Transformers #25 | A New Era of Uncertainty

After a successful twenty-four-issue run, Daniel Warren Johnson and Jorge Jimenez have moved on to their own respective projects. With that, the Transformers series produced by Skybound Entertainment and published by Image Comics came with uncertainty. There was no immediate announcement, but a subtle marketing style that the studio is known for. Transformers' twenty-fifth issue came out with an uncertain future, and at the same time a positive outlook for the direction the series is headed. The post-DWJ still has a few pages wrapping up in this issue, and Robert Kirkman has taken over the series, along with Dan Mora taking the artist reins for the first story arc. The aftermath of the past issue was quickly phased out, and new characters were introduced in the Energon Universe. It’s something to take in when you go through the pages for the first time without reading every panel. There’s optimism and ‘feel-good’ moments that make this issue feel like the first, but with a different writer. With respect to Kirkman and Mora, they’re like taking this as a new series, and it would feel like the consistent energy each issue brought for the first twenty-four issues looks entirely different. It's indeed a beginning of a new era for this series...

Cobra Commander #1 | Rise of Cobra

The word “Game Changer” is getting thrown around too much it has become a common term for what’s been something new and different. Some may not agree with the way things have been brewing the past months with Skybound Entertainment acquiring the rights to produce comic books for G.I. Joe and Transformers, but the overall reception is a welcome thought for the first-timers who have started reading the series that began with Void Rivals. With Cobra Commander, this mini-series has been teased several times as a four-page backup to the titles that are part of the Energon Universe. For those wondering if this and the Duke Mini-series have any connection to the main G.I. Joe ARAH series, the answer is a big NO as that series is still within the confines of its original universe that was first published by Marvel back in 1983 when IDW rebooted with G.I. Joe issue no. 155 ½ published as an FCBD title in May 2010 is already running with the current issue continuation that began with issue no. 301 which is still written by the legendary Larry Hama. This take on Cobra Commander existing in the "Energon Universe" is unique from its original universe and it is something to look forward to.

Transformers #4 | Human Connection

The first few pages of the fourth issue continue, whereas the action-packed third issue has left readers reeling from the brutal action that Daniel Warren Johnson has brought to the Transformers comics. This is the best time to be a true Transformers fan catching up on Skybound Entertainment’s take on the franchise. The consistency of the narrative clearly shows that this series is one episodic tapestry that keeps on moving and gets ratcheted up (No Pun Intended) in every issue. Losing an arm and being chased by a deranged Decepticon is not all exciting when your beloved human companion is losing blood from a gunshot wound while evading everything that is being thrown shows the action is not over. This is not like in the original cartoon when Prime was damaged in the previous episode he comes back in this issue brand new. This series is so grounded that Starscream was either being beaten up or being run over by a semi-truck. The motion and action on how Cliffjumper in his vehicle mode screeched into the scene with Carly behind the wheel and kicking the Decepticon Air Commander like taking inspiration from the chase scenes from Japanese anime like Initial-D. There was plenty of high-stakes action to go around the few pages and the details with inks have been phenomenal with every issue getting released is impressive.

Void Rivals #1 | The Beginning

Void Rivals sounded like a science fiction series that does not sound like Transformers because it was being kept as a secret project for almost a year “disguised as” an original (which is the idea) of a world-building concept from Robert Kirman, the founder of Skybound Entertainment and creator of The Walking Dead was a huge Transformers fan. After IDW Publication lost the rights for G.I. Joe and Transformers there was rumours that Skybound Entertainment had acquired the license. But everything was kept low key to the point Void Rivals was sort of a Trojan Horse. But there was never any indication, which is Kirkman’s way of marketing the books published extra special. This guy published the last issue of the Walking Dead comic book series and didn’t announce that it was the final issue. A week before the first issue's release leaked pages revealing a certain Cybertronian Scientist making an appearance in this series that would eventually happen. Local retailers didn’t order that many books and there were no details or even descriptions of what Void Rivals is all about other than it takes inspiration from two warring societies in a conflict similar to another popular graphic novel series titled Saga minus the romance.

Beast Wars #1 | Savage Landing

Beast Wars has a huge impact to the Transformers brand what made it relevant following the end of Generation One. It solidified in the collective consciousness that continues to evolve and cater to the next generation. The 1990s ushered something unexpected though for some G1 fans a bit controversial that became a heated debated in the online forums. But these days it’s all about adoration for the brand’s long standing history that propelled Transformers as a beloved franchise. That doesn’t say there will be haters and those still have disdain for this part of the brand’s history, but without Beast Wars the techno babble and toy design won’t make the present toyline like the War for Cybertron Trilogy a popular product in the toy shelves. In hindsight after Beast Machines, the Beast Era never really disappeared as Hasbro slowly tested the waters of interest putting a 10th Anniversary re-release of popular classic characters from that series in 2005, and had produced one-off characters by some of the crew from Axalon with Cheetor in Transformers Universe 2.0 (2008), Rhinox and Rattrap in Generations (2013/2014), and representing Black Arachnia as a different character in TF Animated (2007/2008) show they were around in other shape of form.

Go-Bots #2 | Leader by One

01.12.2019 – Tom Scioli’s take on the classic Go-Bots is not the one you saw in Hanna-Barbera’s cartoons, but something dark and sinister like any science fiction tropes an inspiration from what has come before when you talk about the narrative elements of this miniseries. Previously in the first issue gives you a fresh take of classic cartoon series based from the toys imported by Tonka. The Go-Bots rise from being the human’s tool has taken its toll taking violent actions led by Cy-Kill, a gladiator bot hell bent in leading his compatriots to his vision of taking over planet Earth after having found independence. In this second issue the violence has been intensified to a civil conflict with the human beings. But this is only a tip of the iceberg as remaining Go-Bots still want to protect their human partners from the sheer violence that Cy-Kill is bringing to the human race. Unlike in the original cartoon the Go-Bots depicted here are violent machines using their bare hands without energy beams firing from their fists. But a barbaric action over their own kind that ensured a vicious war that Cy-Kill is pursuing to be the top bot on the Go-Bot food chain. Of course, Scooter and Turbo with their human companions Matt Hunter and A.J. Foster are in the center of this conflict that most Go-Bots are starting believe in what Cy-Kill has to say that revolted with an uprising.

Go-Bots #1 | Renegade Ascension

12.29.2018 – Tom Scioli’s vision of Go-Bots gives a fresh perspective of the characters that was popularized in the Hanna-Barbera produced animated series. Most of the toys by Tonka were largely popular not due to the cartoons. But being affordable than the more popular Transformers brand by Hasbro and how they marketed the property. The Go-Bots became relevant again due to the cult following as a ‘poor man’s Transformers’ and the in-joke that followed. The toys only got support from the Saturday Morning cartoon series, but there were no other media aside from storybooks and no comicbook series produced around the property’s popularity. But with Tom Scioli’s capable hands being the artist behind Transformers VS G.I.Joe takes the veritable Go-Bots property and gives older fans and new readers a new look at the iconic characters that once rivaled the Transformers brand. With that, the Go-Bots has enough room to give long-time fans their origins to be told in this limited series that is getting some interesting fan reactions.

Transformers #44: The Transgressors.

08.22.2015 – The comic books published by IDW telling their version regarding the world of Generation One Transformers are quite intriguing they’re as intense as let’s just say TV soap opera. Filipinos like the drama and the emotion that resonate what the real life happens everyday, which is why this series was something of a good read. Though for those who just collect the toys based from these characters can rarely relate to it the fiction carries more weight than its plastic counterpart. Hasbro is not only intending to sell more toys it also wants you to appreciate the characters portrayed in fiction and that is why these comic books are well written not to forget the art that brings to it gives you an idea who these robots are. The ‘Combiner Wars’ arc is not as impressive as the post-war, which the repercussions of finding these colonies and inviting them back to Cybertron seemed more interesting finding out how the characters are put into play. They’re not just robots that turn into animals, vehicles or household appliances they are like people too that have their drama to deal with and that makes it interesting.

Transformers #42: Now and On Earth.

08.14.2015 –How to you deal with losing your most trusted ally? They say you can’t stop change and personal experiences that made them. In Optimus Prime’s case it plays more than just a leader and his lieutenant. What makes John Barber’s stories about how the Transformers characters being portrayed is no longer about just enjoying a good read. The content is basically aimed at older Transformers Fans, the ones who grew up seeing the series when it started more than thirty years ago and it reflects more how reality played out if this happened in a real world, but its not and they are portrayed by robots with human elements. This issue will make you think about loyalties and moralities that define why the brand has continued to endure this long. IDW certainly has surpassed the previous publishers who originally had a hand telling stories about alien robots that could change into Earth vehicles and other things. The epilogue for “Combiner Wars” for this issue carries a lot of weight and more thought defining narratives from Cybertron to Earth how the conflict is no longer about factions its more about conversations somewhat aching to human politics that mirrors what we have seen and this is all good stuff.

Windblade #3: Defender of all Sentient Beings!

08.05.2015 – "Combiner Wars" conclusion gives you a surprise and the explanation why the Voyager Class Optimus Prime has the ability to combine. If you missed that last issue this gives you that idea how the toyline is aligned with the IDW published comic books and how the narrative plays out. Previously Prowl and Constructicons went on a rampage to destroy the space bridge that links to Cybreton and Caminus in stopping Starscream to expand his empire. This only was prevented by Superion and the recently Enigma of Combination exposed Protectobots immediately forming Defensor. This was one of the visions Mirage and Ironhide shared that has been haunting them. The conflict started with Swindle bringing in the Stunticons’ combined form in Menasor who was let loose once again to wreck havoc on Caminus, which brings us to this last part where Optimus Prime, Sunstreaker, Prowl, Ironhide and Mirage where also exposed to combine together in stopping a new improved Devastator.

Transformers #41: You, Me, & The Universe.

08.02.2015 – The “Combiner Wars” continue to “Transformers #41”, where Windblade #2 (2015) left off with fairly enough damage made by Prowl and his Constructicons seemed like an after thought. But actually it’s not as this builds ups into a bigger war brewing and things are just making a little pause for now. After Devastator’s rampage has been stopped by Defensor and Superion in Caminus the Cybertronians assist the first colony in repairing the damage done to its city. In the opening pages Prowl is in custody of Optimus Prime badly beaten while the rest of the Constructicons are being held in the Secret Prison managed by Rattrap. Prime and Prowl discuss about their sides regarding Starscream’s plans to expand his empire to the other thirteen colonies beginning with Caminus, which gives weight to the conflict between two former friends. Prowl argues with Prime that the system in place is not enough control what Starcream is trying to do. He claims sooner or later someone or somebody will be in-charge of Cybertron and will have control of the thirteen colonies for the reason that made such noise.

TF Color Collaborations: July 2015!

07.29.2015 – TransFormers is not just a Hasbro’s brand of toyline without comics or animated TV shows it won’t be this big as today. For those who first saw the cartoon or have read the Marvel-published series some might take this for granted. Those defined as a TransFormers Fans should never forget what made these toys popular. TransFormers as a brand transcend beyond a mere action figure, but of course works of art that some tend to ignore where these toys came first…

The Combiner Wars Continue: Transformers # 40!

AFTER the “Opening Salvo” and Part 1 of the first two issues in IDW’s Combiner Wars crossover, “Transformers” # 40 shows the readers the pieces of the puzzle. And there’s a lot of moving pieces. The issue begins by showing a shuttle on its way to Cybertron. The shuttle is commanded by Jetfire, and is manned by the OG Protectobots. In this continuity, they’ve never been a team, much less a combiner. Despite the fact that the Protectobot Rook was introduced in the Combiner Wars toyline, here you have Hot Spot, Groove, Blades Streetwise and First Aid, who has arrived after spending a lot of time on the ship The Lost Light of “Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye” fame. Streetwise even jokingly themselves “Protectobots,” because they are composed of “a doctor, a cop, a firefighter, an infiltration expert and a fire.” Guess that team name is in continuity now. Interestingly enough, First Aid is here due to his capacity as doctor of Patient 619, who is being ferried to Cybertron for treatment. Patient 619 happens to be Mirage, who is experiencing nasty visions of a burning Cybertron. In his vision, he says “I must help them choose,” to Ironhide—who also happens to be having the same visions on Cybertron.

TransFormers #51: The Man in the Machine!

06.04.2015 – Today’s featured back issue comes in the form of Marvel’s published TransFormers #51 written by Bob Budiansky with artwork by José Delbo. This also features a new italic “Trans Formers” logo. The synopsis focuses on Spike Witwicky after being binary bonded to Head Masters Commander Fortress Maximus, which originally told the story way back in issue #39 where he had no other option in saving his younger brother Buster from the Decepticons and #51 follows up the aftermath. This also tells the narrative how deep is the bond between Spike and Fort Max why both need each other to be the last line of defence to protect planet Earth from further Decepticon invasion (which they failed in Transformers Generations #2). But what makes this an interesting issue aside for the first appearance of two Pretender animals in Carnivac and Snarler it also deals with how the Transformers had an impact on human life and how Spike deals with being bonded to an alien robot that turns into the Autobot’s Headquarters.

A Whole New World: Windblade (2015) # 1!

FROM the very first time that Windblade, Chromia and Nautica first appeared in the IDW continuity, readers have been wondering exactly where they came from. The three fembots spoke about their home, the lost Cybertronian colony Caminus, and how their home planet was running out of resources. Out of caution, Optimus Prime and the Autobots had stayed clear of Caminus. Combiners can change so many things. After the events of “Transformers # 39,” the Combiner Wars are on. At the end of that issue, the devious Starscream, after taking possession of the fabled Engima of Combination, fooled Swindle and Menasor—the combined form of the Stunticons—to travel to Caminus via the new-operational space bridge to rob the planet. The Combiner Wars continue, with its first full chapter in the second “Windblade” mini-series, which we will refer to as “Windblade (2015).” At the issue’s beginning, we get a quick look at Caminus and its inhabitants. They are clearly Cybertronians but possess what appear to be more ornate forms and a seemingly medieval form of society. There are also a lot of fembots here—but, it is important to note, not all the Camiens are female.

Let the War Begin: Transformers # 39!

After all the build-up, the Combiner Wars are finally here. The Combiners War arc will run through the ongoing “Transformers” series and the new “Transformers: Windblade” mini-series (we’ll refer to it as “Windblade (2015)” for clarity. The other ongoing, “Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye,” will run completely apart from Combiner Wars.

            “Transformers” # 39 is technically the prelude to the Combiner Wars itself: The cover bills the issue as “Combiner Wars: Opening Salvo,” but a cursory evaluation of the issue’s contents reveals it to be the actual first shot to be fired in this war.

            After the end of the seemingly never-ending Onyx Interface story arc, the Enigma of Combination (which allows for the creation of non-insane gestalts) has been stolen by Scoop to be brought back to Cybertron and into the hands of the chosen ruler of the planet, the ever-devious Starscream. It becomes clear that this is the only real development of importance from the Onyx Interface story arc, leading credence to the observation that those issues were merely spinning their wheels in preparation for Combiner Wars.

            In fact, “Transformers” # 39 is actually the continuation of the events in the one-shot “Transformers: Punishment.” Optimus Prime is back on Cybertron to celebrate the anniversary of receiving the Matrix of Leadership. This issue is also a spiritual continuation of the first “Transformers: Windblade” mini, as the Autobots from Caminus, Windblade and Chromia, are heavily involved—as is Caminus itself.

            The issue begins with Optimus Prime and his Autobots still fighting off the Decepticon rabble in Decepticon territory as shown in “Punishment.” A closer look reveals that the ‘bots Prime and company beats down promise to play a bigger role: Swindle and Motor Master.

           

Quick Switch: The Transformers # 38!

After spinning its wheels for so long, “The Transformers” # 38 amounts to an intense conclusion where all the loose ends writer John Barber has laid out need to be definitively tied up because the next issue, # 39, is the first chapter of the much anticipated Combiner Wars storyarc. Thus everything that happens in “TF” # 38 has a purpose, and the issue marches along grimly going about its business. Over Bikini Atoll, Thundercracker sees that the humans’ secret weapon—an armada of automatons based on the corpses of Ramjet and Thurst—is heading towards civilian territory. Thundercracker wants to stop this at all costs, so he strikes a deal with Soundwave, who is busy setting up the Decepticon sanctuary in Tanzania. Soundwave can shut the clones down, but can’t find a reason to do so, considering the humans built the drones without informing the Decepticons, their so-called allies. Whether he is convinced by Thundercracker’s plea or because he is just sick of listening, Soundwave effectively turns the clones off. “Please Thundercracker, I care not for screenplays or Earthlings. Do not contact me again. Our relationship ends here,” Soundwave warns.

Galaxy Shuffle: More Than Meet The Eye # 38!

IT may not seem like it at first, but “Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye” (“TF:MTMTE”) # 38 is one of the most important TF comic books ever made. That’s because the timey-wimey, wibbly-wobbly plot that writer James Roberts has been laying out—with its alternative timelines and time travel bot-hunt—all come to fruition as well as a definitive conclusion in this very issue. Amid the burst of excellent issues, “TF:MTMTE” # 38 is a worthy way of ending the affair. As Rodimus’ team chases him back in time, the Decepticon double-agent Brainstom has finally arrived at his target. And it turns out, everyone was wrong. He didn’t travel back in time to kill Orion Pax so he never becomes Optimus Prime. He traveled back in time to kill Megatron before he becomes, well, Megatron. The double-agent turned out to be a triple-agent. The issue begins on the Lost Light, where Perceptor and Ultra Magnus are trying to stop Megatron from trying to travel back in time so save himself. It turns out that there isn’t enough energy left in the time machine to do it anyway. Rodimus’ team arrives just in time to see Brainstrom aiming a gun at an inert Megatron—a grenade takes him down.

Insignificant Other: Drift Empire of Stone # 4!

THE best thing you can say about the mini-series “Transformers Drift: Empire of Stone” is that it is finally over. The four-issue series from Shane McCarthy (who wrote Autobot Drift into continuity) and artist Guido Guidi had all kinds of problems from the get-go, which is a shame considering that the previous Drift minis were pretty good. Perhaps the worst aspect of “Empire” is the prevalent feeling that there would only be one thing in the series that would stick: that Drift would be convinced to return to the Lost Light crew that he had left in “Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye.” After all, Ratchet had come all the way to wherever Drift was to convince the sword-wielding warrior to come back. That element aside, everything about “Empire” essentially doesn’t matter. After the events of “Empire” # 3, there were three things that would predictably happen in the fourth and final issue. 1) Gigatron would eventually betray Drift after agreeing to an alliance to battle former sidekick Hellbat and the titular Empire 2) The Decepticon Grit would die...

Twin Twist: More Than Meets The Eye # 37!

FOR a change, I’m going to keep things as short as I can—to encourage readers to actually pick up IDW Publishing’s “Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye” (“TF: MTMTE”) # 37 because writer James Roberts and artist Alex Milne continue to produce one superlative issue after another. Last issue was a mind-blowing issue, and this one starts off seeming like it’s going nowhere, begins to turn towards a different direction, and then plunges right into a shock ending.

            There is so much going on in this issue that I will just keep to the most important bits (since it can be argued that every little and big thing here is really important). After missing the time-traveling Decepticon double agent Brainstorm, Rodimus’ own time-traveling squad has arrived in the City of Rodion in the past. It’s the time of the Clampdown, when the oppressive Senate has enforced curfews and the functionist movement is gaining strength—just as the Decepticon movement is growing. Cyclonus is shocked by how beautiful Rodion is. Back in the present, Perceptor and Rodimus realize that time itself seems to be starting to re-write itself, because the very act of Brainstorm traveling back in time has already created a new timeline even if he hasn’t succeeded yet in assassinating Orion Pax, the future Optimus Prime. The funniest scene is the Maccadam’s Oil House in the past, where Rung, distracted by seeing his past self, misses Brainstorm completely. We get an insightful conversation between Nightbeat and his partner Quark about the oppressive nature of the Clampdown. “The dirtier your job, the greater your chances of survival,” says Quark of the coming Decepticon revolution.