TransFormers: The Death of Optimus Prime #1

December 27, 2011

Title: The Death of Optimus Prime

Writer: James Roberts, John Barber
Art: Nick Roche
Letters: Shawn Lee
Colors: Josh Burcham
Cover Art: Viktor Deak
Editor: Carlos Guzman
Publisher: IDW Publishing

With the war between the Autobots and the Decepticons ostensibly over, it should be a time of peace on Cybertron. Instead, the planet is being overwhelmed with “NAILs” – Non-Aligned Indigenous Lifeforms – in other words, Cybertronians who took no side during the war. And as Bumblebee and Rodimus Prime struggle to bring peace between two factions of Autobots, Optimus himself begins to wonder just what his role is in a world without war against the likes of Megatron and Galvatron.

Despite the hyperbolic title, this is just an okay issue. James Roberts and John Barber are here basically to draw the lines between the upcoming “Schism” (to borrow an X-Men term) between the two ongoing TransFormers titles, one showing Autobots under Bumblebee’s leadership, one under Rodimus. They’re also out to explain why Optimus has been taken out of the equation, although the conclusion isn’t as simple as one might think.

The new Status Quo here is interesting enough. The writers have changed things up considerably for this franchise, placing familiar characters in a new situation that neither they nor the readers are used to. If you’re going to do a relaunch of such a classic property, this is a good way to do it, even if this issue itself is a little lackluster.

Nick Roche’s artwork helps a lot. He’s got a good feel for the robots, something that is a little more stylized than the classic cartoon, but not so far as to hit the nigh-incomprehensible “realism” we get from the Michael Bay movies. He makes the characters his own, using them to tell stories instead of sell toys.

Okay issue, but it does pique my interest for what IDW has planned next.

Rating: 7/10

TransFormers: Generation One (2004 Series) #4

May 1, 2004

Quick Rating: Good
Title: The Omega Effect & Runnin’ With the Devil

Sunstorm versus Omega Supreme! Giant robots blowing stuff up!

Writer: Brad Mick
Pencils: Don Figueroa & James Raiz
Inks: Elaine To & Erik Sander
Colors: Espen Grundetjern & Elliot Kravichik
Letters: Ben Lee
Cover Art: Don Figueroa
Publisher: Dreamwave

As Megatron returns to reclaim his leadership from the treacherous Starscream, Sunstorm is drawn into battle with the giant Autobot, Omega Supreme. Meanwhile, the ragtag band of Autobots on Earth tries to rescue their comrades that Starscream has shut down.

This is a major action-heavy issue, which this title was starting to need. Mick has a good feel for the characters, but his scripts are usually so bogged down with expository dialogue that it can be a chore to read them. Pumping up the action in this issue really works.

Figueroa and To, along with Award Winner for “Colorist With the Hardest Name to Spell” Espen Grundetjern do their usual beautiful job with the artwork. TransFormers was one of the first comics I read as a kid, after I started branching out from Archie and Spider-Man, and I can say with authority that this is the best they’ve ever looked. I take off a little for resorting to a sideways page for Omega Supreme’s entrance, because I find that really annoying and think it pulls the reader out of the story to have to suddenly turn the comic around, but even that page looks good. Colorists are becoming more and more noticeable these days, and few make their mark on a title they way Grundetjern does.

There’s also a short back-up feature that shows how Megatron made his way back after being hurled into outer space, guest-starring fan favorite Wreck-Gar. It’s not something you really need to enjoy the main story arc of the title, but it doesn’t hurt, and James Raiz and Erik Sander do just as good a job as the regular art team. Colorist Elliot Kravichik really stands out in the back up, giving things a strange, grimy texture that’s perfect for the Junkion’s spaceship and helps to make the entire sequence more authentic.

This is still a solid title, but I’m not enjoying it as much as I did earlier incarnations, probably because of the characters Mick is concentrating on. Yeah, I know Megatron is a fan favorite, but for me, it’s not TransFormers without Optimus Prime. Bring him back, Mick, we’re getting impatient!

Rating: 7/10

TransFormers: Generation 1 (2004 Series) #2

February 28, 2004

Quick Rating: Good
Title: Black Sunshine

A new TransFormer challenges Starscream’s claim to the Decepticon throne!

Writer: Brad Mick
Pencils: Don Figueroa
Inks: Elaine To
Colors: Espen Grundetjern & Rob Ruffolo
Letters: Ben Lee
Cover Art: Don Figueroa & Elaine To
Publisher: Dreamwave

Although we do get to check in with the Autobots – both in space and on Earth – in this issue, most of issue two of the new Generation One ongoing is concerned with the Decepticons. With Megatron missing and presumed dead, Starscream has reverted to his same old plot of usurping control of the darker TransFormers faction in his absence. Things are thrown for a loop, however, when a new Decepticon arrives on the scene, wielding enough influence to threaten Starscream’s grasp.

I can’t talk too much about this much-hyped new character, other than to say that his very existence has serious implications for the Decepticon hierarchy. The interaction between him and Starscream is well-done, and I’m anxious to see where this storyline is going.

This issue, like most of issues since Brad Mick took the writing reigns of this title, is very dense and loaded with dialogue. Usually I don’t have a problem like that, but in a book like TranFormers, I really would rather have a bit more action than we’ve been served up so far. I’m also somewhat disappointed that, only four (relative) issues since his “transformation,” Ultra Magnus has re-armored into his old form. The new look was great, and I hope it’s not gone for good.

Don Figueroa and Elaine To’s artwork carries no complaints, though. He handles the robots very well and every scene is dealt with powerfully, from a firefight at the beginning to the Autobots holding a vigil over the recuperating Optimus Prime. The color work is also very good in this title, mixing up powerful, vibrant tones with great energy and underwater effects. This book looks almost like some of the best animation you see these days – and in fact, it’s far superior than the new TransFormers cartoons on television.

Mick is still setting up his story in this issue, that much is clear, and hopefully once all the pieces are in place this title will launch into a great roller-coaster ride like the TransFormers should be. It would be a shame if he took to long to get to that point and lost his readership in the process.

Rating: 7/10

TransFormers/G.J. Joe #6

April 3, 2004

Quick Rating: Fair
Title: The Iron Fist

With Bruticus on a rampage, only the the Autobot Matrix can save the world… but at what price?

Writer: John Ney Rieber
Art: Jae Lee
Colors: June Chung
Letters: Ben Lee
Cover Art: Jae Lee
Publisher: Dreamwave

While the initial premise for this series was great – the G.I. Joe and TransFormers titles reimagined in a World War II setting, in execution the book has suffered from extremely slow pacing and issues that felt padded. If this had been done in four issues instead of stretching it to six, many of which were quite late, it would have read better and more satisfying.

This issue features the long-awaited final battle, which delivers for the most part, focusing on the odd friendships that have bonded between the characters – Stalker, Roadblock, Grimlock and Bumblebee make for an intriguing foursome. By contrast, you see the distrust and venom between Cobra Commander and Megatron, Destro and Starscream. The villains are every bit as dastardly as the heroes are noble.

One of the things that makes an alternate timeline setting like this appealing is the freedom of doing things to characters that couldn’t be done in-continuity for fear of damaging the continued marketability of the property. Rieber takes full advantage of that freedom, but I think he actually goes a bit too far, sealing off the storyline so much that any potential to return to the setting is almost voided. Not that this is a book screaming for a sequel for me, but I do think there’s a lot of potential in the basic idea, and the character designs are great.

Jae Lee did a great job reimagining these characters for a 1940s setting, particularly the Autobots. Seeing Grimlock as a tank and Bumblebee as a motorcycle were nice twists, and the huge, imposing Optimus Prime was a highlight of the book. The only downside to the artwork is that I never felt we got to see quite enough of the robots to totally envision them, although I suspect a toy line would be a best seller. June Chung’s color scheme employs grays and dark greens and browns almost exclusively, giving the whole series a dark, stormy mood that’s appropriate for the story but extremely gloomy for the reader.

In the end, out of the two crossover series these properties have shared in the past year, this one may have been the most anticipated but just wasn’t as good as Devil’s Due’s G.I. Joe Versus the Transformers. This one didn’t use the potential of combining the two favorites to its fullest potential, but that potential is still there, and if they ever decided to revisit this world, I for one would at least take a look.

Rating: 6/10

TransFormers: Generation One (2003 Ongoing) #1

February 7, 2004

Quick Rating: Good
Title: Night of the Combaticons

Ratchet and Brawn escape the Decepticons, but can they outrace Bruticus?

Writer: Brad Mick
Pencils: Don Figueroa
Inker: Elaine To
Colors: Espen Grundetjern & Rob Ruffolo
Letters: Ben Lee
Publisher: Dreamwave

The TransFormers ongoing finally begins, and it’s off to a rollicking start. With Megatron presumed dead and seven Autobots as his captive, Starscream has proclaimed himself leader of the Decepticons. His coronation is disrupted (shades of TransFormers: The Movie) when two of his captives escape and he sends his grunt troops, the combined robot called Bruticus, to bring them back.

The chase takes up most of the issue, with Ratchet and Brawn on the run, fighting enemies and even trying to get past their own defense systems. Brad Mick has demonstrated real aplomb for these characters, crafting a really exciting action issue and allowing us to really root for our heroes on the run. He even manages to work in a little comedy (with the help of the art team), placing little Bumblebee in a captain’s chair way too big for him.

Although most of the buzz about this property when it relaunched surrounded artist Pat Lee, Don Figueroa has really come to make it his own. From battle-damage to looks of pain or determination on the metal faces of our protagonists, he has a range that he’s really allowed to show off. The color team is also deserving of kudos, doing some great effects with energy, shadow, light sources and just the overall look of the book.

The only real knock against this title is that it does at times drift into a lot of stuff we’ve seen before – robots “killed” in such a fashion that they will almost certainly be reactivated in an issue or two, Starscream proclaiming himself king in the absence of a Megatron no one doubts will return… these are TransFormers staples, things we’re so used to seeing that they don’t even phase us anymore. This is a good book. If Mick manages to overcome the clichés, it could be on its way to being a great one.

Rating: 7/10

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

TransFormers/G.I. Joe (2003 Series) #3

November 28, 2003

Quick Rating: Good
Title: Trial By Fire

The Autobots and G.I. Joe rejoin the fray.

Writer: John Ney Rieber
Art: Jae Lee
Colors: June Chung
Letters: Benjamin Lee
Editor-in-Chief: Pat Lee
Cover Art: Jae Lee
Publisher: Dreamwave

The World War II-era alternate universe crossover continues. The G.I. Joe team believes Snake Eyes dead in battle, but in reality everyone’s favorite All-American Ninja is locked in deadly combat with Storm Shadow and Ravage. Meanwhile, the G.I. Joe team and the Autobots finally take the initiative in the battle while Megatron and Cobra Commander get locked in a power struggle of their own.

This is another good issue of this crossover event, but it’s starting to wear a little thin. It feels like an example of the “decompressed” storytelling Marvel is putting to such use right now. G.I. Joe and the Autobots have been preparing for battle for two issues now, and the Snake Eyes/ Storm Shadow/ Ravage fight is starting to feel a bit padded and stretched out. Also, it makes perfect sense and is perfectly in character for Megatron and Cobra Commander to get locked in a power struggle, but that doesn’t make it any fresher. I feel like I’ve read the scene with them a dozen times already.

What we get works well, though. We get introduced to a couple more villains (well… re-introduced, since they’re longtime bad guys from both of these properties), and Rieber has these characters down pat. I particularly enjoyed the scene with Roadblock and Grimlock rolling into battle together. They make a pretty well-matched pair, I must say.

On the art front, Jae Lee continues to prove he is the perfect choice for this project. His dark, gritty style is well-suited to what is essentially a war story. Pages in this book are like reading “Saving Private Ryan”. He’s also fantastic at drawing the TransFormers characters in their World War II forms – but again, I have to complain a little about the fact that we still haven’t gotten really good looks at most of the redesigned forms. There’s a nice shot at the beginning of the issue of one of the Aerialbots with Stalker, and I still think making Grimlock a tank in this incarnation instead of trying to explain a tyrannosaurus rex was a stroke of genius, but we’re halfway through this series and most of the shots we’ve gotten of the big guns — Optimus Prime, Megatron, etc. – have been in the shadows. This is done, I presume, to have some “big reveal” moments later in the series, but the audience is still itching for more of what they paid admission for – great big robots.

On just a side tangent, I hate the title of this issue. “Trial of Fire” is one of those titles that has been overused so much I think it should be retired permanently.

This is a good series, but it’s getting stretched out too much. The hand-to-hand with Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow is getting old. We need some big action, and we need it soon. Hopefully, we’ll get it in the next issue.

Rating: 7/10

TransFormers: The Animated Movie #2

December 9, 2006

Quick Rating: Very Good
Title: To the Death – And Beyond!

As Optimus Prime faces death, Megatron faces transformation!

Writer: Bob Budiansky
Art: Don Figueroa
Colors: Josh Burcham
Letters: Robbie Robbins
Designer: Neil Uyetake
Editor: Chris Ryall
Cover Art: Don Figueroa
Publisher: IDW Publishing

You’ve got to give IDW credit for knowing their audience. With TransFormers at the peak of its popularity right now, a new movie in the works for next year and the classic film finding new life in a 20th Anniversary Edition DVD, this adaptation seems natural. But this doesn’t read like some quick, cheap adaptation rushed out to take advantage of the moment. No, this is much better than most film adaptations you’ve read, and it’s something any TransFormers fan is going to want.

The first issue ended with the brutal final battle between Optimus Prime and Megatron. As this issue begins, the leader of the Autobots lies near death, knowing the time has come to pass on the Autobot Matrix of Leadership to his chosen successor, Ultra Magnus. In deep space, the treacherous Starscream jettisons Megatron and the other wounded Decepticons, who drift into the sights of the planet-eating monster, Unicron… who offers Megatron a proposition.

From the perspective of adulthood, it’s easy to see that the purpose of this film was to retire old toy and introduce new ones, but the filmmakers chose to tell a real, strong story in so doing. Optimus goes out like a true hero, and Megatron’s transformation is frankly unsettling. Budiansky does quite a good job of translating the film to a comic book page. Although this issue felt a little more rushed than the last one, he had a lot of ground to cover, so it’s forgivable.

Even more than the writing, though, the artwork makes this stand out among film adaptations. Don Figueroa is one of the best TransFormers artists in recent years, and as he’s doing an adaptation of an animated movie, he easily sidesteps the usual pitfall of adaptations, where the characters look like caricatures of the actors in the film. This is as clean and sharp a TransFormers comic as you’ll ever read. He does a remarkable job.

Longtime geek that I am, I’m enjoying this adaptation. Even though I know what’s coming next, I still look forward to the rest of the series.

Rating: 8/10

G.I. Joe Vs. the Transformers #4

October 25, 2003

Quick Rating: Good

Optimus Prime breaks free of Cobra Commander’s control as the Joe team’s mission is altered irrevocably.

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

With the release of Dreamwave’s TransFormers/G.I. Joe miniseries, this book seems to have gotten a little lost in the shuffle, which is a shame, because even though the Dreamwave book is better, this is a solid tale with lots of old-school action between the two classic properties.

Like the other title, this series creates an entire new continuity for the properties, rather than trying to meld the existing G.I. Joe and TransFormers universes. In previous issues we saw Cobra recover the remains of both the Autobots and Decepticons in the ruins of the Ark that brought the robots to Earth five million years ago. Dr. Mindbender managed to reprogram the robots to follow his commands, although the “big red one” gave him problems. When Cobra launches a series of attacks using their new toys, the United States government responds by forming a team of crack specialists to take them down: G.I. Joe.

In previous issues we saw the few Autobots Cobra failed to recover join with the Joe team to both save their friends and stop the threat. When this issue opens, Optimus Prime has broken free from mind-control, and Cobra Commander’s only hope is to let loose the Decepticon leader he’s kept under his thumb all this time: Megatron.

Blaylock has written the current G.I. Joe series since the first issue (although he will be leaving soon) and he’s clearly got a great handle on those characters. With this series he’s proven he gets the TransFormers as well, with both heroes and villains acting mostly in character, even in this alternate universe. Some of the dialogue is a little clunky, Optimus Prime saying lines like, “Give it up, Cobra Commander. It’s time you were delivered to your homeworld authorities,” but these lines aren’t prevalent enough to ruin the book, just to distract from time to time.

The Joe characters also behave the way we’ve grown to expect, although they aren’t given quite as much a chance to shine as the TransFormers. (Oddly enough, in the Dreamwave book it’s the TransFormers that stay out of the spotlight.) This book does throw a great twist in for the Joes, reminding us that they are soldiers first and foremost, and not the almost-superheroic characters we’ve seen from time to time, and that soldiers sometimes have to do things they don’t want to.

I’m rapidly becoming a big fan of Mike Miller’s artwork. He tells a story as good as anyone in the business, and he’s clean and not overly-detailed, either. The alternate designs for the TransFormers characters, Optimus Prime in particular, are great, as are the Gundam-like designs for the robots Cobra builds after reverse engineering some of the TransFormers technology. This is the kind of project he was meant for.

I’m really not sure how well this book is doing, sales-wise, but I hope fans of these two properties are giving it a fair shot. It’s old-fashioned action for both of these properties, and it’s really a lot of fun.

Rating: 8/10