IDW Titans Return One-Shot Review

Wednesday, July 27th, 2016 8:21AM CDT

Categories: Comic Book News, Reviews, Site Articles
Posted by: Va'al Views: 37,718

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Head Start
(Spoiler free-ish)

Synopsis
THE LAST AUTOBOT! Once he ruled CYBERTRON with a brutal (and literal) iron fist... left for dead four million years ago, SENTINEL PRIME is back. But in a world where STARSCREAM rules CYBERTON, OPTIMUS PRIME has invaded Earth, and MEGATRON is an AUTOBOT—SENTINEL doesn’t like what he sees!

I'll take revenge murder plot for 500, Alex

Story

The last couple of months (years?) have had a lot of change in the world of the Transformers - since Dark Cybertron ended, Dawn of the Autobots and Days of Deception happened, Megatron had several changes of heart, Windblade erupted into the world, Optimus started his journey to True Prick Prime status, Starscream actually still rules Cybertron, and the ex-colonies have returned. Now, imagine you were left for dead when you were a fascistic despot bent on superweapons and conquest. It's bound to mess with your brain, right?

Even tyrants need recaps

The three-author structure is actually well deployed in the book, allowing us a pre-Dying of the Light look at a flashback under movie night banner from (predominantly, one assumes) James Roberts, and avoiding a talking heads part. Which also means Swerve and Whirl get to annoy Megatron for a bit, as Cyclonus lets the true noble purpleness of his heart shine - plus some smile-worthy social commentary. In fact, the whole section has heaps of it.

Cyclobun

The second section has an unfortunate bit of a crossover - though not crucial, the two scenes are more complementary than anything - with the events of The Transformers #55, delayed in its print form to next week, but available on digital, it seems. Looking at the status on Earth after the rise of the Titan, and more Primes than you can can wrap your head around.

The Actual True Primes

Between John Barber and Mairghread Scott, the two heads together prove that they can master the voices of the other, as the third section is also the longest, set on Cybertron with Sentinel doing a lot of stuff. Stuff that shows character in pretty much everyone around him, from Starscream to Ironhide to Windblade, along with establishing him as

Art

Livio Ramondelli is the sole author of the visuals, and - unless you're not a fan of his style in general - he does an excellent job of bringing together a chaotic, hectic, pretty much planet shattering return, even if not of Titanic proportions as such. Between some of the establishing shots, and the lighting games that are being used throughout the book...

Shiny(dome?)

...and the more detailed looks at the characters, their interactions, and even some of the battle scenes, we get another strong performance in the G1-esque direction that Ramondelli's art, colouring and layouts has taken in later months. It works for the big bad bot, it works for the Lost Light cast, it works for Ironhide in particular. It works.

PUNCH IT

Tom B. Long returns to the work he had been doing in books like Autocracy/Primacy/Monstrosity, keeping the fonts more or less simple and clear, but having fun with the sound effects as Sentinel brings on a bit of a rampage wherever he goes or might end up going. And we get some good covers too, in the main Ramondelli one we've seen for a while plus the ROM exclusive, the thumbnailed Priscilla Tramontano encapsulates the story's potential direction, and there's a very fun double cover by Chris Giarrusso for Acme Comics.

Thoughts
Spoilerish ahead

The visuals are Ramondelli at its best, as of recent, and it's good to see him in such top shape, and colour, and... The writing, not only of the different characters as pointed out so far, but of Sentinel himself, is very entertaining - as far as a character such as his can be. He will be loved and hated in equal measure, and stands as a dead ringer for certain vocal elements of the fandom at times, too.

Yeah. I said it.

A one-shot that actually does fairly well in bringing together the three coexisting series at the moment, and sets up a stage that doesn't feel to constrained or artificial, with hints in the other books that can be linking bits together for detail-oriented readers, and a callback to a much earlier stage of the IDWverse. This book does good, and it does it well.

out of

Credit(s): IDW, Dr Va'al

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Re: IDW Titans Return One-Shot Review (1809482)
Posted by Kurona on July 27th, 2016 @ 8:30am CDT

Trying to find the comic itself

Dr Va'al wrote:

The Actual True Primes

But considering I've seen what is clearly the best panel I don't think I need to

Re: IDW Titans Return One-Shot Review (1809484)
Posted by Randomhero on July 27th, 2016 @ 8:37am CDT

I really liked this. My god was this months comics filled with death!

Re: IDW Titans Return One-Shot Review (1809512)
Posted by Va'al on July 27th, 2016 @ 9:47am CDT

One of my favourite panels, which didn't make the review cut.

Re: IDW Titans Return One-Shot Review (1809528)
Posted by TF-fan kev777 on July 27th, 2016 @ 10:56am CDT

Randomhero wrote:I really liked this. My god was this months comics filled with death!

I was just thinking the same thing, an especially bad month for the titans Return line with Galvatron, Ravage and Astrotrain biting the dust. Heck, Ravage and Astrotrain didn't even make it until their toys came out (assuming both are dead-dead).

Re: IDW Titans Return One-Shot Review (1809548)
Posted by Randomhero on July 27th, 2016 @ 12:16pm CDT

TF-fan kev777 wrote:
Randomhero wrote:I really liked this. My god was this months comics filled with death!

I was just thinking the same thing, an especially bad month for the titans Return line with Galvatron, Ravage and Astrotrain biting the dust. Heck, Ravage and Astrotrain didn't even make it until their toys came out (assuming both are dead-dead).

well, I'm not losing sleep over Galvatron. His head is still intact and he was never alive to begin with. Galavtron is a unique character. He's from the dead universe and unlike Cyclonus and others who came back from the dead he wasn't cured. Galvatron has always been immune from the death effects of the dead universe and I once asked a John "what's going on with Galvatron? Is he dead? Alive? Undead?" John said "great question! You'll have to wait and see!" I'm saying now, as long as his head is intact he will return because he hasn't had a spark for 6 million years.

Re: IDW Titans Return One-Shot Review (1809618)
Posted by TF-fan kev777 on July 27th, 2016 @ 2:46pm CDT

Randomhero wrote:
TF-fan kev777 wrote:
Randomhero wrote:I really liked this. My god was this months comics filled with death!

I was just thinking the same thing, an especially bad month for the titans Return line with Galvatron, Ravage and Astrotrain biting the dust. Heck, Ravage and Astrotrain didn't even make it until their toys came out (assuming both are dead-dead).

well, I'm not losing sleep over Galvatron. His head is still intact and he was never alive to begin with. Galavtron is a unique character. He's from the dead universe and unlike Cyclonus and others who came back from the dead he wasn't cured. Galvatron has always been immune from the death effects of the dead universe and I once asked a John "what's going on with Galvatron? Is he dead? Alive? Undead?" John said "great question! You'll have to wait and see!" I'm saying now, as long as his head is intact he will return because he hasn't had a spark for 6 million years.

I don't doubt that Galvy will show up again somewhere/somehow. Pretty sure Ravage is perma-dead, who knows on Astrotrain, they were pretty close to Soundwave's sanctuatary so there's a chance his wreckage could be salvaged and revived.

Re: IDW Titans Return One-Shot Review (1809625)
Posted by Randomhero on July 27th, 2016 @ 3:14pm CDT

TF-fan kev777 wrote:
Randomhero wrote:
TF-fan kev777 wrote:
Randomhero wrote:I really liked this. My god was this months comics filled with death!

I was just thinking the same thing, an especially bad month for the titans Return line with Galvatron, Ravage and Astrotrain biting the dust. Heck, Ravage and Astrotrain didn't even make it until their toys came out (assuming both are dead-dead).

well, I'm not losing sleep over Galvatron. His head is still intact and he was never alive to begin with. Galavtron is a unique character. He's from the dead universe and unlike Cyclonus and others who came back from the dead he wasn't cured. Galvatron has always been immune from the death effects of the dead universe and I once asked a John "what's going on with Galvatron? Is he dead? Alive? Undead?" John said "great question! You'll have to wait and see!" I'm saying now, as long as his head is intact he will return because he hasn't had a spark for 6 million years.

I don't doubt that Galvy will show up again somewhere/somehow. Pretty sure Ravage is perma-dead, who knows on Astrotrain, they were pretty close to Soundwave's sanctuatary so there's a chance his wreckage could be salvaged and revived.

Yeah ravages was a death that was so emotional and well done you don't want it to be undone because it was a very good and meaningful scene

Re: IDW Titans Return One-Shot Review (1809669)
Posted by Kurona on July 27th, 2016 @ 5:22pm CDT

I'm adoring seeing Soundwave and Optimus as allies.
I mean, I know they were in a couple issues before this; but now it's not conditional, now they're actually allied... it just feels really badass. Even moreso than Optimus + Megatron. I love this.

Re: IDW Titans Return One-Shot Review (1809784)
Posted by Randomhero on July 28th, 2016 @ 6:45am CDT

Kurona wrote:I'm adoring seeing Soundwave and Optimus as allies.
I mean, I know they were in a couple issues before this; but now it's not conditional, now they're actually allied... it just feels really badass. Even moreso than Optimus + Megatron. I love this.

I totally agree. The first issues of them was more Optimus blackmailing Soundwave which I didn't like bey much now that Soundwave understands humans and has finally come around it's awesome. Even in 55 when he says Megatron was right was great! It feels like "wow the war is finally over" it's not, there still a lot of big name decepticons out there who are more than happy to start it up again but to have the big three, starscream, Soundwave and megaton changing and accepting it is pretty great.

Guess I should talk about the issue. This was good! It's all set up but it was good. It doesn't even feel like this is an event that's coinciding with a toy theme...well except the last page but it flows really well. It's only a two month event due to revolution kicking off in a couple months and I think if it wasn't for that this would have been a longer even but since it's only two months and 5 issues it'll collect in a trade really well.

Only issue I had was he destroys the spacebridge but which one? that spacebridge looked like a Titan spacebridge and not the decepticon one that's been in Optimus's possession for quite a while. If he did just destroy the one that was installed in the Titan than does it matter because they have a second one.

I'm really hoping that Sentinel isn't just showing up, causing trouble and then being killed off. Keep Thai jerk around!

Re: IDW Titans Return One-Shot Review (1810205)
Posted by Rodimus Prime on July 29th, 2016 @ 4:27am CDT

If Sentinel was just a passing through character, I don't think he would have gotten a Voyager class figure in the toy line. Also, what are the chances of this month's TR one shot being included in a trade paperback?

Re: IDW Titans Return One-Shot Review (1810209)
Posted by Kurona on July 29th, 2016 @ 4:32am CDT

Rodimus Prime wrote:If Sentinel was just a passing through character, I don't think he would have gotten a Voyager class figure in the toy line. Also, what are the chances of this month's TR one shot being included in a trade paperback?

I'm pretty sure we would have gotten Sentinel in the toyline whether he's a passing character or not. Hasbro doesn't really care what IDW do with him after as long as they advertise their new toy now.

Re: IDW Titans Return One-Shot Review (1810236)
Posted by Va'al on July 29th, 2016 @ 5:39am CDT

Kurona wrote:
Rodimus Prime wrote:If Sentinel was just a passing through character, I don't think he would have gotten a Voyager class figure in the toy line. Also, what are the chances of this month's TR one shot being included in a trade paperback?

I'm pretty sure we would have gotten Sentinel in the toyline whether he's a passing character or not. Hasbro doesn't really care what IDW do with him after as long as they advertise their new toy now.

I think we'll have Titans Return as a TPB, much like Dark Cybertron and Combiner Wars, given that it's a convenient five issues long.

Re: IDW Titans Return One-Shot Review (1810411)
Posted by Rodimus Prime on July 29th, 2016 @ 11:53am CDT

Dr Va'al wrote:I think we'll have Titans Return as a TPB, much like Dark Cybertron and Combiner Wars, given that it's a convenient five issues long.

Yes, I figured the TPB was on the way. I was wondering is if the one shot released this month will be included or not? In other words, should I go out and get the one shot at the comic shop now, or will it be in the TPB? :-P

And this shot really makes me want to play with my Leader Class Starscream. So purrdy.

Re: IDW Titans Return One-Shot Review (1810536)
Posted by Va'al on July 29th, 2016 @ 6:05pm CDT

Rodimus Prime wrote:
Dr Va'al wrote:I think we'll have Titans Return as a TPB, much like Dark Cybertron and Combiner Wars, given that it's a convenient five issues long.
Yes, I figured the TPB was on the way. I was wondering is if the one shot released this month will be included or not? In other words, should I go out and get the one shot at the comic shop now, or will it be in the TPB?

And this shot really makes me want to play with my Leader Class Starscream. So purrdy.

Oh, I can't see them not including the opening issue to the 'event' in a collection! That only happened with Punishment and Redemption, as far as I'm aware. Even Combiner Hunters was included in Distant Stars. :-?

Re: IDW Titans Return One-Shot Review (1810707)
Posted by Sunstar on July 30th, 2016 @ 1:14pm CDT

Spark disrupter: is that supposed to explode or scramble the spark?

Re: IDW Titans Return One-Shot Review (1810824)
Posted by Nisus on July 31st, 2016 @ 11:43am CDT

Sunstar wrote:Spark disrupter: is that supposed to explode or scramble the spark?

I'm going to assume it was meant to scramble the spark, kind of like the drugs we have that can induce a heart attack.

Re: IDW Titans Return One-Shot Review (1812054)
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on August 4th, 2016 @ 11:03am CDT

I liked the issue and the art was great. Livio did a great job with the art and I applaud him. 2 thumbs up! ;)^

Sentinel sure is a series of unmentionable words. Still wondering about the whole titanmaster thing and how that will work out, japanese or american style, and how it played into his rebirth, but I like that they are doing it.

Also: Bob, Buster, and D0C.

Re: IDW Titans Return One-Shot Review (1812057)
Posted by Big Grim on August 4th, 2016 @ 11:07am CDT

Randomhero wrote:Yeah ravages was a death that was so emotional and well done you don't want it to be undone because it was a very good and meaningful scene

Yeah, I HATE when a really well done death is overturned/retconned.

I hated it that Aunt May was brought back to life after the stupendously poignant death she had in Amazing Spider-Man 400 for example.

Ravage went out brilliantly.

Re: IDW Titans Return One-Shot Review (1812774)
Posted by Va'al on August 6th, 2016 @ 1:26pm CDT

Via online retailer Amazon, we have a full solicit with expected release date for a couple of IDW Publishing Transformers books: first up is the collected trade that brings together the entirety of the Titans Return storyline, from the one-shot (reviewed here) to the two issues each of More Than Meets the Eye and The Transformers (#56-57). Check it out below, as the solicit mirrors the same as the opening one-shot issue, and expected for January 12th 2017!

Once he ruled CYBERTRON with a brutal (and literal) iron fist... left for dead four million years ago, SENTINEL PRIME is back. But in a world where STARSCREAM rules CYBERTON, OPTIMUS PRIME has invaded Earth, and MEGATRON is an AUTOBOT-SENTINEL doesn't like what he sees! Collects the Titans Return one-shot, Transformers #56-57, and Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye #56-57.

Paperback: 120 pages
Publisher: IDW Publishing (12 Jan. 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1631408216
ISBN-13: 978-1631408212
Product Dimensions: 16.5 x 26 cm

Re: IDW Titans Return One-Shot Review (1812981)
Posted by Rodimus Prime on August 7th, 2016 @ 7:47am CDT

...and this will be my first comic purchase of 2017! :-D

Re: IDW Titans Return One-Shot Review (1819777)
Posted by Va'al on August 29th, 2016 @ 2:13pm CDT

We had already seen some of the variant covers that came with the IDW Publishing Titans Return one-shot comic, but thanks to a nudge from our friends over at Acme Comics in Greensboro, NC, we have another one to show in full, created by Chris Giarrusso!

Also via Acme Comics, an invitation to join in the celebrations of the Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye series on this coming September 17th at their store, for a 'Transformers Day' - featuring toys, art, and more. Find out more info below!

ACME COMICS EXCLUSIVE TITANS RETURN VARIANT

Here's our latest exclusive variant! It is a wrap around cover for IDW's Titans Return one shot drawn by Chris Giarrusso which features an homage to the 1987 back of box art featuring Fortress Maximus and a ton of favorite characters and characters who will play roles in the storyline like Sentinel Prime. It is only $4.99 plus shipping costs if bought through our website.

TRANSFORMERS DAY

According to my research, September 17th is when the Transformers More than Meets the Eye mini series first aired so we are hosting "Transformers Day" at our auxiliary shop "Acme Comics Presents" which is where we keep all of our Transformers action figures from G1 to Titans Return. We hope to make this an annual event!

We will have artists available draw, special Hasbro Revolution promotional comics to give away, and special one-day-only offers!

Re: IDW Titans Return One-Shot Review (1820241)
Posted by Antarctica on August 30th, 2016 @ 10:17pm CDT

Dr Va'al wrote:

ACME COMICS EXCLUSIVE TITANS RETURN VARIANT

New guy here. And big GI Joe fan.

I was wondering you all could tell me who all of the Transformers are the small ones are hard to tell. For someone who isn't super knowledgeable.

And I am pretty excited to see how the IDW Hasbro Comic Crossover universe Revolution works out. MASK is a natural fit and I wonder if the MASK vehicles will actually be Transformers with MASK and GI Joe drivers. It all crosses over might as well be all in.

Thanks in advance for figuring out who is who on the cover.

Re: IDW Titans Return One-Shot Review (1820514)
Posted by Kurona on August 31st, 2016 @ 4:24pm CDT

Antarctica wrote:
Dr Va'al wrote:

ACME COMICS EXCLUSIVE TITANS RETURN VARIANT

New guy here. And big GI Joe fan.

I was wondering you all could tell me who all of the Transformers are the small ones are hard to tell. For someone who isn't super knowledgeable.

And I am pretty excited to see how the IDW Hasbro Comic Crossover universe Revolution works out. MASK is a natural fit and I wonder if the MASK vehicles will actually be Transformers with MASK and GI Joe drivers. It all crosses over might as well be all in.

Thanks in advance for figuring out who is who on the cover.

Well, that is certainly no easy question considering how numerous they are and how hard some of the smaller ones are to make out. But...

Cracks knuckles

The massive one at the far right all the smaller ones are swarming over is Fortress Maximus.
The only ones actually on him that I can make out are the combiner Superion on his right shoulder and Jetfire flying away from him on his right wrist (our right). The others are a bit too small and detail-less and don't seem to have a colour scheme and design that corresponds to any transformers in particular; they're likely just background generics.

In the skies, from left to right:-
Row 1: Skywarp, Thundercracker, Sentinel Prime, Acid Storm, Optimus Prime
Row 2: Starscream, Nova Storm/Sunstorm (or just a generic yellow seeker), Soundwave, Rumble/Frenzy and Frenzy/Rumble (depending on which one you think is blue and which one you think is red)
Row 3 (rooftop): Sunstreaker, Red Alert, Arcee, Kup
Row 4: Tall Tankor (aka Octane), Blitzwing, Megatron, Wheeljack, Ironhide

Re: IDW Titans Return One-Shot Review (1852994)
Posted by Va'al on January 17th, 2017 @ 11:48pm CST

Before we bring you more new news for the IDW Publishing comics, we have a reminder-cum-preview of the trade collection of the Titans Return issues, featuring the one-shot, the two The Transformers numbers, and the two More Than Meets the Eye ones! To get your fill of Headmasters, space racists, Prowl washing dishes, and more dead Titans, head to your comic retailer today.

Transformers: Titans Return
John Barber, James Roberts, Mairghread Scott (w) • Livio Ramondelli, Priscilla Tramontano (a) • Priscilla Tramontano (c)
Once he ruled CYBERTRON with a brutal (and literal) iron fist... left for dead four million years ago, SENTINEL PRIME is back. But in a world where STARSCREAM rules CYBERTRON, OPTIMUS PRIME has invaded Earth, and MEGATRON is an AUTOBOT—SENTINEL doesn’t like what he sees! Collects the Titans Return one-shot, Transformers #56–57, and Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye #56–57.
TPB • FC • $19.99 • 120 pages • ISBN: 978-1-63140-821-2

Bullet points:
“The Transformers: Titans Return is perfect to get readers of all kinds hooked.” –Major Spoilers