IDW Transformers Vs Terminator 1 Review

I have to somewhat disagree with this review, considering how highly praised the past few crossovers have been rated (Star Trek, Ghostbusters, etc). Of course it's derivative, it has to set the frame of the universe. The past crossovers have established that a vague G1-ish story has happened to our Cybertronian faves, their lives put down in an already established universe. The Transformers have always been an additive to these seemingly canonical crossovers. So this time, there's nothing wrong with both universes having to establish themselves, considering once again the TF side of the crossover is once again reduced to the basic "G1 Ark 4 million years in the mountain" storyline. Terminator mostly does the same; a single T-800 sent back to 1984. With no specific set of canon to root itself in (AND considering Terminator is the Earth based franchise), this story has to establish the going-ons of Earth first. It's a fact; in all of these crossovers, the TF franchise is always the secondary. "how can we squeeze this in?" kind of thought.

So many crossover's have to spend time establishing the casts of each franchise getting to know each other (Oh but watch out they may disagree at first!), I'm so happy that this one casts those expectations aside to create an engaging story. It presumes familiarity with each franchise, and why shouldn't it? I don't think there's a single person on here who doesn't know the basic original backstory for either franchise.

All in all, if you like it or you don't, but I think this is a pleasing entry in the steady stream of crossovers coming out in the TF franchise. And like it or not, I think we ALL should push for this recent crossover trend to continue.

Burn wrote:It's not a blow your balls off story, it serves one purpose and that's to establish how they two franchises are together. It's like climbing onto a mechanical bull, you've climbed on, and the book ends just as the operator hits the start button.

That is a perfect analogy, 100% agree.

Nice review Will! Very agreed with the assessment about it being an average comic, can't think of a better term. Fun, quick read and then it's over. Not bad, but nothing mind blowing either.

Love Milne's Seeker design here. Has some Hearts of Steel vibes maybe?

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:

ScottyP wrote:NLove Milne's Seeker design here. Has some Hearts of Steel vibes maybe?

I was thinking more Cybertron-esque, but that was just based on the shoulders and lower legs more than anything

That was brought up on our facebook page. Apparently it's partly based on the Cyberyron design but I think it's just a vew aspects used as inspiration rather than an interpretation of that design.

Those designs are frikkin delicious, I want both!

Oh man these designs are great! How about that kinda Arcee figure for Earthrise? A first Velocity toy would be great too.

So glad Milne is doing the linework for this series, I hope he never stops doing Transformers.

Ultra Markus wrote:arcee looks like an 84-86 Mustang GT

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She was called out as a 1983 Ford Mustang, so not too far off

Both of these designs look great! My only nitpick is that I wish Velocity still had her massive head crest-thing that her original design had, it was really unique.

I’m enjoying the comic but the Terminator seems to be having FAR too easy a time of it.

Last week marked the final installment of the Transformers vs Terminator comic and I have to say, this issue felt more bombastic than any Michael Bay movie. That's because this is done in fifteen minutes and it's just non stop action. You've got another classic Optimus vs Megatron Battle, you have Megatron vs Starscream, and the Terminator killing left right and centre with a bombastic finish. Plus you have quite a bit of Ravage thrown in, which is always nice to see from Alex Milne.



However, throughout the cacophony there is also some plot and I will be honest, I didn't get it. The writing was not the strong suit of this series, far from it. Since this is a Terminator story, there is a time travel semi paradox story to tell, kinda, and that part totally escaped me. Meaning that the end made absolutely no sense to me. And aside from a tease to what may come later, a good part of this comic really goes out of its way to say that this part is done with an ending that almost reminds me of Beast Machine's ending with a new tomorrow being born from the wreckage. Except if you don't really get how we got to the this ending, then you're just left bewildered.



Also, Optimus rapidly gets over the death of his fallen comrades, who he has spent eons battling with. It felt really insincere, like the writer had to address it and just dedicated a quick line of dialogue. I don't know what it is with Transformers comics in general, they are very tedious for a long bit and then wrap everything up in a larger than life sort of way that never leaves me satisfied, with writing that jumps around all over the place, never making the comic feel cohesive. It reminded me a lot of the opening arc of the Optimus Prime, or All Hail Megatron or even Stormbringer in structure. I know that last one has it's fans and so may this Terminator crossover but I am not one of them.

Back to the art, it's always a treat to see Alex Milne draw Transformers. He draws as many transformations as he could, almost like he is making up for the times he didn't on the Roberts run to the point where it feels unnecessary. For instance you'll have Bumblebee in robot mode in one panel and then soon after you see him transform from car to robot in the next. I do really wish the shadows were left to the colorist, however, rather than adding a grid pattern, it muddies the art.




In the end, this was a well drawn short series that shows that the franchises can work together, I just wish it was better written overall. If you ae going to write a yarn dealing with time travel, you have to make it simple and clear and I didn't get this here. In the end, my score for this issue is the same as the first issue and the series overall.




You can pick up this issue at the Seibertron.com eBay store or at your local shop, check here to find the closest shop to you.