Transformers #3 - Mobile Edition

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Transformers #3
By Hervé St-Louis
January 18, 2010 - 22:30

IDW Publishing
Writer(s): Mike Costa
Penciller(s): Don Figueroa
Inker(s): Don Figueroa
Colourist(s): J. Brown
Letterer(s): Chris Mowry
Cover Artist(s): Don Figueroa, Andrew Wildman
$3.99 US

The Autobots are in disarray as the humans have found a way to control their motor skills. Optimus Prime’s surrender last issue prompted Ultra Magnus to come to Earth and investigate his desertion. The Autobots is splitting into smaller teams, some of which are friends with the Decepticons. What else can go wrong?

We’ve been there before and its seems that for all their success, IDW Publishing just won’t give readers a break. How many different spin off Transformers series can they publish? How many times can they reboot a series that basically is but a continuation of an old plot? I missed the first two issues of this series because IDW Publishing started from scratch again after is All Hail Megatron series. Because it wasn’t in my pull list, I didn’t get to receive any earlier issues of this series, even though I’m a fan of the Transformers. It would seem like IDW Publishing is making it difficult for the average reader to follow their series. Only die-hard Transformers’ fans with time on their hand can figure out all these different series and how they connect together. Casual readers like me who like the Transformers and are willing to support the series every month but don’t follow every blog and forum on the Transformers easily get lost in the transaction. Unless IDW Publishing is bleeding with money, they should make sure it’s easy for people who want to follow the Transformers to do so easily. I mean, I publish a comic book Web site and I’m confused. If I’m confused and I should hardly be considered an average reader, imagine all the other real readers this company leaves in the dark month after month.

Not having read any of the previous issues in this series, I can barely make sense of what’s happening. For me the highlight of the series was the affirmation that Optimus Prime is a masochist into self flagellation with a death wish. He really is becoming pathetic as a character. That part of his character only turned out after his death in the movie which since has made every other writer write him as a selfless character that likes to get blown up. Well, I got a good laugh out of that.

The design on the Transformers is changing again. They usually do when there’s a new toy around. Being out of the loop on the latest Transformers’ toys, I can’t tell what’s happening. However, I will say that I hate how Figueroa draws the Transformers’s faces. I get it that he’s basing their designs on the films, but it just makes the characters look ugly and less relatable. Another problem is the lack of real inking. I wish they would hire a real inker to strengthen the lines on the page. Relying only on pencils and posterized line art is not a replacement for proper inking.

Rating: 7/10