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Transformers: Robots in Disguise #1
The Transformers: Robots in Disguise, Volume 1
The war for Cybertron is over—now the hard part begins! BUMBLEBEE and his fellow AUTOBOTS struggle to maintain control of a world without OPTIMUS PRIME! Bumblebee's provisional government is struggling and Prowl defends it against the DECEPTICONS but how far will he go—and who will chose to stand by his side?
120 pages, Paperback
First published September 21, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
June 12, 2015
John Barber is the Transformers guy. You need a Transformers writer, Barber is it. Any time, any situation, any character, Barber is the one to go to because he may just be the biggest TF fan but takes care and patience with this universe. I’ll save my comparing More Than Meets the Eye and this series for the conclusion since I want to concentrate on Barber’s story here.
As much as I like John Barber and respect him for how he’s revolutionized the Transformers comics, the emotion I crave isn’t completely here. Politics take over the plot--which is an interesting motivator for the plot in a Transformers series--but that’s the epic take here. Now that the war is over, and Earth is pretty much out of the picture, it was almost inevitable to have a branch of the series based on a recovering Cybertron and what it would be like if Autobots and Decepticons formed a government and tried to make peace. But this first volume just wasn’t as emotional as I’d like. But I won’t let that phase me too much because this is necessarily an introduction to the Robots in Disguise series and introductions set you up for a helluva storm when it happens.
One thing that racked my brain in this volume was how it addresses a natural issue that almost every series so far has failed to mention: Not every Cybertronian is on a side--in fact, most Cybertronians are factionless. It was a startling detail to think about and I found myself understanding it through us humans’ personal experiences. As of this review, there’s a war going on in the middle east. Some people have been called to fight as soldiers, some have chosen to fight for a chance at a better future. But then there’s the percentage of the world’s population that either can’t fight or just wants to get on with their lives. In Robots in Disguise, John Barber makes the Cybertronians in this third party one of the driving forces in his plot. Since the beginning of Transformers, the idea of AUTOBOTS AGAINST DECEPTICONS!!! has catched little boys’ attention and been all us fans know of the robotic race--we haven’t not been exposed to a long term Cybertron of peace before and I love where it is going.
I’ve read up to volume #4 in More Than Meets the Eye thus far, and I can’t help but think of the differences in writing. The big difference is this: MTMTE has its plot driven by its characters and their relationships, while RID has its plot driven by the characters’ powerplay over each other. I lean more toward More Than Meets the Eye because I love when emotions explode and that’s what happens when you grow attached to characters and their relationships. But Robots in Disguise is a MUST have for any Transformers fan and I look forward to getting the rest of the series.
As much as I like John Barber and respect him for how he’s revolutionized the Transformers comics, the emotion I crave isn’t completely here. Politics take over the plot--which is an interesting motivator for the plot in a Transformers series--but that’s the epic take here. Now that the war is over, and Earth is pretty much out of the picture, it was almost inevitable to have a branch of the series based on a recovering Cybertron and what it would be like if Autobots and Decepticons formed a government and tried to make peace. But this first volume just wasn’t as emotional as I’d like. But I won’t let that phase me too much because this is necessarily an introduction to the Robots in Disguise series and introductions set you up for a helluva storm when it happens.
One thing that racked my brain in this volume was how it addresses a natural issue that almost every series so far has failed to mention: Not every Cybertronian is on a side--in fact, most Cybertronians are factionless. It was a startling detail to think about and I found myself understanding it through us humans’ personal experiences. As of this review, there’s a war going on in the middle east. Some people have been called to fight as soldiers, some have chosen to fight for a chance at a better future. But then there’s the percentage of the world’s population that either can’t fight or just wants to get on with their lives. In Robots in Disguise, John Barber makes the Cybertronians in this third party one of the driving forces in his plot. Since the beginning of Transformers, the idea of AUTOBOTS AGAINST DECEPTICONS!!! has catched little boys’ attention and been all us fans know of the robotic race--we haven’t not been exposed to a long term Cybertron of peace before and I love where it is going.
I’ve read up to volume #4 in More Than Meets the Eye thus far, and I can’t help but think of the differences in writing. The big difference is this: MTMTE has its plot driven by its characters and their relationships, while RID has its plot driven by the characters’ powerplay over each other. I lean more toward More Than Meets the Eye because I love when emotions explode and that’s what happens when you grow attached to characters and their relationships. But Robots in Disguise is a MUST have for any Transformers fan and I look forward to getting the rest of the series.
January 6, 2016
I bought this title not expecting any good writing, just because I noticed that Starscream (my favorite Transformer) was on it and the art was really good. However, now that I read it, the book is really REALLY good in the writing department! If you like the political intrigues like on "Battlestar Galactica", this is your book. The war between Autobots and Decepticons is over but the troubles aren't. You will see recognizable G1 characters in whole new roles. Bumblebee is the leader of the Autobots. Starscream is helping the Autobots. Prowl is a paranoid maniac. Arcee is a cold psycho killer. Due that Optimus Prime gave up his leadership matrix to Rodimus Prime but the very Rodimus disappeared in a mysterious explosion on the vessel that he was traveling to Cybertron, so now Bumblebee is in command of the Autobots and very much of Cybertron too! Decepticons are reduced to second-class citizens and with very limited privileges. And now, in the middle of the conflict are the NAILs, the Cybertronians who left the world because the war and now they are returning to home but they don't want to take sides and they are distrustful of both sides. This is not your regular Transformers comic book, this title has a very adult approach and giving a whole new angle to known characters. The war between the “pacific” Autobots and the “destructive” Decepticons took too much time to end, and now the Autobots don’t know how to behave in peace times and now they are too much confortable carrying weapons and ready to shoot to anybody who thinks different. Meanwhile some Decepticons are ready to put the war behind and trying to find a place in the new Cybertron but nobody believes in them. Don’t expect much scenes of transformations or blaster firing but you will have a very great political drama. Highly recommended.
June 15, 2017
really interesting book with a lot of political intrigue. the way in which characters interact was very well played out and very nice in that you got to see different sides of characters than you would have thought possible
January 25, 2025
Back on Cybertron, Bumblebee is in-charge and trying to find some sort of peace between Autobots, Decepticons, and the many many neutral Cybertornians. There's political unrest! Members of all sides are conspiring against each other, bending and breaking rules to try and get ahead. And I think I understand that much. I can understand that Autobots have been the 'good guys' but are now being not-so-good trying to keep enforce their belief in how society should function. Decepticons are the 'bad guys' who have to live and be judged by this reputation. And the neutral faction... are people who kind of just want to get on with their lives and don't like the idea of either side.
I think the weakest point of the series is that I want to see a Decepticon who does actually care in any way? I'm seeing the Autobots do bad stuff and I get that they're not perfect. But the Decepticons are mostly portrayed, so far, as also doing a bunch of bad stuff, so it's hard to actually believe in this narrative of them being discriminated against when every chapter has a Decepticon hurting people and evil cackling while they do it. And then we get the 'neutral party' of Cybertronians just showing up, getting angry that a war led to people being soldiers with grudges, and are now side-eyeing everyone. But I don't get what the war was!
Maybe I should have started with a different series or something, but this isn't exactly a fresh start for me that makes the most sense. I feel like I'm missing some context on what this war was actually about and how it was won/lost in the first place. I pick up these first volumes and it's like there's some nuance I just don't get yet, but a volume of this and a volume of More Than Meets The Eye and I still don't really get it.
I think the weakest point of the series is that I want to see a Decepticon who does actually care in any way? I'm seeing the Autobots do bad stuff and I get that they're not perfect. But the Decepticons are mostly portrayed, so far, as also doing a bunch of bad stuff, so it's hard to actually believe in this narrative of them being discriminated against when every chapter has a Decepticon hurting people and evil cackling while they do it. And then we get the 'neutral party' of Cybertronians just showing up, getting angry that a war led to people being soldiers with grudges, and are now side-eyeing everyone. But I don't get what the war was!
Maybe I should have started with a different series or something, but this isn't exactly a fresh start for me that makes the most sense. I feel like I'm missing some context on what this war was actually about and how it was won/lost in the first place. I pick up these first volumes and it's like there's some nuance I just don't get yet, but a volume of this and a volume of More Than Meets The Eye and I still don't really get it.
March 21, 2023
Cybertron has been reclaimed and Cybertronians from across the universe are returning. However, Bumblebee's provisional government is beset by the scheming of the pacified Decepticons, dissent among non-aligned robots and distrust among the ranks of his own Autobots.
I like the idea of seeing how the Transformers try to find peace and cooperation in the aftermath of millions of years of warfare, with prejudices old and new putting speed bumps in the peace process.
I also found the concept of the Autobots having to adopt almost fascistic policies in order to secure their rule to be an interesting exploration of how if you don't die a hero, you can live long enough to become a villain. Similarly, it's refreshing to see the Decepticons, particularly the likes of Starscream, adopting very different roles than their traditional ones in the franchise.
The biggest problem with this book is that none of the interesting stuff it delves into actually feels that fresh or innovative. The concept of a post-civil war adjustment period has been explored in at least two other IDW Transformers books that I've read recently and, whilst good stuff, this feels very derivative as a result.
If you've not read any of the previous IDW iterations of The Transformers, then you should find this an engaging jumping-on point.
* More reviews here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.page *
I like the idea of seeing how the Transformers try to find peace and cooperation in the aftermath of millions of years of warfare, with prejudices old and new putting speed bumps in the peace process.
I also found the concept of the Autobots having to adopt almost fascistic policies in order to secure their rule to be an interesting exploration of how if you don't die a hero, you can live long enough to become a villain. Similarly, it's refreshing to see the Decepticons, particularly the likes of Starscream, adopting very different roles than their traditional ones in the franchise.
The biggest problem with this book is that none of the interesting stuff it delves into actually feels that fresh or innovative. The concept of a post-civil war adjustment period has been explored in at least two other IDW Transformers books that I've read recently and, whilst good stuff, this feels very derivative as a result.
If you've not read any of the previous IDW iterations of The Transformers, then you should find this an engaging jumping-on point.
* More reviews here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.page *
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April 22, 2022I recently got a tablet specifically for reading comics so I’ve been delving into a bunch of series I had flirted with over the years but never committed to.
This first volume of the Transformers story I’ve always heard referenced as perhaps the best in the entire franchise really did not disappoint. I’m a person whose very much interested in questions of government and seeing those asked in a series way amidst the backdrop of Cybertron was extremely thrilling. I look forward to the rest of the series.
This first volume of the Transformers story I’ve always heard referenced as perhaps the best in the entire franchise really did not disappoint. I’m a person whose very much interested in questions of government and seeing those asked in a series way amidst the backdrop of Cybertron was extremely thrilling. I look forward to the rest of the series.
August 12, 2022
I liked this more than I didn't but it was still kind of dull when compared to its sister series, More Than Meets The Eye. The art is stellar and overall it's a neat take on what happens after the *four million year long!!) war is over but it never captured my interest fully. I think maybe things'll pick up as it goes along since Bumblebee, Prowl, and Starscream are definitely up to something. I think I'll continue to alternate between series for a little while but so far this one is in second place.
May 19, 2021
Obviously this is not as good as More Than Meets the Eye, but it is still pretty good. Though the art is somewhat lacking, the overall plot about how hard it is to rule after war is very interesting and makes some strong points about the flaws of the "good side" in this war.
Hopefully upcoming arcs go deeper on these issues and gets better art.
Hopefully upcoming arcs go deeper on these issues and gets better art.
July 1, 2022
Read on Comics App, which did take away from some of the artwork.
It didnt have Optimus or Megatron, but I really liked reading about Bumblebee trying to rule a Cybertron with Autobots and Decepticons together. Ruling is harder than winning the war.
I was missing out on a lot of context, and I can't read the next part on the app, but its a great way to read some comic books for free
It didnt have Optimus or Megatron, but I really liked reading about Bumblebee trying to rule a Cybertron with Autobots and Decepticons together. Ruling is harder than winning the war.
I was missing out on a lot of context, and I can't read the next part on the app, but its a great way to read some comic books for free
July 27, 2017
This book started off a bit slow, but turned out to be pretty good overall. I enjoy the development of the characters. I like how certain characters are able to manipulate their way up the political ladder. It makes for an interesting read.
March 17, 2018
Really Enjoyable
This is a good series. Transformers on Cybertron where they ought to be, instead of Earth. I'm not sure Autobots and Deceptions getting along is plausible, but it certainly makes for interesting reading! Recommended.
This is a good series. Transformers on Cybertron where they ought to be, instead of Earth. I'm not sure Autobots and Deceptions getting along is plausible, but it certainly makes for interesting reading! Recommended.
April 4, 2019
Pretty fun. Arcee is ruthless. Bumblebee seems unqualified to lead. The coalition government seems to be promising, but something is gonna cause it to blow-up. Prowl is up to something, him and Starscream are trying to sway things for themselves. Time will tell who gets what they are scheming for.
August 30, 2019
Outstanding and political. This is a Transformers story that starts off on the right foot. Original and bad ass.
November 9, 2019
A fun and interesting start to what should be a good story arc.
December 22, 2019
There are flashes of awareness that the Autobots are not good guys here, but overall the series seems to be heading down a liberally illiberal path that is entirely expected.
November 18, 2020
Yeah I wouldn’t say game of thrones style skulduggery really fits these characters all that well but I’m glad people are enjoying it!
July 15, 2025
The entirety of RID is just gonna get 3 stars, because... it's fiiiine, just a bit boring sometimes. But Starscream my beloved.
September 4, 2025
This was a good introduction into the Transformers comics for me and I really enjoyed the writing and art work.
March 11, 2015
So, Humble Bundle's newest offer the other day was pretty much the entire current run of IDW's Transformers run of comics ($155 worth of comics according the website - I got it for $15, so not a bad deal). I've been curious about the current run that IDW has been publishing, so this seemed like a ridiculously good deal to me. I read the first volume of each series and actually thought they were pretty good.
The whole idea between both volumes is that the war between the Autobots and the Decepticons has finally ended with the Autobots in charge of Cybertron (a Cybertron that has changed as a result of something that happened just prior to the beginning of these two stories, and something that I'm not at all familiar with). Since the war, more and more Transformers who had fled Cybertron in the wake of the war are now returning, and see no need to have either faction on the planet anymore, as both Autobots and Decepticons are equally seen as responsible for the destruction of the planet. However, the Autobots don't see it this way and want to set up a new government to try to keep another from happening. Optimus Prime sees himself as the most visible sign of the war, so relinquishes his title as Prime, returns to calling himself Orion Pax, and exiles himself from Cybertron, leaving Bumblebee in charge. Meanwhile, Rodimus sees no point in giving up their heritage and starting over so decides to travel from Cybertron in search of the Knights of Cybertron. This is where the series splits into two.
More Than Meets The Eye follows Rodimus and his crew in search of the Knight of Cybertron, while Robots in Disguise deals with Bumblebee trying to reestablish something of a government on Cybertron and dealing with the disillusionment felt by just about everyone over this, especially the newly returned, unaligned Transformers. I've read about the More Than Meets the Eye title from several sources around the internets, and it turns out that they weren't wrong about the title. It combines a pretty decent story with some great character development and just enough wit to make something that's actually fun to read. Robots in Disguise is intriguing as well, given the way the series is dealing with the repercussions and aftereffects of the war. Overall, both series are surprisingly good (I think it would be easy for most people to write off Transformers as a whole, but these are legitimately good comics), but I did find that I enjoyed More Than Meets The Eye more. I'm really glad I bought into this most recent Humble Bundle and will be gladly reading the rest of the volumes.
The whole idea between both volumes is that the war between the Autobots and the Decepticons has finally ended with the Autobots in charge of Cybertron (a Cybertron that has changed as a result of something that happened just prior to the beginning of these two stories, and something that I'm not at all familiar with). Since the war, more and more Transformers who had fled Cybertron in the wake of the war are now returning, and see no need to have either faction on the planet anymore, as both Autobots and Decepticons are equally seen as responsible for the destruction of the planet. However, the Autobots don't see it this way and want to set up a new government to try to keep another from happening. Optimus Prime sees himself as the most visible sign of the war, so relinquishes his title as Prime, returns to calling himself Orion Pax, and exiles himself from Cybertron, leaving Bumblebee in charge. Meanwhile, Rodimus sees no point in giving up their heritage and starting over so decides to travel from Cybertron in search of the Knights of Cybertron. This is where the series splits into two.
More Than Meets The Eye follows Rodimus and his crew in search of the Knight of Cybertron, while Robots in Disguise deals with Bumblebee trying to reestablish something of a government on Cybertron and dealing with the disillusionment felt by just about everyone over this, especially the newly returned, unaligned Transformers. I've read about the More Than Meets the Eye title from several sources around the internets, and it turns out that they weren't wrong about the title. It combines a pretty decent story with some great character development and just enough wit to make something that's actually fun to read. Robots in Disguise is intriguing as well, given the way the series is dealing with the repercussions and aftereffects of the war. Overall, both series are surprisingly good (I think it would be easy for most people to write off Transformers as a whole, but these are legitimately good comics), but I did find that I enjoyed More Than Meets The Eye more. I'm really glad I bought into this most recent Humble Bundle and will be gladly reading the rest of the volumes.
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January 20, 2016Let me tell you, after reading this I'm in the Rodimus camp. I'd rather be missing in space, on the Lost Light. Poor Bumblebee. He's got his hands full on Cybertron. Not just with rebuilding what was lost, but with everything. It's twisted.
Remember when I said that part of what I love about this whole world is that it very much mirrors our own? Well that just got amped up ten fold. Cybertron is a war-torn world that's now suffering from the aftermath. When the war was on, there were only two sides: Autobots and Decepticons. That was the truth that everyone operated on. Now, with those who left the planet returning home to find that their world is a ravaged mess, things are much worse. New lines being drawn, friends turning against friends. This graphic novel ate at me. War is hell, but rebuilding afterwards is just as bad.
I still really love this half of the story, but I had to deduct one star because this is the really serious side of it all. I missed my laughs, and some of my favorite characters who left the planet. Still, I found new favorites to latch onto. Despite his cold and calculating demeanor, I'm intrigued by Prowl. He also terrifies me, but I see what he's doing. Plus, Ironhide and I see eye to eye. I don't know how well his optimism will serve in this new world, but I have faith. Let's hope it's not misplaced.
Oh, and the art here is different too. I liked it, but not as much as the art in MTMtE. It's a lot more colorful, but also a lot more sharp. I'll admit that it works well for a lot of the panels. Especially the ones where political upheaval is in the works. It just doesn't have the same spark for me. I like it, I just don't love it. Still, there's a great story in the works here! I anticipate I'm going to be devastated at some point, and I'm trying to prep for it.
Remember when I said that part of what I love about this whole world is that it very much mirrors our own? Well that just got amped up ten fold. Cybertron is a war-torn world that's now suffering from the aftermath. When the war was on, there were only two sides: Autobots and Decepticons. That was the truth that everyone operated on. Now, with those who left the planet returning home to find that their world is a ravaged mess, things are much worse. New lines being drawn, friends turning against friends. This graphic novel ate at me. War is hell, but rebuilding afterwards is just as bad.
I still really love this half of the story, but I had to deduct one star because this is the really serious side of it all. I missed my laughs, and some of my favorite characters who left the planet. Still, I found new favorites to latch onto. Despite his cold and calculating demeanor, I'm intrigued by Prowl. He also terrifies me, but I see what he's doing. Plus, Ironhide and I see eye to eye. I don't know how well his optimism will serve in this new world, but I have faith. Let's hope it's not misplaced.
Oh, and the art here is different too. I liked it, but not as much as the art in MTMtE. It's a lot more colorful, but also a lot more sharp. I'll admit that it works well for a lot of the panels. Especially the ones where political upheaval is in the works. It just doesn't have the same spark for me. I like it, I just don't love it. Still, there's a great story in the works here! I anticipate I'm going to be devastated at some point, and I'm trying to prep for it.
May 30, 2015
IDW's Transformers series examines the aftermath of the Autobot/Decepticon war through the words of John Barber and the pencils of Andrew Griffith. The devastated planet of Cybertron is now home to three competing classes of Transformers. The victorious Autobots, under the leadership of Bumblebee, are attempting to set up a governmental system despite allegations of in-fighting and corruption. The vanquished Decepticons are the lowest caste, implanted with explosives to prevent them from getting out of line. Finally, the neutral Transformer refugees (known by the derogatory term of "nails") are attempting to come to terms with a dysfunctional Cybertron. The first arc explores these factions attempting to reconcile differences. Bumblebee is trying for peace, but is losing control of law enforcer Prowl and stealth assassin Arcee. Senator Ratbat seeks to overthrow the Autobot regime, but his plans are derailed by turncoat Starscream, while the neutral representative Metalhawk has his hands full trying to work all factions together. The art from Griffith is what shines in this volume, as Barber has the unenviable task of trying to craft a political tale out of a sci-fi genre of transforming robots. Though the intrigue of the series can keep a reader hooked, the staggering plot leaves much to be developed. The Transformers are still Robots in Disguise, but now are hiding their true selves from each other - and loyal readers.
March 20, 2013
The war between the Autobots and the Decepticons is over - Now what? RID is about exactly what happens when a war ends. Who runs the provisional government? When are free elections? How best to rebuild infrastructure and provide housing to the overwhelming amount of returning refugees. What to do with your former enemy? The trials and tribulations of keeping all these elements and more in balance with a extremely hostile natural environment is pushing our characters to some very uncomfortable moral boundaries. Great stuff.
March 5, 2017
Autobots & Decepticons, along with a growing faction of Non-Aligned bots struggle to form a unified society on devastated, hostile Cybertron. The graphics are great. Post-war politics and intrigue are the main plot-lines here. It's a much grittier worldview than the original comics. The characters are taking twists and turns that I would not have associated with the TF personalities of the 80's cartoon & comics that I grew up with. Still good, but I have to pretend this is an alt universe kind of thing to keep from "ruining my childhood".
January 26, 2016
Before reading this series, I was reading the volumes of More Than Meets the Eye and I think that sort of spoiled me. This book is more about politics and intrigue, and it's good, but the characters and dialogue don't have that same jump-off-the-page feeling that the ones in More Than Meets the Eye do. The plot moves well and is well thought-out, but I did sometimes have difficulty following the action when things got actiony.
May 15, 2022
The past two times I've reread this volume, it was as a companion piece to my favorite comic in the world, More Than Meets the Eye, and naturally it never quite measures up. This time, I'm choosing to read RiD/Optimus Prime as its own series (aside from crossovers), and honestly it really is great on its own. Each character is interesting, and the political intrigue creates new scenarios every issue.
October 1, 2015
The more serious counterpart to More Than Meets the Eye, this series mainly focuses on the politics of a post-war Cybertron, as more and more neutrals return home to their devastated homeworld. Starscream is already taking advantage, fitting in just fine as a political type, which should be fun to see as it develops. (B+)
October 9, 2016
What do the good guys do after the war is over?
Coalition governments, reuniting disparate refugees, four million year old economies based on hard currencies that are worthless on Cybertron. Ya know, work out problems, cuz the war was all about saving lives and living for tomorrow right?
Coalition governments, reuniting disparate refugees, four million year old economies based on hard currencies that are worthless on Cybertron. Ya know, work out problems, cuz the war was all about saving lives and living for tomorrow right?
September 10, 2023
2023: Actually better the second time around. The problem isn’t that it’s not good, it’s that you’re watching the majority of the characters make shitty decisions without payoff (yet).
2022: Not entirely fair to read this after More Than Meets The Eye and judge it based on that but... Let's say I'm looking forward to see how this picks up.
2022: Not entirely fair to read this after More Than Meets The Eye and judge it based on that but... Let's say I'm looking forward to see how this picks up.
March 28, 2015
This series, which runs concurrently with More Than Meets the Eye, follows Bumblebee and other Autobots as they try to shape the future of Cybertron. Though it may not be as good as the first volume of More Than Meets the Eye, it is still worth a read.
February 23, 2016
It ends better than it starts - I think when I first tried to read it, I was put off by the surprisingly casual murder of a couple of ridiculously named characters. But then I got emotionally involved in the story, and now I can't wait to see how this leads into Dark Cybertron.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews