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Transformers IDW #4
Transformers: Stormbringer
For those of you craving unchecked, cover-to-cover giant robot action (guaranteed no humans ) on an epic scale, look no further. So far, we've had tantalizing hints about the state of play elsewhere in the Transformers universe, but now we look in on Cybertron itself, unlocking a dark, dark chapter in the planet's history, one that is about to hit the Autobots and Decepticons again... full force
104 pages, Paperback
First published February 25, 2007
3 people are currently reading
168 people want to read
About the author
Simon Furman
944 books56 followersSimon Christopher Francis Furman is a British comic book writer who is best known for his work on Hasbro/Tomy's Transformers franchise, starting with writing Marvel's initial comic book to promote the toyline worldwide, as well as foundations for both Dreamwave Production's and IDW Publishing's takes on the Generation 1 minifranchise.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
February 7, 2022
kind of wish there was a little more overall explanation as i was a little lost, but we got to see the wreckers, so i’m happy
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 11, 2023
Autobots and Decepticons face a common and greater threat, in this book that is full of action, but features an underdeveloped story, that may leave many readers confused.
April 1, 2019
I didn't understand everything, because I've not read everything that precludes it. However, the writing was tight and the art style was incredible.
January 25, 2016
A decent side-story, featuring a new take on the Pretender concept and tons of cameos from lesser-known G1 characters (including the fan-favorite Wreckers). Feels underdeveloped compared to the main TF storylne from that era, however. (B)
April 29, 2008
One of my favorite Transformer graphic novels. No humans at all. Tons and tons of transformers, cool story line, and robot violence. This reminds me of the transformers I used to like as a kid.
May 1, 2018
A great, exciting story about Transformers fighting a great battle in the cosmos. Well worth reading, especially for the explosive ending courtesy of my childhood hero Optimus Prime.
January 9, 2017
Transformers: Stormbringer is a real guts and glory story line featuring the Wreckers this time being commanded by Optimus Prime in person who gets to show them how the job is done! :D The main plotline follows their attempts to bring down Thunderwing who has been resurrected by Bludgeon and this leads to an action packed thrilling ride across the Galaxy revisiting places Nebulous and other locations but then having an epic one-on-one between Prime and Thunderwing that is on a legendary level! :D
The art and script are on a level to match as well with it Chris, shaded and well coloured with the characters expressions and actions clearly coming across going brilliantly with the script! :D
Transformers: Stormbringer set things up excellently for future events and gets to show the team in action brilliantly as well as showing the contrary nature of their opponents but remain brilliant, funny, grand and action driven throughout! :D Brilliant and highly recommended! :D
The art and script are on a level to match as well with it Chris, shaded and well coloured with the characters expressions and actions clearly coming across going brilliantly with the script! :D
Transformers: Stormbringer set things up excellently for future events and gets to show the team in action brilliantly as well as showing the contrary nature of their opponents but remain brilliant, funny, grand and action driven throughout! :D Brilliant and highly recommended! :D
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 26, 2025
Furman continues as one of Transformers best writers.
This volume is a masterclass in non-linear storytelling. We see the past and present so clearly, but it's not a 1:1 back and forth like a more simple tale would tell.
Furman trusts in the reader to infer the terrifying implications the past can have on the future. The story is richer for this as you're not bogged down in needless exposition.
The titular Stormbringer is the menacing Thunderwing, and it's so interesting to see a Transformer represented as such a force of nature that it terrified both Autobots and Decepticons alike.
Despite all this, it still feels like a prelude to bigger things. We haven't even started the war on Earth in earnest yet. Can't wait to get into the next volume of IDW's early TF era.
This volume is a masterclass in non-linear storytelling. We see the past and present so clearly, but it's not a 1:1 back and forth like a more simple tale would tell.
Furman trusts in the reader to infer the terrifying implications the past can have on the future. The story is richer for this as you're not bogged down in needless exposition.
The titular Stormbringer is the menacing Thunderwing, and it's so interesting to see a Transformer represented as such a force of nature that it terrified both Autobots and Decepticons alike.
Despite all this, it still feels like a prelude to bigger things. We haven't even started the war on Earth in earnest yet. Can't wait to get into the next volume of IDW's early TF era.
June 12, 2017
I guess this must be an Elseworlds tale or else just in a continuity I never bothered to read. Anyway, Cybertron was virtually destroyed by Thuderwing and both sides have taken to space until Jetfire and the Technobots return on a survey mission and stumble upon Bludgeon and the Pretenders working on some dangerous stuff.
Mostly I read it because Jetfire's in it and he's my favorite Transformer. The Jetfire in this is the mid-2000s version I have on my shelf next to the original one. I just wish he'd been in the fighting more at the end, but at least he does contribute to the battle.
Mostly I read it because Jetfire's in it and he's my favorite Transformer. The Jetfire in this is the mid-2000s version I have on my shelf next to the original one. I just wish he'd been in the fighting more at the end, but at least he does contribute to the battle.
March 18, 2020
A great story, but the extended flashback nature of it sucks the wind out of the story developing on Earth. But it gives some important context to the Autobot-Decepticon conflict, which will probably come up later.
My main gripe is Thunderwing. I could tell that he was a big deal and a major reason why the two sides are at war, but I felt like I was missing something. Like the character was relying on an emotional link that just wasn't there.
Still, the Wreckers are dope. Looking forward to more of them later.
My main gripe is Thunderwing. I could tell that he was a big deal and a major reason why the two sides are at war, but I felt like I was missing something. Like the character was relying on an emotional link that just wasn't there.
Still, the Wreckers are dope. Looking forward to more of them later.
October 29, 2019
You kind of need to use your imagination to appreciate this one--the art conveys a lot if you take the time to really discern what is happening in every panel and try to imagine what it must have /sounded/ like to be there. I appreciated this much more the second time through, because I took my time. If you just read the words and don't soak up the deliberate, frightening atmosphere (unusually deliberate, might I add, for a Transformers comic), you won't appreciate this story.
February 9, 2025
There's a big mindless monster robot, the Decepticons want to use him for whatever their big plans are while the Autobots want to stop it. The robots look cool, there's lots of action, the story is boring or barely existent. There's a monster, it's loose, stop the monster.
May 17, 2025
Definitely more Cybertron-centric, but it was easy to get lost.
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August 16, 2025transformers "que viene, que viene" para quien no sepa ingles
December 28, 2023
I really like the idea of this book and several aspects of it will lead into things I love down the line. However, I found the story a bit underdeveloped and overcrowded, with some issues of art and writing that worked together to make it feel slower than it really was.
The art of Stormbringer is probably my favourite of the continuity so far. Additionally, the all-robots, all the time nature of this series means that it will appeal to anyone who dislikes the standard human protagonists. The writers commit to a far larger scope in this story, as things start to reach the more planetary proportions that would become familiar in this continuity.
As is often the case with Furman, I think, there is very heavy reliance on flashbacks without much of an explicit frame narrative and with a fairly intrusive narratorial voice. I also felt this series moved slowly at points and that it was perhaps a bit padded out (repetitive or overly-long dialogue, etc). There was a lot of the ‘technobabble’ that I usually enjoy in any science-fiction-esque setting, however at certain points there were so many terms put together that had no actual, solid meaning and so many sentences committed to using these terms that - as interesting as they sound and as helpful for world-building as they might be - they did not help the feeling that the story wasn't going anywhere fast. Also, I found some of the character voices were very similar.
Despite the (very real) compliments I have for the art in this series, there were also a few panels where things unclear. Some characters are difficult to distinguish from another, most have limited facial expression, and sometimes I think there could have been a few more ‘establishing-shot’ type panels just to orientate characters in space. For example, I didn’t realise at first that Darkwing and Dreadwind were speaking quietly to one another in secret when they planned to leave their team behind against Thunderwing.
The Decepticons were portrayed in an interesting way here, as the writer gave more insight into their limits, principles, or personal connections that, while different from those of the Autobots, still guide their actions.
The art of Stormbringer is probably my favourite of the continuity so far. Additionally, the all-robots, all the time nature of this series means that it will appeal to anyone who dislikes the standard human protagonists. The writers commit to a far larger scope in this story, as things start to reach the more planetary proportions that would become familiar in this continuity.
As is often the case with Furman, I think, there is very heavy reliance on flashbacks without much of an explicit frame narrative and with a fairly intrusive narratorial voice. I also felt this series moved slowly at points and that it was perhaps a bit padded out (repetitive or overly-long dialogue, etc). There was a lot of the ‘technobabble’ that I usually enjoy in any science-fiction-esque setting, however at certain points there were so many terms put together that had no actual, solid meaning and so many sentences committed to using these terms that - as interesting as they sound and as helpful for world-building as they might be - they did not help the feeling that the story wasn't going anywhere fast. Also, I found some of the character voices were very similar.
Despite the (very real) compliments I have for the art in this series, there were also a few panels where things unclear. Some characters are difficult to distinguish from another, most have limited facial expression, and sometimes I think there could have been a few more ‘establishing-shot’ type panels just to orientate characters in space. For example, I didn’t realise at first that Darkwing and Dreadwind were speaking quietly to one another in secret when they planned to leave their team behind against Thunderwing.
The Decepticons were portrayed in an interesting way here, as the writer gave more insight into their limits, principles, or personal connections that, while different from those of the Autobots, still guide their actions.
December 15, 2015
I've been a huge fan of the Transformers since my earlier childhood during the eighties. I still remember my first transformer toy(Sinnertwin), the comics and the cartoons. It's that kind of childhood memory you never quite let go of. I still have a few of my old comics, though it's been a while since I last read them.
But that was all I had and the newer incarnations of the cartoon or comics never really impressed me. It was the old, the original and above all else, what I enjoyed as a child that I liked about transformers.
Then I got hold of some of the new stories from Furman, published by IDW and that changed.
The stories use the same characters I grew up with, but grittier, more adult and much darker.
Stormbringer was the first of these comics I got and I loved it! Thunderwing is an awesome character and Furman builds his story around him in a very interesting way. Other characters like Jetfire, the technobots, Darkwing and Dreadwind etc. are all very well done and you will have a hard time picking a favourite.
The story is dark, very dark with a lot of causalities. We see the Transformers home world ravaged to the point of being uninhabitable, by a single transformer. It took the combined might of both the entire Autobot AND Decepticon armies to put him down, and even then they never recovered the body. And now, much later, it looks like HE will return once more. But will the transformers be able to prevail a second time?
If I'd have to describe the comic in one word?
But that was all I had and the newer incarnations of the cartoon or comics never really impressed me. It was the old, the original and above all else, what I enjoyed as a child that I liked about transformers.
Then I got hold of some of the new stories from Furman, published by IDW and that changed.
The stories use the same characters I grew up with, but grittier, more adult and much darker.
Stormbringer was the first of these comics I got and I loved it! Thunderwing is an awesome character and Furman builds his story around him in a very interesting way. Other characters like Jetfire, the technobots, Darkwing and Dreadwind etc. are all very well done and you will have a hard time picking a favourite.
The story is dark, very dark with a lot of causalities. We see the Transformers home world ravaged to the point of being uninhabitable, by a single transformer. It took the combined might of both the entire Autobot AND Decepticon armies to put him down, and even then they never recovered the body. And now, much later, it looks like HE will return once more. But will the transformers be able to prevail a second time?
If I'd have to describe the comic in one word?
April 5, 2022
Revisiting this one, I still think it's a solid 4 star. Though now looking back at some of the Transformers toys that have come and gone since this was released in 2007, I'm a little shocked at how many toys take their design cues from robot designs in this book.
Titan's Return Astrotrain is a prime example. The design is almost listed 1:1 from the sketches section in the back of this book. Thunderwing's rare Generations release shares much with the design from this book, and there's a bomber-esque design that looks suspiciously like the one Megatron used later on in the IDW series.
Anyway, we get the Wreckers, and a version of Pretenders characters like Thunderwing that isn't lame like the original Pretenders gimmick, and a bunch of cool Cybertronian near-apocalyptic drama. Good stuff.
Titan's Return Astrotrain is a prime example. The design is almost listed 1:1 from the sketches section in the back of this book. Thunderwing's rare Generations release shares much with the design from this book, and there's a bomber-esque design that looks suspiciously like the one Megatron used later on in the IDW series.
Anyway, we get the Wreckers, and a version of Pretenders characters like Thunderwing that isn't lame like the original Pretenders gimmick, and a bunch of cool Cybertronian near-apocalyptic drama. Good stuff.
August 20, 2011
I think I slightly prefer E.J. Su's cleaner style artwork in 'Infiltration' to Don Figueroa's grittier artwork in this volume. But it suits the darker story well. I didn't find the story nearly as captivating. And there were so many characters I didn't know. I might have appreciated it more if I'd read all the earlier comics first (like from the 80s). I actually kinda missed the human characters introduced in Infiltration.
January 31, 2015
I really wanted to like this, as the other two Transformers comics I've read were the bee's knees, but ultimately I found this to be pretty damn confusing. It felt like I was missing a chunk of the story. Hell, maybe I did read this out of order, though it is marked as volume 2.
August 1, 2009
Better than the movie, but that's a little like saying being poked in the eye is better than a terrible eye injury.
May 24, 2016
More like 3.5 stars, but still a fun story about an ancient monster, which challenges both Autobots and Decepticons
June 22, 2013
Love the use of the Pretender. Easily the dumbest transformer toy ever.
August 9, 2018
I haven't much kept up with Transformers since I was a kid; the mixture of the Michael Bay films and the franchise's famously complex continuity has scared me off.
But it seems like the sort of thing I should like, and I surprised myself with how excited I am about the upcoming Star Trek/Transformers crossover. I don't know I chose a good place to stick my head back in - I did so more or less at random - but here we are.
It is every bit as self-referential as I had thought it would be. The story was easy enough to follow, not being that complex, though I relied on the (really rather good) Transformers Wiki to guide me through a couple of the subplots (which iteration of the toy range are we referring to there?).
The manga-flavoured artwork is well-suited to the hardware-heavy action. Compared to most other punching-based comics, there were few instances where I was confused about what was going on.
Overall, it was... well, pretty much what I expected. Everyone seemed to be having a lot of fun, and I'm glad. I experienced no revelation as to how much unexpected affection I hold for the characters, a la Boom's Power Rangers comics, but I also wasn't put off.
Recommendations for what to check out next warmly welcomed.
But it seems like the sort of thing I should like, and I surprised myself with how excited I am about the upcoming Star Trek/Transformers crossover. I don't know I chose a good place to stick my head back in - I did so more or less at random - but here we are.
It is every bit as self-referential as I had thought it would be. The story was easy enough to follow, not being that complex, though I relied on the (really rather good) Transformers Wiki to guide me through a couple of the subplots (which iteration of the toy range are we referring to there?).
The manga-flavoured artwork is well-suited to the hardware-heavy action. Compared to most other punching-based comics, there were few instances where I was confused about what was going on.
Overall, it was... well, pretty much what I expected. Everyone seemed to be having a lot of fun, and I'm glad. I experienced no revelation as to how much unexpected affection I hold for the characters, a la Boom's Power Rangers comics, but I also wasn't put off.
Recommendations for what to check out next warmly welcomed.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews