IDW Announce Back to the Future x Transformers Crossover Miniseries

Correct me if I am wrong... but wasn't this already announced? On the same day 'Gigawatt' was revealed and available to pre-order?

The first page of the first issue of Transformers / Back to the Future contains a letter from Doc Brown telling you, in so many words, to not take it too seriously. This is wisdom to take to heart, as this is another G1 crossover with a pop-culture franchise that's a quick read meant just for fun. Will you have fun reading it? Read on in this review to see if you, from the future, will tell you.


As mentioned, and as most readers probably expected after similar crossover books like Star Trek vs Transformers, Transformers Ghostbusters and Transformers vs Terminator, a Transformers cast very close to their G1 cartoon incarnations is back for more adventure. If you enjoyed those books you're almost certain to enjoy this as well, because the overall tone delivered by writer Cavan Scott is basically identical. The plot beats a drum somewhere between the aforementioned Ghostbusters and Terminator books so far, mingling lighthearted buddy comedy with Doc Brown and Marty with jumps around in spacetime to possible apocalyptic futures.


The focus feels like it skews heavier to the Back to the Future cast, but this is likely due to a somewhat limited Autobot presence throughout this initial issue. Whether or not the BttF cast is portrayed effectively or faithfully is outside of this reviewer's expertise, but I can say that what I remember of Marty, Biff and the others comes across here as expected. There does seem to be some expectation of reader familiarity with those characters moreso than with the Transformers, which is probably fair but readers of this site are in the one audience where that's not really a positive.


Juan Samu returns to drawing the occasional Transformer here, as the other three of you that read IDW's M.A.S.K. series may recall. The linework is good overall though inconsistent, with one example being the two Soundwaves encountered one right after the other. Samu shows definite talent in depicting the transformation sequences in particular, so I'll be watching to see if he can nail down consistency in character proportions and tone down some of the overly exuberant facial expressions. David Garcia Cruz provides the colors with lighting and effects jumping out as a fantastic addition to the visual presentation of some scenes. Neil Uyetake's letter work never stood in the way and was easy to follow, though some of Gigawatt's narration was a bit confusing - there were times I thought it was Marty. The editorial duo of David Mariotte and Chase Marotz kept this initial issue's scope in appropriate check, as it features just enough progression to set up the rest of the mini-series while providing a hook for readers to return next month.

Samu and Garcia Cruz provide the art for the "A" cover which is featured in this review's news story thumbnail. Past crossover artists Philip Murphy and Dan Schoening deliver the "B" cover and 10 copy retail incentive cover, respectively, while a nameless Hasbro photographer's promo shot of the Gigawatt toy graces the 25 copy incentive. As always, you can find all the cover images, full credits for the issue and a list of all the characters that appear in the book through our Vector Sigma Database page for Transformers / Back to the Future #1.


Whether or not you'll enjoy this probably comes down to your attitude towards crossovers, affinity for the franchises aside. If you enjoy them and enjoyed books like the Ghostbusters, Star Trek and Terminator crossovers, you'll enjoy this. If you don't, or are starting to get fatigued by the constant appearance of only the G1 cartoon cast in these types of books, you may want to steer clear as I don't suspect this is going to do anything for you which earlier crossovers didn't. For this reason, two scores are presented below:





Look out for this issue today, October 7th, where 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.

Soundwave design in comic looked pretty similar to music label soundwave

Bought it. Seems like harmless fun, same as other IDW crossovers. Hope it's a little more satisfying than Terminator.

~ Grim

Didn't see that coming, did you, Starscream?

Flashwave wrote:Skilz? SKILZ We have a perfectly good Skateboard Minicon called Grindor and they come up with Skilz.

Methinks a certain website has made the name Grindor not as appealing of a name as it was in the early 2000’s.

concrusher792 wrote:

Flashwave wrote:Skilz? SKILZ We have a perfectly good Skateboard Minicon called Grindor and they come up with Skilz.

Methinks a certain website has made the name Grindor not as appealing of a name as it was in the early 2000’s.

I'm not sure what you mean, but okay. I think the name was last used in the 09 movie for the Blackout double?

ZeroWolf wrote:

Flashwave wrote:

concrusher792 wrote:

Flashwave wrote:Skilz? SKILZ We have a perfectly good Skateboard Minicon called Grindor and they come up with Skilz.

Methinks a certain website has made the name Grindor not as appealing of a name as it was in the early 2000’s.

I'm not sure what you mean, but okay. I think the name was last used in the 09 movie for the Blackout double?

Theres a dating app called Grindr, if I'm not getting my wires crossed its used by the LQBTG+ community.

There's also a handy tool called a "Grinder" so you know ... one word, multiple spellings, multiple uses.

Ok so two issues in and this series is perfectly fine for what it is: a Transformers/Back to the Future Crossover. The first issue had an extra fun feel since it basically replayed the events of the first film but in a chronological manner in the point of view of someone watching the DeLorean disappear in the 80s, setting up the story brilliantly since anyone who saw the film can just fill in any blank easily, and ending in not one but two great cliffhangers.



I was rather excited to read this one and while the cliffhangers are explained, it takes practically the entire issue to do so, meaning that you are in for flashbacks for 75% of the issue. We learn all about Gigawatt and how the Decepticons became as dominant as they are now and it's fun for the most part. I most especially love how Megatron is portrayed. They strike a nice balance of ruthlessness with an over the top ego, where we even see him sport a regal cape.



Once the backstory is explained, we are back to the present just in time to end the issue on another cliffhanger and that's it. Story-wise, there are no false beats here, it's just fun and anyone liking these two franchises and the idea of having fiction serve as a toy commercial will enjoy this.

On the art front, it does the job but only passably. Megatron, Gigawatt and Rumble are drawn fine but there is a rather big shot of Rodimus Prime (you read that right) that does not look right. The proportions are off, it looks like a failed attempt at a perspective shot, and a dull surprise look serves as the icing on top.



Overall, it doesn't negate from the fun experience of the comic but it doesn't go in the plus column either. If you are a fan of fun crossovers, or G1 Megatron, or the idea of Rodimus being the leader of the Autobots rather than Prime, then I'd recommend giving this a shot.


out of

Why does Megs bother to wear human-style ermine robes? LAZY TROPE! Also, consider the difficulty of finding and processing so many little ermine pelts!