Transformers Dark Cybertron #1 – Review

by John Barber, James Roberts (Writers), Phil Jimenez, Andrew Griffith, Brendan Cahill (Artists), Josh Perez, J.P. Bove (Colorists)

The Story: Something huge is looming on Cybertron as many of the players wonders just what it is. Meanwhile, Orion Pax meet with the crew of the lost light.

The Review: After close to two years of pretty great storytelling, it’s finally time for the promised crossover to happen. Combining the cast of Robots in Disguise along with More Than Meets The Eye, this story itself had been built up in both titles (though RiD did most of the job) as characters like Orion Pax and Shockwave kept on teasing about something rather ominous coming. However, does this opening issue live up to the potential and the greatness of both titles?

It does, but not on the very same level of excellence that the other IDW Transformers comic reach. There are interesting elements and the comic does provide plenty of reasons to be rather excited for this gigantic tale that will be there for five months, yet it does take its time to get there.

Maximum Dinobots #1 – Review

By Simon Furman (writer) Nick Roche (pencils) Josh Burcham (colors) Chris Mowry (letters)

The Story: Unsure who to trust, and trapped on Earth and on the run from the Autobots, Decepticons, and Scorponok, Grimlock is the last free Dinobot. To clear his name and rescue his fellow Dinobots, he’ll need to fight to uncover the truth behind Epsilon Holding’s CEO, who holds a secret that may enslave all the Transformers in the galaxy.

What’s Good: Grimlock. You can’t go wrong with the big guy. I really like the loner personality he’s developed over the years. I doubt a standalone series would hold up too long, but there’s some room to work a few one-shots I think. The IDW art style rarely disappoints. The battles are chaotic but clear, especially the flashback of Cybertron. I’m not sure how effective it is outside of Transformers titles, but here the exquisite details really get to shine.

What’s Not So Good: As good as the writing is, it’s difficult to determine where this story falls in the overall Transformers continuum. We have Scorponok, Headmasters, and enslaved Dinobots. There’s no real explanation or setup, which is what makes me think it’s part of the larger IDW story. But Maximum Dinobots implied a separate story to me. We’re also left with a lot of questions. How did this company capture the Dinobots? How did Grimlock escape? Why can’t they go to the other Autobots for help? The story centers on these events and none of those questions are answered in this book.

Conclusion: I’ve always thought of the Dinobots as Autobot SWAT. Not so much the weapons or tactics portion, more the taking on dirty jobs with an ends justifying the means feel. That said, other than Grimlock the Dinobots are barely in the book. I’m sure that will change, but so far it’s “Maximum Grimlock.”  The book makes a lot of assumptions about the reader’s working knowledge of the story, and you know what happens when you assume. Despite an unclear continuity, the book makes for a fun read. Be patient though, I feel like answers are coming in due time.

Grade: B-

– Ben Berger

Transformers Spotlight: Optimus Prime 3D – Review

Simon Furman (writer), Don Figueroa (pencils), Josh Burcham (colors), Hoon (cover), Chris Mowry (letters)

The Story: “Heavy is the head that wears the crown” would be a good analysis of this story thematically. After a near-death experience while fighting Megatron, Optimus Prime senses something he knows to be impossible, the consciousness of another Prime. After seeking the council of Omega Supreme, Prime discovers the identity of the other is Nova Prime. The pressures of leadership were too much for Nova, and before Prime can get the answers he seeks, Omega is attacked by Monstructor, a failed experiment of Nova Prime. Looks like the legacy of Prime’s is not as immaculate as Optimus would have hoped.

What’s Good: Prime’s dialogue is fantastic. There’s an added weight and realism that never existed in the cartoon. Each battle isn’t a half-hour adventure, it’s war– with casualties. Every choice he makes could be his last in the campaign against Megatron and we as the audience get to feel that. His resolve was already at its limits, to the point where it seemed like the linage of Prime’s was all that kept him going. Without getting heavy-handed or emo, Simon Furman beautifully depicts his heartbreak when he discovers the truth about Nova Prime’s experiments.

What’s Not So Good: Being 3D is this book’s biggest problem. The art has the same excellent level of detail that we’ve come to expect from IDW, but the addition of 3D washes out the colors and makes everything look blurry. Even worse is the fact that most of the images still look flat with the glasses on. The glasses themselves are another problem. They’re tiny and clearly designed for kids, but IDW had to know that some of the older fans would want to pick this up. The glasses are also really flimsy. Once you pull everything out of the perforated page, you’ve gotta put the glasses together which only damages them further. It’s a nice idea, but one that misses the mark across the board.

Conclusion: While the idea of a 3D comic sounds great, this is clearly an attempt to snatch a few extra bucks. They reprint a decent story, and charge an extra three bucks for crappy glasses that won’t make it through a single read? No thanks. If you can find it, get the original run of this comic because six bucks is just way too much for this.

Grade: C-

-Ben Berger