It’s Team Rodimus versus a universe gone wrong! An alternate Cybertron is being torn apart as the malevolent Functionist Council implement a plan that’s been millions of years in the making. But with victory within their reach, they find themselves up against someone who really shouldn’t exist: Megatron.

For anyone that thinks Transformers is just a toy turned cartoon and comic or giant robots that turn into cars fighting, one just needs to show Transformers: Lost Light as the latest example that it’s so much more.

Written by James Roberts the series has done an interesting thing in that it has further explored the idea of function through an alternate Cybertron and also explored Megatron himself. The series is its strongest when it dives deep like this and this issue alone has Megatron debating whether he should remain and fight a revolution or leave and face his eventual trial. The depth added just in this one issue for that character is more than many characters see in an entire series. What’s more impressive is Roberts leaves us readers in a space where with sympathize with Megatron, a mass murderer, and empathize with his situation.

But, even with that the most heartwrenching moment involves Anode and Luge, two characters I’ve come to love in a rather short period of time (figures please!). The rug is pulled out from under us the readers and the less I say about that, the better. It’s an emotional punch that’s unexpected and a hell of a twist.

The art by Jack Lawrence is amazing as usual and delivers the style I’d expect from a Transformers comic which tend to be pretty standard in their look. Lawrence easily delivers a heart-wrenching scene along with epic battles and destruction as a planet is torn apart.

IDW Publishing‘s Transformers series continues to deliver with each issue giving us action and so much more. The series and universe entertains and challenges as it deftly mixes robots, explosions, political philosophy and heart at the center of it all.

Story: James Roberts Art: Jack Lawrence
Story: 8.15 Art: 8.35 Overall: 8.15 Recommendation: Read

IDW Publishing provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review