Transformers: Primacy #3 Review

To be fair, when the last issue ends with a city-sized-robot-dinosaur crashing into another city-sized-titan-robot, you know Transfromers: Primacy #3 is going to be good. I’m normally skeptical but about issue 3 of 4-part series, as they usually just act as a seque but, thankfully, Primacy #3 delivers with everything inch of action it promised.

The official description from IDW:

CYBERTRON AT WAR! The giant city-sized Titans, METROPLEX and TRYPTICON, battle on a scale the universe has never seen—and the destruction they leave in their wake leaves CYBERTRON ready for the DECEPTICONS to strike!

This issue really does not hold back. Along side to giant robots fighting, Megatron launches his full attack on Cybertron. Where as most titles might focus on the former, adding the latter gives a sense of urgency and really ups the stakes. The overall effect is highly rewarding and makes for a very satisfying read. A few hints spread out between the last two issues also cultivate in a very nice cliffhanger.

If there’s one thing that bugs me about this, it’s a problem with prequels in general. For instance, Chris Metzen and Flint Dille put a lot of effort into detailing the characters. Megatron is ruthless and Optimus Prime is well.. he’s Optimus Prime. Still, you never truly fear for their safety. If you read the current comics, both Megatron and O.P, as well as Metroplex for that matter, feature heavily. If you don’t recognise a character, that’s the one with a chance of dying, then.

Visually, I still love Livid Ramondelli’s art style. Although it’s sometimes a little angular, making things appear 2D, the gritty visuals just works. There’s no flat color and everything has this beautiful rusted and decayed look to it. Combining this with sharp highlights for explosions, rain, gun shots and anything else the team can think of, makes for a very impressive issue. Thankfully, the team gave way and placed larger panels for the bigger action sequences.

All in all, this is a fantastic issue for anyone looking for action. That said, it still builds on the plot and manages to go in a direction that isn’t too obvious, but isn’t exactly straight out of the blue, either.