Transformers: Robots In Disguise #25 marks the seventh chapter of the Dark Cybertron arc which – it’s safe to say – has been met with mixed response. Seven issues in is enough time to get a stable arc going, as we enter the second half of the 12-part series, so has there been any improvement?

The official description from IDW:

WHAT LIES BENEATH! ULTRA MAGNUS leads what’s left of the Lost Light crew deep into the last place they ever thought they’d be—and they find they last CYBERTRONIANS they ever expected to find! Meanwhile: MEGATRON versus GALVATRON: Round One!

There is some coherency in this issue, but it still feels like a number of seperate plots slowing moving together. I get that there is a ‘big picture’ behind all of this work, but the pacing could be a little quicker – or at least more interesting along the way. Each section is diluted to make up  a third of one regular comic, so there is little progress as you can imagine. It does have its moments but, ultimately, it offers very little new developments.

A large part of this has to be down to the writing. Aside from focusing on lore outside of Robots In Disguise and More Than Meets The Eye – such as Kup, Galvatron etc etc – John Barber and James Roberts underestimate their audience. There are one or two ‘reveals’ in this issue that are more than underwhelming. Shockwave is behind something? really? This is hardly a shock to readers when the entire arc so far has been sending the same message across constantly.

Art wise, Robots In Disguise #25 still uses the three art styles which, still, only add to the disorientation. For instance, the writing tries to regain some of the humor normally associated with the Lost Light crew, but this is somewhat offset by the gritting ‘realistic’ art style. Overall, the artists (James Raiz, Atilio Rojo and Livid Ramondelli) offer quality visuals, but I’d prefer one approach.

All in all, this is a slight improvement because it comes with a little more understanding, but it’s disappointing in its inability to add anything new or exciting to the ‘super massive crossover arc’.

3/5