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Review: Transformers: Galaxies #7

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Transformers Galaxies #7

Cycles ago, a Reversionist ship left Cybertron in the wake of a great calamity. Gauge, the youngest Cybertronian in the universe, knows she was forged on the planet, but only remembers her life on the ship. Her life’s about to be shaken as her whole concept of the truth is thrown into question by the mysterious figures in the brig. It’s been some time since I’ve read the new volume of IDW Publishing‘s Transformers comics. Transformers: Galaxies #7 kicks off a new story-arc with “Gauging the Truth” and felt like a nice opportunity to dive back in and see what I’ve missed.

Transformers has always been an interesting series when it comes to the comics. While many see the toy tie-in or just robots fighting each other, the comics have been so much more. Like good science fiction, they’ve explored society, philosophy, culture, and religion, with a transforming exterior. “Gauging the Truth” kicks off a new story arc focused on the Reversionist sect of Cybertronians.

Reversionists are a religious sect who believe that Cybertron was once their creator Primus and thus every Cybertronian is a bit of Primus. They’re generally disliked for their piousness and also feel like a group that hasn’t been the spotlight as much as others.

We get to see some of their focus and beliefs in this comic as they come off as very regimented and not to be questioned. Through Gauge, we get to explore faith in the world of Transformers and what happens when that faith is shaken. It’s an interesting start of the story-arc and ends in a spot that’s unexpected. Where it’s going from here? I have absolutely no idea. But, it adds a bit to the Transformers menagerie of groups and factions.

Written by Sam Maggs Transformers: Galaxies #7 is presented as a mystery. But it’s one where you don’t know if the main character is going insane, being sent a message, or if they’re having a religious awakening of some sort. I actually expected that last one myself but was rather happy I was wrong (sort of). What we look to still be getting is an exploration of religion but one that’s more of an examination of cult-like following and infallible leadership.

The art by Beth McGuire-Smith is solid. Along with colors by Josh Burcham and lettering by Jake M. Wood, the look of the comic is great. The Transformers all look solid and consistent with IDW’s style. The coloring adds a dreamlike aspect that has us questioning what Gauge is experiencing. Much of the comic is told through Gauge’s thoughts so the panels are heavy in narrative boxes instead of dialogue bubbles. The design is interesting with some subtle choices that make it feel a bit more than meets the rectangle eye.

It’s been a while since I’ve read IDW’s Transformers line of comics but Transformers: Galaxies #7 feels like returning to a familiar friend. It has exactly what I want to see in a Transformers comic, an exploration of society, culture, and politics… with cool robots who can turn into things. It may sound cheesy but the property continues to be “more than meets the eyes.”

Story: Sam Maggs Art: Beth McGuire-Smith
Color: Josh Burcham Letterer/Design: Jake M. Wood
Story: 8.15 Art: 8.15 Overall: 8.15 Recommendation: Buy

Purchase: comiXology – Kindle – Zeus Comics

Review: Transformers vs. Terminator #1

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TRANSFORMERS VS. TERMINATOR #1

1984 was a pretty important year with so many of today’s beloved pop culture properties debuting during that year. Transformers and The Terminator were two of them and 36 years later, the two properties meet in this new miniseries. Transformers vs. Terminator #1 delivers an interesting debut that’s a twist on the classic story. Unfortunately, something falls a little short in the actual delivery.

David Mariotte, Tom Waltz, and John Barber all contribute to the story with Mariotte and Barber credited as writing it. It’s a familiar story with a warrior from the future sent back in time to prevent an apocalypse. In this case, a Terminator is sent back to protect Skynet from its enemies, Transformers. It’s a twist on the original story putting Skynet in the role of the resistance. Sarah Conner is involved still and the Terminator is the T-800 version, though the likeness to Arnold is… not close.

By trying to give us a twist on the original film, the first issue feels like a bad copy devoid of original and interesting ideas. Compare that to the recent crossover between Transformers and Ghostbusters which was packed with them. And that’s part of the problem with this debut. The entire comic feels “not close.”

There’s clunky dialogue. The sequence of events is a bit choppy. There’s just a lot there that feels off like an odd generic version of the classic. The story easily could have been the Resistance we knew taking on a Skynet/Transformers alliance but instead it delivers a “no matter who wins, we lose” storyline. There’s hints of something really cool here but as delivered it falls flat. The cool factor isn’t there, even if the concept is a childhood mash-up.

Part of the issue is the art by Alex Milne. While the Transformers look fantastic, the T-800 is bad. There’s attempts to make it look like the original film but it just doesn’t work. Add in the attempt to translate Arnold’s awkward delivery and it’s art that’s either exciting or feels like a comedic take.

Transformers vs. Terminator #1 should be an easy one to nail down. But, this debut stumbles from the beginning. From bad dialogue to at times iffy art, there’s just so many crossovers for both properties that’s better and more worth your time.

Story: David Mariotte, Tom Waltz, John Barber
Written: David Mariotte, John Barber
Art: Alex Milne Color: David Garcia Cruz: Letterer: Jake M. Wood
Story: 6.0 Art: 6.75 Overall: 6.0 Recommendation: Pass

IDW Publishing provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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