Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews
Transformers: Devastation #3
IDW Comics
Furman, Roche, Atkinson & Su
The latest installment in the Devastation arc went back to focusing in on Ratchet and some humans for much of the issue. We saw this in the Infiltration arc and it was a nice way to build up some characters, but with the action picking up over the last few issues, can they afford to go backwards like this? When you factor in where we left off last issue, it only seems like a step back, until the build up results in a great ending.
We begin this issue with the government and military debating the existence of the craft that was shot down in the previous issue. Some of the brass are already in on the conspiracy with Sunstreaker and the Headmasters, making this little game all the more interesting.
Quickly, things heat up as Ratchet and his two human friends destroy their escape pod and start off to hide from their attacker, Sixshot, with all the other Autobots seeming to have perished in the downed craft. This initially sounds kind of straight forward, but what makes this exchange different is how Ratchet's simulated driver actually stitches up one of the humans, Verity. So while Ratchet is driving like a madman to run from Sixshot, he's performing some careful medical procedures. Excellent.
Ratchet versus Sixshot is a joke. All Ratchet can do is hope for some cover. First, some US fighter jets provide a second of cover, before Sixshot toasts them. Then, they head for a city where other ambulances are in hopes of blending in.
Meanwhile, Hot Rod and Wheeljack outwit the headmasters long enough to escape. While the Headmasters reveal that they are using Sunstreaker's thoughts as well as his shape, they quickly find out that Sunstreaker isn’t the most thorough and up-to-date Autobot in the shop. They still have some time to find Ironhide before he is crushed. This part of the story seems to be dragging on and from the looks of it, Ironhide is already out of commission.
Next, we continue with the Headmaster's headquarters, where the real Sunstreaker is begging for death from his friend, Hunter. Hunter is now part machine as he is a Headmaster. I found this scene to be kind of creepy. The wired up and torn up head of Sunstreaker just hanging there like meat in a deli was rather cringe-worthy. Add in some drool and it was not a pretty sight. How do robots drool anyway? Is it like battery acid leaking or something?
Eventaully Sixshot turns into his cat form, for the predator chase and has Ratchet dead to rights along the water. In a moment that made the issue turn from so-so to excellent, the Autobots emerge from the water to save Ratchet. It was outstanding visually.
To end the issue and make it even better, we see the Reapers approaching Earth looking for Sixshot and we get Galvatron being dispatched by Nemesis Prime. It was outstanding and is going to set up an excellent next few issues.
The artwork was great. I realize we are dealing with only a few robots, but I never felt like I couldn’t tell who was who in the art. I also liked some of the close-ups of Ratchet and his passengers. It's solid art without any confusion.
The issue itself had some action and moved the plot along, but only to a point. For the most part we see no other decepticons besides Sixshot and really, we haven’t moved much past the point where we were when we left off the previous issue: Sixshot versus the Autobots. However, this issue earns some brownie points with the ending and with the fact that anyone can pick this up and jump into the arc.
This title is so close to being really great. This issue had the action, but lacked the overall plot movement we needed. It's close. Very, very close.
4 out of 5 geek goggles.
 Transformers Devastation #3 IDW Publishing SEP073747E |
