Transformers: Robots in Disguise #32 – Review

By: John Barber (writer), Andrew Griffith & Brendan Cahill (art), Josh Perez & Joana Lafuente (colors)

The Story: I come from the Cybernet Space Cube. Through systems, robots, and alt modes to this place: Earth. My format: kind of an asshole…

The Review: Things were looking bad for Optimus Prime and his Earth-based Autobots at the end of last issue, but it’s slowly becoming clear that this era of Transformers: Robots in Disguise is one of ideological warfare. Without Megatron to unite them, both Cybertronian factions have begun to squabble, using their newfound freedom to fight for their own personal version of their chosen cause.

Even if he hadn’t stated as such prior to the start of the arc, it would be painfully clear that writer John Barber holds a special place in his heart for Prowl, eclipsing even the prominent position he held in the title before “Dark Cybertron”. We know that he holds a special resentment for Spike Witwicky’s betrayal, that he’s still struggling with the disconnect from his peers that Bombshell’s manipulations instilled in him, and that Megatron’s defection severely upset his worldview – but, nonetheless, it’s hard to tell exactly what is driving him. Barber opens the issue with a scene that implies that such issues have weighed on Prowl for a long time, it seems like there must be a more recent trigger. The unraveling of “Cybertron’s greatest mind”, as he so humbly puts it, is a fascinating character study, but I’m ready to actually see some movement on this plotline.

As the second arc of this new wave of IDW Transformers comes to an end, it’s hard not to notice that the vast majority of RiD’s action since “Dark Cybertron” has just been Prowl toying with everyone. Excluding Prowl and, perhaps, two exceptions, I believe you could remove any one character from the rather large cast of this series and the majority of the plot would occur exactly the same way. The Autobots are completely subsumed into Prowl’s scheming. Thank goodness for Decepticons.

Transformers: Robots in Disguise #30 – Review

By: John Barber (writer); Andrew Griffith, Casey W. Coller, and Brendan Cahill (art); Josh Perez & Joana Lafuente (colors)

The Story: “Galvatron! What is best in life?” “To crush your enemies, to see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their Mini-Cons.”

The Review: Things are quickly heating up in this title. Transformers fans will no doubt be excited by the prospect of a Galvatron/Devastator throw-down and the issue delivers on that promise. Still, as exciting as a match between two of the most popular Decepticons sounds, John Barber is intent on moving things forward. The course that this story takes already moves the current status quo onto unsteady ground and, while I’m sure some readers would enjoy a little more time exploring the current state of things, it’s hard to deny that this lack of attachment creates an engaging maze of separate schemes and moving parts.

Somewhat unsurprisingly in light of the last few issues, Galvatron is a focus character. With this issue, Barber firmly nails down his version of Galvatron, a xenophobic old barbarian with his own code of honor. It still seems like a step down from the more stoic “Dark Cybertron” version, but it is interesting to see Galvs back up his claims that he’s not a Decepticon. Indeed, it appears that Galvatron has his own motives for aiding the Cons and no sympathy for, perhaps even some distain for, the Decepticon cause. The delicate balance between Soundwave’s reformationist optimism and his need for the clearly unstable Galvatron as a figurehead continues a long tradition of TF antagonists being among the most interesting elements of their series.