The Next Big Step...

      There are a lot of perennial concepts I’ve followed over the years. Stuff comes and goes and some ideas are better then others.
    This is the time of year where we celebrate the premiere of several Transformers cartoons, for example. The original cartoon, Beast Wars and Beast Machines all debuted in September (which is logical, given the new school year and the run up to Christmas, of course Hasbro wants to attract new kids–and now, adults too–to its newest product).
    It occurred to me that I haven’t really found any of the various Transformers cartoons of the last decade or so to be all that interesting. The last one I tried really watching was “Robots in Disguise” (the newer series from 2015).
    It was okay but it didn’t really blow me away. Granted, I’m not the target demographic any more (not by a long shot!) but usually the best series have something that can attract older fans too.
    I’ve also watched the Combiner Wars shorts (which were boring, imo. No time for characterization or much plot really beyond the superficial). Most recently, I watched the six part 2020 Siege series on Netflix. It was better paced (each episode was about 30 minutes) and had at least some characterization. Again, though, it felt like it could have been better in some regards.
    I think part of the problem is the heavy reliance on nostalgia. Nostalgia can be good but how many times do we need to re-hash the same elements from Generation One? Lately, we keep getting the same G1 characters as toys over and over again. Now, we’re even re-doing the war for Cybertron and the journey to Earth.
    I understand they can’t do one contiguous story for ten years, since it would make it extremely difficult to attract new kids to the concept, but why not at least try something different occasionally? Why not focus on a new unit of characters in a new setting somewhere? Or the same characters in a new setting? Something–anything–other then the same old thing!
    Beast Wars did this and was a smashing success. Beast Machines continued Beast Wars but went off into left field with its idea. The original Car Robots/Robots in Disguise was different. Transformers Animated was a bit out there too...
    The last really good, really memorable story Transformers series was Prime. It had the same general robots-crash-on-Earth set-up but managed to still find something interesting in the concept to try.        The current concept is “War for Cybertron” which is a multi-year concept. They start out on Cybertron during the War, travel to Earth and then something involving some Beast Wars ideas (aka “Kingdom”). Once that’s over though I hope Hasbro sits down and brainstorms something new and fresh to do with the concept. Don’t give us more regurgitated G1 stuff again (at least, not for a while anyway).
    They need to take it somewhere new and different. Get some decent writers and give us a new–and good–animated series. Get a comic series to try its on take on the idea. Make long-time fans like myself actually get interested and excited in the concept once again, instead of just going through the motions.
    (This totally ignores the whole “Cyberverse” line and shows, which are aimed at a younger audience and I’ve not bothered watching. Perhaps they’re trying something more interesting...?)
    Until then, I’ll just be over here with my G.I.JOES... 😃

- Thunder

Comic Review...

Transformers: Robots In Disguise #15

Writer: John Barber
Artist: Andrew Griffith
Covers: Andrew Griffith (A), Casey Coller (B), Marcelo Matere (RI)


Summary:  FINAL BATTLE! The leadership of Cybertron will be decided once and for all! It’s all-out war against the forces of MEGATRON! Will the Autobots wrest control from their attackers—or will the DECEPTICON flag fly over Cybertron forever? Heroes will fall, and nothing will stay the same.


Comments:  The fight begins. As the Decepticons try to overrun the city, Ironhide, the Dinobots and Superion all show up and fight back. The Autobots fight valiantly until Devastator begins to think on his own...
   A good issue overall. After so much build-up for so long these issues are worth it. It's mostly a battle issue but I enjoyed it all the same. By issue's end, it's still anybody's guess as to who will come out on top in the end. And no matter who wins, what will the ultimate fate of Cybertron and the TF race as a whole be?

Cover "B" by Casey Coller

Verdict: Very Good.

Comic Review...

Transformers: Robots in Disguise #13

Writer: John Barber
Artist:Andrew Griffith
(covers by Andrew Griffith, Casey Coller and Marcelo Matere)


Summary:  ON THE PROWL! It's 'no more mister nice guy,' as CYBERTRON burns and one AUTOBOT is all that stand between order and anarchy. Meet the new PROWL--deadlier than ever, colder then any other AUTOBOT, and ready to end the DECEPTICON threat-forever.
  
Comments:  The blurb above does an excellent job of totally misleading you on the premise of this issue (is that a good or bad thing?) In this issue, Starscream tells the supposedly-comatose Megatron how he was almost in-charge; the Decepticons continue to riot while Prowl leads Wheeljack to the "black room" in order to ensure their race's survival. Meanwhile, Bumblebee and Metalhawk try to hold things together and Arcee makes Blurr a proposal regarding Dirge and Swindle...
    The story ends on an unexpected plot twist, one that was truly impressive and I did not see coming. I'm hoping things move forward from here on and we don't get some kind of stupid "this is what Prowl planned all along" sort-of note. I would like to see that he did what he thought was best, hence the outcome of this issue and go from there, not this-is-a-double-think on his part, etc. plot (I'm tired of all the spotlighting on Prowl and how clever he is stuff. We get it. Move along already!)
   The art continues to be fairly good. Everyone is recognizable and looks good... no complaints there. :)


Verdict:  Good. Staying on the pull-list for now...

Cover "A" by Andrew Griffith

Comic Review...

Transformers: Robots In Disguise #12

Writer: John Barber
Artist: Andrew Griffith
(covers by Andrew Griffith, Casey Coller)


Summary:  THE RETURN! He's back and CYBERTRON will never be the same. Everything BUMBLEBEE and his AUTOBOTS have built teeters at the edge of collapse - and STARSCREAM has to make the choice his whole life has been leading to.


Comments:  Megatron is back! Tremble in fear! Our story begins as Megatron returns to civilization, where is greeted with a near-death when the Autobots mercilessly attack him. The Decepticons plead on his behalf so he gets thrown in a cell. And...that's it. Then there's a riot as the Decepticons survivors won't take it anymore and start to cause violence. Fortunately, Prowl is there--to arrest them. Lethal style, if need be.
   I don't really see the point in hyping up Megatron's return. He doesn't even do anything! What a waste of time! And then we get more of Prowl manipulating events behind the scenes so he can take down those evil Decepticons and maintain order. Twelve issues of Prowl arresting people and/or having them killed. Enough already! Try something new. Move the damn story along already! Prowl is acting like Hitler in this comic, seeming to want to annihilate the Decepticons completely so the Autobots can have peace and order on their world. If there's some actual point to it all, then I wish Barber would get on with it already. At this point in the series, it's just becoming repetitive (also, this is really ruining Prowl as a character for me. Yes, he's logical and strategic but this comic's turned him into the Autobot version of Shockwave).


Verdict:  Average. Needs to more the story along.

Cover "A" by Andrew Griffith

Comic Review...

Transformers: Robots In Disguise Annual 2012

Writer: John Barber
Artist: Brendan Cahill
(covers by Tim Seeley and Andrew Griffith)



Summary:  CRASHING DOWN! The mysterious Metrotitan from last month's More Than Meets the Eye Annual arrives on CYBERTRON-smashing into the ruins of the legendary Crystal City! Starscream and Prowl begin a battle of wills over the fate of this behemoth-and the outcome will shock you!

Comments:  The Metrotitan from the MTMTE Annual arrives on Cybertron, materializing beneath its surface, where the remains of Crystal City are. Much of the issue is a flashback, explaining Nova Prime's involvement with the rising of the Crystal City centuries before. How he tried to manipulate Omega Supreme and how Omega showed Dai Atlas the Metrotitan and allowed them (Dai Atlas and his followers) to use it to travel to a new world and start anew.
   Barber, as usual, does a great job weaving his and Roberts stories into a coherent tale as well as adding in older IDW elements such as Nova Prime, Omega Supreme and the Drift origin stuff. I think it was kind of unfortunate that the Metrotitan blows up in the end but the revelation about Starscream does set up some interesting things for the future.
   The old school Marvel style flashback art/coloring was a neat gimmick. The other Annual used it slightly but this one did it much more extensively and it invoked memories of the first Marvel mini-series.



Verdict:  Good.

Cover "A by Tim Seeley

Comic Review...

Transformers: Robots in Disguise #9

Writer: John Barber
Artist: Andrew Griffith
(covers by Andrew Griffith and Casey Coller)


Summary:  DINOBOT HUNT! Ironhide and the DINOBOTS journey deep into the Cybertronian wilderness and what they find is not what they expected! Meanwhile, the DECEPTICONS enact a dangerous plan with bizarre consequences!
 
Comments:  The Dinobots try to kill Ironhide but he escapes. Meanwhile, Bumblebee starts to assemble a search party for them as the Decepticons keep tabs on him covertly (and Arcee on them). Ironhide finds evidence of the missing Aerialbots and then eventually encounters Superion!
   I hate to say it but this storyline has been boring and nothing much really happened this issue. I had to go back and re-read it to remember the issue, after having read it only a couple of weeks earlier. We don't get any closer to finding out what affecting the Dinobots; it takes until issue's end to find the Aerialbots and not much happens back with Bumblebee and the others. Hoping next time is better.

Verdict:  Average. Probably one of the weaker issues of RID so far.

Cover "A" by Andrew Griffith

Comic Review

Transformers: Robots in Disguise #8

Writer: John Barber
Artist: Andrew Griffith
(covers by Andrew Griffith, Casey Coller and Marcelo Matere)


Summary:  DINOBOT MONTH! Guess who's back on Cybertron? SLAG, SLUDGE, SNARL, and SWOOP-and they're as mad as ever! IRONHIDE leads them deep into the Cybertronian wilderness searching for lost AUTOBOTS... but what they find might be the greatest danger of all!

 Comments: The description above says most of it. Ironhide leads the Dinobots into the Cybertronian wilderness to search for the missing Aerialbots. They're attacked by some sort of beast, which the Dinos take down. They continue further into the unknown. Ironhide has a suspicion Megatron might be out here somewhere and in the end, the Dinobots disappear, leaving him alone to find out what's happening. He is attacked by Swoop!  There's also a sub-plot about Bumblebee, Starscream and Metalhawk talking about holding elections to determine the future government of their world and the Decepticon remnant discuss their future.
   To be honest, I found the MTMTE story a bit more engaging this time around. RID, by contrast, had a set-up for something next issue and more maneuvering by the parties in the background. It was nice to see the Dinobots once again but they didn't anything all that exciting in my opinion and after all is said and done, we still don't know what's going on with them on what happened to the Aerialbots either. It was cool to see a brief appearance by Shockwave (who resembles his FOC look quite a lot).

Verdict: Average.

Cover "A" by Andrew Griffith

Cover "B" by Casey Coller

Retailer Incentive Cover by Marcelo Matere

Comic Review...

Cover "A" by Andrew Griffith

Transformers: Robots In Disguise #7

Writer: John Barber
Artist: Brendan Cahill
(covers by Andrew Griffith and Casey Coller)

Summary: DECEPTICON MONTH! Fan-favorite character TURMOIL returns from the dead-but what does he want on CYBERTRON? The AUTOBOTS don't want another DECEPTICON on their planet and the DECEPTICONS don't want things to get any worse... but what Wheeljack discovers about the DECEPTICON warlord will change everything!


Comments: The Decepticon Turmoil, who is a fan-favorite character (apparently. I barely remembered him.) returns to Cybertron with his ship and crew, pursuing peace. But he'd previously been a terrifying tyrant and nobody quite trusts him, including the moderates (Metalhawk and Starscream) in the government. Wheeljack decides to covertly investigate Turmoil's ship and finds some bizarre alien technology inside it...
   I was quite surprised this issue didn't continue the story thread started last issue about Orion Pax and his allies as it seemed like a clear set-up for a continuation. Presumably that's still coming at some point... Anyway, it was a reasonably good story. It does have a flaw in that it doesn't make Turmoil's true intentions clear. He builds a dangerous time dilation weapon and then comes to Cybertron to make nice? It doesn't really add up. He must have had some other intention in-mind but we don't learn what that might be. I presume we will soon...  I also hope we get to see more of what the main body of Decepticons is up to (if anything). This story, like MTMTE, needs an overall point or theme for it to migrate toward.
   The drawing of Cybertron on page 2 is very weird looking. More like a funky asteroid then Cybertron...a bizarre stylistic choice in my opinion. Otherwise, the art is fairly good looking.

Verdict: Good/Recommended.

Cover "B" by Casey Coller

Comic Review...

Transformers: Robots in Disguise #6

Writer: John Barber
Artist: Livio Ramondelli

(covers by Casey Coller and Livio Ramondelli)

Cover "A" by Casey Coller

Summary: ONCE HE WAS: OPTIMUS PRIME! The Autobot gave up his title-returned to his role as ORION PAX! But that doesn't mean the fight's over! A shattered planet leads Pax and a squad of fan favorite characters on the trail of the deadliest Decepticon of all... SHOCKWAVE!


Comments: Orion Pax meets up on a space station with Hardhead and is directed to the dead world of Arduria. Wheelie, Garnak and Hardhead all come along with him as does Hardhead's prisoner, Jhiaxus (who had been catatonic until this incident when he began to come alive again, in response to a mysterious signal originating from the dead world). They discover the dead beings on the world are Shockwave's handiwork and wonder exactly what he did here and how. They find Monstructor and some kind of rocket absorbing all the heat in the area... Monstructor awakens and attacks them and on the ship, Bludgeon appears, attacking Wheelie and Garnak. He rescues Jhiaxus and together with the Monster Pretenders, they escape aboard Bludgeon's ship. Hardhead extrapolates that they are on course for the planet Wheelie and Garnak had escaped from. Orion orders a pursuit course...
   It seems this story will involve some kind of treasure hunt after Shockwave's varied experiments he performed centuries ago. It might also possibly follow up on the Quintesson plot thread left behind some time ago in the Wheelie Spotlight issue. All in all, a good story set-up even if we don't yet know the endgame for it all. It's nice to see Orion/Optimus in action again and to know he hasn't been totally forgotten  in the story (now if somebody would just figure out where the heck Megatron is).
   Livio does the art this issue. It's mostly good--although his Monstructor is a bit hard to figure out who he is. (To be fair, though, Monstructor was never intepreted all that well in comic form. He seems like he might look a bit generic in combined form and that's what we get here. The color scheme in all of Livio's art is that murky painted look, which could be responsible for further distorting the appearance of the Monster Pretenders. They were quite bright as I recall but this style doesn't really allow for that).

Verdict: Good. 

Cover "B" by Livio Ramondelli

Comic Review...

Cover "A" by Andrew Griffith

Transformers: Robots in Disguise #5

Writer: John Barber
Artist: Andrew Griffith
(covers by Andrew Griffith and Casey Coller)

Summary: TORN APART FROM WITHIN! Tensions reach a breaking point-a new arrival on Cybertron tips the scales and violence erupts! Will Bumblebee be able to stop his own allies? Plus: Ironhide reveals a secret that will redefine the future of the Transformers!

Comments: Sky Byte (of RID fame, ironically) is introduced as a returning neutral in this story. his inclusion in this story works pretty well, all things considered. During the course of the story while trying to convince him to see the merit of this new world, Ironhide accidentally gets Sky Byte put in a precarious situation. Fortunately for him, he steps in for his new comrade as well when he is almost indicted for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. 
   Barber also casually mentions how all of Galvatron's resurrected minions "started looking all alike after a while" which smooths over an art continuity issue that had previously bugged me about Heart of Darkness/Chaos (points to Barber). I have to say I appreciate his eye for these little details and actual attempts to correct these indiscrepancies, rather then his predecessor's blatant disregard for them. Hiring John Barber as Group Editor has already paid for itself.
   Perhaps most important about this issue is the resolution of a major plot point since the first issue: the fate of the Decepticons and their second class state among Cybertron's citizens. I also have to give Barber points for going somewhere with his story here and not just letting it sit forever because he can't/won't do something with it.

Verdict: Very Good.

Comic Review...

Transformers: Robots in Disguise #4

Writer: John Barber
Artist: Andrew Griffith
(covers by Andrew Griffith and Casey Coller)

Summary:  PROWL UNCHAINED! In what's sure to be the most shocking Transformers comic of 2012-PROWL defends the fledgling government of CYBERTRON against the DECEPTICONS. But how far will he go-and who will chose to stand by his side? The answers will shock you!


Comments:  Dirge discovers a dead Decepticon. When Prowl investigates, he finds Dirge less then cooperative so he follows him and discovers he has been brainwashed by a Cerebro Shell. Prowl, Arcee and Blurr come up against Bombshell and the Constructicons. Sunstorm shows up for a couple of panels to die at Arcee's hands. Blurr chases Bombshell but is outnumbered by the Constructicons. Prowl kills Bombshell when he refuses to give over his fellow conspirators...Dirge escapes (technically he's innocent anyway). Prowl detonates all of the Constructicons I/D chips, blowing all of their heads up. He resolves to do whatever it takes to maintain control and order from here on in.
   I still like this title better of the two. It just seems a bit more focused...  I do wonder about the logic of killing so many "named" Decepticons though. At this rate, who will be left to restart the War when it happens in the next series with the next writer (and we all know it will, sooner or later). They'll have to implausibly bring everyone back now (the usual "they're just there and alive again for no reason" thing). I think, while less dramatic, they could've opted to use the I/D chips to put the Decepticons into perma-stasis instead (thus giving them an "out" in-story).
   I guess Prowl's transitioning into more of a hardline character as of this story... I would also like some overall arc in this comic. The Autobots are slowly being pushed in a more tyrannical direction as they try to maintain order and--whatever. Right now, it also seems a bit too episodic for my liking (I do like episodic, but I also like some overall direction too). There does seem to be a hint there's more Decepticons out there planning to do something radical but right now we haven't gotten anything else to go on. I hope whenever it happens that they succeed and aren't just put down by Prowl's forces in one issue or something.
   Continuity award: This issue and MTMTE #4 each share the same joke. In MTMTE, we are told a dead TF was once called "Prowl" (but then changed his name to "Dent"). Drift is disbelieving but Ratchet reminds him "all the good names are taken". In RID #4, the dead Decepticon in the beginning is named "Skydive". "Like the Aerialbot?" :) (Incidentally, Skydive is/was a Decepticon Predator). Barber gets points for using this in his story--it was just kind of neat to see across two titles simultaneously.


Verdict:  Good. I do hope it goes somewhere bigger soon though.

Cover "B" by Casey Coller

Comic Review...

Cover "A" by Andrew Griffith

Transformers: Robots in Disguise #2

Writer: John Barber
Artist: Andrew Griffith
(covers by Andrew Griffith and Casey Coller)


Summary: The Decepticons make their move, as the TRANSFORMERS relaunch really amps up! As Bumblebee's provisional government struggles to maintain control, Ratbat stages a deadly attack that only Prowl can stop! Meanwhile, Starscream tries something he's never done before: telling the truth to an Autobot. Well, most of the truth, anyway.


Comments: Continuing on from last issue, Ratbat attempts to put his plan to declare a new war on the Autobots into motion. But his plans might not be Starscream's plans... we get a decent dosage of Starscream in this issue (the primary Decepticon character in this issue) and he is portrayed well and true to character. I get the impression he may well be doing more in the future (although his endgame isn't yet obvious. Assuming he has one, of course).
   We also learn the identity of Prowl's mysterious partner. It is a character we all know and love but I have to say I didn't suspect that would be the character in question (it's a good choice though, since we haven't seen them in a while).
   The art continues to be reasonably good as well. I had no real complaints (although the colorist still seems to think Prowl should be blacker then he's supposed to be).
   I still like this series the better of the two. It's just closer to what I'd prefer to see in a TF comic then MTMTE is, and I hope it continues to impress in the future.  

Verdict: Good.

Comic Review...

Transformers: Robots in Disguise #1

Writer: John Barber
Artist: Andrew Griffith
(Covers by Marcelo Matere, Andrew Griffith, Dan Khanna)

Summary: The war for Cybertron is over--now the hard part begins! This first of two new ongoing Transformers series offers an excellent jumping-on point and all-new direction as BUMBLEBEE and his fellow AUTOBOTS struggle to maintain control of a world without OPTIMUS PRIME!

Comments: I found RID's story to be a little bit more focused then MTMTE #1 was (not to say that Roberts story was bad or anything--just that there were a lot of plot threads set-up in it). RID, by contrast, is a bit more straight forward and I found myself enjoying it. Bumblebee is struggling to keep his own people in-check as well as the Decepticons, who are in a position of being subservient to the Autobots (thanks to the compliance chips in all their heads. If they don't comply, they can be killed by remote control at his discretion). Naturally, the Decepticons are unhappy with their lot in life and Ratbat (who's previously gotten little spotlight in the IDWverse) is planning to do something about it. It's also all-but-stated that Prowl's mysterious assistant sabotaged the Lost Light on-purpose (the partner is there to get his hands dirty so Prowl doesn't have to). (Incidentally, RID #1 is slightly after MTMTE #1 so the characters are reacting to the events of that issue in this one).
    A minor story thing: Bumblebee is changed into his WFC Cybertronian form here and--get this--the story bothers to address this change! I think that must be a first for IDW. I'm truly shocked and delighted somebody bothered to do that. Points for that.
   The art is by Andrew Griffith and is competent. There are other artists I like better but the art is good enough that you can recognize the characters by and large (and that's all I really ask). I still think Metalhawk's robot mode is a bit weird looking but I'm warming up to it slowly. Some bizarre things though--Horribull is colored gold in this comic for some reason (the toy was grey and previous era comics had him the right colors). Also, Prowl is colored more black then he should be--almost like someone confused Prowl and Bluestreak.
   While MTMTE had six different covers, RID takes it to the next level with seven! One cover by Marcelo Matere, then it's split into four variants, another by Andrew Griffith, another sketch cover by Dan Khanna. IDW--enough already! Seriously!
   The first recent TF comic I can truly say I liked, with no reservations or caveats... I actually might get the next one to see where the story goes (because I want to and not because I feel like I have to out of some fan duty).

Verdict: Good. Pick it up! :)

Cover "B" by Marcelo Matere