Transformers: Bumblebee Movie Prequel: From Cybertron with Love

Transformers bayverse #15

by John Barber

Fan-favorite Autobot Bumblebee is recruited for a top secret mission, and 1960s London won't know what hit it when this robot in disguise goes undercover. It's high-tech, high-octane, high-clearance spy hijinks in.... From Cybertron with Love. Some call him Goldfender, but the name's Bee... Bumblebee. On loan to MI6 and teamed with a human partner, Bee's trapped in the middle of a Cold War plot to disrupt British Secret Intelligence. But when their base is destroyed from within, it's up to Bee to discover if there's a traitor in their midst...and, in the spy world, allegiances can change just as easily as a Cybertronian. Collects issues #1-4!

Genres: Comics, Science Fiction

99 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 2, 2018

Reviews

[Oneirosophos · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some cool Bayverse Decepticons and too many spy cliche.

[Rocky Sunico · Rating 3 out of 5]

I knew this was going to be a silly comic as if often the case for prequel stories, but it managed to be even more ridiculous than the covers had indicated. Not only was it strange to have Bumblebee working alongside human secret agents on James Bond-style capers, but we have a gazillion Decepticons threatening them and Bumblebee being the only Autobot around because it's a prequel to his solo movie.

Why Cybertronians would take on such a high profile "job" as being the partner of a spy is anyone's guess, but I guess it makes for silly storytelling. And there's a lot of efforts to introduce a fair amount of humor into everyone's dialogue (primarily to make fun of Dead End), but as is the case of such things the humor is a little all over the place.

Still, decent light reading.

[Ahdom · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am not sure how I feel about this. This was a James Bond knockoff about Bumblebee that is a prequel to the new film, which is a spinoff prequel to the Michael Bay Transformer films... This story did nothing to clue you in to the movie, nor did it tie into previous Tranformers installments. As far as I can tell, the new Bumblebee movie is taking us back to a more recognizable Tranformers era, something this comic should have also done.

[Scotty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read as this is a prequel to the new Bumblebee movie that came out this week. Still want to see the movie, but the graphic novel was just okay. It was set in the sixties and revolved around a bunch of cold war spies. Biggest problem was in the major battles there were too many transformers and it was really hard to tell what was going on.

Also, after reading, I don't think this book will make one bit of difference to my enjoyment of the movie.

[Michael Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very quick, very silly fun. It knows what it is – a Transformers crossover with the platonic ideal of 60s spy-fi – and goes to town indulging in all the clichés, conventions and conceits of the genre. And bonus points for an uncharacteristically solid understanding of London geography for an American comic book.

[Kavinay · Rating 4 out of 5]

The puns and Bond homages are very good. The movie continuity is utter crap, but that's not Barber's fault. If anything, he goes out of his way to try and make the story as compelling as possible given the cinematic universe's straitjacket.

[Neurocomp · Rating 4 out of 5]

story seems lacking and sometimes the graphics (70s-80s style Bond feel) but a decent read and whats not to like about showcasing only secondary decepticons (stunticons, triplechangers, runabout, sharkitcons) and new decepticon. The end boss is lacking tho

[Mason · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun loving homage to classic bond flicks. The jokes are spot on, the art is great, and it's a unique story that blends the ip seamlessly with the vintage spy setting. I didn't know it's what I needed from Transformers but here it is in all its glory. And there's even Sharkticons!

[Will Plunkett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Could this have been subtitled "Astin-Martin Powers" instead? I suppose it was intended to mirror the puns and snark of James Bond dialogue. The balance of human and Autobot/Decepticon plots was even throughout.

[Buzzreads · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe it's just not my thing. Non-stop action is hard to do well in comic form. Minimal character development, art was so-so, it wasn't easy to tell who was who in the panels. If you love transformers and are familiar with the characters you will probably like this more than I did.