Publisher: IDW Publishing
Writer: Georgia Ball
Artist: Priscilla Tramontano
Release Date: 22nd July, 2015

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Okay, let’s straighten this out before we go any further… Transformers: Robots in Disguise is based on the Cartoon Network animated series which is set in the same universe as Transformers: Prime, but is not to be confused with the other IDW Transformers: Robots in Disguise series which is now simply known as Tranformers.

Got it? Cool.

Convoluted lineage aside, all you really need to know about this series is that it serves as a spin-off from the current animated series and provides a light-hearted, colourful, all-ages look at the world of the iconic Hasbro franchise. The story revolves around Bumblebee attempting to forge a makeshift collection of Autobots into a team, with distinctly mixed results.

The banter between the ‘bots provides the highlight of the book, with their incessant squabbling dominating the early training mission and continuing even as things start to get a little more ‘serious’. Writer Georgia Ball keeps the gags fairly broad for the most part, and younger readers will definitely get a kick out of some of the humour on display here (Grimlock’s “Dino-pile!” in particular is bound to raise a smile).

Artist Priscilla Tramonatano does a solid job of recreating the visuals, bringing a slightly more cartoony look to the almost anime style of the Cartoon Network series. Her colours are suitably bright and vivid (even if I’m not sure I’ll ever be fully on board with a green Grimlock), and the action scenes flow fairly well and are filled with energy and excitement throughout.

While it may lack some of the drama of the other ongoing IDW Transformer series’, this is still a worthy addition to IDW’s arsenal, and provides a fun, all-ages version of our favourite Robots in Disguise. The seeds have been planted for the story to come, and the members of Bumblee’s team are all established well during the course of this first issue.

Simply put, for a light-hearted, accessible dose of Transformers action, you’re unlikely to find anything better. Autobots! Let’s pack it up and roll it out!

Yeah… that line’s definitely going to need a little more work.

Rating: 3/5.

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PREVIEW ARTWORK
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The writer of this piece was: Craig Neilson-Adams (aka Ceej)
Article Archive: Ceej Says
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