G.I. Joe Vs. the TransFormers #6

January 4, 2004

Quick Rating: Good

As nuclear warheads head for Cobra Island, G.I. Joe and the Autobots stage a final attack on the bad guys.

Writer: Josh Blaylock
Pencils: Mike S. Miller
Inks: Cory Hamscher
Colors: Lynx Studio
Letters: Dreamer Design
Cover Art: Dan Norton (Cover A); Mike S. Miller (Cover B)
Publisher: Image Comics/Devil’s Due

This meeting of the two most popular licensed comics in America comes to a bang-up finish in this issue, as the Autobots and Joes face off against Cobra and the Decepticons, knowing that a volley of nuclear missiles is headed their way to destroy the robots. What the military didn’t know when it launched the missiles, though, is that when the blast hits the Energon cubes stockpiled on the island, the resultant explosion will rip the planet apart.

This book is basically one long fight scene, and it’s a good one. We get unlikely match-ups like Bumblebee versus Storm Shadow, Wheeljack and Mainframe double-teaming Dr. Mindbender more logical things like the alliance between Cobra Commander and Starscream, and the requisite “epic final battle” between Optimus Prime and Megatron that no TransFormers tale would be complete without. Optimus tears loose in this one, and that fight scene in particular is great.

The climax actually has elements from both of the feature films featuring these characters (the Prime/Megatron battle and the “blow ‘em up in space!” bit), but since this is a story told by cobbling together pieces of other stories, that’s somewhat allowable. Blaylock also takes advantage of the freedom of this “alternate universe” to throw in more casualties than you would normally see, even in a major battle of the two regular titles.

Mike Miller shows himself to be a great TransFormers artist throughout this miniseries, especially in this issue. The massive battle sequences are great, the designs for the robots are spectacular, and even the way the robots look when broken and beaten mirror the animated series quite well.

The ending, of course, leaves a big, wide gaping hole for a sequel, but that’s fine by me. Blaylock created a really fun universe mashing these two properties together, and it would be a shame to see it end with the end of this series. There’s plenty of room left to find new stories to tell.

Rating: 7/10

G.I. Joe Vs. the TransFormers #5

December 4, 2003

Quick Rating: Very Good

It’s G.I. Joe and the Autobots versus Cobra and the Decepticons in a massive battle!

Writer: Josh Blaylock
Pencils: Mike S. Miller
Inks: Cory Hamscher
Colors: Lynx Studios
Letters: Dreamer Design
Cover Art: Mike S. Miller (Cover A); Dan Norton (Cover B)
Publisher: Image Comics/Devil’s Due Studios

Everything in the first four issues of this crossover has led up to this point, a massive battle on Cobra Island. This issue, for the most part, is fight scene after fight scene after fight scene, and they’re all done exceedingly well. There’s a real sense of fun in seeing Snake Eyes take on Starscream with just a sword or with the Autobots facing down Storm Shadow in the “Snake” armor Cobra reverse-engineered from the robots.

Some of the battle scenes are surprisingly brutal, even considering that robots get most of the damage. Optimus Prime taking on Soundwave and Ravage is fierce, showing how powerful the Autobot leader really is. Jazz and Bumblebee, often thought of as some of the less war-like Autobots, display a surprising degree of ferocity in their fight with Devastator.

Sure, there’s a plot. Megatron and Dr. Mindbender are amassing a stockpile of Energon Cubes (power source of the TransFormers for the casual reader). Meanwhile, the president has ordered a nuclear strike on Cobra Island to wipe out both Cobra and the robots in one fell swoop, not realizing that when the bomb hits the Energon Cubes it will trigger a train reaction that will probably blow up the world. But let’s face it, we all know that, by the end of the last issue, the Autobots and the Joes will avert the cataclysm somehow, so why not just enjoy the great fights? It’s like watching an action movie where the outcome is never in doubt.

Blaylock writes a good script (including a particularly good joke from Cobra Commander, but the Miller/Hamscher/Lynx art team is the real star of this comic book series. Their re-imaginings of the TransFormers in their “Cobra-ized” forms are a lot of fun. I’d be willing to shell out big bucks for an Optimus Prime-turns-into-a-Cobra Hiss toy. Come to think of it, why hasn’t Hasbo ever attempted to meld their two most popular toy lines? Seems like a natural idea.

Anyway, I’ve become a real fan of Miller over the last five issues. He draws great action scenes and giant toys as good as anyone in the business. I only wish the other Image series he’s working on, The Hedge Knight, wasn’t so hopelessly delayed.

If you haven’t been reading this title already, I doubt this issue will be where you want to come in. If you’ve read and enjoyed the previous four issues, fear not, this is another very good installment.

Rating: 8/10