It’s been awhile since I’ve reviewed Skybound’s Energon Universe, but Bleeding Fool has picked up the slack with updates in my absence. The reason I have not reviewed Transformers in so long is because, well, I wasn’t that impressed.
I know the consensus is that Skybounds Transformers has saved modern comics, and no one can deny the success they’ve had in sales. But for me, I thought Daniel Warren Johnson’s run was just, okay.
It’s better than anything IDW has done with Transformers in years, but after twelve issues, I started to see the cracks. You can see my critiques below in the video I made on my YouTube channel, but the gist is that I was not impressed with the inconsistent art, the inconsistent battle-damage, and thin storyline.
Transformers: Skybound Vs Dreamwave, Which Is Better?
But my main critique was that the first twenty-four issues of Transformers were violent just for violence’s sake. Like Alan Moore preaches, violence has to have a purpose and serve the plot, but DWJ seemed to just spit out one violent scene to the next with no real purpose.
This is why I became interested in the Energon Universe again when Robert Kirkman took over in issue #25, and I’ve already seen vast improvements. Politics aside, Kirkman knows how to build a story and pepper it with violence that serves a purpose, and we got both in issues #25.
First, Kirkman’s run returned to traditional robot artistry with Dan Mora, who actually knows how to draw mechs. The robots no longer look human and have teeth (yet), and actually look imposing.
And there was a huge Easter egg in the final pages of Transformers #25 that had my friends and I talking.
*Spoilers*
In this issue, Optimus Prime is introduced to a military man who wants to propose an alliance with the Autobots. Optimus Prime goes along to meet his boss, which happens to be none other than Miles Mayhem himself!
Now, if you’re like me, you’ve heard the name but couldn’t quite place it. I’m old and had to look him up, and Miles Mayhem is the antagonist of the classic 80s M.A.S.K. cartoon. I highlighted M.A.S.K. in my very first article for Bleeding Fool as a cartoon you can trust your kids to watch, so, of course, Miles’ entry into the Energon Universe was exciting to see.
And it makes perfect sense for M.A.S.K. to be part of this connected universe. If you don’t remember, M.A.S.K., which stands for Mobile Armored Strike Kommand, is about Matt Tracker, who controls the organization as he fights his brother Miles Mayhem, who stole their Mask technology. Mask technology allows humans to use transforming vehicles. Miles Mayhem used that technology to create VENOM, which stands for Vicious Evil Network Of Mayhem.
Lured by Miles Mayhem’s trove of Energon, Optimus Prime seems impressed by VENOM’s offer of an alliance. Of course, Optimus Prime is from Cybertron, and has no idea which human is good or bad, so I am intrigued to see how this dynamic plays out going forward.
To recap, the Energon Universe now includes Transformers, G.I. Joe, Void Rivals, and M.A.S.K. Throw some Centurions in there and this might be an all-time classic comic run!
Review: Skybound's Transformers #25, and Their Shocking Ending
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I caved! For the first time, my debut novel, Fiasco of Adventures, is available digitally! You can order the e-book on Amazon here or from my Linktree! And check out my website, TheMegacosm.com, for the latest news involving this universe. I’m also starting Rumble and Youtube channels. Give them a sub so I can start getting paid!
English (US) · 