Comic Review...

Transformers: Regeneration One #88

Writer: Simon  Furman
Artist: Andrew Wildman
(covers by Andrew Wildman, Guido Guidi and Geoff Senior (RI))


Summary:  WAR IN THE CITY! Anarchy reigns on the streets of Iacon as SCORPONOK’s grip tightens further, and those AUTOBOTS still willing and able to resist look to their absent leader--who is on an endangered list all of his own. Beneath the surface of CYBERTRON, HOT ROD runs for his life, locked on a collision course with his maker, PRIMUS!


Comments:  Scorponok, his Decepticons and converted Autobots overrun Cybertron while a select few characters evade his forces. Grimlock makes a short-lived stand against Scorponok but the other quickly shows him who is truly in-control. Elsewhere, Hot Rod flees the cyber demons beneath the surface, who give chase. Bludgeon and Soundwave make their own plans aboard the Warworld and it's insinuated Soundwave is alerted that Scorponok is on Cybertron remotely (via Spinister). And on Earth, Galvatron prepares to take the Ark (under control of the lobotomized Shockwave) to space. 
   The plot continues. The story is advancing slowly and, to be honest, I miss the old days when more stuff happened in one issue. It doesn't seem like all that much significant happens in this issue, just baby steps. But I like the overall plot so I can't really complain.
   In the bigger scheme, I would've thought that Bludgeon and company would've attacked first and then Scorponok would've shown up afterward to throw a spanner into things with his own plan. That sort of happens (in the sense that Soundwave makes the first move back in #80.5) but was a little surprised the Scorponok/Grimlock plot got priority (not that it really matters, of course).
   I also speculated that the Scorpy plot would've been complicated--that we would've gotten true neutral minded Transformers as opposed to just Autobots that now act like Decepticons. I feel like there could've been a lot more to that plot point and to see it executed so simply (we slap a device on you and boom! You're a Decepticon!) is a bit disappointing. It's not a game killing choice or anything, of course, but I wanted a bit more.
   Some online have commented that Andrew Wildman's art is a bit, well...lazy and I have to agree unfortunately. The primary characters and action looks fine but the background characters and settings have felt rushed and simplistic right from the get-go. If you've seen his earlier work (or Horizon, his graphic novel) then you know he's capable of more.
   I still like this series and will follow it through to the end. I just hope we get some more story surprises and depth before it's all over.

 Verdict: Pretty Good.

Cover "A" by Andrew Wildman

Cover "B" by Guido Guidi

RI cover by Geoff Senior