Image Comics reviews 2/12/25 – Transformers #17, Geiger #11

Geiger #11

Issue #11 marked another sensational installment of Geiger with new players emerging and an existential crisis brewing for both Tariq and Junkyard Joe.

The months of traveling and battles along the way have exhausted Tariq. It’s fallen on Nate the Nuclear Knight and Junkyard Joe to get him the rest of the way to find Ash Arden and a possible cure.

Ash isn’t so sure what to make of Tariq and his crew but is won over by Nate’s genuine desire to make amends from his time with Camelot. As enjoyable as Tariq’s brooding vigilante has been, Nate has been the book’s MVP. Without Nate’s naive and likable demeanor, Tariq’s quest might have grown stale.

Writer Geoff Johns has smoothly expanded Geiger’s supporting cast to the point the book just wouldn’t be the same without this motley crew.

Ash makes an immediate positive first impression. Like Geiger, she had a reaction during the fallout and is the glowing woman. Unlike Tariq, she’s mastered control over her flare ups. The last one Geiger experienced caused him to have a heart attack.

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It says a lot about the amount of quality character development Johns has established that the issue doesn’t need any action scenes to be just as engaging and compelling.

Artist Gary Frank has no problems dramatizing the quiet moments from painful memories Tariq dreams about to his latest power spazz out. Frank’s storytelling is on full display in the opening where Nate pours his heart out to Ash over Geiger’s positive impact on him. Ash’s conflict is clear as she considers bringing in a potential threat into her community or turn away a powerful presence in need of major help.

Colorist Brad Anderson largely keeps the colors muted while giving Geiger’s powers a haunting visual boost. Letterer Rob Leigh lines up the dialogue smoothly while casually working in some creative larger font placement for sound effects.

Geiger remains a stellar read month in and month out. As the creative team approaches a year with this volume, there seems to be an abundance of captivating stories for many more years to come.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10