Full Preview for IDW Hasbro Universe: Scarlett's Strike Force #2 (of 3)

Two comics arrive from IDW Publishing this week that feature Transformers, in the form of Scarlett's Strike Force #2, which is the topic of this review, and Transformers vs. Visionaries #2. These reviews will both be pretty spoiler heavy, as this is meant to assist with comparisons and contrasts with the other book whose review is meant to be read before or after this as a companion piece. You can find that review, for the lastest chapter of Transformers vs. Visionaries, by clicking or tapping on over to this link.

I found myself quite enjoying one of this week's entries in the IDW Hasbro Universe, and really not enjoying the other at all. Which will Scarlett's Strike Force #2 be? Read on to find out!


This is one ridiculous, completely unbelievable, out of this world comic. There are fights against dinosaurs, a caveman that appears from out of nowhere that said dinosaurs kinda listen to, villains turning people into snake people, theories about perpetual energy, impractical military vehicles, a tag team consisting of a guy that controls birds of prey and another that has a full grown pet crocodile, and Skywarp making a phone call. There are only 20 pages, so you're probably thinking there's no way that could all work together in a coherent, meaningful way. If so, you'd be wrong - this is one very fun comic.


Something super important to me for serial comics, movies, or really any story that has an out-of-this-world backdrop like this one does, is that the story never gets so far removed from being relatable that it loses meaning. Scarlett's Strike Force 2 accomplishes this through leveraging its characters and their interactions at every turn. Seen above are Raptor and Croc Master, a pair of campy and downright weird Cobra villains. Some stories would end things right then and there, allowing you to fill in all the blanks. This one doesn't by giving the two very human dialogue, with this bickering working to make them credible as members of this wacky iteration of Cobra but also as characters worthy of the page space they occupy. They still fight Joes together, but they're also given an element that makes you feel like they're still real. This is a distinct difference between some other lesser villains such as, say, Cravex and Cindarr, who I couldn't tell you anything about other than they are Darkling Lords with beards. I think. Maybe goatees.


Another case of this book successfully using charm to ground a story with an insane premise is found in Destro. Destro is, I think, a guy made of metal, at least somewhat. The point is that he's a walking impossibility, he should not and logically could not exist in real life, and that's completely fine of course. He's working for a Cobra Commander in Baroness that seems to have gone loony during her time locked up in Lemuria/The Nemesis. She's having Cobranarchists turned into snake people (seriously), which presumably is leveraged by Crystal Ball's physic powers and their T'mup with Dire Wraiths.

Pretty stupid, right? Destro agrees.

Having him frame what the reader views, with this skepticism right there on the page, gives Scarlett's Strike Force some honesty in its insanity. No fruit is thrown to resolve anything. Like Polly, Destro throws shade to get his point across.


Chances are you're not following this book just for the Joes, as there's the Decepticon Seeker, Skywarp, still helping the team out while they try to work on how to not work on fixing his teleportation abilities. No one's told Matt Trakker about this, and he gets a few moments reminding you why he was one of the parts of the trainwreck M.A.S.K. re-launch attempt that was worth salvaging. Initially, I was concerned this interaction would be it for Skywarp in this issue, and if it were it would continue a status quo that has been brought up and never resolved for 13-ish issues prior to this one. By the end this was alleviated, as Skywarp calls Duke to channel his bottled up frustration into making a deal - I won't go full on spoiler here so that you can experience it for yourself if you so choose, but suffice it to say that I found it to be a smart twist that made me really want to root for Skywarp. Writer Aubrey Sitterson has taken the base "G1" character, honored developments made to him by John Barber, Shane McCarthy, and others, then built on it in clever ways. He doesn't treat the Transformers property as a burden, prop, or distraction in this "G.I. Joe" book, he treats it as a tool and makes full use of it.


The art is a bit of a mixed bag, at least on the surface. Out of context, some of it looks less than great. Within the context of the book (where it actually matters!), Nelson Daniel's lines are fluid, expressive, and well suited for the heavy action focus of the story. Some parts feel like they're channeling early-mid 90s Geoff Senior a little, and while I wouldn't take that comparison too far, it is made as a compliment to the choice made to keep the focus on where it's intended to be. Ryan Hill's colors, though very orange heavy throughout, help distinguish scenes from one another well, with the cold, steely interior of Lemuria contrasting vividly with both the characters within it and with the red, dark, underground feeling of Crystal Ball's P.I.T. For the record, I'm not sure it's actually called the P.I.T., I've been reading Transformers vs. G.I. Joe: The Quintessential Collection and it's rubbing off. Speaking of Scioli, Taylor Esposito handles the lettering work well, and although there aren't too many speech bubbles to navigate there are plenty of fun sound effects throughout that assist with the action sequences.

The covers aren't bad, though I would like to actually see some Baroness Commander channeling the Dino Riders sometime, which is seen on the cover by Harvey Tolibao used in this news story's thumbnail. As always, you can find images of all of the covers and full credits for the issue in our Vector Sigma Database page for Scarlett's Strike Force #2, but do note it does contain a character appearance list that may be considered as spoiler-laden!


This isn't a story without its flaws - the setting sprawls a bit and some parts feel unfocused, with the actual focus on action making for a sometimes-too-quick turn through pages - but the character work that is seen and the dialogue that is presented all feel like they should be there. The introduction of a new character (at least, new to me) in Friday is handled well, with this unintelligible caveman more memorable already than most of the Spectral Knights over in Transformers vs. Visionaries. As fellow comics reviewer/fellow site admin Va'al pointed out to me while we pondered how to go about these reviews, Sitterson had fun with the toybox he was given and I think it shows. There's intriguing development throughout, and Skywarp's call to Duke at the end feels significant not just because of what it is, but because of what it does.

What exactly does it do? It makes me want to read more, and it's a shame there's only one more issue of this book to go.

So cancelled after three issues? How will it be collected?

ZeroWolf wrote:So cancelled after three issues? How will it be collected?

No factual idea, but with Micronauts, MASK, and Rom having Omnibus style editions announced while Joe has not, I assume it will be collected with GI Joe 1-9 in a larger format TPB.

ScottyP wrote:

ZeroWolf wrote:So cancelled after three issues? How will it be collected?

No factual idea, but with Micronauts, MASK, and Rom having Omnibus style editions announced while Joe has not, I assume it will be collected with GI Joe 1-9 in a larger format TPB.

Seems a shame as I love off the wall crazy ideas like this.

ScottyP wrote:

ZeroWolf wrote:So cancelled after three issues? How will it be collected?

No factual idea, but with Micronauts, MASK, and Rom having Omnibus style editions announced while Joe has not, I assume it will be collected with GI Joe 1-9 in a larger format TPB.

The Scarlett's Strike Force TPB will collect all three issues, plus the First Strike two-part tie-in.

I've said it once, I'll say it again: this series getting canned is a damn crime.

Daniel Adkins wrote:

ScottyP wrote:

ZeroWolf wrote:So cancelled after three issues? How will it be collected?

No factual idea, but with Micronauts, MASK, and Rom having Omnibus style editions announced while Joe has not, I assume it will be collected with GI Joe 1-9 in a larger format TPB.

The Scarlett's Strike Force TPB will collect all three issues, plus the First Strike two-part tie-in.

On top of the First Strike tie-in being collected in Champions?

Va'al wrote:

Daniel Adkins wrote:

ScottyP wrote:

ZeroWolf wrote:So cancelled after three issues? How will it be collected?

No factual idea, but with Micronauts, MASK, and Rom having Omnibus style editions announced while Joe has not, I assume it will be collected with GI Joe 1-9 in a larger format TPB.

The Scarlett's Strike Force TPB will collect all three issues, plus the First Strike two-part tie-in.

On top of the First Strike tie-in being collected in Champions?

Yeah. It’s not like this isn’t something that happens a lot with event tie-ins with trades.

Daniel Adkins wrote:

Va'al wrote:

Daniel Adkins wrote:

ScottyP wrote:

ZeroWolf wrote:So cancelled after three issues? How will it be collected?

No factual idea, but with Micronauts, MASK, and Rom having Omnibus style editions announced while Joe has not, I assume it will be collected with GI Joe 1-9 in a larger format TPB.

The Scarlett's Strike Force TPB will collect all three issues, plus the First Strike two-part tie-in.

On top of the First Strike tie-in being collected in Champions?

Yeah. It’s not like this isn’t something that happens a lot with event tie-ins with trades.

Just checking, as it came out this week - not questioning you!

Courtesy of iTunes, we have a three-page preview to share with you all, for the last issue in the short-lived IDW Publishing series focusing on the characters in GI Joe and MASK: Scarlett's Strike Force #3! Including the likes of Matt Trakker, Skywarp, the new Cobra Commander, Vipers and maybe some remaining Dire Wraiths too..? Take a read below!

It’s the third bombastic issue and the fun’s just getting started, sports fans! But that’s how it goes when you mix ninjas, talking robots, elite soldiers, maniacal despots, magical snake rituals... and so much more... into what people are calling The Best Action Comic Ever! By Aubrey Sitterson (G.I. Joe, Street Fighter X G.I. Joe) and Nelson Daniel (Clue, Dungeons & Dragons).

More social justice bullshit from IDW. *Boycotted*

The artwork is kinda crap, but I like the writing. Also I love that Snake Eyes chose a. My class of choice as well!

Transcendent30 wrote:More social justice bullshit from IDW. *Boycotted*

Oh darling. It's ok, the bad comic has already gone away, it can't hurt you.

I really wish this wasn't cancelled it looks so fun, and I'm curious as to how that game would of worked out (in fact just give us a miniseries of those two in the cells role playing!)

It’s a fun book, I just don’t like the lineup. G.I. JOE is supposed to be a rotating team, instead IDW treated G.I. JOE like a superhero book with the same characters starring in it month after month. I stopped supporting the book regularly when they trimmed down the team and put Shipwreck and Quick-Kick in classic costumes.

Outside of ARAH, is this the end of G.I. JOE?

So it's called Scarlett's Strike Force, but I don't recall ever seeing Scarlett in any of the previews. Is she actually in the book someplace?

Va'al wrote:

Transcendent30 wrote:More social justice bullshit from IDW. *Boycotted*

Oh darling. It's ok, the bad comic has already gone away, it can't hurt you.

It was an awful comic before SSF.

Hopefully GIJoe can reboot along side Transformers, we just need better writers and editorial.

Rodimus Knight wrote:So it's called Scarlett's Strike Force, but I don't recall ever seeing Scarlett in any of the previews. Is she actually in the book someplace?

She’s leading the entirety of the G.I. Joe organization.

Va'al wrote:

Transcendent30 wrote:More social justice bullshit from IDW. *Boycotted*

Oh darling. It's ok, the bad comic has already gone away, it can't hurt you.

You really need to stop sexually harassing posters.

Really, let's not be part of the "toxic" fandom.

#MeToo

thank christ this age of comics seems to be coming to an end.

misfire19d wrote:

Va'al wrote:

Transcendent30 wrote:More social justice bullshit from IDW. *Boycotted*

Oh darling. It's ok, the bad comic has already gone away, it can't hurt you.

You really need to stop sexually harassing posters.

Really, let's not be part of the "toxic" fandom.

#MeToo

You really need to just ask me out, instead of following me around the boards and trying to throw super-clever jabs to impress me.

Va'al wrote:

misfire19d wrote:

Va'al wrote:

Transcendent30 wrote:More social justice bullshit from IDW. *Boycotted*

Oh darling. It's ok, the bad comic has already gone away, it can't hurt you.

You really need to stop sexually harassing posters.

Really, let's not be part of the "toxic" fandom.

#MeToo

You really need to just ask me out, instead of following me around the boards and trying to throw super-clever jabs to impress me.

I'm going to treat your offer the same way I treat IDW Transformers comics.

I'll pass and wait for something better to come along.

partholon wrote:thank christ this age of comics seems to be coming to an end.

What age of comics? At least IDW is trying new things, since I have a feeling you don't like the direction these comics have taken.

Anybody else remember when we had good comic discussion?

Ironhidensh wrote:Anybody else remember when we had good comic discussion?

We still have them but apparently things are becoming polarised everywhere. It's fine if you don't like something, no one forces people to read things (well not outside of school or if you review books for someone else I guess) but I have to wonder the intentions of baiting responses by attacking it. I'm guilty of rushing to defend things but everyone just winds each other up when it should be a simple matter of: don't like it? Say you don't like it and leave, don't attack others for liking it. Tastes are subjective.

Ironhidensh wrote:Anybody else remember when we had good comic discussion?

Honestly? There's always been a current of not good discussion.
Sometimes I indulge.

Speaking of SSF though, I am disappointed to see it go, and I have enjoyed the two issues that came out so far, though nothing as groundbreaking as they may have wanted to be. I like Sitterson's flair in some of the writing, but GI Joe just does very little for me.

Rom vs Micronauts is another interesting one, and its third issue is out next week too.

I'm seriously bummed this is ending. The art on this and the prior comic wasn't always to my taste, but I have really been loving the characters, and it's obvious there is a lot of story that won't get told.

I'm really disappointed in IDW for not supporting their writers.

Ironhidensh wrote:Anybody else remember when we had good comic discussion?

I know ... it's like some people need to let things go instead of responding to particular comments and driving the thread off-topic.

Burn wrote:

Ironhidensh wrote:Anybody else remember when we had good comic discussion?

I know ... it's like some people need to let things go instead of responding to particular comments and driving the thread off-topic.

Looks alright! Not a fan of the art but the writing is still pretty sharp.

The final, final preview from this week's batch of IDW Publishing comics taking place in the shared Hasbro Universe sees the two franchises of Micronauts and Rom the Spaceknight - both of which have crossed paths with Transformers already - continue their team-up in the third issue of their mini-series!

Check out below the full preview, and join the Energon Pub discussion on this universe before all the series end (in a couple of months). Have you been following along? Are you ignoring everything not strictly Transformers? Let us know!

Christos Gage (w) • Paolo Villanelli (a) • Fico Ossio (c)
At the Heart of the Entropy Cloud! Rom and the Micronauts enter Microspace in an attempt to foil the Dire Wraith’s ultimate plan: reviving a cosmic entity that would tear Earth apart. But within the Entropy Cloud, our heroes must fight Baron Karza and his minions before they can make the Dire Wraith’s dark prophecy a reality!

I didn't even know this series had released, and it's already on issue 3?

Can the Micronauts change size, or did Rom Shrink? I'm confused.

Rodimus Knight wrote:Can the Micronauts change size, or did Rom Shrink? I'm confused.

This is the only actual time I can use this response and mean it: yes!

(That is to say: both! )

Va'al wrote:

Rodimus Knight wrote:Can the Micronauts change size, or did Rom Shrink? I'm confused.

This is the only actual time I can use this response and mean it: yes!

(That is to say: both! )

So If i were to ask you if you were a Transformers fan, you couldn't use "yes!" as a response and mean it?

Rodimus Knight wrote:

Va'al wrote:

Rodimus Knight wrote:Can the Micronauts change size, or did Rom Shrink? I'm confused.

This is the only actual time I can use this response and mean it: yes!

(That is to say: both! )

So If i were to ask you if you were a Transformers fan, you couldn't use "yes!" as a response and mean it?

No

ScottyP wrote:

Rodimus Knight wrote:

Va'al wrote:

Rodimus Knight wrote:Can the Micronauts change size, or did Rom Shrink? I'm confused.

This is the only actual time I can use this response and mean it: yes!

(That is to say: both! )

So If i were to ask you if you were a Transformers fan, you couldn't use "yes!" as a response and mean it?

No

Definitely maybe.


I meant using yes as a single response to a double choice/part question, in which both parts are more or less true. I tend to do it on a regular basis, but in this case it fully applies, as both have positive answers.

Rodimus Knight wrote:Can the Micronauts change size, or did Rom Shrink? I'm confused.

To answer this question in a little more detail than Va'al, Rom is currently shrunk down to Microspacian size, and he and the Micronauts are in Microspace. The only real Micronauts character we've seen be able to actively change their size is Baron Karza, but that requires him enerchanging with another being (like Rom or Micronus Prime) to do so.