Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews
Transformers Maximum Dinobots #4
IDW Comics
Furman, Roche, Raiz & Lafuente
This issue sets up the finale very nicely. However, there are some spots where I felt like we are stalling a little bit. This issue introduces a couple of characters that will make the next issue something to see. Some of them we saw tidbits of here and there but one of them I was completely blindsided by. The overall plot has really been consolidated to two plots by the end of this issue. It’s a good issue but is hurt by some dull spots and the split in time between artists. The switch in art is noticeable and very jarring in the differences.
The issue starts out with a huge bang as Soundwave is finally freed from his captive: a little kid. He seems to still be stuck in cassette recorder form, but he finds himself aligned with Shockwave in what has to be a very unholy union.
Sunstreaker and Hot Rod meet up in what was a very big letdown. Considering how badly Hot Rod tracked this guy you’d think they’d at least shake hands or wink at each other or something. Instead, Hot Rod gets stepped over as he lay in the dirt like a worm. But Sunstreaker is a little predisposed of looking for his head. I guess his behavior is understandable. Hot Rod takes it all in stride.
The issue takes a bit of a slow turn from here. We get the Dinobots continuously discussing how far they have fallen and where they are all going with each other for what feels like the third issue in a row. It sets up how they decide to react to the whole Headmasters facility, but it just seems like we keep running over the same ground with them.
When the issue ends we have a huge battle set up for the finale. Some of which has already taken out a couple of key players.
The comic has a huge problem in the art department. Both artists are great and both have their stories to fit in, but not in the same comic. They have such different styles it just didn’t make sense to split the duties. On one hand you have the polished and cartoon-feel and on the other you have the dirty and gritty style. The latter would have been great to see across the board in this comic because almost all of the robots in this comic are coming out of some type of battle. It’s puzzling why they split it out this way.
The high point of the comic is the involvement of the new players. Soundwave has sat on the sidelines for way too long. When you consider the original Dinobot story in the IDW run involved Shockwave, it seems only natural that they should meet up in this story. The comic just knows the cast and how to use them so well. It’s a small group used here and they all have very unique voices and personalities.
This comic sets up the big finish and you have to wonder exactly how this will all play out. It seems the Dinobots have a death wish, but then again they have a guardian angel about to enter the mix. I can only hope this isn’t the last arc from Furman and these threads because this story has a lot more than one issue left in it.
3 out of 5 geek goggles
