We had three transformers issues this week, I’m gonna get spoiled if this keeps up. Keep reading for reviews of Transformers #26, Transformers Galaxies #12, and Transformers Escape #1.
(Some minor spoilers below.)
Transformers #26
Compared to the explosive issue a few weeks ago, this issue is much quieter. Megatron can’t step back from what he’s done, so he’s making plans to move forward. And Orion Pax, sorry, Optimus Prime…he’s still not sure that the Matrix made the right choice. (At least once he calls it “this thing in my chest.”) But he knows they have to fight the Decepticons so he’s making plans of his own.
It seems like everyone is unhappy about the choices that were made. Megatron’s ticked at the seekers who killed Sentinel Prime, Optimus regrets the lives they lost trying to free Sentinel Prime in the first place, and a lot of people are unhappy that Pyra Magna has been let out of stasis.
The only reason we hear for why Pyra Magna was sentenced to stasis was that, in the war of the Threefold Spark, “she fought too long, too fiercely.” I hope we hear more about that. Because Optimus thinks that 1) it was Sentinel Prime who sentenced her, and Sentinel’s judgement was…not the greatest. But 2) the Decepticons have General Stryka, and the Autobots are going to need someone at least that vicious to win the war. (Even if it does make them all very nervous when her team kneels to her.)
Meahwhile Termagax watches her creation (the Moon and its tether) get destroyed, and decides to poke around a bit. She doesn’t like what she’s sees. I’m looking forward to more interactions between her and her star pupil Megatron. And I really like how she talks to her House.
Anna Malkova had the art this issue, and I can’t say anything about it that I haven’t already said many times. It’s very clean, even in confusing situations where metal robots tend to blend into their metal backgrounds. I loved all the details in our first real look at Pyra Magna, the panel with Cyclonus and his (imaginary?) companions, and all the snide looks on Starscream’s face when he was trying to get Megatron to “pick a hand.”
Side note, the hologram of Soundwave looked all kinds of badass. And I loved what happened when Starscream tried to get mouthy with him. That’s my boy!!
Transformers Galaxies #12
This issue wraps up Ultra Magnus’ arc in Galaxies. If you want to (over) simplify it, it seems like the purpose of the story was: to give us some insight into Ultra Magnus’ history (he’s always been a warrior, but is finding out some situations require more than a blunt instrument), to introduce us to Soundblaster (this series and the Netflix series is the most I’ve ever seen of him), to give us a tiny peek at Shockwave’s plans, and to explain why Ultra Magnus hasn’t been around for the first 26 issues of the main Transformers book. (Short answer: time singularity shenanigans due to a gravity well.)
I think this arc is probably more fun for fans who like a retro feel to their Transformers. (Josh Bircham’s colors always have this neat 80s feel to them.) I ‘m wondering if the reason I never connected with the story is because I’m not that big a fan of Ultra Magnus? It’s a text-heavy story, but there’s plenty of action and explosions, so I must just be unfairly biased against Ultra Magnus. (I didn’t care for him in the Netflix series either: dude, that cloak doesn’t hide your massive shoulder columns, your disguise is rubbish.)
Transformers Escape #1
This limited series takes place at the same point in time as the main Transformers book, but it’s focusing on a smaller group, which is a good idea: we’ve got so many faces in the main series, I feel like a lot of time is spent on introductions. Particularly the “we all know each other but the reader doesn’t so we’ll conspicuously use each others names for a few panels” kind of introductions. Separating everyone into different series may be the way to avoid that.
Most of the story is focused on one of the organic races living on Cybertron, the A’ovans. (Is it weird that I can’t stand humans in my Transformers issues, but I don’t have a problem with other organic races? It’s probably weird.) The Transformers saved many of the A’ovans when their homeworld was destroyed, but now with war breaking out on Cybertron, the Tether falling, and the return of the Insecticons, they’re being wiped out again.
If it’s one thing I’ve enjoyed in the main Transformers book, it’s the idea of organic life living on Cybertron. I don’t think we’ve ever seen that before, it’s always been just the bots. One of the A’ovans has this fantastic insight into why the Transformers act so differently from organic races, you should read the issue just to get the full speech. In short: they act slowly because they measure time in millennia, but paradoxically they’re reckless because they’re almost indestructible. It means an organic race can never really predict what they’re going to do, because we’re not going to be around long enough to see the long-term results of their actions.
I always thought they needed to explore that idea more in previous series, especially when interacting with humans. A conversation between two Cybertronians would be something like: “I was on Earth the other day.” “Oh, did you run into Daniel?” “No, turns out he died about 400 Earth years ago.” “Oh man, really? I was just down there…”
The issue sets up the plot for the next few issues: trying to get the A’ovans to safety, whether that’s outside of Iacon or off-planet. We also see the return of a familiar face, and I think this is the first mention of the Arks, which will definitely be important later, if the Autobots follow the G1 storyline and leave Cybertron completely.
Also, since the Insecticons had been on the same planet as the Constructicons, does their appearance here mean we’ll soon see Devastator?
I always enjoy Beth McGuire-Smith’s artwork, but it was Priscilla Tramontano’s colors this issue that knocked my socks off. They were so bright and vibrant, especially when they were in the A’ovan sector. I get so used to all the blues and greys of a war-torn planet in space, it’s lovely to see such splashes of color.