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Comic Book

Image Comics 10/4/23 – Transformers #1

Jeffrey Lyles , , , , ,

Image and Skybound kick off its run of Transformers in the best way possible. That was almost a given considering Daniel Warren Johnson (Do a Powerbomb — essential reading for wrestling comic fans) got tabbed to revitalize the franchise for Image.

Johnson is seemingly incapable of making a slow comic with low stakes and poorly developed characters. Despite Transformers being around for many decades, Johnson is able to make this comic and franchise feel fresh and unpredictable all over again.

What’s just is great is Johnson isn’t about trashing childhoods by upending everything readers know and love about the Generation 1 characters. Starscream is still a little whiny and bossy to his fellow Decepticons. Optimus Prime is the brave, courageous leader and Soundwave is the menacing as close as Transformers can get to the Terminator.

Johnson gets he’s a steward of the franchise and doesn’t need to reinvent everything. There’s plenty of changes, but they’re done in service of telling a different Transformers origin — one that still feels in line and consistent with the foundational aspects of the franchise.

We’re introduced to tweaked versions of cartoon series favorites Spike, Sparkplug and Carly as they eventually stumble into the world of the Autobots and Decepticons. A very fun aspect of this issue is seeing the connective threads start to come together for Robert Kirkman’s comprehensive Energon Universe with ties to Void Rivals.

transformers 1

Johnson, who writes and draws, stages a dramatic and at times horrifying (in a good way) method of the Autobots/Decepticons war resuming on Earth. The Decepticons are as menacing and ruthless as they were in The Transformers The Movie assault on the Autobots’ shuttle immediately portraying them as a mega threat.

The cast of characters isn’t necessarily all the characters you’d expect, but Johnson allows for a means for reinforcements to ultimately join up.

Johnson’s art is rough and frenetic, but it absolutely conveys the boundless energy and pacing of his stories. And the self-professed wrestling fan finds some fun ways to work in some familiar holds during the opening act brawl.

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Colorist Mike Spicer does a fantastic job of bringing as much vibrancy to the colors to add another element to the intensity and scope of the story.

For Do a Powerbomb fans, this creative team knocking out Transformers probably isn’t coming as a surprise. Readers new to DWJ and Spicer’s collaborations, settle in as this is going to be a thrilling and exciting ride you won’t want to roll out from for a long, long time.

Rating: 10 out of 10

Photo Credit: Image Comics

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