Needs the tagline "I am not going to kill you. I am going to DESTROY you.
I promise you, when this is over you will know the difference.
Transformers Ongoing issue 22, which by a small hiccup has been delayed a week, will now be available for purchase this week at your local comic shop. A preview was released last week which had fans and forum members all over the net drooling at the mouth. So while we may not have gotten this wonderful issue when we thought we were, fan reaction has been so positive I doubt it will tarnish the momentum it is about to make as eager readers find their copies.
As for myself, remember a year ago when I used the analogy of Ongoing compared to a fillet Mignon meal and how one could live off salad but never be satisfied until that meaty entree finally made it to the table? Well, hunger no more fans... your gourmet meal is served and the telling of this comic is DENSE! And glorious!
It has been a long time since I read a comic story that has been so dense and I'm not sure if I can summarize this issue alone in a brief way. In fact, I don't think I've ever cared more about these characters especially Optimus Prime in this way until i read this issue. (Or have come away feeling so emotionally spent, like I've just been through the debate of my life!)
This is but a small portion of a greater composition in this issue, it is glorious…
AND I WANT A POSTER!
This comic has the main track which follows a conversation between Optimus Prime and Megatron, and a subplot which follows where it all began for Megatron. The main track goes through a myriad of emotions from surprise, shock, amusement, anger, irritation, rage, and remorse. And to understand all the guts of those emotions you are just gonna have to break down and buy this comic. But to sum up, the Autobots debate what the best course of action is now Megatron has surrendered and to whom the choice falls to make the decision of what Megatron's fate will be in the end. Sounds simple enough doesn't it? It's tied in the complication of the past where Megatron was arrested for something he didn't do, was beaten sorely for it, and turned on the pacifist ideals he thought would change the face of Cybertron. Both Optimus Prime and Megatron's past are mingled with coincidences and the chance meeting that shaped both of their lives in a single poignant moment. And now in the present, that moment comes to the ultimate head game as Megatron's point is hit home with the closing of this comic. (And the repercussions? Oh there will be repercussions!)
Optimus and Megatron exchange war stories like pals! They even have
a secret handshake!
I expected this issue to be good, but I had no idea it was going to be this good. It was spectacular and no matter how many times I read it, gut wrenching. I can't imagine how James Roberts (Last Stand of the Wreckers) plans to top it next issue as this comic has a brother yet to be released. But I'm just shaking in my boots for it. Comics written like this are satiating, and it is most satisfying to see something of this caliber come to fruition for the Transformers license. The pacing is great, the dialogue spot on, conflict believable and awesome, fan nods, continuity, new characters, even words on the walls in the panels… there is just so much detail put into this one issue alone. I am really pressed to find anything about it I can be critical about. It just has so much magic and intensity. In fact, in many ways I feel like I can't say enough about this comic to really give it the just due it deserves. It's both inspired me and left me speechless.
The visual artistry of this comic was crafted by Alex Milne (Ongoing, Drift) and colored by Joana Lafuente (Ongoing, Ironhide). It is exquisite. Alex has knocked it out of the ball park with the level of the detail in this issue. The characters are easily recognizable, the emotion relayed in the figures is just spot on. I think it's some of the best work he's done ever in a single issue. I don't think there was a panel that lagged in any way or form. And yes like I said before a big portion of this comic is a dialogue between Optimus and Megatron and it still moves wonderfully! It was a great pairing of writer and artist. And Joana, again back on coloring duties and this issue is just loved in so many ways. The lighting is so magical, the color sets the mood just right, I know that she put more than a few hours into this comic and it definitely shows. It is a beautiful work of art and story across the board. (And we have another issue in two weeks! YAY!)
The reason why we love Megatron so much, he just keeps getting darker and darker...
It is by no means a perfect comic but the little things completely forgivable when you have an issue of this level. This IS easily by far my current favorite single issue of the year. (Sorry Nick.)
If you would like to hear a more in depth, spoiler review of this comic. Check out
the Underbase comic review podcast posted every Wednesday.
| Reviewer | ladywreck |
| Date | July 18th 2011 |
| Score |  (10 out of 10) |
| Reads | 11994 |
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