Scott's Take: Transformers Volume 1: Robots in Disguise by Daniel Warren Johnson

Transformers Volume 1: Robots in Disguise by Daniel Warren Johnson, colorist Mike Spicer, is the first volume of the series that handles the Transformer part of the new Energon Universe where the G.I. Joe and Transformers live in the same time period on Earth. As the book opens, Optimus Prime and his surviving autoboots crash land outside of a small remote town. The surviving robots landed alongside their enemies, the Decepticons led by Starscream. Megatron is missing so Starscream is in charge.

 

Where Megatron is does not get not addressed in this read, but in Cobra Commander. I am working on getting a copy through the Dallas Public Library System.

 

Back to this book…. Soon the Autobots encounter human children and befriend them quickly at the crash site. At the same time, the Decepticons, realizing how weak the native life forms are, begin to terrorize the local population for fun while also taking control of the local power plant for their own purposes. The Autobots, despite being severely outnumbered and more injured by their own crash landing, will not let this happen without a fight.

 

The main Autobot character is Optimus while the primary human characters change from time to time as the story progresses. This is an exploration of trauma, grief, and war. There is plenty of action and there are several graphic deaths. This read is very adult in parts.

 

Such as when Starscream crushes a man alive just for fun. Then there is the part when Optimus Prime rips his own arm off to whup some butt. Using his own arm to beat the Decepticon is pretty cool, but he also suffers greatly doing it, as clearly and graphically depicted.

 

The art is detailed in spots incredibly well while at other times frantic sketch lines art are used to make up the faster action sequences. It’s all done very well.

 

Overall, this tale is a little rushed, in my opinion, since so much happens in it there is little time to breath. One could also argue how quickly Optimus falls in love with humanity and the Earth is rushed, but one could also argue Optimus would not be the robot he is if he did not care so much so easily. The ending leaves Optimus Prime in a place I have never seen him before. It will be incredibly interesting to see how Volume 2 deals with the fallout of these events.

 

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3VZa9ix 

 

My print reading copy came from the Mountain Creek Branch of the Dallas Public Library System.

 

Scott A. Tipple ©2024