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Hello Seibertronians,

Once again, Seibertron.com is bringing you exclusive content first. This time, we got an chance to review the upcoming IDW Publishing release of Transformers Ongoing #1, the newest Transformers story arc to be published by the comic book producing company.


WARNING!!! SPOILERS AHEAD!!!










Written by Mike Costa and heralding the return to the Transformers Universe for fan favorite artist Don Figueroa, Transformers Ongoing #1 is everything that the Transformers catch phrase "More than Meets the Eye" encompasses.

It is two years after the end of the Great War. The human race spends its time rebuilding Earth from all the destruction unwillingly brought upon it by the Transformers, refusing the help of Optimus Prime and his band of Autobots, instead forcing them into hiding. Though it is believed that Megatron is dead, Optimus Prime feels that the Autobots must remain on Earth to protect it from any possible Decepticon attack. But the only threat that seems to confront the Cybertronian warriors is not that of the Decepticons, but of the humans!

Led by Major Spike Witwicky, the human force known as Skywatch has only one mission objective: apprehend and deactivate all Transformers.

One thing that I can tell you for certain is this: none of the previews that you have seen for this first installment of the Ongoing Series will prepare you for the outcome. Mike Costa and the team at IDW Publishing are taking our beloved Robots in Disguise into a completely new era to the likes of which we have never thought of. The story presented by Mr. Costa captures the true essence of the Transformers being, albeit from the Autobot perspective, and adds a twist that may leave you scratching your head saying "What?!".

As a Transformers fan before anything, I can say this: This story may leave you with a bad taste in your mouth. I can see that IDW is trying to venture out of the norm, away from the usual Autobot VS. Decepticon battle after battle, but if you're the type of fan that doesn't like being taken out of your "Transformers comfort zone", Transformers Ongoing may not be right for you.

Aside from the story, the new art style being used is also a hard pill to swallow, as evidenced by the ongoing debates right here on Seibertron.com's forums. The fusion between the G1 remeniscent Classicsverse and the newer style Movieverse Transformers seems to take the worst of both styles and mashes them together. The one problem that I see, and many Seibertronians here seem to agree, is that the facial construction of the Transformers makes it look like all of them are evil, regardless of faction. I don't know if Don got bit by the "Twilight" bug, but I just don't get some of the Transformers looking more like "Cullens" than Cybertronians, and this is coming from a fan who loves his Transformers art. To say that this book is different is far from an understatement.

Its great to see the presence of some fan favorites such as Prowl, Wheeljack and Hot Rod but painful to see the demise of a hero in Ironhide. Even a popular Stunticon makes an appearance in a very popular Classicsverse alt mode. It seems like Mike and Don really tried to connect with the hardcore G1 fanbase with the presence of so many of the original Transformers, but may lose them with such a radical take on their forward direction.

Overall, the book makes for a very interesting read. This isn't your old school Transformers kiddies, this is a whole new era, seperate from the Transformers of yesteryear and the current movieverse. Be prepared to accept a new universe, a new direction and a new style of Transformers.

Transformers Ongoing #1 is due to hit news stands this Wednesday November 18th, 2009. Prepare to have your perspective on the Autobots and Decepticons Transformed.

See Also ...

Transformers: Ongoing
Transformers: Ongoing #1

Hey, I'm willing to give it a shot; besides, the new "fugitive Autobots" angle looks like a good twist on the normal stories. I'm a little hinky about the new style, but how many style revamps did the original G1 have during its run? Yeah, I'd have preferred they go back to before AHM and continue THAT storyline properly, but that's a complaint for a different thread...besides, better they continue and salvage what is than give us ANOTHER reboot.

This is a first for me, but after faithfully following all "Generation one" comics so far (Marvel, Marvel UK, Dreamwave, IDW) I've decided to cancel my pre-order for this new ongoing.

I'll still be getting Nick Roche's Wreckers comic (Nick's slightly caricatural artstyle isn't really my thing, but storywise he's been really good so far, and I like the cast) and the Bumblebee series (like the art), but the IDW comics have taken such a dramatic fall in quality since All Hail Megatron (in the end I only got it for the Guido Guidi artwork) that I'm just not willing to invest in yet another writer who will "give it a shot". At 3.99 a piece I think the quality of the IDW TF comics has been piss-poor lately. Add to that the new and incredibly off-putting designs by Don, and I'm... done.

I know a lot of fans are more than willing to embrace new writers, but I've decided that for me, no one can beat Simon Furman when it comes to writing Transformers stories. Spotlight: Sideswipe was worth it's weight in gold, but every issue of Shane McCarthey's All Hail Megatron took me about 4 minutes to read. At $ 3.99 a piece for a comic book, that's not the way it should be, IMO.

Based on this and the new preview we've got I can officially say it sucks story and art wise.

well I guess I'm in the minority then because I actually like the art. In fact, I wish the movie designs were closer to these designs. As far as not liking the new story....come on...how many people love Cybertron, or Armada, OR Beast Wars....there is plenty of room to explore different stories and art styles in the Transformers Universe....count me out of the "this art sucks" bandwagon.

Ravage Eject wrote:well I guess I'm in the minority then because I actually like the art. In fact, I wish the movie designs were closer to these designs. As far as not liking the new story....come on...how many people love Cybertron, or Armada, OR Beast Wars....there is plenty of room to explore different stories and art styles in the Transformers Universe....count me out of the "this art sucks" bandwagon.

I'm going to have to concur. I'm liking the gamble these guys are taking. It's a bold front after AHM and RoTF, and to remain within the Furman-verse?

Those are some cast iron (wrecking) balls.

I'll pick this up, see what happens.

I for one am also rather impressed with the new facial art. It makes a LOT more sense from the standpoint of the physical expression. By this I mean this: there are an ENORMOUS number of small muscles in the face that allow a human being to express feelings in a visible way. If you decide to impart human-like feelings and expressions on robots, then you need to have the mechanics to do so. As a result you are going to deal with a great number of metallic plates and joints in the face and it would give a much more inhuman appearance. You simply can't have that range of emotion with a single jointed jaw that slides up and down or with a single solid plate for a face; it gives the appearance of a mask- and you simply can't express emotion that way. Anyways, that's my take on why they've gone with the new art direction...a logical decision really expressed for the first time in the 2007 movie.

I'm always up for something new so let's give this a shot and see what happens. And honestly, can you blame the humans for wanting to destroy all Transformers? They nearly destroyed their planet and they can seamlessly disguise themselves; I'd say they have a right to be a little (or a lot) paranoid.

First-Aid wrote:I for one am also rather impressed with the new facial art. It makes a LOT more sense from the standpoint of the physical expression. By this I mean this: there are an ENORMOUS number of small muscles in the face that allow a human being to express feelings in a visible way. If you decide to impart human-like feelings and expressions on robots, then you need to have the mechanics to do so. As a result you are going to deal with a great number of metallic plates and joints in the face and it would give a much more inhuman appearance. You simply can't have that range of emotion with a single jointed jaw that slides up and down or with a single solid plate for a face; it gives the appearance of a mask- and you simply can't express emotion that way. Anyways, that's my take on why they've gone with the new art direction...a logical decision really expressed for the first time in the 2007 movie.

Logic? LOGIC?!!!!!!!!! Dude...its a comic about giant mechanical beings from another planet that turn into cars.


I am so sick of IDW at this point. Just frigging pick a direction and stick to it, this is like the third reboot in five years now

I'm pretty stoked for #1.

I've always been a huge fan of Don's work. His new art style took awhile to get use to.

And I'm digging Mike's current stuff, especially GI Joe: Cobra.

Honestly, the art style isn't bothering me too much, except the faces, specifically on characters without mouthplates. I'm trying to pretend their faces look like that because they're in hiding and low on spare parts. Sometimes though, the art does look rushed. There are, however, some very nice Prime spreads.

The writing is...so-so. I'm actually intrigued by the direction they're taking things. Will we be seeing Rodimus Prime? Heck, Marvel killed off Prime and featured other leaders for chunks of time, so why not IDW? Some of the narration felt a bit cheesey, but I've seen worse.

In short, I still feel like this series has great potential. I'm not ready to pass judgment just yet, I'll wait for the first few issues and try to get a more complete feel for the series.

Can someone who's read this issue provide some serious spoilers? I really want to know what the big twist is. I'm not going to buy this issue either way (maybe a trade paperback when it comes out), but I'm dying to know what makes this twist so special.

karellan wrote:Can someone who's read this issue provide some serious spoilers? I really want to know what the big twist is. I'm not going to buy this issue either way (maybe a trade paperback when it comes out), but I'm dying to know what makes this twist so special.

Prime turns G1 Season3 Rodimus Prime and complains he's a bas leader after Ironhide dies at the hand of the humans and so without choosing a new leader goes and gives himself up to the humans.
Oh and the humans also go out collecting Transformers and using them as real vehicles all while Prime whom we saw killing a human who tried to run away with Sunstreakers presumed corps by stepping in-front of his truck and watching him die after being crushed by the impact - lets the humans do all that and orders the autobots not to harm them.
Oh and this new art style looks far better when done by Alex Milne:
http://markerguru.deviantart.com/art/au ... -143927093
Wasn't it for the way I got to read the new ongoing I would say it's not worth the money to by the issues, better wait for the TPB which will show up sometime this month or the latest in 6 months time.

Yeah, all those pointy chins are pivotal for "expressions."

Yes, that does look better, but then Alex Milne keeps te faces intact

And ugh.... that story sounds lame. I so prefer the epic Simon Furman space sagas over the done-to-death "humans fighting the Autobots thinking all Transformers are evil" borefests...

I can wrap my head around people not like the faces. Maybe it's because I'm absolutely biased and I have been a fan of Don's work since his fan fiction days but I don't mind the faces. Hell, I'm thinking of using that double page spread as a sig.

Even though we knew about Ironhide's death weeks in advance, I still think it's a strong moment. Than and Prime's surrender? Holy ****!

Solid first issue, I'm one happy Transformers fan. I haven't bought a regular Transformers comic since Dreamwave's War Within (tried IDW's #0 but that didn't do it for me). I'm definitely stoked for this new series.

Dead Metal wrote:Prime turns G1 Season3 Rodimus Prime and complains he's a bas leader after Ironhide dies at the hand of the humans and so without choosing a new leader goes and gives himself up to the humans.
Oh and the humans also go out collecting Transformers and using them as real vehicles all while Prime whom we saw killing a human who tried to run away with Sunstreakers presumed corps by stepping in-front of his truck and watching him die after being crushed by the impact - lets the humans do all that and orders the autobots not to harm them.
Oh and this new art style looks far better when done by Alex Milne:
http://markerguru.deviantart.com/art/au ... -143927093
Wasn't it for the way I got to read the new ongoing I would say it's not worth the money to by the issues, better wait for the TPB which will show up sometime this month or the latest in 6 months time.

Thanks. Not quite as groundbreaking as I was hoping for, but I'm not really sure what I was expecting.

Didn't care for IDW's stuff prior to AHM, and from what I've seen of issue 1, the same problems I had are all back.

Please IDW figure out which demographics of fans you perfer to piss off and stick to it rather than flip-flop like this for the duration of your license.

Dude, Prime did not kill that truck driver. He was bloodied and knocked out but nothing in the issue indicated he was dead.

I just looked at that issue again.

Prime stops the truck, bends down and looks into the cab and sees the truck driver bloodied, awake and trying to speak. Prime then hears sirens and sees cars approaching after which he leaves the scene.

I'd kind of like to follow this comic, but I've never read any Transformers comics before. What do I need to read to get all the backstory leading up tho this comic?

B.K. wrote:I'd kind of like to follow this comic, but I've never read any Transformers comics before. What do I need to read to get all the backstory leading up tho this comic?

According to IDW, this story arc takes place immediately following the All Hail Megatron series. There was a four issue arc addition called Coda that was meant to tie AHM (which kinda went off on its own as far as storylines go) with the rest of the IDW Transformers universe.

But according to Andy Schmidt, Editor of the Transformers brand at IDW, Ongoing is meant to keep readers from past series in the mix while allowing for completely new readers to come in with feeling they missed a whole bunch.

B.K. wrote:I'd kind of like to follow this comic, but I've never read any Transformers comics before. What do I need to read to get all the backstory leading up tho this comic?

You can get Transformers: Continuum which is a one shot that will supposedly bring you up to speed.

MYoung23 wrote:

B.K. wrote:I'd kind of like to follow this comic, but I've never read any Transformers comics before. What do I need to read to get all the backstory leading up tho this comic?

You can get Transformers: Continuum which is a one shot that will supposedly bring you up to speed.

Yes. Continuum covers the last 3 years of IDW stories in one book. It gives you the basic groundwork so you can start reading Ongoing without skipping a beat. Definitely recommend picking it up.

Since the war is considered over I wonder if that mysterious 3rd faction will come out of hiding.

Just a basic hunch.

Issue 2, the Autobots deal with the loss of Prime, while Spike begins to interrogate Prime.

Issue 3, Hot Rod/imus will be made commander and again make some tactical mistakes. Spike starts seeing Prime as a being rather than an alien invader.

Issue 4, A Decepticon will learn of Prime's incarceration and will start plans while some bots will start questioning why HR is in charge.

Issue 5, Cons attack the base, and are more successful as they aren't concerned with killing humans. Spike will release Prime to save them.

Editor wrote:Just a basic hunch.

Issue 2, the Autobots deal with the loss of Prime, while Spike begins to interrogate Prime.

Issue 3, Hot Rod/imus will be made commander and again make some tactical mistakes. Spike starts seeing Prime as a being rather than an alien invader.

Issue 4, A Decepticon will learn of Prime's incarceration and will start plans while some bots will start questioning why HR is in charge.

Issue 5, Cons attack the base, and are more successful as they aren't concerned with killing humans. Spike will release Prime to save them.

Sounds about right. Oh and Prime will be ripping off heads and faces.