BLACK HAMMER: THE END #3 hits your local comic book store on October 25th, but thanks to Dark Horse Comics, Monkeys Fighting Robots has an exclusive five-page preview for you!
About the issue: A multiversal nightmare unfolds as hordes of demonic hellamentals attack Spiral City, while dark heroes congregate in hell fearful of another onslaught by the world destroyer Anti-God.
Black Hammer: The End is the next era of the Black Hammer Universe; a six-issue event series by Jeff Lemire and Malachi Ward that pulls the Black Hammer world into crisis.
The issue is by writer (and BLACK HAMMER co-creator/architect) Jeff Lemire and artist Malachi Ward, with letters by Nate Piekos. The main cover is by Ward, and there will also be a variant cover available by Wilfredo Torres and Bill Crabtree.
BLACK HAMMER: THE END is the culmination of every BLACK HAMMER story that’s been told from 2016, serving as both a conclusion and a fresh start for the Black Hammer Universe moving forward.
Check out our BLACK HAMMER: THE END #3 preview below:
Cover: Malachi WardCover: Wilfredo Torres with Bill Crabtree
Are you reading BLACK HAMMER: THE END? Sound off in the comments!
At New York Comic Con this morning, Image Comics announced the new ongoing series THE INFERNALS from co-writers Ryan Parrott and Noah Gardner, with art by John Pearson. The first issue should hit your local comic shop in February of 2024. Check out a five-page preview below.
About the series: Abraham “Abe” Morgenstern, the son of Satan, has one month to live. Before he dies, he must decide which of his three wayward children—volatile narcissist Nero, conflicted field operative Jackal, or troubled schoolgirl Bee—will inherit his shadowy empire. But will Abe ever be able to truly cede control of the Apocalypse? Or does the Antichrist have something else up his sleeve…
DAREDEVIL #2 hits your local comic book store on October 18th, but thanks to Marvel Comics, Monkeys Fighting Robots has an exclusive four-page preview for you!
About the issue: THE NEW ERA OF DAREDEVIL CONTINUES!
Industry stars SALADIN AHMED and AARON KUDER’s next exciting chapter of DAREDEVIL’s new era continues following Daredevil’s shocking status quo revealed in issue #1! Corruption is tearing Hell’s Kitchen apart! Those who have sworn to protect the city have betrayed their oaths, and Matt Murdock is seeking righteous retribution, one billy club to the face at a time! Daredevil’s losing allies left and right…so what does that mean for the love of his life, ELEKTRA?!
The issue is by writer Saladin Ahmed and artist Aaron Kuder, with colors by Jesus Aburtov, and letters by Clayton Cowles. The main cover is by John Romita Jr.
Check out our DAREDEVIL #2 preview below:
Did you pick up the first issue of DAREDEVIL (2023)? Sound off in the comments!
If you follow cartoonist Tom Scioli on his various social media, then you know the man has what seems like a limitless ability to create clever and cool concepts. One of them, WITCHMAN, is now going to be the focus of Scioli’s next comic and his first-ever Kickstarter campaign, which goes live on October 13, 2023; yeah that’s Friday the 13th! The ever-busy artist to some time to talk with us and cast a spell all about Witchman.
Monkeys Fighting Robots: Tom, why don’t you start by giving us the origin of WITCHMAN as a character? What’s the elevator pitch?
Tom Scioli:A superhero who dresses up as a witch and uses magic to fight the forces of evil.
MFR: Are there any specific comics, books or movies that inspired Witchman?
TS: It came out of a lot of time reading and thinking about Golden Age comics in the research for Jack Kirby: The Epic Life and I Am Stan. I wanted to make a dark avenger character like Batman and The Shadow. I was even thinking about Spider-Man, the Hulk and Spawn. I was thinking about how the superheroes who really capture the imagination aren’t cut from the Superman mold, it’s the ones that have a little bit of a fright element to them. Even Spider-Man, who as Peter Parker is the ultimate everyman yet the theme and visual presentation of Spider-Man is classic Halloween imagery.
MFR: How much of the world have you thought up? Like history, rogues gallery, ensemble cast; things like that.
TS: I’ve been working on it for a while so there’s a lot to draw from. I’ve got all that stuff, but I’m still refining it every day.
MFR: This is your first-ever Kickstarter campaign. What made you choose Witchman as your first crowd-funded book?
TS:The timing was right. I wanted to launch one in October, and Witchman was a perfect fit.
MFR: Was Kickstarter always the method, or did you think about other ways to publish as well?
TS: My first choice is always to have somebody else publish it. I love superheroes. When I was a kid it was so exciting to learn about a new superhero you never heard of before. It’s what I got into this medium for. At the time it was the one place you could tell superhero stories on a regular basis. I want to do original superhero comics but the traditional marketplace isn’t looking for that. I’ve been able to find a home for my non-fiction graphic novels because that’s what publishers are looking for, but nobody’s looking for new superheroes, particularly Golden Age-style heroes. If you want to do that, you have to self-publish. The beauty of the time we live in is that with crowdfunding it’s possible to create exactly the kind of thing you want, even if the industry has moved on from that paradigm a century ago.
MFR: What are your thoughts on crowdfunding in general as a method of comics publishing?
TS: I’m all for it. I’ve seen a lot of great projects come into being as a result that would’ve had a near-impossible uphill climb 15 years ago.
Witchman by Tom Scioli
MFR: Witchman is one of a number of concepts you have played around with on your Patreon and on social media. What made Witchman the one you wanted to pursue as an actual series?
TS: The people spoke. It seemed to get a really strong response out of the gate when I’d post images and pages on my Patreon and on social media. I think it has a high chance of success, because of the superhero aspects of it. It’s my first Kickstarter campaign, so I want to stack the deck in my favor and choose something that even though it’s a little out there, still has a high chance of being successful. Also, even though I’ve done a lot of work on Witchman, it’s still not quite finished. I like the idea of using crowdfunding as a way of helping me bring an in-process project to creative completion, rather than just bringing something I’ve already finished into print.
MFR: Are you approaching Witchman differently than other projects creatively?
TS: The Kickstarter campaign is part of the creative process. It’s giving me a framework and a set of incentives to complete it. It’s kind of similar to the way I worked on Transformers vs G.I. Joe or Go-Bots. I daydream and doodle and write and draw and revise until it’s time to turn in the finished work.
MFR: What’s the specific process for creating Witchman stories?
TS: I’ve been writing and drawing and putting the pieces together. There’s a soft-focus version of the story that’s slowly coming into focus. I’m a relentless editor. I’m willing to keep working and changing things up to the last moment. The best idea, and the best sequence wins. I draw the initial first draft very fast and then redraw and refine it until I’m happy with it.
MFR: Are their big, long-term plans for Witchman or is this a one-shot?
TS:It’s a one-shot for now. I want to tell a complete story. But I would love to do more with it. I think the character and the world of Witchman has legs, but one taking it one step at a time.
MFR: Any final words on Witchman or anything else you want to mention?
TS: I just want to thank everybody for their kind words and encouragement for this particular project. It’s made all the difference.
The Kickstarter campaign for Witchman launches on October 13th, 2023 and you can support it here.
There was a time where killing off Peter Parker seemed so unbelievable. Much like the Deathof Superman, it didn’t seem like a possibility, until it happened. Superior Spider-Man was born from one of these time Peter was presumed dead. The series was a huge hit, and seeing Doctor Octopus take over the role of web-slinger and actually do some good was exciting. But those days ended, and Otto has gone back into a villainous role. However, with this week’s Superior Spider-Man Returns, we may be able to revisit the popular character and his stories for a while. Written by Christos Gage based on a story by Dan Slott, Gage is joined by Mark Bagley, Ryan Stegman, Humberto Ramos, and Giuseppe Camuncoli on pencils. John Dell, JP Mayer, and Victor Olazaba are on inks, Edgar Delgado is the color artist for all of these artists, and Joe Caramagna is the letterer.
WRITING
Christos Gage has been around the comic book industry for what feels like forever. His work speaks for itself, as he usually does a phenomenal job with whatever project he’s on. Superior Spider-ManReturns #1 mostly takes place during a flashback that Doctor Octopus has. Gage steps right in and delivers a voice that sounds familiar with the Superior Spider-Man. The character is cocky and arrogant, and loves himself more than the people of the city. Gage also gives readers some decent interactions between Superior Spider-Man and his new assistant, Estrella Lopez. Gage makes it clear that the one thing Otto Octavius respects is intelligence, and he sees something in Estrella. Their relationship grows throughout the issue as both characters begin to like one another. Lopez seems like an interesting character that we would like to see more of. She comes off as honest and smart, but she also appears humble. Now of course, knowing Doctor Octopus, he’s going to screw this up somehow. Gage shows us how arrogant of a man Otto Octavius can be in this issue, and how his arrogance usually ends up killing relationships. He’s constantly selfish and vain. This leads to a lot of his problems in his life, and it handicaps him in this story. Gage gives us a cliffhanger that sets up the newest series coming out and should interest all Spider-fans. The new villain that appears seems like a powerhouse and it will be intriguing to see how she is dealt with.
ART
Mark Bagley, Ryan Stegman, Humberto Ramos and Giuseppe Camuncoli all takes turns spreading their pencils on the page for this issue. Despite having many artists working on one book, the pencils remain consistent throughout the issue. Bagley and Stegman start us off. The panels of the Superior Spider-Man chasing after Slyde work for a few reasons. We get panels that have Slyde far away while having Superior Spider-Man close. This dynamic gives a close up and a far shot at the same time. Slyde is a speedster, so he’s constantly at a distance, but we get a close up of his face and it’s drawn with no emotion, but we can feel the emotion.
Ramos steps in to handle a fight scene. Ramos does well with these big spider bots as they attack A.I.M. Scale is everything for these panels, and Ramos draws a lot of small A.I.M employees compared to the large robots. The panels look great and show off how much skill Ramos has as an artist.
Camuncoli is able to draw the pages with the villain emerging and gaining powers. These pages are crucial because the look of the character will determine a lot with fans. Camuncoli nails it as the unnamed character looks fierce and displays great power. Blasting through walls and attacking Superior Spider-Man look dangerous. This character has the ability to cause some real damage for the city of New York and the Superior Spider-Man.
The colors are so crucial this issue because Edgar Delgado has to color for several different artists and maintain a consistent tone. For a lot of the work on Superior Spider-Man himself, Delgado uses a lot of shading and dark tones. This is fitting since this version of Spider-Man is darker and not as jovial as Peter Parker. As the villain emerges, Delgado uses an extremely bright white to allow her to shine off of the page. The pages with Doctor Octopus in the present have a lighter tone to them. Delgado makes sure to shade over Otto’s face as he stands beside a big containment device. Pages where Estrella is in the lab are dark and moody. Delgado does an amazing job by handling all these different artists.
The letters are handled by Joe Caramagna. The first thing that Caramagna does that works is his placement of word balloons. These are put out of the way of the action and don’t cover up faces as characters talk. The effects used in action sequences are effective as well. As Superior Spider-Man rips a machine in half, Caramagna places the sound effect “KRANGCH” sprawled on the lower part of the panel. It’s perfect placement and goes right along with the action. Lastly, Caramagna uses emotion as characters yell. When Superior Spider-Man yells for one of his employees to fire at an A.I.M. fighter, he says “FIRE AT WILL.” Caramagna emphasizes this with a black bubble and red letters.
CONCLUSION
Superior Spider-Man Returns #1 is a fun ride back into nostalgia. Christos Gage and company reminds readers why the character was so much fun. His cocky attitude and overall crassness make Superior Spider-Man hilarious and dangerous. The art, colors, and letters shine here as well as they show us how dark the story can be. Superior Spider-Man #1 is available at a comic shop near you!
This comic wasn’t released — it broke out of confinement. Writer and artist Christian Ward’s Batman: City of Madness #1 is unrelenting in its terror and its beauty.
About the Story:
Buried deep beneath Gotham City there exists another Gotham. This Gotham Below is a living nightmare, populated by twisted mirrors of our Gotham’s denizens, fueled by the fear and hatred flowing down from above. For decades, the doorway between the cities has been sealed and heavily guarded by the Court of Owls. But now the door swings wide, and the twisted version of the Dark Knight has escaped…
Writing
There’s a strange logic to the horrors you’ll find in these pages. Ward utilizes the characters and rules of Gotham City in such a way that the terrifying elements almost seem to pop up organically. Every twist and turn is based off of an idea that we already know about Gotham. The whispered prophecies through the doors of Arkham Asylum, the corrupt police officers with animalistic goons on their payroll, or the shared madness of Batman and his rogues — it’s all already lying beneath the surface of the stories we know and love. Ward simply teases it all out in a way that will have you going, “Wow, how come no one has done this before?”
But to simply call Ward’s script terrifying would be to do it a great disservice. There’s plenty more to this story than its scares. Ward also discusses the reliability of the media, the wickedness of the world’s elite, and the warped example of justice that Batman’s violent crusade creates. And there’s a quiet terror to these moments too, because they’re real. Unlike the fictional Lovecraftian monsters that slither out of their hidey holes, these evils can actually get you.
Art
Ward’s art is incredibly versatile. At times, he’s photorealistic. Elsewhere, he’s nearly cartoonish. Most often, though, he’s both. Ward is almost like the comics equivalent of Jean-Michel Basquiat. He paints beautiful pictures, rendered carefully, and then he scribbles over them with a vibrant graffiti style. He’s defacing his own panels, and the result is mesmerizing and deeply effective. It helps you to enter into this world that’s almost splitting at the seams. What’s real? What isn’t? Ward’s vacillation between different styles will have that question at the top of your mind from the first page to the last.
Ward’s colors also create such a palpable sense of tone, sometimes you have to pinch yourself to remember you’re not actually there, looking at the purple neon signs glinting off of the faces of people passing you, feeling the cold blue Gotham night, or smelling the damp air of its greenish underground lairs. Ward is truly a master of world-building. He’ll grab you by the eyes and pull you headfirst into this spooky dream he’s created — and you’ll probably thank him for it.
Lettering
Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou is quite possibly the best letterer in the industry. You always know when you’ve picked up a book lettered by him, because it’s got a particular flare to it. Provide any opportunity for personality to shine through in the letters, and Otsmane-Elhaou will take it. City of Madness feels like Ward wanted Otsmane-Elhaou to go nuts. Two-Face’s different halves have totally distinct fonts and styles to their word balloons, which almost seem to be at war with one another. The bloody “SHINK” sound of a knife going through someone’s chest is completed by the blade also serving as the “I” in the sound effect. The raspy laughter of a bunch of gangsters looks like it’s been scratched into the page.
But for every use of lettering that stands out — adding flavor and fun where it can — there are just as many moments with subtle differences that help us understand each scene better. The angry but terrified words of a young boy look jagged and uneven. You can feel how unsure he must sound. One of Batman’s caption boxes tilts slightly as he enters Arkham Asylum, showing just how off-kilter he’s feeling. There’s meaning everywhere in Otsmane-Elhaou’s letters.
Verdict
Batman: City of Madness is nothing short of a masterpiece. It does exactly what you want it to do — it delivers terrifying images and a deeply foreboding script — but it also rises above expectations. It’s intriguing, experimental, visually stunning, and provocative. In short, this is a surefire classic that you don’t want to miss. Batman: City of Madness #1is out from DC Comics at a comic shop near you!
Actor and writer David Dastmalchian will join Dark Horse Comics this Friday, October 13th, at the Famous Monsters Festival in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania for one night only.
The Famous Monsters Festival is a “horror, sci-fi, and fantasy themed convention that brings the world’s top genre celebrities and vendors to fans.” This Friday the 13th, Dastmalchian will hold a Q&A panel at the convention, starting at 7pm. Dark Horse will also have a table at the event (again, for Friday night only), where they will be selling a variety of spooky titles, including both volumes of Count Crowley, Dastmalchian and Lukas Ketner’s horror series.
Another “spooky read” the publisher will have at the event is their upcoming HEADLESS HORSEMAN HALLOWEEN ANNUAL. The one-shot is the publisher’s first annual Halloween anthology, and will feature five stories from different creators, including one written by Dastmalchian himself!
To up the ante even further, the HEADLESS HORSEMAN HALLOWEEN ANNUAL that Dark Horse will be selling at the event will be a limited-edition variant with a cover by Philip Sevy!
Get your first look at Philip Sevy’s limited-edition variant cover right here:
The limited-edition variant will be available for purchase at The Famous Monsters Festival, at DarkHorseDirect.com, and at New York Comic-Con at Phillip Sevy’s table in Artist’s Alley (#B10). Each venue will have the one-shot for sale for $20 and will be limited to 2 copies per person.
The Headless Horseman Halloween Annual is a new Halloween anthology from Dark Horse Comics with stories from: Angela Slatter (Castle Full of Blackbirds), Lukas Ketner (Count Crowley: Reluctant Midnight Monster Hunter), Olivia Stephens (Darlin’ and Her Other Names), Phillip Sevy (Tomb Raider, The House), Christie Porter, Leah Kilpatrick, David Dastmalchian (Count Crowley), Valeria Burzo (Castle Full of Blackbirds), Tyler Crook (Harrow County), and Frank Cvetkovic (The House).
The Headless Horseman Annual (56 pages) will be available in comic shops on October 18, 2023 and can be pre-ordered from you local comic shop now for $7.99.
Tickets for The Famous Monsters Festival can be bought at www.famousmonstersfest.com or at the door. The Headless Horseman Halloween Annual limited edition variant can be bought at the event, at NYCC (#B10), or at www.darkhorsedirect.com.
The premise is simple: read one comic every day for the entire year. It seems like a simple task but there is no way that I read 365 comics last year, even if you count the individual issues in collections. So, this year, I am committing myself to this reading challenge, in the hope that I can broaden my reading habits and fully engage with my favorite hobby again.
This week is a game of two halves. No, the comics aren’t sport related, although it would be fascinating to do a week of sport-related comics. I have comics based on Roller Derby, fencing, football (soccer, for my American friends) and it might give me an excuse to buy Ping Pong, a manga I’ve been intrigued about for a while.
No, this week has been half classic anthropomorphic fantasy and half new comics based on old concepts. Even when I pick up something new, it seems to be old.
Comic Number 272 – 274: Mouse Guard Autumn 1152 (counting 2 chapters as 1 comic as I read it over 3 days)
This is a hardback collected edition of the six-issue series written and illustrated by David Petersen. It was released in 2006 and was named “Best” something or other by many different publications and websites (Best Indy Adventure Book by Wizard, Best Indy Book by IGN.com, Best Mini Series by Metro News in Canada) and has always been one of my favorites. It has the presentation and aesthetic of many classic children’s literature — think Brian Jacques’ Redwall series and Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows, but with a touch of darkness to its soul. I would say Mouse Guard is born from the traumatic experiences of Watership Down and adult fantasy series like A Song of Fire and Ice.
The two most impressive things about Petersen’s work are the world building and the presentation. The world of Mouse Guard is massive and contains so much detail in a very small amount of space. Petersen manages this by creating the impression of a large world through throwaway comments and references to histories as yet explored. A map at the front of the book teases the possibilities for adventure and that sticks with you as you read, even when much of the action takes place in an unnamed woodland. You finish each issue with the sense of having experienced more than you have. This is compounded by the fact each issue has an opening page which acts as a ‘previously in…’ but also expands on the narrative threads elsewhere in the world.
It’s not possible to talk about Mouse Guard without addressing the shape of the comics. It is a big factor in the reading experience because each square issue feels so much bigger than a regular comic (without being so) and the layouts tend towards larger panels with simple panel transitions across the page. Although simple, there is a majestic beauty to the images and the straightforward way in which Petersen tells his story. Anyone can pick a copy of Mouse Guard up and instantly understand not only the narrative each issue displays but also how to read it. It is designed to appeal to anyone of any age but that doesn’t mean that older readers can’t enjoy it.
Creepshow Vol 2 #1, Image Comics Cover Credit: Guillem March
Comic Number 275: Creepshow Vol 2 #1
The Creepshow format has been around since 1982 when Stephen King and George A. Romero joined forces to create a movie anthology of grotesque horror in the vein of EC’s Tales from the Crypt. The movie was a collection of spooky tales, each with a different twist but all embracing the visual horror that a large budget movie would allow. The stories were laced with humor and enhanced gore.
There have been two sequels and a recent television series based on the concept, so it’s not surprising that there would be a comic book series as well. The horror anthology has been the backbone of the comic industry almost since the beginning so it’s always a bonus to see new titles hitting the selves.
In this issue there are two disturbing tales. The first by Garth Ennis and Becky Cloonan which deals with the consequences of a dark family secret, and the second by Phil Hester and Eric Gapstur is a tale of reanimated corpses and natural invaders upsetting the balance of power.
Garth Ennis’ Make Your Choice is as brutal and as cruel as you would expect from the writer of Preacher but it is the artwork by Becky Cloonan and the colors by Lee Loughridge that really give this story its edge. There is a reality in the visuals that is undermined by the supernatural element. This creates an atmosphere of unease that becomes more and more unbearable throughout. The ending is brutal but, arguably, justifiable. It is a comment on modern society that is as blatant as the images are unsettling.
Phil Hester’s contribution is contrasting in visual design but not narrative punch. His artwork has a style that is harsher and suits the off-kilter, horror genre. He also takes a standard horror cliche and gives it an added twist, clearly not satisfied with a pure zombie story. Why just have flesh eating ghouls when you can include parasites and fear induced delusions?
Just like the movies before it, the Creepshow comic does exactly what it sets out to do. It may not have the narrative brilliance of the EC comics, or the ingenuity of longer form horror comics such as The Empty Man, but Creepshow gives you a scare, turns your stomach, and leaves you nervously laughing about the absurdity you have just read.
Comic Number 276-277: Mouse Guard Winter: 1152 #1-2
Hot on the heels of Autumn: 1152, Winter: 1152 is the continuation of the rodent adventures by David Petersen. The opening third of the series is packed with the same high adventure as Autumn but with a brand new backdrop of frozen wastes and dark, cavernous tunnels.
Petersen’s artwork continues to impress and his narratives really get the emotions flowing. Each mouse is distinct and has their own personality that shines through from panel to panel, page to page, issue to issue. After eight issues, it’s almost possible to predict how some of the characters will react because Petersen’s character work is so spot on.
This, of course, makes it emotionally more upsetting when they are thrown into life threatening situations. There are some edge of the seat moments in these two issues and the first cliffhanger is perfectly executed.
The bonus of owning all of these comics and reading them in bulk is that you don’t have to wait for each issue to come out. Reading the collected books, you will never know the long, agonizing wait between issues and stories. At first they were bi-monthly, but by the end of the Winter: 1152 run, there were longer gaps between the issues. The third series, Black Axe, began in December 2010 but was not completed until June 2013. Keeping to a regular publication schedule is paramount to maintaining readers, something which the big two publishers, Marvel and DC, understand. I can completely understand why readers of Mouse Guard became frustrated by the long waits. However, the finished product was worth the wait in this instance.
Comic Number 278: Transformers #1 (2023)
How could I possibly let this one go by unmentioned? It’s not like I’ve spent half the year re-reading the G1 Transformers comics or anything.
There are some very good insights into this comic elsewhere on the site (here for example) but I couldn’t let the week pass without giving a huge thumbs up to Daniel Warren Johnson, and co-creators, for an exceptional first issue. I’ve read a number of different interpretations of the Transformers and each is fascinating in its own way. More often than not, each interpretation reflects the trend in comic visuals/narratives that is prominent at the time of publication but I think that Johnson has created something that is distinctly his own. There are a number of Easter eggs and references to the franchise which will make a few old school fans smile, but I see the main goal of this comic as attracting new readers.
It has been 39 years since The Transformers #1 was released so it’s about time for the robots in disguise to find a new audience. If current fans like it then great, wonderful, throw your money at it, but if not, it doesn’t matter. Times have changed, comics have changed, and the Transformers have…. changed*. This comic is in safe hands with Daniel Warren Johnson who is proving to be one of the best comics book artists working today.
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #7 hits your local comic book store on October 11th, but thanks to Marvel Comics, Monkeys Fighting Robots has an exclusive four-page preview for you!
About the issue: R.I.P. GUARDIANS!
The Guardians of the Galaxy are dead. The Manifold Territories are no more. In their place is Grootspace! With the cosmos’ heroes defeated, it’s up to Emperor Hulkling and Wiccan to hold the Grootfall back from the rest of the universe. Is this the beginning of a NEW Guardians of the Galaxy?
The issue is by writers Collin Kelly & Jackson Lanzing and artist Kev Walker, with colors by Matt Hollingsworth, and letters by Cory Petit. The main cover is by Marco Checchetto.
Check out our GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #7 preview below:
Is GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY on your pull list at your local comic shop? Sound off in the comments!
From current comics superstar Daniel Warren Johnson (Murder Falcon; Beta Ray Bill) comes a high-octane reset for some of modern fiction’s most beloved characters with Transformers #1. Featuring colors by longtime collaborator Mike Spicer, this opening issue is packed with intense action and compelling character storytelling that brings humans and bots together in impactful fashion. With an emotionally engaging script and unsurprisingly stellar art, this is a must-read #1 for longtime fans and newcomers.
“Optimus Prime was supposed to have led the Autobots to victory. Instead, the fate of Cybertron is unknown, and his allies have crash-landed far from home, alongside their enemies—the Decepticons.
As these titanic forces renew their war on Earth, one thing is immediately clear: the planet will never be the same. New alliances are struck. Battle lines are redrawn. And humanity’s only hope of survival is Optimus Prime.”
Writing & Plot
Daniel Warren Johnson sets up his story for Transformers #1 by focusing on the emotional core of his cast. At the start of the comic, we are introduced to Spike, a teenage boy with aspirations of being an astronaut struggling to deal with the loss of his brother – also an astronaut, but was killed during a takeoff gone wrong. To make matters worse, Spike’s father has no idea how to handle the loss of his eldest son, leaving Spike to handle things on his own. When Spike and his friend Carly go into the mountains for some stargazing, they stumble upon a crashed ship – a ship carrying both Autobots and Decepticons. From here, the action and dynamic between Spike and the bots takes off. As per usual, Johnson’s character writing is compelling and heartfelt. He immediately gets us into the lives and heads of his human cast, making for some of the most interesting people ever introduced in a Transformers story. Johnson then extends that humanity to the Autobots. Spike can see the struggle that Optimus and the others are working through, having awoken after a long war on CyberTron only to be surrounded by foes once again. The dynamic between Spike and the Autobots going forward is no doubt going to be a wonder to watch. Of course, none of this would feel like a Transformers comic if the bots themselves didn’t feel right. Fortunately, Johnson writes this cast of classic characters with the familiarity of a longtime fan. With a compelling, character driven plot and great treatment of an iconic cast, Johnson’s script for this opening issue makes for a blast of a read.
Art Direction
If you’ve ever read a Daniel Warren Johnson book, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Transformers #1 is an excellent looking and energetic comic book. The Do A Powerbomb! creator applies his signature style to the mechanoid forms of the Autobots and Decepticons with awesome results. All of the classic Transformers, from Optimus to Starscream, look as great as they ever have and are drawn with the same attention to facial animation as any of his human characters. Johnson’s environmental detail combined with his sequential direction make the world and lives of Spike and his family feel fleshed out, selling the notion that the Autobots and Decepticons have stumbled into the complex lives of our human cast. When the action hits, it delivers a mean right hook with massive impacts and explosive force. Much of that effect is due to Johnson’s own lettering ability, specifically with how he does SFX. Mike Spicer’s colors finish off the visual experience with the same sort of vivid yet subdued work that he has done on all of Johnson’s other comics. The color still pops, but it sort of sits behind the action, letting the kinetic energy of Johnson’s pencils take the lead in guiding the reader. What is in this comic isn’t among Johnson’s best work, but it’s still astonishingly good and will doubtless make readers beg for the next issue.
Verdict
Transformers #1 is a compelling and thrilling start to this brand-new era for an iconic franchise. Daniel Warren Johnson continues his streak of kick-ass yet emotionally stirring stories with a familiar plot that focuses on the struggles of both the human and bot characters and how they come together – when stuff isn’t being blown up. His artwork packs as much power as ever, with his faithful recreations of iconic Transformers colliding with the unbeatable kinetic power of his pencils and ability to imbue sequences with emotional weight. Be sure to grab this new beginning from your local comic shop today!
