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IDW Publishing Revolution Reviews - The Other Titles, pt. 1

Posted by Va'al Sep 30, 2016 at 10:17am CDT 36,744 views
The new IDW Publishing cross-franchise event REVOLUTION is not limited to ROM the Spaceknight, the Transformers and G.I. Joe, though the latter two are probably the biggest players so far and the foundation of the setting, and the former was reintroduced into the IDW universe almost explicitly for and due to the event. Other licensed properties are part of the mix, with M.A.S.K., Micronauts and Action Man taking a little slice of the action for themselves too!

This occasional feature on Seibertron.com is a one-off (three-off?) write-up on those other titles that don't fall under the robots categories, so you may go find more comics if you like what you see. The reviews are brief, with an eye to connecting them to the wider story and what readers might enjoy coming from a Transformers perspective, so please keep that in mind. [For an alternate and more systematic look at how Revolution is currently working out, see ScottyP's comics FAQ here!]

With order then...

Micronauts #1-#6, Revolution #1




Cullen Bunn, whom regular comics readers will undoubtedly recognise from several Marvel and other titles, dives deep into the Microverse, reigniting a spark in a very very old and dormant fire that not many may have remembered. However, he does so with such gusto and charm, even in the obnoxiously 80s patina that most of these properties have, that you can't help but chuckle at the interactions and overt cheese of some of the scenes. The Biounits, Acroyears, names - they just made me giggle so much, reading them in 2016. At the same time, Baron Karza is beautifully nuanced as a villain, and actually has a good characterisation through the Revolution book itself.

Bonus: Direct and unexpectedly good link to Cybertronian lore. Ties up with Transformers franchise in general, with things discussed in Titans Return, and with the covers teasing

Malus (but not really): The cheese. The name Shazraella.


M.A.S.K. Revolution #1




As it hasn't had enough time to go anywhere significant, there's not really too much to say about this one-shot comic - if not that it's probably the most played down and yet the most direct in terms of how G.I. Joe and Earth in general are planning to respond to the Cybertronian contingent and the perceived threat that Optimus's annexation of the planet to the Council of Worlds constitutes for, well, us. Written by Brandon Easton, with visuals from Tony Vargas and Jordi Esquin, the book is a crisp if slightly by the numbers origin story of the Kommand at the hands of Miles Mayhem, building to some interesting dynamics with the Joe envoy Scarlett. And then, it just... stops. Which is a shame. (But will start/continue in November as its own series!)

Bonus: Ego trips all over the place.

Malus: Ego trips all over the place.

and ROM the Spaceknight #1-#3, Revolution #1
(takes place in between issues. maybe. possibly. or before.




Currently running through three issues of its new ongoing series, with Chris Ryall and Christos Gage at the helm, the return of the Solstar order knight had a very promising beginning, with a bit of a plateau after the second issue hit. With a giant team taking control of the art, there are some really sweet spots visually too, but sometimes the story just doesn't hit the right beats enough to hold it all together.

Bonus: The designs (Wraiths and Rom in particular) are fantastic, and the book is the one that will providing the biggest cohesive for the various threads and titles so far, with its planet/universe wide conspiracies.

Malus: May not be one to follow too closely if it doesn't catch you immediately, and it does have a lot of Ryallisms (compare: Onyx), but that may be your thing!
IDW Publishing Revolution Reviews - The Other Titles, pt. 1
IDW Publishing Revolution Reviews - The Other Titles, pt. 1
IDW Publishing Revolution Reviews - The Other Titles, pt. 1
IDW Publishing Revolution Reviews - The Other Titles, pt. 1
IDW Publishing Revolution Reviews - The Other Titles, pt. 1
IDW Publishing Revolution Reviews - The Other Titles, pt. 1

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Re: IDW Publishing Revolution Reviews - The Other Titles, pt. 1 (view post)
Comment by william-james88 Sep 30, 2016
Why are they called mask if what they are wearing is more along the line of helmets?

Re: IDW Publishing Revolution Reviews - The Other Titles, pt. 1 (view post)
Comment by o.supreme Sep 30, 2016
william-james88 wrote:Why are they called mask if what they are wearing is more along the line of helmets?


Because,

Heroes
Extinguishing
Life's
Medical
Emergencies
Team

just didn't sound good....
Re: IDW Publishing Revolution Reviews - The Other Titles, pt. 1 (view post)
Comment by ricemazter Sep 30, 2016
Is that thing on the ROM cover just a xenomorph?

That thing on the ROM cover is just a xenomorph.
Re: IDW Publishing Revolution Reviews - The Other Titles, pt. 1 (view post)
Comment by D-Maximal_Primal Sep 30, 2016
Micronauts dumped that big Micronus reveal on us, and it's cool. That, plus the TF57 stuff made for a nice Micronauts into into the wider world
Re: IDW Publishing Revolution Reviews - The Other Titles, pt. 1 (view post)
Comment by Carnivius_Prime Sep 30, 2016
I read the MASK one as was curious (was never a big fan but I had some of the toys and they were kinda neat and as I mentioned some time ago the Human Alliance Transformers reminded me a bit of them in having a lil driver to put inside) but I dunno, I was just left feeling a bit... uncomfortable with it. I'm not sure why.
Re: IDW Publishing Revolution Reviews - The Other Titles, pt. 1 (view post)
Comment by D-Maximal_Primal Sep 30, 2016
I didn't really know what to think of MASK, still really don't. I like the concept but the story still feels funky
Re: IDW Publishing Revolution Reviews - The Other Titles, pt. 1 (view post)
Comment by D-Maximal_Primal Oct 1, 2016
ViaiTunes we have our latest IDW Revolution update, this time in the form of the sneak peak of Revolution #3! This comic is expected to be out October 12 and features the Micronauts, and for those keeping track, the God of the minicons himself: Micronus Prime! Check it out below.

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Re: IDW Publishing Revolution Reviews - The Other Titles, pt. 1 (view post)
Comment by Va'al Oct 1, 2016
Before you dip into the preview for IDW's Revolution #3, take a look at the full opening sequence for the second issue of the cross-franchise event, coming out next week in print and digital: as Comics Alliance posts the first seven pages of Revolution #2, plus all of the covers that come with the issue! We will be reviewing this on Wednesday, too, but feel free to join the discussion in the Energon Pub before then!

Revolution #2 (of 5)
Cullen Bunn & John Barber (w) • Fico Ossio (a) • Tradd Moore (c)
ROM—A MURDERER?! That’s what OPTIMUS PRIME and the TRANSFORMERS think—and right or wrong, there’s only one outcome: all-out war! Meanwhile, G.I. JOE turns to the one person who can save the world from ultimate destruction—MILES MAYHEM!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99


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Re: IDW Publishing Revolution Reviews - The Other Titles, pt. 1 (view post)
Comment by steve2275 Oct 1, 2016
hurry up next week
Re: IDW Publishing Revolution Reviews - The Other Titles, pt. 1 (view post)
Comment by Kurona Oct 1, 2016
Jazz liked that arm.
Re: IDW Publishing Revolution Reviews - The Other Titles, pt. 1 (view post)
Comment by Va'al Oct 1, 2016
Kurona wrote:Jazz liked that arm.


*nods sagely*
Re: IDW Publishing Revolution Reviews - The Other Titles, pt. 1 (view post)
Comment by Microraptor Oct 1, 2016
I love how it specifies Jazz liked "that" left arm, like there are others and he just really liked that particular one.
Re: IDW Publishing Revolution Reviews - The Other Titles, pt. 1 (view post)
Comment by D-Maximal_Primal Oct 1, 2016
And yet no one has mentioned ROM just flipping Optimus and embarrassing him like that?
Re: IDW Publishing Revolution Reviews - The Other Titles, pt. 1 (view post)
Comment by Va'al Oct 2, 2016
D-Maximus_Primal wrote:And yet no one has mentioned ROM just flipping Optimus and embarrassing him like that?


It's basically the plot of the whole issue! *rolls eyes* *still sorta enjoyed it*
Re: IDW Publishing Revolution Reviews - The Other Titles, pt. 1 (view post)
Comment by RevTibe Oct 2, 2016
Microraptor wrote:I love how it specifies Jazz liked "that" left arm, like there are others and he just really liked that particular one.

It was his special left arm; there is no other like it!
Dr Va'al wrote:
D-Maximus_Primal wrote:And yet no one has mentioned ROM just flipping Optimus and embarrassing him like that?


It's basically the plot of the whole issue! *rolls eyes* *still sorta enjoyed it*
All things considered, it's probably a wise choice to establish ROM as a potential threat to Cybertronians. They both work on gobbledy-goop sci-fi magic, so there's no real dissonance there. He's a threat to them in the same way that a monkey which could punch with the strength of a buff adult humie would be threatening to us.
Re: IDW Publishing Revolution Reviews - The Other Titles, pt. 1 (view post)
Comment by ScottyP Oct 4, 2016
Dr Va'al wrote:
D-Maximus_Primal wrote:And yet no one has mentioned ROM just flipping Optimus and embarrassing him like that?


It's basically the plot of the whole issue! *rolls eyes* *still sorta enjoyed it*
I don't mind it. If it was Death's Head we'd all be saying it was the Best Thing Ever. Which it would be, yes?
Re: IDW Publishing Revolution Reviews - The Other Titles, pt. 1 (view post)
Comment by Big Grim Oct 4, 2016
ScottyP wrote:I don't mind it. If it was Death's Head we'd all be saying it was the Best Thing Ever. Which it would be, yes?

I miss that Freelance Peacekeeping Agent.
Re: IDW Publishing Revolution Reviews - The Other Titles, pt. 1 (view post)
Comment by o.supreme Oct 4, 2016
I guess its a good thing that Hasbro/IDW has control of ROM now over as opposed to Marvel. But a while back, when I was looking at concept art for the animated series Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes. The "season 3" that never came about because of Jeph Loeb :-x . ROM was going to be featured in at least one episode. This was back in 2013, imagine what that small cameo would have done to boost that characters popularity.
Re: IDW Publishing Revolution Reviews - The Other Titles, pt. 1 (view post)
Comment by Shot Put Oct 5, 2016
o.supreme wrote:I guess its a good thing that Hasbro/IDW has control of ROM now over as opposed to Marvel. But a while back, when I was looking at concept art for the animated series Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes. The "season 3" that never came about because of Jeph Loeb :-x . ROM was going to be featured in at least one episode. This was back in 2013, imagine what that small cameo would have done to boost that characters popularity.


That was essentially fanart one of the show's character designers made to show what he would have liked to see. Rom would have never shown up in season 3 because Marvel never owned him.
Re: IDW Publishing Revolution Reviews - The Other Titles, pt. 1 (view post)
Comment by Va'al Oct 5, 2016
There is a review coming, but due to life outside of the site, it will be later than usual.
Apologies!
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