Transformers #26 Review (SPOILERS)

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Sat Sep 24, 2011 9:56 pm

First, a comment on the art. While some of the panels I find absolutely mind-blowing, I've decided that this style of art, with it's darker tone, isn't exactly conducive to good storytelling. As one-shots and pin-up style work, it's phenomenal. But I have to admit, after reading these last two issues, I would almost describe what's happened thus far in Chaos as dreamlike or nebulous.

E.J. did something along a similar vein with Revelations, but one big difference I think was the shading and tone were much lighter. The tone here is dark and grim and at times it's difficult to tell what's going on.

Storywise, I'm thus far underwhelmed. Like the art, the direction seems a bit muddy, where a lot of things are happening but what exactly, I'm not sure. Kimia has become a weapon, but for what reason exactly, again is a mystery. It probably doesn't help that I don't recall what Kimia was to begin with, but the name sounds familiar.

And it always bothers me to see members of combiner teams annihilated, because it ensures we will never get the chance to see that particular gestalt. In this case, it's Computron, who I would personally regard as one of the more intriguing amongst the combiners. Compy, we hardly knew you.

Give it a "C-". Muddy art and muddy story make this story dreamlike and, like a dream, I can recall only bits and pieces of it upon it's completion.

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 1:46 am

I really enjoyed the issue. Exponentially more-so when compared to the previous one. Perhaps an order of magnitude or so lower when compared to the two James Roberts issues, however.

All but dreading the next issue, sadly.

Post by **Best First** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 6:43 pm

what really bugs me is the way random characters just appear out of thin air when it suits the writer. I accept that they COULD have been on earth and COULD have been on Omega Supreme but the fact we have not see half these guys for the last 25 issues just reeks of bad writing.

Also the frigging insistance on calling Galvy and co Decepticons - its minor really but the lack of attention to detail is symptomatic of the editorial issues that have plaugued this series.

Better than usual for Costa, but still showing the same old problems for me.

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 9:29 pm

Some of that good old fashioned Autobot political philosophy. If you're not with us, you're against us. If you're against us, you're a Decepticon.

Post by **Kaylee** » Sat Oct 01, 2011 12:17 pm

Honestly not a clue what I just read. I like the art but find it almost impossible to understand the action sequences. I wonder if it's the colouring? The pencils cover is amazing is the only reason I propose it.

Galvatron is narking about, some big ship-thing I've never heard of that got hijacked turned into a gun. Some characters never seen before got killed and did stuff. Prime mulched off with Ironhide. Megatron has now changed shape and design completely. The little gun things were actually spider things, because Megatron's plan was to send them to earth, then have the autobots collect them so he could bust out of a situation he may or may not have found himself in.

It reminds me of Akira: I have no f****** clue what's happening beyond broad-brush concepts and the details are just confusing: they add noise rather than clarity.

bumblemusprime · Post by **bumblemusprime** » Sat Oct 01, 2011 4:39 pm

Some of the action was spectacular, like the shot of the Kimia opening fire, but it certainly wasn't spectacular in the Bryan Hitch "look at all the detail it's like a movie way." I think this artist's main influence is Monet.

It could have been a decent action setpiece, but it ended up as a rather dreamy and washed-out action setpiece. Put Casey or EJ back on this book stat.

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Sat Oct 01, 2011 5:46 pm

Karl wrote: It reminds me of Akira: I have no f****** clue what's happening beyond broad-brush concepts and the details are just confusing: they add noise rather than clarity.

Glad I'm not the only one who finds himself in the "what the f*** is going on?" camp.

Someone want to refresh my memory what Kimia was? I'm thinking it was some sort of experimental facility of some sort, hence the presence of the now-scattered-as-atoms-across-the-cosmos Technobots.

Can't wait for 2012. I'm ready to pretend the McCarthy/Costa run of, what, three years?, never happened.

Post by **Kaylee** » Sun Oct 02, 2011 2:41 am

Why are the Technobots floating about in space claiming to be scientists? Their alt modes all include guns and they merge into a giant robot warrior!

bumblemusprime · Post by **bumblemusprime** » Sun Oct 02, 2011 5:05 am

Yaya wrote:
Karl wrote: It reminds me of Akira: I have no f****** clue what's happening beyond broad-brush concepts and the details are just confusing: they add noise rather than clarity.
Glad I'm not the only one who finds himself in the "what the f*** is going on?" camp.

Someone want to refresh my memory what Kimia was? I'm thinking it was some sort of experimental facility of some sort, hence the presence of the now-scattered-as-atoms-across-the-cosmos Technobots.

Can't wait for 2012. I'm ready to pretend the McCarthy/Costa run of, what, three years?, never happened.

All Hail Megatron was released in, I think, June of 2008. Not coincidentally, it followed hot on the heels of One More Day. And my comics budget went way down.

Post by **Kaylee** » Sun Oct 02, 2011 5:24 am

Budget? I just wait a week then type 'transformers 26 cbr' into a search engine, just increasing the number each time

EDIT - AHA! Kimia is this thing: http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Kimia

And Galvatron is this guy: http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Galvatron_%28G1% ... continuity

I like how these characters are introduced like I should 'know' them when they've been completely repurposed in various stories from months ago that I've never read. :S

Post by **snarl** » Tue Oct 04, 2011 1:57 pm

It was ok.

I really like the art, although it isn't always immediately clear what is going down.

The pacing is very fast though, which is a bit jarring considering the last time I read Costa, his stories devoted about 5 issues to Bumblebee and Thundercracker talking about toast and who their top 10 birds were.

Post by **Best First** » Tue Oct 04, 2011 8:31 pm

yeah and it was ornotholgy just to keep the interest levels really low