Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye #36 Review

Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye #36 is a great example of how to not get bogged down in details and just have fun. Or, in other words, how do stop worrying about time travel. It’s not perfect, but it’s thoroughly enjoyable.

First, the official description from IDW:

OUTLAWS! Before the war, Orion Pax was part of the Establishment—until a friend opened his eyes to the truth behind the lies and he vowed to overthrow the system. Now, it seems as if his newfound enemies are willing to go to any lengths to see him dead—even if it means waiting four million years…

This isn’t the best issue the series has seen, but it’s a strong, consistant offering. It also touches upon more personal subjects between the blend of humour, action and science fiction. All in all, it’s a well-rounded package that has been put together with a lot of care and detail.

A large sum of this is down to James Roberts, who once again breathes in his unique talent for personalities. While the issue of time travel would be the main focus, it really plays a backdrop here. The main cast are on a mission, but the ability to fix past mistakes makes for a vital plot point. Roberts nails this with Rodimus, while a similar scene with Megatron definately emphasises why it just works. Sure, it does slow the plot down somewhat, but it’s very much needed and really helps define some of the post-Dark Cybertron changes. Heck, I’d say it’s the first time Megatron’s pro-peace stances has really been believable.

Visually, Alex Milne’s pencils are as sharp as ever. His attention to detail is fantastic in the larger panels and, even when working small, Milne knows how to portray complex characters as simply as possible. It just works. That said, Joana Lafuente’s colors falter a little on the smaller panels with plenty of detail, reverting to flat colors rather than gradient shades. It’s a minor technicality – one that’s certainly understandable – but I found it rather noticable in this issue.

In short, this doesn’t beat the amount of effort that went into last month’s offering, but it’s a good follow up. While there is action, this is a must-have for people who appreciate Barber’s focus on personality, character and development. Also, robots.