Transformers #5 is an improvement on the previous four issues but still falls short of being enjoyable. Written by Brian Ruckley, the issue bounces around the various characters involved with the murder mystery as well as peals back some of what Bumblebee has been up to.

This is an issue I want to like and a series I’m attempting to enjoy. Transformers #5 though bounces around a bit too much never quite focusing enough on one plotline or character.

Ruckley delivers an issue that’s an improvement on the previous. It still falls short in entertainment. The issue is a piece of the larger narrative and in that way it is one of the strongest released so far. The structure of the issue is interesting as well delivering some scenes that feel out of place and not needed and others that feel out of order or could have benefited from not being broken up into various segments.

This is most evident in Rubble’s story. Instead of the breaks in his narrative, the issue would have been stronger focusing just on his story and building up the tension and fear better. As is, the ending feels a tad out of place and not the impact it was going for. Instead of terror and dread leading to sadness the overall delivery is that of melancholy.

The art doesn’t help matters either. A trio of artists work on the issue as they have in the past and their differing styles are standing out more. Anna Malkova, Angel Hernandez, and Sara Pitre-Durocher all would be great on their own. Together though, the styles don’t quite work anymore. At times it also doesn’t quite match the tone either. Opening pages have a more cartoon like quality which doesn’t work for Megatron’s serious nature and moment. That transition to the next segment and art style becomes more abrupt due to the mismatched nature of the start. With a bi-monthly comic, picking two artists and switching off would make for a stronger comic visually or banking issues with one artist and switching on the next arc would have been the best overall.

Transformers #5 is absolutely an improvement on the series moving the murder mystery forward and adding more political intrigue. Still, the issue’s pacing and narrative structure works against it creating an experience that again falls short of what was and what could be.

Story: Brian Ruckley Art: Anna Malkova, Angel Hernandez, Sara Pitre-Durocher
Color: Joana Lafuente Letterer: Tom B. Long
Story: 7.5 Art: 7.5 Overall: 7.5 Recommendation: Read

IDW Publishing provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review