Transformers Volume 5: Chaos Theory

Transformers (IDW) Collected Series

by E.J. Su

The fate of Rodimus and the Matrix of Leadership is finally revealed in this newest story arc of Transformers, "Chaos Theory." The situation on Earth continues to deteriorate while we shift focus to outer space where Rodimus was last seen dead! But, after crash landing on a strange planet, Rodimus struggles to find a way back to Earth and the Autobot forces... until a few familiar faces show up to help and a new threat to Cybertron is revealed!

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Comic Book, Science Fiction, 21st Century

124 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 13, 2011

About the author

E.J. Su is an Taiwanese-born American comic book artist and penciller. He is best known for his work on Transformers comic book and for Image Comics on Tech Jacket with writer Robert Kirkman.

Reviews

[Gianfranco Mancini · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Freedom is the right of all sentient beings."...

Where the hell were you when cybertronians like me were forced to work in the mines just because we were made that way?

Best IDW Transformers volume and best Prime/Megatron story ever.
This is like the "Watchmen" of all Transformers stories, an awesome tale about how Orion Pax and Megatron the miner became the characters we all know.
The great art, the epic storyline, the world-building and characterization, all of these things make this a must-read for evety new and grown-up fans of the "robots in disguise".

[Andy Luke · Rating 4 out of 5]

James Roberts' and Alex Milne's philosophizing, gender-bending, guffaw gallop, politically subversive and quantum-fucking Transformers chronicles are given their true prologue in the two part tale in this volume. These are distinctive, and the child prodigy's first words. The plot revolves around the arrests and surrenders of a war criminal, his interrogators and the uncertain punishment that awaits. The authors use this as a crucible to explore the origins of the Cybertronian war, way back when and Roberts' gets to do plenty of sociological world building. For fans of MTMTE and Lost Light, or the casually suspicious, this volume is a great place to start.

'Chaos Theory' is preceded by the Mike Costa tales, 'Space Opera' and 'Police Action', drawn by Guido Guidi and Brendan Cahill. They're well handled and entertaining and add to the narrative flow.

[Marta Duda-Gryc · Rating 5 out of 5]

It blew my mind away. If there were more stars to give, I'd gladly shower it with star clusters.
Adventure, politics and morality discussions, war and peace, regrets, hope, lack of hope, change, depression and humor, unwilling heroes and unexpected villains, and personal relationships: you'll find it all here.

[Riester (Mei) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A miner by design but not by choice, he wanted the freedom to choose his own fate—not have it decided for him by a ruling elite who presumed to know best."

They should really let James Roberts write more (heck, let him write a TF novel already).
I truly love the way he writes Megatron and Optimus' relationship. He managed to give them so much flavor and show how one influenced the other (for better or worse) in only 2 issues!

[James Bowman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part of this volume is preparing the cast for the upcoming Chaos storyline (itself following from the Galvatron story in the previous volume). This material is fine, but the real highlight is the final two issues, which explore Megatron and Optimus Prime's relationship and include some excellent flashbacks to pre-war Cybertron. (A-)

[Derek · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Transformers tale that tones down the action in favor of discussions regarding philosophy and what it means to govern and rule. Wonderful stuff.

[Don · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a deep book. I loved the way the author explored the idea of power and corruption in government. I especially enjoyed the conversation between Optimus and Megatron. Lots of interesting history between them. It was interesting to consider that Megatron was an idealistic revolutionary who lost his way over time and became a tyrant. Very intelligent writing.

[Andrew Shapter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Certainly one of the best in this era of the franchise. Well written, clean artwork and the Megatron/Prime origin sequence is truly thought provoking. (Once you get past the talking giant alien robot thing.) ((But if you're sticking with this series, then you're already past that.))

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

SO AWESOME

I am really impressed with this story, and where this series is going. Not only is it good, but the artwork is fantastic. Everything is really well done here. The story alternates between the present and past, with the past based on pre-war Cybertron. The dialogue between Megatron and Optimus Prime is top-notch. It really nails what those two characters are all about, and the conflict between them. There is some humor also. I like that in this series, neither leader is presented as two dimensional. They are both complex characters, with a mixture of good and bad traits. It's just a great series overall. Highly recommended!

[Cappy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up on the strength of a Twitter post suggesting this story spoke quite directly to this particular moment of upset over racial injustice and police brutality in the US. They were not wrong; I was not disappointed. Beyond that compelling reflection, there's some really good writing and art in this book, too. This was my first foray into IDW's Transformers run and though the characters here are not exactly as I remember them from the '80's animated series, still I found myself wanting to explore this world at greater depth.

[Kavinay · Rating 5 out of 5]

James Roberts + Alex Milne! Outstanding. Cybertron before the war, the Chaos two-parter, is how you get hooked on the IDW Transformers universe.

Even Mike Costa's Rodimus story is quite good. I think it bears pointing out that little to no human involvement forces the story to be about Cybertronians and that's so much better than anything else in his run.

[tealeaf · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the other issues are just as bad as the rest of the series, #22 and #23 are so good that they bring the series rating up by 3 stars.

In these two issues, writer James Roberts teams up with artist Alex Milne for the first time, before they would later collaborate on the seminal More Than Meet The Eye. The art is great; it's expressive, lively and shockingly detailed. Joana Lafuente's colours are also perfectly selected to create a tangible atmosphere that perfectly suits the tone of each scene.

The script includes quirks that would be later developed in MTMTE: witty, snappy, engaging dialogue that rolls off character's tongues, expanding on Transformers lore in fascinating ways, explorations of politics and morality in an alien world, and brilliant characterisations that have you flipping to the next page to see what happens next.

You can leave the other issues, but it's worth picking up this volume for the Chaos Theory mini-arc alone.

[Martin Lund · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was by far the most interesting and well written arc of the series to date, in my opinion. It gives more depth of character to Optimus Prime and Megatron than either has received so far in the series, making them its most developed characters by miles. The scene where they trade battle stories of thw injuries they've given each other over the past four million years and then share a pained laugh is among the best Transformers has ever been for me. Of course, they had to sell Megatron down the river with more liberal "critique is bad and critics are terrible" rhetoric, but what else would you expect from a USAmerican mass market product?

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most heartfelt part of the Mike Costa run...and it wasn't written by Mike Costa. This is really John Roberts' debut. The art is at it's best here, because it's the work of Milne and Collier--the only actual transformers artists (everyone else is just filling in while they are away). It's a gorgeous little book, and I think every transformers fan should read this volume. You can ignore the rest of this series if you want; Chaos Theory really is in a league of it's own. It has all the makings of an epic, and shows the good in Megatron and the bad in Optimus. Essential reading.

[David Sanz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pues me ha encantado el último arco argumental que revisa el inicio de la guerra en Cybertron.