Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye #32 – Review

By: James Roberts (writer), Alex Milne (art), Joana Lafuente (colors)

The Story: The crew investigates a familiar shipwreck, only to find that things aren’t quite how they left them. Think of it like a director’s cut…with a rusty blade.

The Review: Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye has always been about the past. From the presence of living fossils like Cyclonus and Tailgate to the influence of Chromedome’s previous relationships to the desperate nostalgia that’s fueled Rodimus and then Megatron’s hunt for the Knights of Cybertron, the crew of the Lost Light has consistently been driven and ruined by past events. This issue we find ourselves on unsteady ground as characters are forced to consider the future in more ways than one.

Pretty immediately upon entering the wrecked Lost Light the crew realize that something’s not right, sending them on desperate searches to determine what happened, if there are any survivors, and if this fate can be avoided. The absence of MTMTE staples proves just how skillful a writer James Roberts is, as he provides the same high level of character work without any of his familiar favorites or missing a beat.

Standouts, as ever, include Megatron and Nautica, but there are some solid moments with Getaway and newcomer Ravage as well. There’s plenty more discussion of Megatron’s defection, but the subject gets a shot in the arm in the form of an actual Decepticon for Megatron to stare down. It’s still amazing how real Roberts makes this transition and anyone who’s escaped from a self-destructive friendship will be able to see a little bit of themselves in the former tyrant. Likewise, it’s great to see the Autobots admit how difficult it can be to hold a grudge.

Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye #31 – Review

By: James Roberts (writer), Atilio Rojo (art), Joana Lafuente (colors)

The Story: Was it Megatron? In the Rod-Pod? With the Fusion Cannon?

The Review: Remarking upon the main cast of Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye, one bot famously observed that, “as far as I can make out, all you do is argue, crack jokes, and get sidetracked doing pointless, silly things that only you find amusing!” It may hold a scant thirty issues and an annual against the full history of the Transfomers brand, but MTMTE has carved out a well-defined niche as a place where the brand can indulge its sense of humor, its talkative nature, and its love of narrative experimentation. If you need proof, look no further than More Than Meets The Eye #31.

“Twenty Plus One” is a classic bottle episode, a television term for a dialogue-heavy story that takes place in a single location with few guest stars or visual extravagances. The idea was pioneered and perfected by the original Star Trek in an attempt to stretch the budget for other, more effect heavy episodes. Despite their pragmatic origin, bottle episodes are frequently an opportunity for character-building and significant conflict thanks to the difficulty of holding audience attention and their similarity to staged theater. Thoroughly enamored with the trope, James Roberts conducts the issue like an old-time murder mystery, paranoia, prejudice, well-timed power outages, and all.

Stuffing twenty Autobots(?) into close quarters allows Roberts to call upon the myriad tones of MTMTE all in one issue. Fittingly, the best elements of this story are generally the highlights of the series: a blurred, honest line between comedy and drama; a complex but easily followed plot; razor-sharp dialogue; and a contemplative approach to the social and political aspects of being a Transformer being notable examples.

Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye #28 – Review

By: James Roberts (writer), Alex Milne (art), Josh Burcham (colors)

The Story: Megatron ended the war with a badge and fought it with a canon, but he started it with a pen. Only now does he look down at the story he’s written to find that it’s a tragedy.

The Review: Say what you will about IDW’s handling of the Transformers brand, but it’s been a while since you could honestly say that they’re getting stale. John Barber and James Roberts have done an impressive job of recombining the desperate elements of the classic franchise in new and fascinating ways. Two years of reconstruction and five months of “Dark Cybertron” and transformers is trying something new again. Last week Optimus Prime set off for Earth to find that the more things change the more things stay the same and before that, Transformers: Windblade showed us that the classic TF political reformation story need not be a series of grandiose battles but can thrive using simple effective character work. Both reintroduce classic elements of the mythos, but move in new and interesting directions.

In this new world that the it falls, most of all, to More Than Meets The Eye to keep the spirit of the past few years alive and the shared universe expanding.

Caught, like all of the Dawn of the Autobots issues, between “Dark Cybertron”’s fallout and the present day, MTMTE #28 returns us to the Lost Light and its group of rag-tag crusaders. The roster has changed slightly, but the ship’s character remains the same.

Transformers: Robots in Disguise #22 – Review

By: John Barber (writer), Andrew Griffith and Levio Ramondelli (art), Priscilla Tramontano and Levio Ramondelli (colors)

The Story: Soundwave vs. Shockwave beneath the crust of Cybertron in an ancient city WHERE TIME AND DEATH HAVE NO MEANING!!!!!!

The Review: I admit that I’m a little sad to see another month go by without an appearance from Starscream, especially after the prolonged delay between issues 20 and 21. All the same, if you’re in the mood for beloved Decepticons and can’t get a Starscream, you can’t go wrong with Soundwave and Shockwave or, as some of you might know them, the tape guy and Sark.

Though Soundwave’s claim to fame for many is his highly processed robotic voice, this issue has done away with it and instead reveals that, even in this more talkative form, still energon runs deep. Early depictions of Soundwave in the mini-series era emphasized the  self-serving and sly nature found in his original toy tech specs, while, after All Hail Megatron, he tended towards a cartoon-like robo-loyalist persona. This story, for it does continue from last month’s issue, leaves us with a clever amalgamation which I think fans of the character will appreciate. He hasn’t had much time to shine, but I think we finally have an iconic version of the IDW Soundwave.

Teen Titans #89 – Review

By: J.T. Krul (writer), Nicola Scott (artist), Doug Hazelwood (inker)

 

The Story: Bruised Egos: Batman (Dick Grayson) has Robin (Damian Wayne) join the Teen Titans. This is not something that either Robin or the Teen Titans wanted. Action and sniping ensues.

What’s Good: I love Damian Wayne as the unhinged psycho Robin. Comics have a lot of psychos and killers (Wolverine, Punisher, etc, etc), but I can’t think of a single one of them who is also 10 years old, and carrying around mother, father and grandfather issues, and such a desperate need for respect. It really makes Damian a rounded, multidimensional character. His brother issues are the most interesting here as Damian’s relationship with Dick has become the single most important one in his life. While Bruce was lost in time, Dick was his guardian, mentor and parent. Now that Bruce is back, Dick is the only one patient enough to take responsibility for Damian. J.T. Krul, with typical skill, captures all of this and more. The interplay between Batman and Wonder Girl (and the rest of the Teen Titans) was excellent. Krul really gave me the impression that Dick Grayson was perceived to be among the most important characters in the DC universe.

On art, I have to say, even though I am already a fan of the Scott/Hazelwood team-up, they have never looked better! Wow. I’ve watched them do some great work on Secret Six (grim anti-heroes and unhinged killers), but in my mind, they are really suited drawing light, colorful heroes. Cassie was stunning, not just in the draftsmanship. When she walked off to talk to Batman, the pose looked incredibly subtle and lifelike. By the same token, Damian came off like a maniacal 10 year old and his brief fight scene with Ravage was well done and visually clear.