Review – Transformers: Primacy #3 (of 4) (IDW Publishing)

Publisher: IDW Publishing
Writer: Chris Metzen & Flint Dille
Artist: Livio Ramondelli
Release Date: 22nd October 2014

Before I dive in to this issue, let’s talk covers. I’m all about Ramondelli’s art – he just gets Transformers. But for many a fan, the subs and anniversary covers are the ones to watch. Sarah Stone has given us great sub covers but I must just say that 30th anniversary cover – the special one, the collectable one – is awful. Just terribly, terribly bad.

Anyway, let’s move on. After the relatively slow and somewhat contrived previous issue, we have a magnificent battle between city sized titans. Epic in scope, with dialogue that doesn’t disappoint and a magnificent twist for the payoff. Oh, and the intercut framing is just wonderful. Light and dark are Ramondelli’s hallmark, and this doesn’t disappoint on any level.

What’s also great about this is it is more than fan service. There are favourites, to be sure, but also here we see some other characters get fleshed out, explored, and – shock horror – developed from the ground up. The ending is a little drawn out, however. Yes, it’s building to issue 4, but still, it left me slightly frustrated rather than hungry. Still, this arc’s been building well, and it promises an excellent conclusion.

Rating: 4/5.

The Writer of this piece was: Sam De Smith
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