Review of IDW First Strike #4 #HasbroFirstStrike

Wednesday, September 27th, 2017 4:37PM CDT

Categories: Comic Book News, Reviews, Site Articles
Posted by: Va'al Views: 29,222

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Shut Up, Optimus
(Spoiler free-ish)

Synopsis

Captured by Transformers! Even with the Autobots on their side, G.I. Joe is in trouble! Starscream doesn’t trust anyone, much less armed humans who show up during Cybertron’s darkest hour and he’ll do anything he can to keep G.I. Joe under control—including let COBRA get even closer to their goal!

Agreed.

Story

We continue our exploration of the wider Hasbro Universe as the First Strike event reaches the second act in its first issue over at IDW Publishing, as writers Mairghread Scott and David A. Rodriguez attempt to bring together and make no one kiss from the various feeble alliances at hand - and Starscream is tired.

So very tired

The momentum we had seen in the previous three issues seems to have waned a bit by this fourth issue, as the charge of the story is shifted to the two major factions colliding on Cybertron, now that politics and policy take over the immediate response to Ironblood's threat. Which was to be expected narratively, but I think also drags the pacing a little too much - which may be rectified in the next two issues.

and we all stumble

Look, I like a good dissection of Optimus Prime's character and saviour complex, and I have always enjoyed how Scott included that in her look at religious issues in Cybertronian and its colonies' culture, but one sequence in this issue that once more to that felt a little redundant after the parallels drawn with Scarlett and Soundwave last issue. Either that, or more could've been seeded earlier in the event, if this is going where I think it might.

buuuuuuuurn

As for characters in general, there are some good moments and snippets for individuals - but Scarlett, like Optimus, unfortunately takes a little too much too far too heavy of a burden for the story and the personal/political side of the event. The back-up story (at the hands of John Barber), on the other hand, was particularly enjoyable, and once more Mayhem steals the scene now that Shazraella is fully introduced (who finally clicks with her WoK drive, too).

Art

Max Dunbar (pencils) and John Wycough (inks) take the lead story's art duties, with Ander Zarate on the colouring side, and I am not entirely conviced, I'll admit. Dunbar's style still feels as though he's trying to adapt to the different moments in the story, but rather than finding a lead motive, it just falls into looking like other art depending on the sequence - not helped by the jarring contrast of heavy inks on an otherwise much lighter touch everywhere else in the issue (Wycough is only pages 3-9), meaning that the Cybertronians in trial are a bit too static for a full appreciation of the exchanges.

See? The inks are just drowning everything else in her face

As for the small chapter of backstory at the end, on the other hand, the collaboration between Netho Diaz (pencils), Walden Wong (inks), and David Garcia Cruz (colours) meshes really nicely - and not unnecessarily darkly - with Barber's short script, bringing some good spotlights onto Shazraella and Mayhem, still my favourites by far, and the compositions that the difference in scales allow for such a short frame of story space.

Gilberto Lazcano takes on the lettering duties in the issue, and I find no faults in his approach to the captions and dialogues, but it takes a long while to see full creativity with the soundscape of the more action-based scenes later on. The cover chosen for the thumbnail is a good summary of the main thread running for the most part of the issue, by talented Alex Ronald and Thomas Teyowisonte Deer -- and all other covers, of which there are many, can be found in our updated entry database right here.

Thoughts
Spoilerish ahead

There have been comments about this event that I strongly disagree with, but I have to admit that this particular issue did not do well what the previous three had handled really quite nicely, by adding some forced parallels, stilted dialogue moments, and pairing them with some not particularly strong visual results to carry the story forward - meaning that a particularly important moment for TF readers may be lost in tonal overbearing.

basically, #same

I'm not saying it's a bad issue, but it does have its severely dipping moments that it most definitely could not afford at this stage of the event, and by the nature of the event itself, too. Enjoy the Mayhem, enjoy the Starscream, enjoy the jabs at Optimus - and appreciate the difficulty of balancing all of the characters involved. But if this were to be entirely Scarlett's story and her relation to Colton, the issue sunk a bit too far into itself to make any other emotional connection work for me.

- out of

Credit(s): IDW

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Re: Review of IDW First Strike #4 #HasbroFirstStrike (1913272)
Posted by ScottyP on September 27th, 2017 @ 10:43pm CDT

The few good parts put a glaring spotlight on the problem spots, at least for me. And the thing with the pushups, holy crap, way to make Scarlett look like a whiny Langley brat while Gloria, Matt, Roadblock, and Jaye keep things steady.

And don't get me started on Joe "Roman Reigns" Colton again. There are no stakes left. Will they overcome the odds? Yes. Someone will. Yay?

At least this is coming out on schedule so far and will be over in a month. Misery on paper.

Re: Review of IDW First Strike #4 #HasbroFirstStrike (1913296)
Posted by Va'al on September 28th, 2017 @ 3:09am CDT

ScottyP wrote:The few good parts put a glaring spotlight on the problem spots, at least for me. And the thing with the pushups, holy crap, way to make Scarlett look like a whiny Langley brat while Gloria, Matt, Roadblock, and Jaye keep things steady.

I think that's what got to me the most. Scarlett was a potentially very good character with some good motivations and general 'good' things about her - then that story came up, and it dragged down her, Optimus, Colton, and just a whole lot of set-up that had been avoided in a book predominantly about GI Joe (come on, it's true).

There are some very good parts, as you say - but no, between visual stumbles, forced dialogue and over-drama, it just doesn't work well as a set-up for the second act (of two).

Let's see next month.

Re: Review of IDW First Strike #4 #HasbroFirstStrike (1913297)
Posted by Va'al on September 28th, 2017 @ 3:18am CDT

With issue #4 out, Previews World has now updated their listings for the variant covers for First Strike #5 - due next month from IDW Publishing - featuring artwork by Rob Duenas, Davide Fabbri and Monica Kubina, and Leonardo Manco, with the latter two choosing Joe Colton's scheming face with different entourages, and the former using the regular superdeformed brighly lit-up art we've come to see already. Check them all out below!

(W) Mairghread Scott, David Rodriguez (A) Max Dunbar (CA) Rob Duenas
Prison Break! After a daring escape, Optimus Prime, the Autobots, Scarlett, G.I. Joe and M.A.S.K. must venture into the heart of Cybertron to stop Cobra's devastating weapon that will kill every Transformer on the planet!
Bullet points:
* The Hasbro comic book event of 2017 continues!
* It's a race against time as Cobra reaches their goal! Can our heroes catch up? Or is Cybertron doomed?
* Filled with the action, drama and humor you've come to expect!

(W) Mairghread Scott, David Rodriguez (A) Max Dunbar (CA) Davide Fabbri

(W) Mairghread Scott, David Rodriguez (A) Max Dunbar (CA) Leonardo Manco

Re: Review of IDW First Strike #4 #HasbroFirstStrike (1913309)
Posted by Big Grim on September 28th, 2017 @ 6:56am CDT

Ugh, they really cannot draw the masks, can they. The original worked. That does not look like any version of Viper I've known.

Re: Review of IDW First Strike #4 #HasbroFirstStrike (1913311)
Posted by Daniel Adkins on September 28th, 2017 @ 7:43am CDT

Big Grim wrote:Ugh, they really cannot draw the masks, can they. The original worked. That does not look like any version of Viper I've known.

All the Masks got redesigned in the IDW continuity.

Re: Review of IDW First Strike #4 #HasbroFirstStrike (1913313)
Posted by Big Grim on September 28th, 2017 @ 8:03am CDT

Daniel Adkins wrote:
Big Grim wrote:Ugh, they really cannot draw the masks, can they. The original worked. That does not look like any version of Viper I've known.

All the Masks got redesigned in the IDW continuity.

Redesigned to look fairly generic and samey? GG IDW. Well done indeed.

Re: Review of IDW First Strike #4 #HasbroFirstStrike (1913315)
Posted by ScottyP on September 28th, 2017 @ 8:31am CDT

I feel like a massive douche about putting down the pushups thing now. Apparently it's a real thing that happens. https://twitter.com/MairghreadScott/sta ... 5095305216

Re: Review of IDW First Strike #4 #HasbroFirstStrike (1913316)
Posted by Daniel Adkins on September 28th, 2017 @ 8:35am CDT

Big Grim wrote:
Daniel Adkins wrote:
Big Grim wrote:Ugh, they really cannot draw the masks, can they. The original worked. That does not look like any version of Viper I've known.

All the Masks got redesigned in the IDW continuity.

Redesigned to look fairly generic and samey? GG IDW. Well done indeed.

*shrug* I wouldn't really say they're "samey," but to each his own. I find Mayhem's new Mask much better than the original, especially in how it recreates a peaked cap and his mustache.

Re: Review of IDW First Strike #4 #HasbroFirstStrike (1913327)
Posted by Va'al on September 28th, 2017 @ 9:48am CDT

ScottyP wrote:I feel like a massive douche about putting down the pushups thing now. Apparently it's a real thing that happens. https://twitter.com/MairghreadScott/sta ... 5095305216

That is fascinating (and horrifying) - but it doesn't change my opinion of the reading, unfortunately.
The way in which Scarlett and Optimus are tied in the issue still falls a little short of what it could be, especially with his presence constantly being played down by the actual characters around him such as Elita, Windblade, Starscream - even Ironhide's defense recognises he's an old dude out of his element.

Personally, I'm not a fan of the very US-based military narrative that runs in a lot of the comics we see coming out of Hasbro universe (and I realise that's a lot, and I realise it happens in such wider comics circles too - we commented upon it with John Barber way back in our first interview with him on the Twincast). It may have kicked those sensors in my brain, and made it feel ..meh.

That said, I am hopeful for a pick up in the next issue, leading to the finale.

Re: Review of IDW First Strike #4 #HasbroFirstStrike (1913381)
Posted by ScottyP on September 28th, 2017 @ 12:30pm CDT

Va'al wrote:Personally, I'm not a fan of the very US-based military narrative that runs in a lot of the comics we see coming out of Hasbro universe

I was pretty into how OP (the series) was handling GI Joe. Talon gave it some credibility. But this series very much has the 'Murica feeling and maybe that's why it's lacking some deeper punch.

Also, and I can't believe I'm saying this because I hate him but I thought it would've just happened by now since it's a hyper logical plot point that's been built up over 8 years - where is Spike and why is he not helping Colton?

Re: Review of IDW First Strike #4 #HasbroFirstStrike (1913387)
Posted by Daniel Adkins on September 28th, 2017 @ 12:59pm CDT

I'll be honest, I don't really get a "'Murica" vibe. Unless you're referring to Colton being a white baby boomer who appropriates German iconography who thinks foreigners are ruining his home. Of course, we also have Elita being a political candidate who paints an entire group of people as dangerous criminals.

I feel there's something kinda meta about the fact that all the Cybertronians brush the humans off as not being a substantial threat, considering that that idea has been one of the most common criticisms I've seen naysayers of Revolution/First Strike bring up.

One thing I don't get in regards to Scarlett's monologue is how it doesn't line up with IDW Joe history. The Joes aren't a group of wash-outs. In fact, they're usually the best of the best. And Hawk recruited her, not Colton.

Re: Review of IDW First Strike #4 #HasbroFirstStrike (1913466)
Posted by Stormshot_Prime on September 29th, 2017 @ 1:10am CDT

Just have to say. I think Marissa as Earth's Council of Worlds rep wasn't the best writing choice. I think Blackrock would've been better. He's a cybertronian/human hybrid as far as we're concerned, it just seems like a perfect fit.

Re: Review of IDW First Strike #4 #HasbroFirstStrike (1914372)
Posted by Bounti76 on October 3rd, 2017 @ 9:27pm CDT

Coming to us via iTunes, we have the three page preview for the penultimate issue in the First Strike event! Keeping right on schedule, this issue will be released on October 11th, after which we invite you all to spacebridge back to the Energon Pub Forums to discuss it!

Prison Break! After a daring escape, Optimus Prime, the Autobots, Scarlett, G.I. Joe and M.A.S.K. must venture into the heart of Cybertron to stop Cobra’s devastating weapon that will kill every Transformer on the planet!

Re: Review of IDW First Strike #4 #HasbroFirstStrike (1914381)
Posted by WreckerJack on October 3rd, 2017 @ 9:57pm CDT

Pyra looks so sad on the cover

I don't follow this series normally but I wish I knew what's going on on that cover. Prime doesn't look so good himself.

Re: Review of IDW First Strike #4 #HasbroFirstStrike (1914415)
Posted by Bounti76 on October 4th, 2017 @ 1:03am CDT

WreckerJack wrote:Pyra looks so sad on the cover I don't follow this series normally but I wish I knew what's going on on that cover. Prime doesn't look so good himself.

While covers aren't always a reliable source for what goes on inside the book, my guess is that Pyra Magna, Optimus, and the rest of the figures on the cover have fallen to Ironblood/Colton, and it's up to Scarlett to stop him.

Re: Review of IDW First Strike #4 #HasbroFirstStrike (1914450)
Posted by ScottyP on October 4th, 2017 @ 8:40am CDT

Covers are indeed very unreliable as Pyra Magna has barely been in this series so far. If it's a crossover, expect Optimus, Soundwave, Arcee, Windblade, and pick one of Jazz or Starscream. Anything else is a bonus.

Re: Review of IDW First Strike #4 #HasbroFirstStrike (1914454)
Posted by Kurona on October 4th, 2017 @ 8:54am CDT

Hell, Fat Tankor has featured on more than one cover in this series for some reason despite having I think all of one panel. Covers are usually weird, but they get extremely moreso during crossovers.

Re: Review of IDW First Strike #4 #HasbroFirstStrike (1914529)
Posted by DeadCaL on October 4th, 2017 @ 3:44pm CDT

Bounti76 wrote:

WaitAMinute, what is this, a comic about robots that transform into other things now? I came here for space politics! :lol:

Re: Review of IDW First Strike #4 #HasbroFirstStrike (1914537)
Posted by Va'al on October 4th, 2017 @ 4:19pm CDT

Also via iTunes is a three-page preview at another of the tie-in one-shot comics for the Hasbro Universe First Strike event: Optimus Prime! Bringing back characters from the Revolutionaries series (which just ended this week, by release if not narratively), check out the opening scenes below.

With Cybertron under siege by Baron Ironblood's forces, Optimus Prime and Arcee defend their homeland! Caught in the middle is the human/Transformer team known as the Revolutionaries—and one of them has a secret that puts everyone at risk!

Re: Review of IDW First Strike #4 #HasbroFirstStrike (1914541)
Posted by Va'al on October 4th, 2017 @ 4:30pm CDT

But wait! There is one more iTunes preview, though this one has not as much to do with Transformers as it completes the story started in Micronauts: First Strike - though still part of the event, of course - Rom: First Strike #1! Check it out below, and let us know what you think.

Rom’s team-up with the Micronauts leads our heroes right to the Dire Wraiths… and their new microscopic threat!

Re: Review of IDW First Strike #4 #HasbroFirstStrike (1915198)
Posted by Va'al on October 7th, 2017 @ 12:15pm CDT

Also directly from IDW Publishing is the full preview of next week's First Strike #5, the penultimate issue in the Hasbro Universe crossover event, collecting Transformers, GI Joe, MASK, Micronauts and ROM, with Revolutionaries playing a major part plot-wise! Check it out below.

First Strike #5
Mairghread Scott & David Rodriguez (w) • Max Dunbar (a) • Freddie E. Williams II (c)
Prison Break! After a daring escape, Optimus Prime, the Autobots, Scarlett, G.I. Joe and M.A.S.K. must venture into the heart of Cybertron to stop Cobra’s devastating weapon that will kill every Transformer on the planet!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Bullet points:
The Hasbro comic book event of 2017 continues!
It’s a race against time as Cobra reaches their goal! Can our heroes catch up? Or is Cybertron doomed?
Filled with the action, drama and humor you’ve come to expect!
Variant covers by Jay Fosgitt, Davide Fabbri, Leonardo Manco, and Whilce Portacio!

Re: Review of IDW First Strike #4 #HasbroFirstStrike (1915679)
Posted by Big Grim on October 10th, 2017 @ 11:40am CDT

I totally read Primes last word bubble in Cullens's voice...

Re: Review of IDW First Strike #4 #HasbroFirstStrike (1915685)
Posted by ScottyP on October 10th, 2017 @ 11:46am CDT

Big Grim wrote:I totally read Primes last word bubble in Cullens's voice...

The first clause sounds like a young, bright, 1985 Peter Cullen line while the second sounds like a grim, stern TLK line ><

Re: Review of IDW First Strike #4 #HasbroFirstStrike (1915990)
Posted by Va'al on October 11th, 2017 @ 4:15pm CDT

Hanging by Many Threads
(Spoiler free-ish)

Synopsis
Prison Break! After a daring escape, Optimus Prime, the Autobots, Scarlett, G.I. Joe and M.A.S.K. must venture into the heart of Cybertron to stop Cobra’s devastating weapon that will kill every Transformer on the planet!

the weapon is deadpan banter, obvs

Story

Mairghread Scott and David Rodriguez are working hard, there is no doubt about that, with several casts from books they have handled, and even more that they haven't. I have given the books so far a lot of grief too, for the approach to certain storylines and backstories, and I feel that having scheduled readings on time may have assuaged some of those grievances, too.

Arcee gets it

Which leads me to this: after having finally read the conclusion to Revolutionaries - which in one way or another was the direct lead, next to Optimus Prime (the others were much minor, all things considered) into First Strike - I can appreciate a lot more than in previous issues the various levels of parallels drawn for Baron Ironblood with the other unlikeable DAD in the series, Optimus himself. Plus, I can see a lot more of the humour in the overall script.

This is good joke

The very big cast was a lot more noticeable this time, but it didn't really put me off (Colton aside) - and it's really quite good to read and see some more flesh being added to Kreiger in the back-up story by John Barber, continuing the Iron axel of evil set-up alongside present events. He was still the one missing a lot of actual characterisation, other than Shazraella's quips, and we finally have some better looks at what he's doing and why he might be doing it.

#relationshipgoals

The plot armour, as other members of staff have called, around Scarlett is at the point of doing my head in; that I actually really want to know what on earth (/Cybertron?) is wrong with Baron Iron Cotton, and why he decided that the best way to solve his issues with aliens is to adopt standard conservative foreign policy. But with just one issue to go? I hope - and I like to believe that - Scott and Rodriguez are up to the challenge.

Art

The overall art direction for the issue, with Max Dunbar and Ander Zarate taking lines and colours, is the best that I've seen in the crossover so far, and the most consistent in both organic and technorganic designs, and there's a lot of really well brought out visual gags - but I'm still really not convinced about the compatibility of John Wycough inks on Dunbar's lines: they flatten a bit too much, and scenes lose a lot of their impact, even with Zarate's efforts on consistency.

See, I wanted to fully enjoy this a lot more

Much like my comments for the script, the back story on the backstory of Baron Ironblood's vault of villains is really quite pleasing from a visual perspective too: Netho Diaz, Walden Wong, and David Garcia Cruz do some good work on bringing the odd shiny darkness of Kreiger and his - probably worst of the lot, with Mayhem - tendencies towards whatever he's tending towards.

That Herr Half-Man to you

Gilberto Lazcano takes the lettering side, and there are some notable placements of speechbubbles to allow the script to shine through - especially with character interaction and comedic timings - and it's good to see some fun in the fontwork too, during louder scenes. The cover used for the thumbnail is one of two coloured by Thomas Teyowisonte Deer, with lineart by Whilce Portacio and the most TF-free of the lot - you can find all of the other variants in our Database entry for the issue, right here, including the excellent Jay Fosgitt one.

Thoughts
Spoilerish ahead

I've said this a lot already, but let me reiterate: I couldn't help but enjoy the story a lot more in this issue after my grievances with last time's, and with Revolutionaries #8 finally sedimenting - for me - some of the parallels being drawn that felt very out of nowhere until now. It's a shame when good writing gets hindered by logistics, and it's something IDW needs to find a way of addressing soon, for the sake of their creators as well as their readers.

*coff*

With an event and a cast this big (the two are very much related) there's bound to be some seeming inconsistencies or sidelining of characters - Windblade is perhaps the most erratic here - and some cameos that may come across as not ..the most apt - you'll see it directly when you read the book - and I'm still not entirely sold on the main threads running through First Strike. But, if nothing else, I do want to know what has happened, and how it will be resolved. I really, really do.

½ out of

Re: Review of IDW First Strike #4 #HasbroFirstStrike (1916061)
Posted by Big Grim on October 12th, 2017 @ 7:18am CDT

ScottyP wrote:
Big Grim wrote:I totally read Primes last word bubble in Cullens's voice...
The first clause sounds like a young, bright, 1985 Peter Cullen line while the second sounds like a grim, stern TLK line ><

Yes! Exactly like that!

Re: Review of IDW First Strike #4 #HasbroFirstStrike (1916077)
Posted by ScottyP on October 12th, 2017 @ 9:14am CDT

I like that 5 has some banter.

For the rest of the main story, I'm going to do what my momma taught me and not say anything else when I have nothing nice to say at all.

Re: Review of IDW First Strike #4 #HasbroFirstStrike (1916140)
Posted by Va'al on October 12th, 2017 @ 1:00pm CDT

ScottyP wrote:I like that 5 has some banter.

For the rest of the main story, I'm going to do what my momma taught me and not say anything else when I have nothing nice to say at all.

I enjoyed it a LOT more on my third read. I really did.
But I wanted to like it more, as I did with #3 and #4.

Re: Review of IDW First Strike #4 #HasbroFirstStrike (1916170)
Posted by partholon on October 12th, 2017 @ 4:35pm CDT

There's another crossover planned for next year. Adding in Revolution, this means IDW are in the midst of doing at least three big multi-franchise crossover events per year in a row.

this is whats bothering me the most.

i think IDW are making a massive mistake with the way theyre rolling these "events" out.

look at the marvel and DC universes. they worked fine for decades cause in the main crossovers were done between two or maybe three books. NOT the entire production line. events like that only really kicked in around the turn of the century and now theyre yearly events its turning off comic buyers BIG time.

ive been a fan of comics since the 70s but ive bascially sworn off everything cept the TF books which ive been getting up to the last relaunch and im ALREADY fuking lost as to whats going on and how im meant to follow it. im barely out a year FFS !

factor in a general dislike of most of the books they're crossing with and im left with no incentive to come back. its just doesnt feel organic.

IMO it'd be a better idea to make the "event" more focused. TF/ROM for instance- and just leave everyone else to get on with their own stories. then next year make it GI JOE and MASK .

What their doing right now not only feels like overkill, its making it a RIGHT pain to collect their trades if youve previously being collecting individual issues. case in point i dropped OPTIMUS PRIME cause i just dont like the art after the first six issues with the intenst of picking up the cheaper trades down the road.

low and behold OP trade 2 has the "ghost stories" annual i already have bound into it.

i can only imagine what its doing across the other books.

save the full universe crossovers for the truly special occasions as right now im getting FIERCE mid 90s xmen crossover fatigue, and im not even buying the books !

Re: Review of IDW First Strike #4 #HasbroFirstStrike (1916251)
Posted by Va'al on October 13th, 2017 @ 5:15am CDT

The story that will start in Optimus Prime: First Strike will find its continuation in Transformers: First Strike, as we knew, and we have a variant cover for Retailer Incentive purposes courtesy of Previews World and drawn by Humberto Ramos - check it out below!

(W) John Barber (A) Priscilla Tramontano (CA) Humberto Ramos
Continued from Optimus Prime: First Strike! When a bounty hunter drags one of their own into the wilds of Cybertron, the Revolutionaries join forces with Arcee and pursue! But in the midst of war, can humans and Cybertronians put aside their differences, or has the invasion of Cybertron doomed any chance at peace?

Bullet points:
* Tying into the events of First Strike-A Hasbro Comic Book Event!
* The second part of the Optimus Prime and the Revolutionaries story-continued from last month's Optimus Prime: First Strike #1!

Re: Review of IDW First Strike #4 #HasbroFirstStrike (1916289)
Posted by Hero Alpha on October 13th, 2017 @ 11:14am CDT

I would love it if Ramos started doing some Transformers comics. He is one of my top fav comic artist. Sweet looking Optimus he drew here.

Re: Review of IDW First Strike #4 #HasbroFirstStrike (1916338)
Posted by Carnivius_Prime on October 13th, 2017 @ 5:08pm CDT

Eh, not a fan. I didn't like his work on Spider-Man and Wolverine comics either. Just not into his style at all.
It's weird how there's all that light behind them like it's supposed to be all dynamic and kinetic looking but the poses are all really stiff and dull.

Re: Review of IDW First Strike #4 #HasbroFirstStrike (1916725)
Posted by WreckerJack on October 15th, 2017 @ 8:12pm CDT

Today we are sharing with you a full preview of First Strike #6 posted by iTunes. Issue #6 is available for digital pre-order if you want to do so. This issue features Windblade, Soundwave, Arcee and many others. Looks like the fight is just getting started!

If you have not already seen the First Strike #1 variant cover, check it out!

Description
War for the Core! Deep within Cybertron, the ultimate weapon to kill all Transformers is about to be activated! Meanwhile, Elita One plans to stop the weapon—by killing every human on Cybertron! Either way, looks like some species on Cybertron is going down unless Optimus Prime and Scarlett can save the day…

Re: Review of IDW First Strike #4 #HasbroFirstStrike (1916727)
Posted by Nexus Knight on October 15th, 2017 @ 8:34pm CDT

Soooo... fault me for not paying attention and missing a detail, but what is Kieger doing to the Masks?

Re: Review of IDW First Strike #4 #HasbroFirstStrike (1916728)
Posted by Kurona on October 15th, 2017 @ 8:39pm CDT

... And the aptly-named Sir Not Appearing In This Comic

Re: Review of IDW First Strike #4 #HasbroFirstStrike (1917061)
Posted by Va'al on October 17th, 2017 @ 5:37am CDT

Via IDW Publishing directly, we have a number of comic book previews for your viewing convenience, featuring Transformers and the rest of the Hasbro Universe - starting with the Optimus Prime tie-in to the crossover event First Strike! Check it out below, and head back for a Seibertron.com review after its release.

Optimus Prime: First Strike #1
John Barber (w) • Guido Guidi (a) • Sara Pitre-Durocher (c)
With Cybertron under siege by Baron Ironblood's forces, Optimus Prime and Arcee defend their homeland! Caught in the middle is the human/Transformer team known as the Revolutionaries—and one of them has a secret that puts everyone at risk!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Bullet points:
Tying into the events of First Strike—A Hasbro Comic Book Event!
The first part of Optimus Prime and the Revolutionaries’ story—continued in next month’s Revolutionaries: First Strike #1!
Variant cover by Nick Bradshaw!

Re: Review of IDW First Strike #4 #HasbroFirstStrike (1917062)
Posted by Va'al on October 17th, 2017 @ 5:44am CDT

Next up in our IDW Publishing previews, we have a full look at another First Strike tie-in comic from the Hasbro Universe: Rom! Featuring not only the titular character, but also the Micronauts squad, as the book serves as the second part of the story started in their tie-in (check our database here). Check it out!

Rom: First Strike #1
Christos Gage (w) • Chris Panda (a) • Nelson Daniel (c)
Rom’s team-up with the Micronauts leads our heroes right to the Dire Wraiths… and their new microscopic threat!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Bullet points:
Tying into the events of First Strike—A Hasbro Comic Book Event!
The second part of the Micronauts and Rom’s story—continued from last month’s Micronauts: First Strike #1!
Variant cover by Humberto Ramos!

Re: Review of IDW First Strike #4 #HasbroFirstStrike (1917075)
Posted by Big Grim on October 17th, 2017 @ 7:39am CDT

Are Kup and Action Man like this in the Revolutionaries? Cuz that little exchange is just the best!

Re: Review of IDW First Strike #4 #HasbroFirstStrike (1917082)
Posted by Cmdr. Trailblazer on October 17th, 2017 @ 8:15am CDT

Yes! There they are! With the final issue coming out after First Strike started, I was worried about the fate Revolutionaries. Now I'm curious to see what adventures they're gonna get to go on.

Big Grim wrote:Are Kup and Action Man like this in the Revolutionaries? Cuz that little exchange is just the best!

Saying yes seems like an understatement. :lol:

Re: Review of IDW First Strike #4 #HasbroFirstStrike (1917086)
Posted by Va'al on October 17th, 2017 @ 8:53am CDT

Cmdr. Trailblazer wrote:Yes! There they are! With the final issue coming out after First Strike started, I was worried about the fate Revolutionaries. Now I'm curious to see what adventures they're gonna get to go on.

Big Grim wrote:Are Kup and Action Man like this in the Revolutionaries? Cuz that little exchange is just the best!

Saying yes seems like an understatement.

Those two carry the series, this issue, and the entire shared universe.

Re: Review of IDW First Strike #4 #HasbroFirstStrike (1917088)
Posted by Kurona on October 17th, 2017 @ 8:59am CDT

Revolutionaries is absolutely the best thing to come out of the shared universe so far, and a big reason for that is Action Man and Kup. If you were on the fence I can't recommend it enough

Re: Review of IDW First Strike #4 #HasbroFirstStrike (1917091)
Posted by ricemazter on October 17th, 2017 @ 9:27am CDT

Wait, wraiths can't possess inorganic material? Then what about them possessing Cybertronians over in Rom vs Transformers?

Re: Review of IDW First Strike #4 #HasbroFirstStrike (1917093)
Posted by steve2275 on October 17th, 2017 @ 9:31am CDT

good guido almighty

Re: Review of IDW First Strike #4 #HasbroFirstStrike (1917094)
Posted by Kurona on October 17th, 2017 @ 9:32am CDT

ricemazter wrote:Wait, wraiths can't possess inorganic material? Then what about them possessing Cybertronians over in Rom vs Transformers?

Well, that mini isn't over yet and it -was- shown to be something previously-unheard of. We'll see...

Re: Review of IDW First Strike #4 #HasbroFirstStrike (1917096)
Posted by Big Grim on October 17th, 2017 @ 9:56am CDT

Kurona wrote:Revolutionaries is absolutely the best thing to come out of the shared universe so far, and a big reason for that is Action Man and Kup. If you were on the fence I can't recommend it enough

Sold! I'll pick em up come payday then I think!

Re: Review of IDW First Strike #4 #HasbroFirstStrike (1917104)
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on October 17th, 2017 @ 10:17am CDT

Va'al wrote:
Cmdr. Trailblazer wrote:Yes! There they are! With the final issue coming out after First Strike started, I was worried about the fate Revolutionaries. Now I'm curious to see what adventures they're gonna get to go on.

Big Grim wrote:Are Kup and Action Man like this in the Revolutionaries? Cuz that little exchange is just the best!

Saying yes seems like an understatement.

Those two carry the series, this issue, and the entire shared universe.

Nothing truer has been said. There is a reason Kup's titans return toy should have had the head named "Action Man" or "Ian". I renamed him Action Man, this is the best shared universe pairing, no doubt

Re: Review of IDW First Strike #4 #HasbroFirstStrike (1917123)
Posted by Daniel Adkins on October 17th, 2017 @ 11:20am CDT

ricemazter wrote:Wait, wraiths can't possess inorganic material? Then what about them possessing Cybertronians over in Rom vs Transformers?

Possession implies being able to control the host. What happened in ROM Vs TF was not that.

Re: Review of IDW First Strike #4 #HasbroFirstStrike (1917576)
Posted by Va'al on October 20th, 2017 @ 3:54am CDT

Also from iTunes, we have a quick preview of the opening pages of the second part of the story started in GI Joe: First Strike, in the MASK tie-in comic! Take a look below at IDW M.A.S.K.: First Strike #1, and stay with us next week for the end of the main event.

V.E.N.O.M.’s showdown with the G.I. Joe team continues as transforming vehicles, robotic ninjas and explosions threaten to bring the mission to a deadly end!

Re: Review of IDW First Strike #4 #HasbroFirstStrike (1917658)
Posted by Va'al on October 20th, 2017 @ 2:59pm CDT

The final issue of IDW Publishing's First Strike crossover event hits its release date next week, and Newsarama has the full preview for it already! There are still a couple of tie-in issues left but the bulk of the event is almost over - so check out how it opens below, and head back here next week for a review and discussion.

First Strike #6
Mairghread Scott & David Rodriguez (w) • Max Dunbar (a) • Freddie E. Williams II (c)
War for the Core! Deep within Cybertron, the ultimate weapon to kill all Transformers is about to be activated! Meanwhile, Elita One plans to stop the weapon—by killing every human on Cybertron! Either way, looks like some species on Cybertron is going down unless Optimus Prime and Scarlett can save the day…
FC • 32 pages • $3.99
Bullet points:
- The Hasbro comic book crossover event of 2017 is here!
- The wild ride ends here! Who will live? Who will die? What will happen to Cybertron?
- Expect both a satisfying conclusion and the start of a whole new era!
- Variant covers by Jay Fosgitt, Davide Fabbri, and Leonardo Manco!