First Strike #2
(W) Mairghread Scott, David Rodriguez (A) Max Dunbar (CA) Freddie Williams II
Attack on Cybertron! COBRA’s first strike is causing chaos, confusion, and a high Transformer body count! It’s up to G.I. Joe and their Autobot and M.A.S.K. allies to stop the invasion-if they can get off Earth!
It was new comic book day yesterday! What’d folks get? What’d you like? What’d you dislike? Sound off in the comments below!
While you decide on that, here’s some comic news and reviews from around the web in our morning roundup.
Around the Tubes
The Hollywood Reporter – Conservative Koch Brothers Are Secret Investors in ‘Wonder Woman’ – Interesting.
ICv2 – Michael Breakfield on Marvel’s Return to Legacy Numbering – Interesting… Do readers care? Sound off and let us know.
Around the Tubes Reviews
Newsarama – First Strike #1
Newsarama – Ghost Money #1
Newsarama – Mister Miracle #1
CBR – Redlands #1
Newsarama – Redlands #1
A Hasbro comic event kicks off in First Strike #1! A new era of peace is dawning as Earth formally joins the Cybertronian Council of Worlds. That is… until Baron Ironblood joins Destro, Storm Shadow and other nefarious villains in a terrorist attack on Iacon! As chaos takes hold on Cybertron, it will be left to Scarlett and the rest of G.I. Joe on Earth to discover the true purpose behind the attack before both worlds descend into all-out-war!
I’m a fan of IDW’s Transformers as the series is so much more than giant robots. While that’s a part of it politics and social issues run deep and are explored in a mature way. Recently IDW and Hasbro have brought together their various properties for a shared universe creating every kids’ dream.
First Strike #1 kicks off the Hasbro-verse’s second event with a focus on Transformers and G.I. Joe. Earth has been brought into the Council of Worlds and this issue has a reprsentative meeting their Cybertronian counterparts. During a diplomatic meeting a terrorist attack strikes Iacon.
For those who may not have been reading the various series leading into this, writers Mairghread Scott and David Rodriguez do an excellent job of catching you up. The issue feels like a big budget film with a political undertaking. In my opinion that’s one of its strengths. There’s action, but the fact that springs out of a real place and not just some simple scheme or conflict adds maturity to the concept. We learn why that action takes place giving depth and reason to the attackers that has us sympathize in some way. Add in betrayal and you have an emotional ride on top of everything else.
The art by Max Dunbar is solid seamlessly blending the different characters and concepts in a way that it all works. Another thing that IDW has pulledoff really well. As a consequence the idea of giant robots next to humans on an alien world doesn’t look so silly and in fact feels as natural as can be. The art too works bridging distinctive looks we find in the variouse series featuring these characters. Above all, it just looks cool, lets face it. The comic visually delivers on what we dreamed up as kids.
Ultimately, First Strike #1 delivers popcorn entertainment with a political background showing these toys and their comics are more than meets the eye.
Story: Mairghread Scott and David Rodriguez Art: Max Dunbar Cover: Freddie E. Williams II
Story: 8.25 Art: 8.05 Overall: 8.20 Recommendation: Buy
Wednesdays are new comic book day! Each week hundreds of comics are released, and that can be pretty daunting to go over and choose what to buy. That’s where we come in!
Each week our contributors are choosing up to five books and why they’re choosing the books. In other words, this is what we’re looking forward to and think you should be taking a look!
Find out what folks think below, and what comics you should be looking out for this Wednesday.
Catalyst Prime: Accell #3 (Lion Forge Comics) – Lion Forge has been knocking it out of the park with their new line of superhero comics and this is one that’s tons of fun.
Centipede #2 (Dynamite Entertainment) – The first issue was a surprising solid read. Based on the classic Atari game it’s history sucked us in but the first issue has us coming back.
The Defenders #4 (Marvel) – The first three issues have been fantastic and we’re interested in seeing where this goes and how it lines up with the upcoming Netflix series.
First Strike #1 (IDW Publishing) – The next big event in the Hasbro universe kicks off here. To see GI Joe and Transformers interact, we’re sold.
Generations: Phoenix & Jean Grey #1 (Marvel) – The first “Generations” comic was a dud but we want to see if that was a fluke or if it was par.
Ghost Money #1 (Lion Forge Comics) – Money was stolen with 9/11 in this new series which has one of the most unique concepts we’ve heard in quite some time.
Grass Kings #6 (BOOM! Studios) – The first five issues have been as amazing to read as they are to look at.
Ian Livingstone’s Freeway Fighter #4 (Titan Comics) – The first three issues have been high octane entertainment in what feels like a series that deserves more time. Hopefully we’ll get more after this story wraps up.
Inhumans: Once and Future Kings #1 (Marvel) – Christopher Priest is writing this. That alone has us interested.
Quake Champions #1 (Titan Comics) – The classic video game comes to comics and we’re intrigued to see what’s done with it.
Redlands #1 (Image Comics) – A creepy new series mixing vampires in a southern town. It’s good, real good. Read our review.
Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #11 (Marvel) – One of the best comics Marvel is putting out today. Aphra is the best addition to the Star Wars universe in a long time.
Star Wars: Rogue One – Cassian & K2SO Special #1 (Marvel) – Wonder how these two met? Well here you go!
Transformers: Till All Are One #12 (IDW Publishing) – I know what you’re saying, it’s a comic based on a cartoon featuring giant robots. Every series impresses with comics that touch on adult topics such as when life begins, castes, and politics. This one nails the latter with a story that rivals any story where individuals jockey for control.
The Unsound #3 (BOOM! Studios) – Cullen Bunn has been crafting a creepy horror comic that has layers to it that can be discussed for days.
First Strike #1
Mairghread Scott & David Rodriguez (w) • Max Dunbar (a) • Freddie E. Williams II (c)
A Hasbro comic book event! A new era of peace is dawning as Earth formally joins the Cybertronian Council of Worlds. That is… until Baron Ironblood joins Destro, Storm Shadow and other nefarious villains in a terrorist attack on Iacon! As chaos takes hold on Cybertron, it will be left to Scarlett and the rest of G.I. Joe on Earth to discover the true purpose behind the attack before both worlds descend into all-out-war!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99
This August, General Joe Colton, the original G.I. JOE, will take the fight directly to the Transformers home world of Cybertron in the Hasbro Comic Book Event of 2017 – First Strike!
This six-part, bi-weekly series will feature the talents of writers Mairghread Scott and David A. Rodriguez, with art by Max Dunbar, and colors by Ander Zarate.
Earth’s heroes have united after the explosive events of last year’s Revolution! Bringing together G.I. Joe, Rom, the Micronauts, M.A.S.K.: Mobile Armored Strike Kommand, Action Man, and the Transformers, Earth has never been more secure now that it has become a member of the Council of Worlds due to Optimus Prime’s leadership.
But oversight and control isn’t what everyone wants; especially when that control is in the hands of alien forces…
The premiere season of post-Revolution titles are heading towards their natural conclusions to make room for First Strike so fans can enjoy the action in one place (and go easy on their wallets during the event)! In addition to the main series, six additional one-shots will set the stage for the second season of the Hasbro comic universe, where fans will witness their favorite characters forming new alliances, paving the way for exciting adventures to come.
Look for Micronauts: First Strike, by Christos Gage and Chris Panda, G.I. Joe: First Strike, by Aubrey Sitterson and Ilias Kyriazis, and Optimus Prime: First Strike by John Barber and Guido Guidi in September.
M.A.S.K.: MOBILE ARMORED STRIKE KOMMAND.: First Strike, by Aubrey Sitterson and Ilias Kyriazis, Rom: First Strike, by by Christos Gage and Chris Panda, and TRANSFORMERS: First Strike by John Barber and Guido Guidi will follow in October.
These one-shots will explore more corners of the event for completest readers who just can’t get enough, while also providing a glimpse into what the future will bring for our heroes when the dust settles on the scorched planet of Cybertron at the conclusion of First Strike.
The event kicks off in First Strike #0, now available as a GIVEAWAY in comic shops (ask your local retailer) and online. Inside you’ll discover more of what Joe Colton is plotting against the Transformers and what our Earth’s heroes are up against! In the back of the #0 issue, you’ll find a handy checklist for the entire event running through October, as well as a couple new #1s scheduled for November and December titled G.I. Joe: Unmasked and Rom & The Micornauts.
