Transformers: IDW Collection Phase Two Volume 4

Transformers: The IDW Collection #2.4

by Chris Metzen, Flint Dille, John Barber

In the early days of the war on Cybertron, two leaders start down their paths towards destiny. Meanwhile, on current day Cybertron, Megatron is back! Everything Bumblebee and his Autobots have built teeters on the edge of collapse–and Starscream has to make the choice his whole life has been leading to. On the Lost Light, a secret prisoner is confined in the bowels of the ship. Collects the Monstrosity mini-series, Robots in Disguise #12–18, and More Than Meets the Eye #14–16.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction

356 pages, Hardcover

First published October 25, 2016

Reviews

[Christopher Colton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume has slightly mixed. First, it has Monstrosity, which is... Fine. It's just kinda there. I don't think it really does much, storywise, beyond tying up a few bits of early continuity.

After that, though, are some of the best stories of the era. Robots in Disguise wraps up its first major arc with City on Fire, The Verge, Before the Dawn, Plan For Everything, and Heavy is the Head. A lot of great, dramatic moments that both deliver on the first 11 issues and set up the new status quo going forward.

More Than Meets the Eye, meanwhile, brings its A game with Remembrance Day, Under Cold Blue Stars, and The Gloaming. The character moments here are just phenomenal, and I think the relationship between Chromedome and Rewind is one of the best I've seen in any Transformers story. Particularly wrenching is Brainstorm's revelation that Rewind is not Chromedome's first lover; Chromedome's had three before him, and each of them died, and each time Chromedome erased his own memory of them to spare himself the pain. And it's only Rewind's final message that keeps him from taking the easy way out yet again.

This volume closes out with Shockwaves, which fills in the gaps between the Shadowplay Trilogy and the Senate's downfall in Megatron: Origins, and--together with Second Exodus--forms the prologue to the upcoming Dark Cybertron event.

[KJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

First part/stroy kinda dragged but then picked up near the end. Robots in disguise was good (especially that shockwave stuff at the end? Oh man... ) as always but man MTMTE continues to be excellent. RID is always interesting but I kinda wish I could just dive all in to MTMTE, but I think the break between is good for pacing it out.

Had my heart ripped out a couple times in the last 100 pages or so, so you know I'm invested in these characters which is technically good but at what cost lmao.

This collection had me crying so it definitely bumped it up to 4 stars when it was cruising at 3 stars for a while there. Can't wait to see what comes next (even if it brings more pain 😅)

[Jdetrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who knew that we would eventually have stories about gay Transformers, or that these tales of giant robots would become so complex, so often more about their personalities than about huge battles? This volume works extremely well, as it's about both huge battles and fascinating personalities, and seems to have some of the few permanent deaths in the series.

[Merlin’ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can’t believe I waited a over a month to finish this issue and we’re back in the same DAMN FORMULA 😭😭😭 At least Arcee got some good moments I love her artwork. Lowkey I think skybound spoiled me for the writing I know TF can achieve.

[Neurocomp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dont remember prowl having a major role much...but his story line in this si awesome.
Prowl-astator ...is awesome.
Like both story lines. (R.I.D , MTMTE)

[Marcin Tomaszewski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Niezmiennie dobre, choć "Robots in Disguise" to jednak słabsza seria od "More than meets the eye".

[Mr. Marz P · Rating 4 out of 5]

IDW solid series. Currently up to Phase 2 Vol. 9. Very happy all the way through.

[Chang Huey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prowl...sweetheart....you poor mech....

[Anthony Wendel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best way to describe this volume is "hostile takeover." The flashback with the "Monstrocity" storyline to the breakdown in government with the Robots in Disguise and finally the breakout of the mysterious prisoner in More Than Meets The Eye, large amounts of destuction changing the overarching story in the name of the game. Again, this IDW run was some of the best Transformers comics ever written.