Review: Transformers Monstrosity

Transformers: Monstrosity

Writers: Christ Metzen and Flint Dille
Artist: Livio Ramondelli
(covers by Livio Ramondelli)
Price: $19.99 USd
Format: TPB (collected edition of previous web series)
Available: December 2013


Summary:  In the early days of the war on CYBERTRON, OPTIMUS PRIME puts everything on the line to unify the planet-but not everyone agrees that this new Prime should be in charge! Meanwhile, the fallen DECEPTICON leader, MEGATRON, begins a journey that will change everything.


Comments:  Monstrosity is the follow-up to the Metzen/Dille story, Autocracy (also a IDW web comic to begin with). Where the first series chronicled the rise of Optimus Prime in the midst of Cybertron's darkest time, its sequel comes off as feeling like it's meandering with no ultimate point. We eventually get to see Trypticon rise and wreak havoc against our heroes but the rest of the story seems scattered... Megatron is exiled only to survival his trials and return. Optimus struggles to lead the various factions under his command and fails miserably in the end to conquer his greatest challenge to date.
   Other then Trypticon being the titular "monstrosity" the story doesn't seem to know what it wants to do. There's not much thematically pulling it all together (contrast this with Autocracy's themes of power corrupting those who possess it). Megatron is challenged and rises above while Optimus has naysayers and self-doubt and ultimately is revealed to be nothing more then a leader with a dream of unity and peace. The thing is, Optimus should be Megatron's equal and while Megatron uses his sheer cunning and will to achieve his ends we should get to see Optimus use his own skill set to succeed. To use him as a whipping boy just dishonors the heart of a character who should be a heroic inspirational leader. There's hints of it in there but ultimately Optimus seems to achieve nothing substantial storywise.
   Ramondelli's artwork is improving as he goes but there is still the odd occasion where I view a panel and have no clue what it is I'm supposed to be looking at. The very first reveal of Trypticon, for example, left me confused. Only the later descriptions of the creature lead me to realize what it was.
   Another annoyance is the robots referring to themselves as "gentlemen" repeatedly (human terminology for robots really distracts me away from a TF story. I also disliked James Roberts usage of a "cyber-aneurysm" in Last Stand of the Wreckers). Grimlock speaks normally in this story too for some reason.
   The story also implies that the Dynobots have dinosaur modes because of the creatures under Cybertron's surface while an earlier tale (Spotlight: Shockwave) stated they got them from Earth when they chased after Shockwave. Presumably the early era of IDW is still in-continuity so I'm at a loss to understand how this makes any sense.
   Megatron encounters a Quintesson (is this the first time we've seen one in IDW?) and somehow uses his Spark to power himself up on planet Junk. I've never seen Sparks referred to as power sources--they're an analogy for souls. This story detail made no sense to me.
   After their first attempt, I found Monstrosity to be a poorly told disappointment... Perhaps the forthcoming Primacy will be more pleasing? 


Verdict:  Average. A pass for me personally... some decent dialogue and mostly good art elevate to an "Average" rating.

Comic Review...

Transformers: Autocracy #11 and #12

Writers: Chris Metzen and Flint Dille
Artist: Livio Ramondelli

#11 cover by Livio Ramondelli

Summary:  (#11) With CYBERTRON in the hands of the DECEPTICONS, it's up to OPTIMUS PRIME and his small band of heroes to take control. But if he wants to free a world-- PRIME will need someone to rally the people!
(#12)  Its time for the endgame! OPTIMUS PRIME comes face-to-face with MEGATRON and the fate of their world hangs in the balance! Nothing will be the same after this EXTRA-LENGTH conclusion!

Comments:  Issue #11 was a bit of a breather, with Optimus Prime rallying the troops to his banner while issue #12 wrapped everything up neatly, chronicling the final battle between the Autobots and Decepticons (well, "final" in the context of the story anyway). Issue #12 also pays homage to the final battle between Prime and Megatron from TF:TM. I'm not sure if that's cheesy or brilliant (the very definition of an in-story homage, is it not? :)
   The story wraps up on a positive note and doesn't really offer any surprises. Having said that, it's a solid tale overall and managed to hit all the right story points so I can't really complain. No, it didn't astound me but it didn't disappoint either so there's something to be said for that.

#12 cover by Livio Ramondelli

   Livio Ramondelli's art was well suited for this series and his cover images, as always, seem to be one of his strong points. The internal art was also much improved from his time on Chaos in the older TF ongoing series. I didn't have any problems figuring out what was going on anywhere this time around.

Verdict: (Issues# 11 and #12): Excellent.
(Series overall): Excellent.












The entire series is available via digital download on www.comixology.com. If you don't want to go the digital route, the series will be released in TPB form in July. 

Comic Review...

Cover by Livio Ramondelli

Transformers: Autocracy #10

Writers: Chris Metzen and Flint Dille
Artist: Livio Ramondelli


Summary:  MEGATRON victorious! All hope seems lost, as the DECEPTICONS tighten their grip! The shattered remnants of the Autobots struggle valiantly-- but their chances seem slim. If ever CYBERTRON needed a hero, the time is now!

Comments: The Autobots are under arrest. Hot Rod is offered another path by Megatron but when he realizes Megatron's true ambitions, he goes to their aid instead. Elsewhere, Optimus Prime senses some kind of presence in the ruins of Nyon and determines to discover its origin.
   Things are coming together and it looks like the story will end with a bang (we have two issues remaining). Orion/Optimus has found his way, the Autobots stand assembled and the end of the issue reveals a very big, very powerful ace up their sleeve. It looks like the real war is about to begin...

Verdict:  Excellent.




Available online only (from www.comixology.com for 0.99 USd)

Comic Review...

Transformers: Autocracy #9

Writers: Chris Metzen and Flint Dille
Artist: Livio Ramondelli



Summary:  Betrayed by MEGATRON, ORION PAX faces his future head-on! Will he rise to stop the onslaught of the DECEPTICONS...? And what will that mean for his fellow Autobots?

Comments:  After being tossed to his doom in the last issue, Orion Pax feels something to calling him in the ruined catacombs beneath the city... Meanwhile, the remaining Autobots on the surface discover Megatron has betrayed them and vow to go down fighting. Orion Pax finds the Matrix and is recreated by its power. He has a new clarity of purpose and vision. He determines to fight for a better tomorrow...
   I enjoyed this issue immensely. Sometimes it's nice to have the hero have an epiphany and reaffirm his desire to defend the weak and helpless. Too many stories of late, generally, have had selfish unheroic characters so this story is a nice breath of fresh air. It's also nice to know we're three issues from the epic conclusion. I look forward to seeing how this all plays out...

Verdict:  Excellent. 

Cover by Livio Ramondelli

Available online only (from www.comixology.com for 0.99 USd)

Comic Review...

Cover by Livio Ramondelli

Transformers: Autocracy #8

Writers: Chris Metzen and Flint Dille
Artist: Livio Ramondelli


Summary:  ORION PAX-- Autobot hero and one-day OPTIMUS PRIME-- stands side-by-side with MEGATRON, leader of the DECEPTICONS! But even together, will they be able to defeat ZETA PRIME and his forces?

Comments:  Zeta Prime has made his move and openly declared war on all who oppose him! Orion Pax, his Autobots and the Decepticons join forces and take him on.
   Another excellent issue in the mini-series...both the writing and the art are first rate. I also love Ramondelli's covers for this series overall (covers are definitely one of his strengths). Zeta Prime's destruction is satisfying yet seems to come very quickly. He fights Pax and Megatron for two and a half pages of the story--one almost wishes their fight could've lasted a tad longer after all this build up to it. Otherwise, I have no complaints regard the story.

Verdict:  Excellent. 



Available online only (from www.comixology.com for 0.99 USd)

Comic Review...

Transformers: Autocracy #7

Writers: Chris Metzen and Flint Dille
Artist: Livio Ramondelli


Summary:  ORION PAX-- the 'bot who will someday be Optimus Prime-- lies defeated. Cybertron is in flames. ZETA PRIME is poised to conquer all. Does any hope remain-- or is this a very short chapter?

Comments:  After the awesome cliffhanger last time, I was expecting something very impressive here. Unfortunately, we get a bit of a filler story instead. Megatron and the Decepticons show up and basically Zeta Prime's Vamparc weapon is overloaded. He beats a hasty retreat rather then fight Megatron head-on (wimp!) The Decepticons take the Autobots back to their headquarters and repair them. Megatron proposes they join forces to take down Zeta Prime before it's too late. Optimus reluctantly agrees... (Hot Rod apparently joins them as well).
   I found this issue a bit of a letdown. I'm hoping the next issue and going forward will be as exciting as this story should be (there's also only five parts left to go so they can't waste much more time getting to the resolution). I also hope it makes sense with the Blurr spotlight (where Zeta Prime and news of his death are first mentioned).


Verdict: Average.

Cover by Livio Ramondelli

Available online only (from www.comixology.com for 0.99 USd)

Comic Review...

Cover by Livio Ramondelli

Transformers: Autocracy #6

Writers: Chris Metzen and Flint Dille
Artist: Livio Ramondelli

Summary:  ZETA PRIME MAKES HIS MOVE! When the Autobot leader strikes out, ORION PAX--the future Optimus Prime--witnesses scenes of devastation beyond his wildest imagination! Will Pax be changed? Or will he fall?

Comments:  The Omega Destructors (basically, Omega Supreme clones) attack Torus-City Nyon. Zeta leads the way, using his new Vamparc weapon to absorb Energon out of the citizens as he goes. Orion Pax and his team attempt to slow down the giant robots but have little success. Hot Rod finally detonates all his bombs, annihilating the city in the process (with the thought that it's better to kill them himself then let Zeta use the innocent civilians to power his war machine). Orion laments Hot Rod's difficult decision--and then his team is attacked by Zeta, who quickly drains them of their Energon!
    Another exciting chapter. I've been enjoying the story so far and this part pays off quickly with the action and drama. I can't wait to see where it all ends up.

Verdict:  Good. 




Available online only (from www.comixology.com for 0.99 USd)

Comic Review...

Transformers: Autocracy #5

Writer: Chris Metzen and Flint Dille
Artist: Livio Ramondelli
(cover by Livio Ramondelli)

Summary:  THE HUNT IS ON! ORION PAX's strike team follows the trail of a young rebel into the ancient ACROPLEX! But what they find there is more than a single dissident-- it's a secret that will shake CYBERTRON to the core!

Comments:  Orion Pax and his team go to the ruins of the old Acroplex to pursue their target, one Cybertronian named Hot Rod. After a short chase, they emerge in a large complex to find various dying neutrals, low on Energon. Hot Rod explains that this is Zeta Prime's doing and says he showed Orion this because he believes he's different then Zeta. He's seen the holo-vid of Orion calling out the Senate on their corruption. He tells Orion he has a choice--carry on with things as they are or join them against the real threat. Later, Orion Pax and his team are outside considering his words when they notice a fire on the horizon and a Guardian robot in its midst. Zeta has begun to make his move!
   Another exciting chapter in the story and a very clear indicator that Orion is about to defy Zeta Prime (a logical choice at this point). The art continues to be fairly good (I can't think of anything wrong about it). It will be interesting to see how this tale all ends...

Verdict:  Good. Check out the series if you haven't already!

Cover by Livio Ramondelli

Available online only (from www.comixology.com for 0.99 USd)