Transformers: Redemption of the Dinobots

Transformers IDW #67

by John Barber, Livio Ramondelli (Illustrator)

Explore the Dinobots like never before! Three stories chronicling the intense violence and redemption that have shaped the Transformers' most famous Autobot squad. It's a rollercoaster of death and absolution, drenched in atmosphere and action.

John Barber and Livio Ramondelli craft three stories focused on the Dinobots--a group of dinosaur-mode Autobots with a dark history and many sins to atone for. These stories' dark tone, intense plot, and epic cinematic scope explore the Dinobot's powerful dynamic and give these characters a chance to escape the cycle of violence that fuels their missions on Cybertron and beyond!

First, in Punishment, Optimus Prime and Windblade team up to stop a killer, but do they really want to, when all the victims are Decepticons? Then, in the title story, the Dinobots accept a dangerous mission into the Cybertronian wilds, but they get more than they bargained for, and are forced to reassess their beliefs in the process. Finally, in Salvation, the Dinobots are reviled for the things they've done. So when their greatest threat, Trypticon, appears, how much will they sacrifice for a world that hates them?

Collects The Transformers: Punishment, The Transformers: Redemption, and The Transformers: Salvation.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction

144 pages, Paperback

First published March 14, 2018

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the first two stories you should probably read at least through volume 7 of the 2011 “Robots in Disguise” series which changes to “The Transformers” in volume 7. It will help for continuity purposes. The third one is set I think after “Till All Are One” volume 1 or at least “Titans Return”, but I didn’t feel like reading all the way to there first.

Regardless of all that the first two stories “Punishment” and “ Redemption” flow really well together and are definitely the best of the three. For whatever reason they decided to have a bunch of time jumps going forward, backwards, and present time in the last story “Salvation”. If you’ve been reading Transformers you know how terrible they are at doing that through all of the comics. I would still recommend this but you would need to have an extensive reading of Transformers to really even enjoy this. If you haven’t read a lot of Transformers don’t read this and definitely don’t let this be your first.


Ratings for each of these are 4 stars for the first two and 3 stars for the last.

[James Bowman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three Transformers stories in here, with the first (Punishment) largely standing alone and the second two (Redemption and Salvation) being more closely linked. Punishment is definitely the highlight of the volume, an engaging murder-mystery with some solid twists. The second two stories, which better fulfill the promise of the title (they're Dinobot-focused), are unfortunately the weaker parts of the collection. While Redemption is still pretty solid and gives us some insight into Slug, Salvation feels rushed and unsatisfying - though even it introduces some interesting ideas about Trypticon. A mixed bag in all, but definitely worth it for at least the first story. (B+)

[Jarred · Rating 3 out of 5]

No Grimlock?!?!? Weak story, essentially an existential crisis for leftover dinobots since the war is over. Super disappointing. Good art though, but go read the transformers: Autocracy trilogy instead - more/better true dinobot story that has grimlock in it even if the dinobots aren’t the main focus of that story. I really wanted to like this more.

[Clint the Cool Guy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting

Interesting story. But kind of confusing to me. I feel like I'm reading comics out of order, reading this. I probably am. The art is beautiful, but at the same time, it is dark and really hard for me to tell at times what is going on. Also, where is Grimlock?

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent art and the first 2 stories are interesting. Had a tough time following the last story since I’m not a regular TF reader. Always find the anthropomorphic elements funny like seeing a TF warm its hands at a burn barrel and the ability to get drunk.

[Neurocomp · Rating 5 out of 5]

dinobots , sandstorm...no grimlock!!

still good action and graphics , poor slug.

[Christopher Colton · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I'm still not the biggest fan of Livio Ramondelli's dark and muddy artwork--stylistic art is fine, until the style obscures the content--I still really liked the writing in this trilogy of stories.

[B.J. Fantine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Standout issue: Transformers: Salvation