The Transformers # 22 - Mobile Edition

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The Transformers # 22
By Hervé St-Louis
August 2, 2011 - 06:36

IDW Publishing
Writer(s): James Roberts
Penciller(s): Alex Milne
Inker(s): Alex Milne
Colourist(s): Joana Lafuente
Letterer(s): Shawn Lee
Cover Artist(s): Alex Milne, Josh Perez
$3.99 US

Megatron has surrounded and is on his way to Cybertron, escorted by Optimus prime and a gigantic team of Autobots. The Autobot high council on the ship debates whether it should execute him or not, but Optimus prime wants to have a talk with Megatron before making the decision on his own. What is Megatron up to?

This issue features the type of character studies that has made the IDW run of Transformers so enjoyable for readers despite continuity problems here and there. Most of the issue is a flashback where we get to see Megatron’s life as a mining bot writing political tracts before he decided to rebel and fight the Autobots with his Decepticons. We understand more about the pure hate that inhabits him, and it is pure. Optimus Prime here, is played for a fool, but we don’t exactly know why because unlike Megatron, he is still stuck in the million-year long duality that links him to Megatron. Megatron plays on that as well, but suggests that there is far more to his existence than being defined by Optimus Prime. Now that’s wonderful storytelling and a great set up to what’s coming next in the world of the Transformers. However, issues like this one feel a bit disjointed compared to what’s going on with Galvatron, a version of Megatron who should have the same motivation but seems preoccupied with other issues. Prowl and Bumblebee both make appearances here, but they should be on Earth, not in a spaceship heading towards Cybertron.

Milne draws good Transformers although he gives them a human face. The colouring is good and there are touches throughout the book that make things interesting visually. For example, there is a scene where Megatron throws a rock on a piece of glass. The wreckage is shaped like the Decepticons’ symbol.
Rating: 9.5/10