Transformers (2011-) Vol. 9 (Transformers: Robots In Disguise

Transformers IDW #55

by John Barber

OPTIMUS PRIME struggles to find his place on CYBERTRON where half the population hates him and the other half worships him. Meanwhile, on Earth, GALVATRON doesn’t care what anybody thinks. Collects issues #46–49.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction

103 pages, ebook

First published July 12, 2016

Reviews

[Sud666 · Rating 2 out of 5]

A lot of things seem to have changed in the Transformer's world. I won't even get into all the changes.

Optimus Prime goes looking for the "Torchbearers" while the Decepticons try to take over Earth. Again. While the story does have some merit, it seems like I have a lot of reading to do before I can get caught up. The loyalties of major characters has shifted so much that it can be head-spinning.

The artwork is pretty good throughout. If you've kept up then you'll like enjoy this volume as it seems like a good continuation. For me? It will motivate me to see what the rest of the story is.

[Clint the Cool Guy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Good art. That's all.

Great art. Other than that, I don't know. The best thing about this story is Buster the dog and Doc the drone. Everything else I could do without. The story is bizarre. And as usual, Optimus Prime is totally useless and helpless. IDW needs to just kill the character off because they certainly don't know how to write him. Victorion and the girl bot team are super annoying. They are arrogant, pretentious, and ridiculously overpowered. Why are they so rude to Optimus? Why do they talk down to him? And why is his self esteem so low that he's okay with that? Comics like this show me exactly why IDW's sales tanked. At this point I still have several volumes that I bought left to read, and I already regret buying them. After seeing how this franchise is getting run into the ground due to poor characterization plus identity politics, I don't plan to ever buy any more IDW comics.

[Andy Luke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another great paced flowing part-work in Barber and co.'s serial with visual art that's getting easier to work out. It's fun following character arcs as new allegiances are positioned. There's a good grasp of post-war relationships and attitudes and the book continues to keep the reader on their toes.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Galvatron fills the void left by a rehabilitated Megatron, while Optimus continues to aimlessly bark orders because he's nothing but a military leader, being called space Messiah. You can't get this kind of storytelling anywhere else (besides maybe Dune?).

[Marta Duda-Gryc · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5-4. Thundercracker, D.O.C., and Buster rule. I find myself weirdly attached to Cosmos, too. And sarcastic birds gallery never disappoints.

[James Bowman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still seems to be mostly setup for something bigger. The most interesting sections focused on Prime and the Camiens. (B)

[Martin Lund · Rating 2 out of 5]

I knew it was too much, hoping that the suggestion that they'd be done with Earth was going to stick long-term.

[B.J. Fantine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Standout issue: #48

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love that they have Laserbeak and Buzzsaw posted up in the rafters talking smack like the two old guys from the Muppets. It gives life to characters that were previously little more than drones. Also can't settle on what Soundwave should sound like in my head. His old G1 monotone does not fit how he's portrayed in the comics, at all.

[Carola · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm just here for Thundercracker, Buster and D.O.C.