Transform like an Egyptian
(Spoiler free-ish)
SynopsisBLAST FROM THE PAST! In the deadly catacombs beneath an ancient pyramid, Joe Colton—the original G.I. Joe—found something far worse than any curse or boobytrap. He found the Decepticon Soundwave... scouring Earth for Cybertron's salvation. Their meeting remained classified—until the Revolutionaries crashed headlong into the modern-day results!
Cameo 1!This is a very late review indeed, but one that I had promised myself I would get back to once life had stopped being so busy this side of a keyboard, and before the next issue. So apologies, first of all, and I hope you'll forgive the weird scheduling of it all. Call it 'doing an IDW' if you want. Onwards!
Cameo 2!The third issue of the strangely appealing Revolutionaries series, or, the Adventures of Action Man and Kup in the Hasbro Universe (and I Guess Some Other Characters Too) delves into some very old and obscure Transformers stories, along with some cinematic classics, and actually delivers a decently satisfying book in its long flashback format - with a bit of a pleasing twist or two towards the end.
Cameo 3!John Barber nicely works in a lot of backstories for teams we'll probably never really encounter, and still make the various universes fit into the very complex timeline of both GI Joe and Transformers comics (in their IDW incarnation, of course), while also fully revelling in the references and easter eggs scattered throughout the book. It's good to see the fun being had, and the results show.
ArtRon Joseph's art is an interesting take on what is going in the book, as I felt that the style suited the entirety of the characters really well - especially with the flashback work framing of the story - except for the one entirely non-organic character: Soundwave. Or rather, his head. I have no criticisms anywhere else, but the head/face for the Cybertronian just felt a little off.
But you also get these beautiesColourist Sebastian Cheng, usually working with Fico Ossio on a much glossier look, does some pretty impressive colour works on here, keeping the sandy, dusty, grainy feel of both the setting in space (Egypt) and time (the past) in a significantly different approach to other books he works with. Very pleasing indeed.
also some nice purplesThe usual caption devices, both in narration and exposition, work really really well here, and Tom B. Long makes sure of it, along with some crafty sound effects and production. As for the covers, they are all easily accessible via our database page (along with full character roster too,
here), but the one highlighted specifically in the thumbnail is another take by Joseph and TF vet JP Bove on the issue's contents.
ThoughtsSpoilerish aheadOnce again, I find myself having to say 'if you're not reading the crossover-y titles, it's fine' but with an issue such as this one, and if you've been an IDW reader for Transformers and/or GI Joe - and trust John 'Continuity' Barber, plus Hedgecock and Mariotte both assisting on editing work - you'll probably enjoy it even if just for the hunt the hints games you can play throughout. It's a step out of the current Talisman story, but still about that story.
Confirmed: Kup is a fan of Josh BoyfriendWith MASK not doing too well editorially, Miles Mayhem gets a bit of a shine here; Micronauts have a cameo (see above, second image); Soundwave is at his snappiest; the ending made the whole thing fit into the current Revolutionaries timeframe, and we have some major hints as to what may happen in the next issues too. Seriously, take some time to give it a chance.
Revolutionaries has essentially become his ongoing for now.
