IDW Publishing 2016
Written by John Barber & Cullen Bunn
Illustrated by Fico Ossio
Coloured by Sebastian Cheng
Lettered by Tom B. Long
THEY CAME FROM MICROSPACE! What terror reaches through the tendrils of entropy into our universe—and why does ROM want to kill it? Meanwhile, M.A.S.K.'s MATT TRAKKER makes a startling discovery about the TRANSFORMERS—but will G.I. JOE's SCARLETT believe him?
Things here are heating up literally as all our factions are beginning to realise just what’s at stake here. With the Micronauts finally having their day in the sun in the main story where once again Rom the Space Knight sees what he thinks he must do only it’s the wrong thing. Can the Micronauts establish contact with the Cybertronians in time to save their universe or will what’s happening ensure the destruction of all?
Matt Trakker has learned the truth about the Cybertronians, that they aren’t machines but living beings with feelings. This puts him at odds with Manheim who will do whatever he can to smooth his own agenda over him. However that is for another time and place. I love how the boys are putting the puzzle pieces together and the different players are ignoring them and in their ignorance and preconceived notions lie the greatest danger of all. Plus the fact that Scarlett finally learns the truth that Joe Colton wasn’t who she thought he was but an alien invader well let’s just say it’s about time! However who does she blame for that and what action will she take next?
As Baron tries to get Oz and his team to work with him to save the Microverse a Time Traveler arrives and sets things in motion on his own. Baron never one to wait patiently starts attacking and with what Rom is doing on the other side well we’ll see how well all that plays out. It’s too bad that Manheim wasn’t around when the dead Joe’s were revealed to not be human because i’d love to see if he himself is a Dire Wraith and now that Optimus Prime knows about them and Rom’s mission here how will all this change the parameters of his mission on Earth?
It’s finally becoming clear how all these different factions and players are going to unite to form a new kind of team. One that encompasses members from all the different circles. That it’s taken this route from the boys as I see it unfold here finally gets me even more excited for what’s next. This has been fun and interesting and the established characterisation and common core missions of all involved, sans the Micronauts, all line up so that they should be working together. The only one missing in all this is Action Man since his brief appearance in issue one.
Fico has been slaying these interiors. His attention to detail and the way he is able to use the page layouts through angles, perspective and backgrounds to create this absolutely dynamic effect is astounding to see. It doesn’t matter what franchise he’s dealing with it’s all got the same style and intensity to it that really makes them feel like they all belong together. With Sebastian’s colouring the two make quite the extraordinary team and here’s hoping they will be tackling the new ongoing team book.
I’ve never seen an intercompany crossover merging of this magnitude handled so well before. These folks have infused a new excitement over the Hasbro franchises that should last well into the future and hopefully stem a myriad of projects that include this story as an animated DVD special!