Five Page Preview of IDW Transformers #31

I'm getting IDW 2005 Brainstorm vibes from this version of Perceptor.

Editor's Note: Yes, once again and as you saw in the title above this review is not authored by who its news posting says, but instead by guest reviewer Mr. Micromaster. With that out of the way, let's let him get to it. Thanks, Mr. Micromaster!

Transformers #31 is pretty good, the writing is good and the art is even better, it's great in this book. If you have not been enjoying the current IDW ongoing this issue probably will not change your mind, especially since this is another one of those issues that is pretty much all talking but it is probably the best execution of it.


Let’s start with the story of this issue. As I mentioned beforehand this issue like many issues in this series is a lot of talking but this is by far the best execution of that story format. This is probably because it is not just one conversation happening but a variety of different conversations which pick back up on various threads from past issues, and their absence has been an issue in the past. It also has a new thread with a relatively new character in Jumpstream.

Picking up on the older threads provides several nice moments in this book. The opening text crawl of the book reveals it has been 40 cycles since the end of the last issue, which is about a month and ten days, give or take. The issue picks up right where TF #30 left off with Provoke who was one of the ghosts that Cyclonus was seeing, and it turns out she is actually alive and has been in stasis for nearly two mega-cycles (nearly two thousand years). This leads to a nice scene between Cyclonus and Flatline with some emotive facial expressions from artist Anna Malkova. Another welcome moment is the catch-up scene between Ultra Magnus and Optimus, which also serves to fill the reader in as well.


Sideswipe and Bumper are also back in action in this issue after taking a beating in issue #20. There is a fun moment between Bumper and Sideswipe where Bumper asks Sideswipe for an opinion on his new arm. There are also several interactions with Jumpstream and Preceptor in his lab that give you a better sense of who these characters are in this universe.


Now on to the art. Malkova’s art as per usual is good and is complemented nicely by David Garcia Cruz’s colors. Malkova’s faces are pretty expressive, for example, you can really see the sadness on Cyclonus’ face and the insanity dripping from Sunstorm. Her cityscapes are impressive as well. Angel Hernandez’s art is also good though personally I prefer Malkova’s art. I will say though that Runamuck’s proportions seem off, but Hernandez’s art does shine in the alternate Cybertron. Jake Wood’s lettering is good as per usual and no obvious issues stuck out.

You can find full credits for Transformers #31 in our Vector Sigma Database entry for this issue


Overall, I enjoyed this issue. For me there were enough significant things happening in this issue to keep me interested throughout. I am legitimately interested to see what happens in the next issue.



This issue is out today, and you can pick it up at the Seibertron.com eBay store or at your local shop, check here to find the closest shop to you.

ScottyP wrote:This is going to look weird following the review on the front page, but again, I didn't write the review. Moving on.

The first half of this issue might have been, character-wise only, some of the strongest stuff in the run. With all the follow-up to various disparate plot threads, I thought it was leading to them coalescing in some cool way.

Instead the later part of the issue had an insultingly stupid twist to bring back a villain known only through reference and allusion, who we also learned isn't even a Cybertronian earlier in the issue.

Everytime I see hope, something else jumps in and further cements my opinion that this book is really bad. If there isn't a new writer after this arc, I'm dropping the main TF book from my pull list which is really hard to do as a collector. Only happened once before in late '09, was back in by mid-2011 for that huge turnaround so maybe they've got another one in 'em.

I definitely agree with you the first half of this issue is probably the best part. While personally I liked the plot twist at the end I understand where you’re coming from and if the plot twist falls flat next issue it will be a dud in my opinion. Honestly while I have been enjoying this book lately there have definitely been moments where I thought about dropping it. I agree with you honestly changing writers would not be a bad thing for this book. You could give Ruckley a Galaxies style book where he could tell smaller more contained stories I think he’d be great at that.

Plenty to digest, sure. But it's not really as dynamic or interesting as it could or should be. I dug out and re-read issue one, the other day. In comparison to Infiltration #1, it really lacks a visual punch.

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:Plenty to digest, sure. But it's not really as dynamic or interesting as it could or should be. I dug out and re-read issue one, the other day. In comparison to Infiltration #1, it really lacks a visual punch.

So would that be the fault of the writer for not setting/describing the scene well enough or the illustrator for not executing said description?

Editor's Note: Yes, for a third time and as you saw in the title above this review is not authored by who its news posting says, but instead by guest reviewer Mr. Micromaster. With that out of the way, let's let him get to it. Thanks, Mr. Micromaster!

For the most part I have been enjoying the Transformers ongoing consistently since issue #20. Unfortunately, I found this issue to be rather disappointing. Personally, I was hoping this issue would reveal more backstory to Exarchon, but alas last issue’s plot twist was honestly disappointing thanks to this issue.


Now let’s brighten up this review by talking about the only real positive of this book. That being the art. In the same vein as last issue, Anna Malkova and Angel Hernandez are on art duty for this issue. While Hernandez’s art style is not my favorite, he still delivers a plethora of dynamic action scenes in the beginning half of the book. The latter half of the book is drawn by Malkova who knocks it out of the park. David Garcia Cruz kills it on coloring with his colors working great with both Malkova and Hernandez art. Jake Wood’s lettering as always is done competently and doesn’t interfere with art.

You can find full credits for Transformers #32 in our Vector Sigma Database entry for this issue


I found the plot to be utterly lacking this issue. I felt like first half of this issue with Jumpstream could have been shortened to two or three pages, as it really didn’t amount to anything all that special or interesting. I feel like these pages would have been better spent exploring the ramifications of Jumpstream “cross overing” or more time with Cyclonus and Provoke. Something I had been enjoying about this series was its nice character moments, but this issue lacked those. I feel like the first half of this issue didn’t allow the rest of it to breathe.


The plot this issue lacked anything to make it feel special or standout. This issue really felt like I was just reading banal dialogue rather than reading an enticing Transformers story. For me there was maybe one and half interesting moments from this issue. I also found the plot twist at the end of book rather unnecessary and uninteresting. The only saving grace of this issue is the art. Malkova and Hernandez did excellent and dynamic work this issue. I am hoping next issue will better than this one, it definitely sounds more interesting in the solicitation.



This issue is out today, and you can pick it up at the Seibertron.com eBay store or at your local shop, check here to find the closest shop to you.

Is it worrying that I'm enjoying the Transformers/MLP more than the current ongoing series? Come back James Roberts all is forgiven!

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:

Rodimus Prime wrote:

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:Plenty to digest, sure. But it's not really as dynamic or interesting as it could or should be. I dug out and re-read issue one, the other day. In comparison to Infiltration #1, it really lacks a visual punch.

So would that be the fault of the writer for not setting/describing the scene well enough or the illustrator for not executing said description?

Weird that today was the first time a reply alert for this thread appeared

Not knowing the illustrator's prior work, if they are new to the business or not. If it is the former, I would put it down to a lack of story boarding/scene setting by the writer.

I know nothing if Angel Hernandez's career before Transformers, but TF 2019 #1 was his first work for TFs. He peaks early, goes away for a long time, then returns to draw the end of 31 and most of 32.

His parts of 32 are a sloppy mess. Spotlight: Thundercracker level bad art. Heart of Darkness level bad. Lumpy characters in wonky settings participating in clumsy action.

Windsweeper wrote:I've just read this issue and actually enjoyed it.
The alternate world/future piqued my curiosity. Interesting to see Skywarp as an army builder though it's a shame the exclusivity of his Siege mold prohibits picking up a few of the figures.

Nice to see Powerglide make an albeit short appearance and Black Jack among the rebels.

I like Flatline's portrayal so far. He's not a stereotypical, sadistic, evil doctor. He seems to care about his patients.

Not a fan of Exarchon so far but that's because I don't like seeing Megatron enthralled.

I liked the mention of Nucleon and it's effects on Bumblebee's rebels as I loved the Actionmasters growing up.

It's a shame the reviewer didn't enjoy the issue but each to their own.

I am glad you enjoyed it even though I couldn't. However I do agree with you that was nice to see Powerglide and the rebels being action masters was one of the more interesting things from the book.

Okay, I haven't really read anything since the Lost Light stuff.

Tell me what you think is worth reading since then. Because I know most of it is probably fluff and am looking for something with some substance. I'm partial to the US/UK Marvel run and most of IDW's stuff up to the Lost Light.