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Transformers IDW #48
Transformers, Volume 7: Combiner Wars-First Strike
The secret origins of CYBERTRON's golden age are revealed to OPTIMUS PRIME--and what he learns changes everything about the AUTOBOTS' mission on Earth. Collects issues #33-38.
154 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 21, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 10, 2018
3,5. I don't know: there are some very good scenes, with Thundercracker and especially with Spike and Prowl (great pursuit scene, good interactions, and interesting consequences of being in a gestalt; oh Prowl, what have you done to yourself?), but the whole volume is a bit chaotic.
January 31, 2018
This launches the first direct tie-in to the Transformers toy line in IDW's G1 series... and actually does a pretty good job of it. Flashbacks to an early Cybertron (making good use of the "Aligned" continuity's ideas), and the continuing mystery of what's going in Prowl's head, make for an interesting read. While its ties to Earth's history aren't the most original, the Enigma of Combination is still a neat plot device. Looking forward to where this is going. (B+)
June 11, 2017
Decent return to form for Barber's team exploring post-Agreement Transformers, with the old disenfranchised and new allegiances. This volume takes in the consequences of the Earth occupation. It's Barber's trademarks: broad strokes, thrilling espionage, clever twists...these sell it, so if you like that sort of thing, go do.
December 7, 2022
A Transformers story with humans that wasn’t terrible??? It has been awhile since I could say that. I still hate humans being involved since there are still not positives with them, but this wasn’t so bad.
Galvatron was the highlight for me since I currently think other than him and Arcee nobody else is written very well. The Constructicons are funny but unfortunately since they are stuck with Prowl who is annoying it brings down their fun factor. I remember when I used to really like Prowl…
So far this Transformers run is a constant hit and miss. Actually, I think all of the IDW Transformers comics can pretty much be summed up as hit and miss. The highs aren’t very high and the lows are very very low.
I don’t think anything will ever reach the heights that “Last Stand of the Wreckers” reached.
Galvatron was the highlight for me since I currently think other than him and Arcee nobody else is written very well. The Constructicons are funny but unfortunately since they are stuck with Prowl who is annoying it brings down their fun factor. I remember when I used to really like Prowl…
So far this Transformers run is a constant hit and miss. Actually, I think all of the IDW Transformers comics can pretty much be summed up as hit and miss. The highs aren’t very high and the lows are very very low.
I don’t think anything will ever reach the heights that “Last Stand of the Wreckers” reached.
Read
August 30, 2022They really just retconned Arcee’s colors back to pink. Like I don’t blame them, the cop colors highkey sucked. But anyways. I am only more convinced that Prowl and Steve are basically ex-boyfriends and Thundercracker is the best character of all time. Give Arcee volatile chaotic neutral character rights.
August 6, 2018
Transformers: Robots In Disguise 7 carries on straight from the previous one in a rip roaring adventure the combines multiple characters across the board! :D Transformers: Robots In Disguise 7 has it all up there with great visuals supporting a great script really showing off the characters personality traits! :D The panels tie perfectly really setting the pace of the script! Optimus as ever is the quintessential leader, the Lost Light crew led by Rodimus gets in on the act showing the nature of their mission changing and even the human get in on the act! :D As ever though you have to wonder what is going on in the head of Prowl as it is clearly not set on right! :D The divergent characters are all incredibly different and you never know which way the characters are going to go with their decisions throughout making for wile guesses trying to predict where it is going to go! :D
The humour is packed in tight here with Thundercracker and his furry friend to the moment Optimus turns his back his crew stretches his orders to the limit! :D We also get even more backstory with Prime and Alpha Trion having a hear to heart which sets the tone for the book! :D The book also does a great job of showing the Cybertronians working together! :D Prime and Soundwave actually make a great team and the constant delving into their different point of view shows the ongoing moral debate at its best! :D
Transformers: Robots In Disguise 7 is mind boggling incredible adventure with more elements than you can shake a stick at on display here! :D Transformers: Robots In Disguise 7 really goes for it and succeeds brilliantly on all front! :D It also does a brilliant job of setting things up with plenty of east eggs in the cover collection and art! :D Highly recommended! Crisp High Five! :D Make sure you have the next one! :D
The humour is packed in tight here with Thundercracker and his furry friend to the moment Optimus turns his back his crew stretches his orders to the limit! :D We also get even more backstory with Prime and Alpha Trion having a hear to heart which sets the tone for the book! :D The book also does a great job of showing the Cybertronians working together! :D Prime and Soundwave actually make a great team and the constant delving into their different point of view shows the ongoing moral debate at its best! :D
Transformers: Robots In Disguise 7 is mind boggling incredible adventure with more elements than you can shake a stick at on display here! :D Transformers: Robots In Disguise 7 really goes for it and succeeds brilliantly on all front! :D It also does a brilliant job of setting things up with plenty of east eggs in the cover collection and art! :D Highly recommended! Crisp High Five! :D Make sure you have the next one! :D
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2019
Good Story
John Barber never disappoints, to me. This is a great story with good characters and lots of action. I'm not 100% clear on all the story details, but it is still pretty great. Good artwork too. Recommended.
John Barber never disappoints, to me. This is a great story with good characters and lots of action. I'm not 100% clear on all the story details, but it is still pretty great. Good artwork too. Recommended.
August 10, 2024
Standout issues: #33, #34
September 14, 2015
For my money the Transformers universe is kicking the teeth out of George RR Martin's chilly little world. This fantastic Transformers comic series continues, with both Autobots and Decepticons back on Earth in search of revenge and the lost secret to Cybertronian gestalts.
By this point in the story it's getting a little confusing. This is numbered the seventh collected volume, but that follows maybe a dozen others in the same continuity plus there another six (eight now?) running in parallel to this storyline! I don't know how big the story is anymore - that's what wikis are for.
In short - the Autobot/Decepticon war has ended, apparently decisively on Earth. Cybertron has been resettled (currently under Starscream's worrying leadership), Metroplex has returned, as has Galvatron and several of the most ancient Transformers (from the Dark Universe no less), Bumblebee is dead, Shockwave has attempted to destroy the universe, Megatron is now an Autobot and Prowl is going insane as the new head of Devastator... and that really doesn't even come close to catching up.
This the first part of the Combiner Wars story - the secret of combining Transformers into powerful gestalts. Thankfully we have Alpha Trion and Galvatron to fill in some of the background on Cybertron, way way back in the semi-feudal era of the Prime tribes. There's an ingenious mention of Headmasters in that early history and a number of fan favourites such as Rhinox appear briefly, lending some context to the existence of the bestial Transformers. This series constantly delves into the myths and history of Cybertron and its biggest players, enriching what was once just a series of adverts for plastic toys. It's fair to say that this series more than any other has wrenched Transformers out of adverts and into a rich fictional universe of its own.
It's not all talk - far from it. With Prime distracted by the recovery and insights of Alpha Trion, he leaves the Autobots orbiting a very tooled up and hostile Earth. Unfortunately he leaves Prowl in charge - that's the Prowl who until recently was being controlled by the Decepticons and indulging in horrifyingly utilitarian strategies, not that any of his colleagues thought he was any worse than usual. He's also teamed up with the Constructicons (the only "successful" gestalt so far - Superion fared quite poorly but is being tended to by a recuperated Wheeljack, while Monstructor who is properly crazy hasn't been seen for a while) which is bad news for Earth since their leader Scrapper was killed by humans during the same war that cost Prowl even more.
It gets worse, obviously. Galvatron is seeking out the Enigma of Combination which he thought he'd destroyed millions of years ago (guess what - it's on Earth). Arcee is supposed to be keeping an eye on Prowl, but she's half crazy anyway - not to mention she was formerly Prowl's prize assassin (and since when have the good guys needed assassins?). She's a great character (with quite a history) who takes absolutely no crap from anyone, whether it's her allies or enemies. My current favourite character Thundercracker (awful-screenplay-writing, dog-owning ex-Decepticon hermit living on Earth) is immediately sucked back into the fray in attempting to stop another Earth-Transformer war. The last one took a billion human lives and no few Transformers - can they really afford another...?
So it's carnage all the way. As ever, the story is nailed by the wonderful artwork. I was especially delighted by the first chapter, drawn by Sarah Stone. It's a bit of a shame she doesn't get to do more of this story. That's not to say the rest of the volume isn't also gorgeous. It is, happily continuing the style that the best of the last few volumes have nailed for the Transformers. John Barber is happily expanding the Transformers universe and I'm certainly happy for him to continue.
Thankfully I have the next chapter of the Combiner Wars to go straight into.
By this point in the story it's getting a little confusing. This is numbered the seventh collected volume, but that follows maybe a dozen others in the same continuity plus there another six (eight now?) running in parallel to this storyline! I don't know how big the story is anymore - that's what wikis are for.
In short - the Autobot/Decepticon war has ended, apparently decisively on Earth. Cybertron has been resettled (currently under Starscream's worrying leadership), Metroplex has returned, as has Galvatron and several of the most ancient Transformers (from the Dark Universe no less), Bumblebee is dead, Shockwave has attempted to destroy the universe, Megatron is now an Autobot and Prowl is going insane as the new head of Devastator... and that really doesn't even come close to catching up.
This the first part of the Combiner Wars story - the secret of combining Transformers into powerful gestalts. Thankfully we have Alpha Trion and Galvatron to fill in some of the background on Cybertron, way way back in the semi-feudal era of the Prime tribes. There's an ingenious mention of Headmasters in that early history and a number of fan favourites such as Rhinox appear briefly, lending some context to the existence of the bestial Transformers. This series constantly delves into the myths and history of Cybertron and its biggest players, enriching what was once just a series of adverts for plastic toys. It's fair to say that this series more than any other has wrenched Transformers out of adverts and into a rich fictional universe of its own.
It's not all talk - far from it. With Prime distracted by the recovery and insights of Alpha Trion, he leaves the Autobots orbiting a very tooled up and hostile Earth. Unfortunately he leaves Prowl in charge - that's the Prowl who until recently was being controlled by the Decepticons and indulging in horrifyingly utilitarian strategies, not that any of his colleagues thought he was any worse than usual. He's also teamed up with the Constructicons (the only "successful" gestalt so far - Superion fared quite poorly but is being tended to by a recuperated Wheeljack, while Monstructor who is properly crazy hasn't been seen for a while) which is bad news for Earth since their leader Scrapper was killed by humans during the same war that cost Prowl even more.
It gets worse, obviously. Galvatron is seeking out the Enigma of Combination which he thought he'd destroyed millions of years ago (guess what - it's on Earth). Arcee is supposed to be keeping an eye on Prowl, but she's half crazy anyway - not to mention she was formerly Prowl's prize assassin (and since when have the good guys needed assassins?). She's a great character (with quite a history) who takes absolutely no crap from anyone, whether it's her allies or enemies. My current favourite character Thundercracker (awful-screenplay-writing, dog-owning ex-Decepticon hermit living on Earth) is immediately sucked back into the fray in attempting to stop another Earth-Transformer war. The last one took a billion human lives and no few Transformers - can they really afford another...?
So it's carnage all the way. As ever, the story is nailed by the wonderful artwork. I was especially delighted by the first chapter, drawn by Sarah Stone. It's a bit of a shame she doesn't get to do more of this story. That's not to say the rest of the volume isn't also gorgeous. It is, happily continuing the style that the best of the last few volumes have nailed for the Transformers. John Barber is happily expanding the Transformers universe and I'm certainly happy for him to continue.
Thankfully I have the next chapter of the Combiner Wars to go straight into.
August 29, 2022
I hope one day we get to read the full adaptation of Thundercracker’s screen play. Soundwave doesn’t know what he’s passing up!
This volume was okay….. but, I’m really not in it for the human story. It was nice to see Prowl get some form of closure with is BFF and frenemy, Spike; however the journey to get there, with Prowl leading the Constructicons, has been quite a big stretch for me. The whole Galvatron/Arcee thing is a bit cringy too.
For me, the most interesting storyline here is Soundwave’s. His vision of an equitable universe places him at odds with every other character, and that, to me, is analogous with so much going on in our world today. I can’t help but feel sympathy for the bot!
3.5/5
This volume was okay….. but, I’m really not in it for the human story. It was nice to see Prowl get some form of closure with is BFF and frenemy, Spike; however the journey to get there, with Prowl leading the Constructicons, has been quite a big stretch for me. The whole Galvatron/Arcee thing is a bit cringy too.
For me, the most interesting storyline here is Soundwave’s. His vision of an equitable universe places him at odds with every other character, and that, to me, is analogous with so much going on in our world today. I can’t help but feel sympathy for the bot!
3.5/5
May 7, 2015
Continued awesomeness.
The transformer comics coming out these days are some of the best reading to be had. The trend continues here.
Robots in Disguise has always been the more serious and introspective title. It also focuses on some of the very best of the characters in the universe. In this volume you get to enjoy the interplay between two of the best... Prowl and Spike Witchity. Theirs is a very complicated relationship and it's a great read.
The transformer comics coming out these days are some of the best reading to be had. The trend continues here.
Robots in Disguise has always been the more serious and introspective title. It also focuses on some of the very best of the characters in the universe. In this volume you get to enjoy the interplay between two of the best... Prowl and Spike Witchity. Theirs is a very complicated relationship and it's a great read.
January 29, 2020
Am I the only one who had trouble telling the combiners apart and the narrative straight?
October 16, 2023
2023: 4 stars
2022: 3 stars
2022: 3 stars
July 22, 2016
The Prowlestator thing is weird and crazy. I like it.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews