Happy Meal Spotlight: TF RiD Grimlock!

09.01.2015 – Grimlock is one of the iconic characters in Transformers culture. Well known in the Generation One as well as various incarnation of the character has appeared in other series. But they’re not all related unless you’re a character fan. The latest iteration of the famous dinobot appears in the 2015 series “Transformers: Robots in Disguise” not to be mistaken from the Japanese produced series in 2001. This latest McDonald’s Happy Meal features the Robots in Disguise’s Grimlock!

Happy Meal Spotlight: TF RiD Clampdown!

08.12.2015 – The latest Transformers series right now is Robots in Disguise not to be mistaken for the 2001 series of the same name, which was originally titled ‘Car Robots’ in Japan. This new series is mostly targeted for the younger audience. For the reason why the latest Happy Meal in the Philippines features Transformers Robots in Disguise, which was also released in the US earlier this year. If anyone who hasn’t seen the show here’s one Decepticon you should know he’s Clampdown!

The Last Issue: Transformers Robots in Disguise # 34!

THIS is the last issue of IDW’s “Transformers: Robots in Disguise”—technically speaking. But it’s not going away, it’s just changing titles next month to just plain “The Transformers” # 35. Read into that what you will, but “TF: RID,” though well-written and well-illustrated, still somewhat remains overshadowed by its even-better-written and better-illustrated sibling title, “Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye.” That is not helped by the fact that “TF:RID” is now jumping all over the place. Originally, the series seemed focused on the Earth-bound adventures of Optimus Prime and the remaining Autobots, but it’s since jumped back to life on a bittersweet Cybertron and then back to Earth now that the humans have aligned themselves with the Decepticons. But now, it’s going back in time with some surprising and defining back stories.

Robots in Disguise (2015) airing on Cartoon Network!

10.07.2014 – Celebrating “Thrilling 30” years as an iconic brand from a 1980s cartoon Transformers has become a global franchise enjoyed by long time fans and younger audience that has a blockbuster billion dollar film in Age of Extinction. Last Comic-Con International (SDCC) Hasbro teased a trailer of a new animated series that would possible continue the Transformers Prime series to new heights. The reveal what would be the titled “Robot in Disguise” not to be mistaken with the 2001 series. They also teased a short trailer featuring Bumblebee in the spotlight with new faces that he will lead to new adventures. The new “Robots in Disguise” have the aesthetics and designs of characters from Transformers Prime, but will this actually continue what the previous series has ended?

Book of Revelations: Robots in Disguise # 32!

Comic books sometimes require a period of time to really get going. That was clearly the case with “Transformers: Robots in Disguise” (“TF: RID”) after the “Dark Cybertron” arc, probably because of how difficult it is to accept the human-Decepticon alliance. But as writer John Barber and artist Andrew Griffith have gotten a few more issue into their “Earthfall” storyline, the series has gotten a lot better. With the last issue, “TF: RID” has come out with guns blazing. “Earthfall Chapter 5: I Dream of Wires” starts off with a flashback of Prowl and Bumblebee having a conversation half a million years ago as they watch Metroplex leaving Cybertron. Prowl isn’t so sure about the direction that Optimus Prime is taking the Autobots toward. “The Autobots need someone who can plan,” Prowl says. He’s referring to himself of course. We flash forward as the Autobots are returning to Earth and Prowl continues to have misgivings about Prime’s plans, having a quirky conversation with Cosmos, which is fun just to hear the incredulous personality Barber has given Cosmos. Finally, on to the present, as the Autobots storm Bikini Atoll, where the humans’ Earth Defense Command (EDC) has been hiding Autobot sage Alpha Trion...

Surprise Party: Robots in Disguise # 31!

It has taken a few issues, but “Transformers: Robots in Disguise” (“TF: RID”) finally put forward an issue that is equal to the quality being displayed by its acclaimed sister series, “Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye” (“TF: MTMTE”). “TF: RID” has much to live up to, as its premise—Autobots back on Earth led once again by Optimus Prime—is a classic one. Writer John Barber, who together with “TF: MTMTE” scribe James Roberts—has redefined the TF comics for a new generation of writers, and he finally hits it out of the ballpark for the first time since the “Dark Cybertron” arc. Barber’s current arc, “Earthfall,” has suffered from the ridiculousness of the new alliance between Galvatron’s Decepticons and the Earth Defense Command led by Marissa Faireborn. It seemed like such a patently bad idea at the beginning, but as the issues went on, it became clear that the humans have some pretty big secrets that even their Decepticon allies know nothing about. All that expositional heavy-lifting comes together with this issue, “Earthfall Chapter 4: Full Fathom Five.” “TF: RID” boasts of a great artist in Andrew Griffith but for this issue, he has reinforcements, with Guido Guidi providing the flashback art for Jazz and Brendan Cahill providing the flashback art for the Decepticons. That makes it clear that there are three narratives in this issue, all of which tie together in the end.

SDCC 2014: New Series RiD & Toys Revealed!

07.25.2014 – If you’re not at this year’s Comic-Con and wondering what’s been happening there for the last 24 hours then worry no more. Hasbro has announced some big things happening to the TRANSFORMERS brand from today moving forward to 2015. It’s been a while since Transformers Prime has gone off air and Age of Extinction has toppled the cinemas all over the world.

Dirty Tricks: Robots in Disguise # 30!

Now that’s more like it. After rolling through the first parts of a plot that made the humans look genuinely dumb and the Cybertronians acting out of character, “Transformers: Robots in Disguise” (“TF: RID”) seems to be finding its rhythm again with issue # 30. Written by John Barber and illustrated by Andrew Griffith (with flashback sequences by Casey Coller), “Earthfall Chapter 3: The Mind Bomb” has Prowl rejoining the Constructicons in forming Devastator 2.0 in order to turn the tide of the battle between the Autobots and the Decepticons in Poverty Flats. As the battle threatens to spiral out of control, Earth Defense Command director Marissa Faireborn reveals that the humans have an ace up their sleeve: A mind bomb that can deactivate Cybertronian brains. Unfortunately, it only works on minds the humans have scanned—so it will only work on the humans’ allies, the Decepticons (It was developed by Dr. Bharwaney, last seen helping out Bumblebee a few story arcs ago). Faireborn does it anyway, ordering Skywarp to teleport the Decepticons away as she tries to contain the reappearance of the Cybertronians now that their cover seems blown.

Strange Positions: Robots in Disguise # 29!

AT the end of “Transformers: Robots in Disguise” (“TF: RID”) # 28, the Autobots—led by Optimus Prime—return to Earth for the first time in a long time in search of ancient sage Alpha Trion. But upon finding the reformed Thundercracker, the Autobots find themselves trapped by the combined, allied forces of the Earth Defense Command (EDC) and the Galvatron-commanded Decepticons! How did that happen? Written by John Barber and illustrated by Andrew Griffith, “TF: RID” # 29 begins with the tense and confused face-off between Prime’s troops and the Decepticon/human forces. The back-and-forth soon leads to a firefight and a pursuit. “TF: RID” # 29 then goes back and employs two distinct flashback sequences. The first flashback sequence explains how the Decepticons, helped along by a disillusioned Soundwave, manage to find common ground and convince the EDC to ally with them. EDC leader Marissa Faireborn (introduced in the Generation 1 Sunbow cartoon) believes this to be their best option. The second flashback sequence explains how Prowl and the Constructicons wound up involved in Prime’s Earth mission immediately after the trial of Megatron on Cybertronian moon Luna 2.

Back to Earth: Robots in Disguise # 28

I’ll be honest with you, I’m a bit of a Cybertron snob. I have always been fascinated by the Transformers’ adventures in space. Even when I watched the first episodes of the classic Sunbow “Transformers” show, I was enthralled by the out-of-this world forms of Wheeljack, Bumblebee and those Seekers. The result was that I was always kind of bored with the adventures on Earth. The on-planet escapades always felt too melodramatic and contrived, save for the destructive shuffle that was “Transformers: The Movie.” I mean, I was OK with the Earth tales, but the Cybertron stories were more diverting. My favorite issue of the original Marvel Comics G1 series was “The Transformers” # 17, also known as “The Smelting Pool!,” where, after so many issues set on Earth, it swtiches to a Cybertron running out of Energon, where Blaster—and the rest of Perceptor’s Autobot cohorts—battle Straxus’ Decepticons while a space bridge is being built. It was so different, so refreshing to see that setting with those characters. The comics have a somewhat of a mixed attitude about the Earth-against-Cybertron setting. The IDW continuity began with a weighty, spy-like feel on Earth, then later kind of grew space wings up to the “Dark Cybertron” crossover. By the time “Dark Cybertron” ended, readers had been away from Earth for months.

Pledge Your Support to Transformers: Robots in Disguise by Andrew Griffith!

02.09.2012 – If you haven’t been picking up the latest Transformers comics’ right maybe you should as there are two issues that’s been out the past month. There is one significant issue that’s been going around that just released its first issue and that is Transformers: Robots in Disguise!

TF Collectors' Club FREE Membership Incentive Figure -- Side Burn!

03.08.2011 - If the 2010 Collectors' Club Exclusive was not that quite enticing to add to your roster of modern representations of Transformers characters from the previous toylines. This year would be something of a shock as the 2011 collector's club is none other than Robots in Disguise Autobot Side Burn! Yes. It was a surprise but for those who had recieved the Transformers Collectors Club issue #37 this was a dead give away at the last page of the comics. Could this mean that Side burn has been officially reintegrated into the Generation One universe?

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