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

Scott's Take: Duke Volume 1: Knowing is Half the Battle by Joshua Williamson

Duke Volume 1: Knowing is Half the Battle by Joshua Williamson with Tom Reilly (illustrator) and Jordie Bellaire (colorist) is a miniseries despite being titled Volume 1. There is no Volume 2 and there will not be. This is a miniseries set in the Energon Universe. A recently started line of books based on the idea--- what if the Transformers and the G.I. Joe lived in the same universe? This miniseries is designed to start setting up the G.I. Joe part of the Energon Universe. 

 

Duke barely survived an encounter with the Decepticon known as Starscream, but his friend was not so lucky. The United States military is covering it up and telling the highly decorated soldier that he is just wrong. So, Duke goes rogue and finds out that the rot in the institutions he has served his whole life in is deeper that he knows.

 

The art is pretty good even if the colors are a little dull. I don’t know if this was a deliberate choice, but Duke spends a good portion of this tale looking like Captain America from Infinity War. This is a mature and well thought out tale that raises a number of questions about what does a man who believes in the system do when the system fails him? We don’t get to explore this version of Duke too in much depth as this is more of a thriller than a character development read.

 

I really liked this read until the ending. Major spoilers, but a lot of the questions raised in this tale are brushed aside in order to have Duke help form the G.I. Joes.

 

The newly formed G.I. Joe group is assigned to kill Optimus Prime. They don’t know he is a good guy or, I guess, a good robot. Started here, this mission will be followed up in one of the new books in the universe. At the time of this review, I do not know which one.

 

The next announced book in the series, Cobra Commander, focuses on the Cobra Commander forming his group to take over the world.

 

Additionally, a full G.I. Joe series will start sometime this fall. That series will have Duke and other members of the G. I. Joe group.

 

Overall, while they are building up the G.I. Joe part of the universe with miniseries, they are currently giving the Transformers universe an actual series.

 

There is also something called Void Rivals set in space. I read it, and quite frankly, I still have no idea how it’s supposed to tie in yet. Which is why I have not reviewed it. I did not much care for it either.

 

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

 

My reading copy was a Hoopla digital eBook via the Dallas Public Library System.

 

Scott A. Tipple ©2024

WELCOME TO HELL ~ by Glenn Walker: Why George Coe Was Cool

WELCOME TO HELL ~ by Glenn Walker: Why George Coe Was Cool: Actor and comedian George Coe passed away yesterday. He was an Academy Award nominee, a veteran of stage and screen, the voice of Woodho...