame on Cobra Commander.

I’m honestly puzzled on how to grade this book. Scioli’s art is dynamic, fun, and anatomically creative. The action is always clear, even if it isn’t exactly clean or realistic. I love that this will clearly be a book with a lot of cameos from old favorites. If this was my only option to read about the Joes or Transformers, I’d be all over this. But with IDW already publishing so many excellent books like Real American Hero and More Than Meets the Eye, I’m hard-pressed to find this required reading.

I’m not sure how the plotting and scripting split out either, since Barber and Scioli discuss their process in the back material of the book, it seems like this is pretty much a team effort. This is a FAIR comic, and an entertaining one. But the fact that it isn’t the best place to find the Joes OR the Transformers means I will probably stick with the books I’m already buying. 

Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye #28

Folks, if that cover doesn't get your attention, I'm not sure we can be friends. 

What kind of a world do we live in where my favorite comic is Transformers? Am I 10 years old again? James Roberts has done the impossible; he’s writing a toy comic that is actually at the top of my stack when it comes out.

Dark Cybertron happened, OK? Enough said. Let’s move on to “Season 2” of the Lost Light and their quest for the Knights of Cybertron. As the characters often state, the supposed destination of the Autobot ship is less important than the journey, so once again the strength of the issue lies in the characterization and in the seeding of future plots. Roberts seeded his first 20 or so issues better than any other author I can think of in MTMtE #1, so let’s see how many I can spot now.

The cast is expanding in a big way. We’ve got Bluestreak. We’ve got Nautica (how did the franchise exist for so long without female characters?) Private investigator Night Beat smells a mystery in some missing door numbers. We’ve got our old favorites coming back like Rung, Swerve, and Ultra Magnus. Do you really think Chromedome is just sitting around grieving? Or is there something else going on?

But where’s the illustrious leader? Why have we not seen Hot Rod on the ship? Did something happen between him and new Captain Megatron?

That’s right, the Lost Light, an Autobot ship, is now under the command of Megatron. And it is clearly his ship. Ultra Magnus, Blaster, and Perceptor all salute him when he finally makes it to the bridge. But not everyone is happy; we see Whirl try to instigate Megatron into a brawl. And for once, Whirl isn’t acting on his own; this is part of a bigger plan.

There are a lot of flashbacks in this issue, as we see Megatron prepare for his trial. My biggest gripe about this is that Roberts writes a fantastic Prowl, but we know that Prowl ends up in the cast of Robots in Disguise, so the police car’s time in this book is limited. (Who would have thought that Prowl would become such a valued part of the Transformers mythos?)

And then, a coffin. Who’s in it? Rewind? Drift? Another new character? I can’t get enough of this book. Roberts has done such a good job in the past, I’m certain there are more narrative seeds here to bear fruit in future issues.

Alex Milne’s art. What can I say? The guy does some of the best big robots I’ve ever seen. He has made me love characters I used to despise, Ultra Magnus being the best example. I spend each and every issue looking in backgrounds to see who Milne sneaks in so I can pore over the details. Any chance for more Hound or some more G1 classics? I’d love to see Brawn get involved again…

This is an EXCELLENT long-form science fiction comic with a top-notch cast and a rewarding story. Don’t think of it as a toy comic. Think of it as the one of the most consistently written, best illustrated books on the stands.

Transformer: Robots in Disguise #28

After the slog that was Dark Cybertron, I have been very excited about the re-focusing of IDW’s Transformers titles with Dawn of the Autobots. This seems to be the title that is tackling the classic aspect of the Tranformers’ story. There will still be “Robots in Disguise” since the Cybertronians still need to stay hidden on Earth. Plus, with the good and bad guys integrating a lot more in the other TF titles, this seems like the place to see classic Autobot vs. Decepticon carnage.

As I always say, part of the excitement for these nostalgia-based properties is seeing which characters make the cast list in each title. John Barber seems to have a pretty defined crew of Autobots in the spotlight here, and a lot of old favorites get represented. Optimus Prime, Prowl (surely Barber’s favorite character), Jazz, Kup, Sideswipe, Arcee, Cosmos, Skylinx, and Jetfire seem to be the main crew of Autobots returning to Earth. This gives us a good mix of characters, especially since Jazz is responsible for the ‘Bots getting booted off the Earth last time.

One interesting aspect of the book is that it seems the Autobot/Decepticon battle that has ceased on Cybertron is continuing on Earth, giving us a good Decepticon faction too. So Earth may end up being the frontline of the classic battle going forward. On the Decepticon side, we’ve got Galvatron, Soundwave, Blitzwing, the Constructicons, and more.

Still maintaining his neutrality (and maybe even siding with the Earthlings), Thundercracker seems to be a pretty important part of the narrative too. He sat out the last few years of TF stories, choosing to hang out on Earth to get a dog and write screenplays. (Everyone on the message boards seems to love his amateurish attempt to write human-based drama. It is pretty good, but I’m not sure how long the joke will work for…)

The art is uniformly strong, as Andrew Griffith excels at drawing giant robots. The new alt-modes look great, and even when characters have been bulked up or modernized (like Optimus’ new split-chest look), they are instantly recognizable. I suppose Griffith can’t be perfect at everything, because his humans don’t look as good as his robots. The Earthlings have lumpier faces and bodies with odd dimensions. But since this book is called Transformers, that is a trade off I can live with.

I’m certainly interested enough in this GOOD re-focusing to start my subscription again. (I took a little break for Dark Cybertron after the first chapters.)

Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye #13

PRICE REDUCED-REVIEW! ($1.99 on Comixology)

Man, this is one complicated comic. At least James Roberts is keeping his core cast fairly limited; but it has taken me 13 issues and a trip to an online wiki to feel like I really know these guys.

Rodimus is off screen for most of the issue, leaving the spotlight on the other “core crew” of the Lost Light. Finally getting some downtime on a vacation planet, the ‘bots have to send in holo-avatars of themselves in advance to make sure they are allowed in different locales. The cover shows Skids, Ultra Magnus, Rung, Rewind, and Swerve’s avatars, each a pretty effective human representation for each.

Of the group, I find myself liking Swerve more and more each issue. I didn’t connect with him at first, but now I find myself amused at his antics. Ultra Magnus as the Batman-like straight man works well too. Rung’s alter ego is wearing a “Mary Sue” nametag. I’m not sure I ever realized that Roberts had inserted himself into the Autobots through Rung, but I appreciate that he is giving himself the tag. Who wouldn’t want to hang out with your favorite childhood toys? Roberts is clearly living the dream.

One thing that’s intriguing about this book is the budding relationships between the characters. Chromedome and Rewind have been established as a couple, but Rodimus and Drift, along with Tailgate and Cyclonus all seem to be some manner of partners too. I suppose that makes sense in a series where there is only one female, but it is definitely a new element.

I think things will get darker next issue, so I appreciate the time spent with the characters relaxing. Guido Guidi sticks with the book’s cartoony tone, but it fits these characters better than any others in comics, I’d say. Guidi gets the core cast I’ve mentioned, plus a couple shots of Blaster and Rodimus as cameos. When do we get more Hound and Trailbreaker?

Good

Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye #1-6

Transformers on Star Trek. That is what this title is about, plain and simple. I’m not sure if James Roberts pitched the book that way or not, but that’s what this book is all about. And guess what? It works!

I was sure I’d enjoy the “classic” title more than the clear spin-off, but here we are. It appreciate the dialogue and world building Barber is doing here, and while I like the sister title, this is the best Transformer book on the stands right now.

Hot Rod/Rodimus had big plans to go find some missing leaders of ancient Cybertron, but those plans were scrapped when the Lost Light ship blew up in Cybertron’s orbit. Now the crew is blasted to the far side of the galaxy, no closer to accomplishing their mission, AND all their comrades think they are dead.

I’ve seen some folks complain that everyone in this book is a smart-a$$, but that’s not entirely true. It’s more appropriate to say this is a true team book, and it’s going for a certain vibe. That cover is a good clue. This is a JLI-type book with snappy dialogue and personalities played for laughs. Ultra Magnus is a boring, by-the-book dork, and Red Alert is a paranoid maniac. Rodimus is overconfident; basically, he’s Ryker from Next Generation with his own ship. The problem is, it doesn’t seem like most of the Transformers on board really listen that much.

Almost every character with a speaking part gets a defining personality. Ratchet and his declining hand-dexterity. Rung as a psychiatrist with a bunch of insight, or even Pipes (or Blue Huffer as I knew him) and his love of getting to go on missions. This is a really strong comic with a stellar cast. The tone of the book changes from issue to issue. High adventure, Alien rip-offs, and even zombies all show up in the first six issues.

Nick Roche and Alex Milne stray a bit more from core designs, but that’s OK. Its got a big cast, and each character stands out. The main characters are Rodimus, Ultra Magnus, Ratchet, Drift, Rewind, Red Alert, Rung, Whirl (the ex-Wrecker), Cyclonus (yeah, that Cyclonus), Pipes, First Aid, and a dozen more. Plus the required cameos like Sea Spray, Cosmos, and Hound.

For those of us with too much nostalgia for our favorite childhood toys, this is the perfect book.

Excellent

Transformers: Robots in Disguise #1-6

I knew I couldn’t resist catching up with the Transformers titles after the relaunch, and thanks to IDW knocking the price on digital copies to $1.99 after a month, I don’t have to. In the past few weeks, I’ve read a TON of Transformers comics, and as a result, I’m way more into the universe than I have been since I was 10.

Robots in Disguise follows a group of transformers as they attempt to re-populate and rebuild Cybertron. After Optimus Prime headed out for deep space (his presence was too closely tied to the war with the Decepticons), it’s time for Bumblebee to try and take charge. The problem is, all our favorite Decepticons are still on the planet too. While those ‘Cons might claim the war is over and they are done fighting, it sure doesn’t feel that way to Bumblebee’s crew.

Further complicating matters are the Nails. These are other Cybertronians who didn’t take a side in the war. Now that the dust has settled, they are back on Cybertron and want everything to go back to normal. But for both the Autobots and Decepticons, the Nails are cowards who didn’t choose a side. It’s a neat dynamic that lets characters play very different roles than what we remember from our childhood.

This is still the classic Transformers concept, just in a new status quo. The Autobots are still fighting the Decepticons, they are just doing it in space. While More Than Meets the Eye is Transformer stories in a new context, this is a classic-feeling book. John Barber is doing a nice job keeping the characters in line with how you feel they should act. Is it entirely original? No, but it is darn entertaining.

The prominent Transformers in the first six issues are Bumblebee, Wheeljack, Prowl, Iron Hide, Streetwise, Sideswipe, Blur, Silverbolt, Ratbat, Skywarp, Dirge, the Constructicons, and Prowl’s mystery helper. That’s not counting the assumed cameos like Warpath and others. Andrew Griffith has redesigned all these bots with new alt-forms so that we get the robots we know and love, but new vehicles that look suitably futuristic.

IDW seems to put their books on sale regularly. Follow me on Twitter @mrtimbotron and I’ll post when they have their next sale!

Good

Transformers: Chaos TPB

James Roberts, Mike Costa bring the ongoing series to a close, and they do it with a bang. It took awhile as the line lost its way, but I’m firmly back in the TF fold after reading this and Police Action. While Bumblebee, Prowl, and his crew are dealing with human problems on Earth, Optimus, Ratchet, Rodimus, Iron Hide, and Drift (blerg) are back home dealing with BIG problems.

I have to say the story is fairly confusing, and you know that’s the case when characters in the actual story need help understanding the plot. There is a scene where a bunch of Autobots (I think it’s the Technobots and some of the Headmasters) are puzzling out Galvatron’s master plan, while Arcee and Hardhead try to explain it to them. It doesn’t make a lot of sense, to be honest, and the whole Chaos crossover as a whole is a failure. I mean, it hasn’t made sense from the start, so I think the creative team did the right thing in acknowledging the problems, then just barreling ahead.

Solid action. THAT’S how you can deal with a poor plot. With lots of smashing, shooting, and characterization. There are tons of ‘bots getting a moment in the sun here. We all know Optimus and his main crew (listed above) is going to get the spotlight, but Sunstreaker, Megatron, Cliffjumper (!), and Wheelie (!!) actually get moments! Devastator comes back, the familiar Decepticons make an appearance (it’s too brief, but at least I understand it.) It must have been pretty hard bringing the disparate storylines together, but Arcee and Hardhead do make a bit of a difference in the battle with Galvatron. Again, the greater plot is lacking, but the character moments make this thing work.

Livio Ramondelli has a nice, painted look. The battles are impressive at times (try to find Silverbolt leading the flying Autobots up into space against Cyclonus and the Sweeps). Powerglide, Cosmos, Tracks, it’s got every flying good guy on the roster and looks fantastic. Megatron’s new form is enormous and fun. Devastator is horrifying, bum leg and all. Now, the giant Chaos monster? Blah. I’m ignoring that bit.

I’m excited for the next stage of the IDW books. I want to see what happens to these characters. It’s nice when the plot is driving things along and enhancing the book, but to be honest, handle the characters well and consistently, and that’s enough.

Good

Transformers: Police Action TPB

Now THIS is what I was looking for in my Transformers comics! I feel the IDW line really lost its way after All Hail Megatron. The books were just sort of flopping around. The relationship with Spike and the humans isn’t why anyone is picking up the book, I figure, and the Decepticons on the run aren’t an interesting enough threat. I actually didn’t buy any Transformer trades for quite awhile. Fortunately, Comixology had a big sale and I caught back up. (I’m not going to review Heart of Darkness or the Chaos prelude, both were fairly boring.)

This trade moves along nicely. It focuses on Prowl and the other Earth-bound transformers as they try to investigate a few mysteries from earlier in the series. You see, Spike really hates the Transformers, and in a great scene, he actually states that he will never trust any of them, leaving Prowl looking like a fool for liking and trusting Spike. As always, the humans are the real bad guys. (Of course!) There’s a lot of procedure work as Prowl (and partner Streetwise) bomb around investigating who killed the Constructicon Scrapper earlier in the series. They also want to figure out who distributed all those Megatron bot-killer pistols earlier in the book too. Both masterminds have been choreographed well, so everything makes sense, and it leaves the Autobots in a position where I’m not sure they can stick around Earth much longer.

For those of you who just want to know which Transformers appear in Transformers: Police Action, here’s your list, starting with the most featured: Prowl, Bumblebee, Ultra Magnus, Jazz, Streetwise, the Protectobots, Brawl, and Swindle. (There are a few more cameos, including Seaspray and Windcharger, but that list is the main guys.)

I can’t emphasize enough how bored I was by the Transformers universe before this trade. Mike Costa and artist E.J. Su deserve a lot of credit for bringing me back on board.

Good

Transformers: Autocracy #1

I was intrigued by IDW’s Autocracy project. Basically, the company is putting out a half-length Transformers comic every other week, but only charging 99 cents for it. Chris Metzen and Flint Dille are new names to me, but after taking a quick look at some preview pages, I decided I could shell out two or three bucks for the first couple issues.

It’s pretty good! The series takes place back on Cybertron, when Optimus Prime was still Orion Pax. Orion is an idealistic cop working for the status quo-loving Autobots. The Decepticons are basically anarchist freedom-fighters. It takes some getting used to seeing Orion/Optimus bully people around, but it does seem like his heart is in the right place. And while the Decepticons are trying to take down the Autobot ruling class, they definitely aren’t good guys. (Hot Rod is another freedom-fighter, though! And we know he ends up as a good guy.) It is a neat twist seeing our heroes supporting what is clearly an evil regime. Nothing her ruins the characters, but it adds a nice level of back-story.

The book keeps its focus squarely on Orion, but he does have a small squad of familiar faces surrounding him. Prowl, Iron Hide, Bumblebee, and Hound back up Orion on the ground, while Silverbolt soars overhead providing air-support. The Decepticons are all the regulars: Megatron, Starscream, Soundwave, and the tapes. Some Omega Supreme predecessors show up around issue 5 too.

I’m only halfway through, but I really like this format and delivery system. I’m much more likely to splurge on a 99 cent comic than a $3.99 one, and to be honest, these issues don’t feel that short. There are so many ads in the back of the IDW Transformers comics, this feels pretty close to the same length!

Livio Ramondelli handles the art, and he’s good. This has got that painted feel that some Transformers artists use, where things look almost European. I’d almost say it looks as if Gabrielle Del ‘Otto was drawing Cybertron, that’s the feel of the book. It’s always neat seeing the “old” Cybertron forms for the bots too. I do like the design of the current Prime; he’s suspicious right off the bat!

Good

Transformers #80.5

Now don’t get me wrong. I absolutely loved the Transformers comics in the 1980s. In fact, that and GI Joe were a big part of the reason I’m as hooked as I am now. But I think Simon Furman is overestimating how much we all remember about what was happening in this comic 20 years ago.


I seem to remember the Autobots and Decepticons teaming up to take out Unicron. I know a lot of the original characters are dead; for example, wasn’t Bludgeon the main Decepticon leader at the close of the series? And he looked like some skeleton samurai dude!

Wasn’t Prime stuck in some “Power Master” robot-only form? Who was the last Autobot? Wasn’t Megatron merged with Ratchet somehow?

The problem is, after reading this “introductory” issue; I still don’t know what’s happening. Larry Hama filled us in a bit better when he picked up GI Joe, or at least he made everything feel like a fresh start. I’m certain I’ll stick around and buy this comic, but I do wish I had a bit more solid understanding about the status quo.

Andrew Wildman can still draw. His transformers were revolutionary to me, back in the day, and they still look fantastic. There are a ton of good TF artists now, but Wildman’s art still has a classic feel. He always puts the best shiny spots on the ‘bots faces, it really sells the unique feel.

And am I the only one who worries what this series will do to IDW’s ongoing Transformers story? Once you have the original as an option, I sort of lose interest in the “reimagined” universe. That certainly happened to me with IDW’s GI Joe titles.

Fair

Transformers TPB vol 3

There's a lot for old-school fans like me to enjoy in the new Transformers trade. After being disappointed in the last collection, things get moving again nicely as soon as Megatron is back on the stage. He's got a powerful new bod, but the neatest concept in this trade might be what Soundwave has got planned with the pieces of Megatron's old look.

The book opens with a nice focus on Hot Rod, a starring role that I'm pretty sure is setting us up for Rodimus Prime. I'm an Optimus guy all the way, but with Op sort of struggling in this series, maybe Rodimus will be able to shake things up.

I was impressed with all the screen time devoted to smaller characters in this one. Brawn, Thundercracker, Jazz, Ultra Magnus, Shockwave, and more all get things to say and do. Prowl really lives up to his second in command billing, and I loved Wheeljack's envy of Ratchet's respect on the battlefield. Mike Costa really packs the book with quick moments; even those characters who mostly fill backgrounds like Smokescreen get a line or two that define the character.

The art is varied in the multiple issues collected here, but I dont' have a problem with it. Nick Roche's cartoony style works fine in the early chapters, and while I don't love Don Figueroa's more movie-inspired designs, the 'bots still look cool. I think I like Alex Milne's robots best, but he's not as solid with the human characters. Overall, this selection of artists is a pretty strong bunch.

Good

Transformers: Ironhide TPB

I can’t even remember how Ironhide died, but I’m glad he’s back. Mike Costa takes an interesting approach in his resurrection of Ironhide; this version is based on memories pre-Earth. This re-built Ironhide remembers all his days as an Autobot, but only until he suffered massive damage and was “backed up.” So when he meets up with a damaged comrade on the surface of Cybertron, it’s up to that character to bring Ironhide up to speed.

I enjoyed the inclusion of Alpha Trion and the other surprise Autobot. My brother had the toy of this character, so I recognized the small, quiet ‘bot that leads Ironhide around the city.

With the insecticon horde as the main antagonists in the present, it’s a wise choice to include so many flashbacks. There are a ton of cameos of classic characters in this trade. Many of them are characters we haven’t seen much of in the series so far, including Bluestreak, Windcharger, Hound, Drag Strip, and the dead-in-the-present Outback. Man, I do want to see more of these guys! Half the reason I read the Transformers comics are for the glimpses of all those old toys.

The art is slick; everything I want in a Transformers comic. Ironhide’s rebuilt design is sleek and yet still recalls the look of his Earth-van mode. Again, the best part is how great Hound, Windcharger, and the rest look in their brief appearances.

Good

Comics on the Bubble: Headmasters (1987)

Man, I remember when this came out, how confused I was. Where are all the core Transformers? Why should I care about any of these new weirdo robots? Let’s see if it holds up better now…

Issues 1-4: Bob Budiansky gives it the old college try, but man, Nebulos, the setting for this series, is so silly. I understand the need to bond a humanoid with the Transformers to create a new breed of toy, but the whole concept works a lot better after some Earth-folks get involved.

Fortress Maximus chooses a bit of a coward’s option when he leads his faction of Autobots off Cybertron (his crew includes the Headmasters, Technobots, and Target Masters). Naturally, Skorponok follows since he wants them all dead. In the end, they all end up just going to Earth anyways!

Frank Springer’s art is decent, but the colors are constantly bleeding out of the lines. The printing in these 80’s-era comics is awful.

I did like seeing the Terrorcons and Technobots face off, but the only real reason I’m holding on to these issues is my desire for a complete run of Marvel Transformers. KEEP

Last Stand of the Wreckers TPB

Wow, they weren't kidding about the title of this one. I expected another fun chapter in the world of IDW's Transformers, but this really is a goodbye to Transformers UK. The Wreckers were the long-time stars of Transformers UK, and a lot of those same characters get spotlighted here. Springer, Kup, Perceptor (a childhood fave of mine), Topspin, Twin Twist, and some new rookies make up the current team. (Where is Broadside?) The creative team does a fine job building up Overlord, a new Decepticon boss, as the main foe for this story. While parts of the story don't ever become totally clear (I'm fuzzy on what the MacGuffin actually does, and I don't understand why Prowl makes some of the decisions he does) the action is clear-cut and brutal.

This feels like a Transformers action movie, complete with a ton of casualties on both sides. The majority of the bots in this trade are new characters, so they are safe to kill, but some long-time folks get taken out too. (The writers do a nice job with the rookie Wreckers too, especially new fave Guzzle.) I've never been a big fan of Springer or Kup, they seem like they toe the line too much, but I love Prowl, so who knows. Top Spin and Twin Twist get some nice development; it's rare to see Transformers brothers.

The art is wonderful. The 'bots look like the cartoon of my childhood, and that's all I'm asking for in my Transformers comics. It's wonderful seeing back-ups like Perceptor getting so much time in the spotlight (and being awesome!), I'd love to see more work like this for more of the obscure folks I actually know like Windcharger or Warpath.

This trade has some nice bonus features; sketches, a short story, and some notes. But where are my alternate covers?

Good

Transformers v2: Internation Incident TPB

Mike Costa's still got some neat ideas, and he clearly "gets" most of the core bots. I shouldn't complain. This story features little-seen characters like Smokescreen, Cosmos, and the Combaticons. But I do have one complaint. TOO MANY HUMANS. This has hurt the book in the past, and now it seems we're approaching that line again. I don't care how tough Spike Witwicky is supposed to be, I don't care how much specialized equipment he's supposed to have. He should never be able to beat a Decepticon in one-on-one combat. Especially since later in the issue a pretty sizable troop of Autobots is unable to beat three Combaticons. (Although I do appreciate that a group called the Combaticons should be among the best warriors from Cybertron).

It's too bad there is so much drama and panel time spent with the humans; Costa knows his Transformers. Bluestreak and Brawn get to lounge around, showing what it's like for the Autobots who don't get selected for all the missions like Jazz and Prowl do. The Combaticons never buy into North Korea's rhetoric, but the Predacons sure seem to be buying in to their alliance with China. The idea of Transformers allying and empathizing with different factions of humans is a brilliant idea; I just wish all the Autobots hadn't defaulted to the American side.

The art in this trade is pretty darn solid. Everyone looks like their old cartoon selves, which is just the way I want my Hasbro comics.

Fair

Transformers TPB v1: For All Mankind

I'm easily satisfied. Mike Costa continues his run from All Hail Megatron, and he's still doing a wonderful job moving the Transformers mythos forward while still keeping almost everyone acting as they did in the cartoons I loved as a kid.

With the Decepticons defeated, they're reduced to stragglers rampaging around looking for energon. And with the humans using reverse-engineered Transformers tech, the humans are usually capable of taking them out themselves; the problem is that they are all too willing to take out Autobots too. At a loss, Optimus surrenders to the humans, fracturing the Autobot army.

Most of the old group stick around following new leader Bumblebee. This group includes Ratchet, Wheeljack, Jazz, Brawn, Blur, and more. Hot Rod leads a group who wants to just leave Earth behind. His crew is Red Alert, Jet Fire, Prowl, Blue Streak, and more. It's pretty cool seeing more and more obscure characters showing up and taking sides, (including Omega Supreme!).

The bad guys get a lot of time too. Swindle of the stunticons is the main troublemaker, but Costa spends a whole issue showing things from Thundercracker's (my first TF) point of view. Sure, nostalgia fuels my affection for this property, but it is solid stuff.

I'm not a huge fan of the art, Don Figueroa's art really looks too much like the movies for me. The robot faces look too jaggy and sharp. I'd like them a bit more smooth like the old cartoon.

Good

Best of Transformers UK: Prey TPB

As I've said, I LOVE reading about the Transformers, so finding this UK reprint at my library was a real find. This trade was packed with good stuff, and there are a lot of Simon Furman's regular beats throughout. Prime is awesomely heroic, Megatron is hated even by his own troops, the Dinobots and Predacons are tough guys, and the Wreckers show up (of course).

Probably the strongest piece in this trade deals with Swoop (the pterodactyl Dinobot). Back on Cybertron he went by Divebomb, until the bird Predacon defeated him and stole his name. Swoop fought Divebomb numerous times, with Divebomb always winning until Optimus Prime showed up to help Swoop get a win. Swoop never included Prime in his retelling of the fight though, as he was afraid to lose face with the prideful Dinobots. I love the idea that Swoop is actually kind of a loser. He obsesses on his defeat and can't get past it. Even better, when he gets a rematch in this trade, he loses again! If Swoop was your favorite, it might be upsetting, but as a character piece, it is fascinating. The best part is Grimlock's response to all this; when Divebomb tries to rat out Swoop, telling Grimlock about Prime's involvement back in the day, Grimlock laughs it off. Grimlock knew all about it and just didn't care, because Dinobots stick together. It's a great moment and it drives home how Furman loved to group the Transformers into their sub-teams. Great stuff.

A lot of the issue deals with Prime's visit to Cybertron, showing how both the Wreckers deal with his arrival and how the Earth bots deal with his absence. The story takes place around the US issue 19, I think.

The art is by the UK regulars Geoff Senior, Will Simpson, and Bryan Hitch comes in for the lettering. I love seeing these characters used.

As an aside, does anyone know about a complete list of UK reprints and where you can find them? Wikipedia has some, but that seems like a useful bit of info. I've started compiling it, but won't continue if the info is already out there.

Good