Thursday, January 14, 2010

Comic Review: TRANSFORMERS #3 (IDW)



I'm coming in a few issues late to IDW's new Transformers series but I have to say that I am quite impressed with what I have seen so far. As a long time G1 fan, I am happy to see that they are using the old continuity as their springboard and Transformers #3 is full of cameos from some classic Transformers characters.



The story is set on a planet earth which has turned on all Cybertronians, Autobots and Decepticons alike, and what Transformers are left, are hiding from human task forces which hunt them down. This humans vs. Transformers theme is an interesting exploration of themes not adequately explored in previous Transformers stories.

The Autobots have broken off into two different factions, the classic faction now led by Bumblebee and a rebel faction that is teaming up with Decepticon remnants with the goal of freeing the "enslaved" Cybertronians and getting off the planet. This second faction is led by Hot Rod. Optimus Prime has turned himself in to the human officials. Newly arrived is Ultra Magnus, who (much like his Transformers Animated counterpart) is an arrogant, high-ranking official from Cybertron sent to investigate the situation.

I'm very impressed with the art on this series which is a happy middle between the blocky G1 designs as the overly-complicated movie designs. All of the characters are immediately recognizable, yet the designs have been subtly updated to modern standards of realism. IDW's Transformers series is at once a great throwback to classic Transformers and at the same time, draws the series into a new direction.

Written by Mike Costa
Drawn by Don Figueroa

Patrick Garone
Senior Reviewer

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