Full Preview for IDW Transformers Unicron #1

this looks epic cant wait for the trade

Unless the issue does something really interesting, I'm definitely dropping the subscription, from the preview alone.

I see the Dark Syde! I can't wait to see the rest of this story develp.

So we're going to see prime fight primal...or will primal turn and fight alongside the good guys leading bw megs to be turned into bw galvatron in a bizarre mish mash of homages...

That aside thus doesn't add anything other than the page of fighting which we already knew was coming and that page summarising everything to this point.

@AllNewSuper what's made you drop it considering this is pretty much what we've seen in the other preview?

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:Unless the issue does something really interesting, I'm definitely dropping the subscription, from the preview alone.

Yeh you said that 2 days ago when you thought Roberts was the writer

I was planning to drop it from the first preview. This one hasn't altered that but I will wait for issue one to arrive. The hamfisted Beast Wars cameos really leave a bad taste in my mouth (yes I am aware they come from Shockwave/Onyx Prime in the OP book)

ZeroWolf wrote:So we're going to see prime fight primal...or will primal turn and fight alongside the good guys leading bw megs to be turned into bw galvatron in a bizarre mish mash of homages...

That aside thus doesn't add anything other than the page of fighting which we already knew was coming and that page summarising everything to this point.

@AllNewSuper what's made you drop it considering this is pretty much what we've seen in the other preview?

Man I have no idea what’s the deal with primal. I’m all about new interpretations of characters but having primal as a bad guy leaves some sour taste in my mouth. I’d like to see him switch sides but he’s been a follower of Onyx for 12 million years and is pretty much just a generic robot in ODW.

Randomhero wrote:

ZeroWolf wrote:So we're going to see prime fight primal...or will primal turn and fight alongside the good guys leading bw megs to be turned into bw galvatron in a bizarre mish mash of homages...

That aside thus doesn't add anything other than the page of fighting which we already knew was coming and that page summarising everything to this point.

@AllNewSuper what's made you drop it considering this is pretty much what we've seen in the other preview?

Man I have no idea what’s the deal with primal. I’m all about new interpretations of characters but having primal as a bad guy leaves some sour taste in my mouth. I’d like to see him switch sides but he’s been a follower of Onyx for 12 million years and is pretty much just a generic robot in ODW.

WELL, i doynt we'll get thr expose for ot, but maybe since Unicron ate Eukaris, Primal Died, Unicron enslaved the Body.

......I've been wondering if Unicron would have Minions/Heralds but this is not what I hoped for.

Even Shoehorning Shockwave in as the mastermind over everything felt lackluster. And I never liked BW's at all. So I'm not all that hyped about buying this book anymore..

But if they violently kill Pyra Magna, I'll buy that issue twice!

Robot sacrifice, cats and dogs living together, mass hysteria!!

Flashwave wrote:

Randomhero wrote:

ZeroWolf wrote:So we're going to see prime fight primal...or will primal turn and fight alongside the good guys leading bw megs to be turned into bw galvatron in a bizarre mish mash of homages...

That aside thus doesn't add anything other than the page of fighting which we already knew was coming and that page summarising everything to this point.

@AllNewSuper what's made you drop it considering this is pretty much what we've seen in the other preview?

Man I have no idea what’s the deal with primal. I’m all about new interpretations of characters but having primal as a bad guy leaves some sour taste in my mouth. I’d like to see him switch sides but he’s been a follower of Onyx for 12 million years and is pretty much just a generic robot in ODW.

WELL, i doynt we'll get thr expose for ot, but maybe since Unicron ate Eukaris, Primal Died, Unicron enslaved the Body.

Primal isn't from Eukaris though, he was part of onyx's entourage. Good news is that he's just an extra in this with no personality, but still...

The Darkest Hour has come. Optimus Prime stages a desperate gamble as the world-eater, Unicron, approaches Windblade’s homeworld—but that’s just the appetizer. The main course is Cybertron (with a side of Earth)... and it’s starting to look like no force in the galaxy can stop the end from coming.

Story

So here we are at last, the end of a dream, the end of 14 years of Transformers, the end of the longest running Transformers comic series in history. And here it goes out not with a bang nor a whimper. It goes out spectacularly and in glorious Big Screen Milne-D TV (that's a 2D 3D joke folks).

But we'll get to art later. First, let's focus in on the story shall we?



The story is sort of odd, but also pretty spectacular all in one. I will start with the odd: With the final Chapter of The Falling, over in IDW's Optimus Prime book, has not yet finished, meaning this book spoils some things but also sort of feels at odds, like you jumped into the action a bit too soon, like the first part of a 3 part finale from a TV show came before the 3rd to last episode. It may be a bit jarring, but that is hardly the book's fault.

Something that is also a bit strange is how this issue just feels like a slightly larger, more violent version of Unicron #0. Which I mean, that isn't necessarily a bad thing, considering the amount of action and Beast Wars cameos we get (though add a sin for only cameos at this point). But it also is a bit weird playing the script again. But at least (redacted as it is a spoiler, see the final thoughts)*.



That all being said, we still get a great and fun story. Something you might not have seen coming, and shown pretty much front and center on the front of the page, is the comparison between Optimus Prime and Unicron. In many ways, these 2 characters are quite similar. And in this issue, we get plenty of Optimus, though we are still in the early days of Unicron, but that's OK! We are building up, as Unicron is building himself up, and I have to say, the 2nd half of the book had some pretty awesome things about Unicron.

All the character moments we get as well are incredible. Dirge, the Mistress, Soundwave and ROM, even Pyra Magna at the end. The characters are driving the story as much as the pictures and action on the page, and to that end, Barber once again delivers the goods.



See final thoughts for 1 more story thing that is best left unsaid at this juncture.

Overall though, good story, slightly repetitive, but still freshened some, and ready to speed onward to the final 5 issues. And we even get a Furmanism!

Art

What would a comic be without art you might ask? It would be a book that's what. And while books are cool, comics drawn by Alex Milne and colored by Sebastian Cheng are even better. These 2 guys right here? They kill the book. They kill the book almost as well as Unicron killed the colonies and Wheeljack! (too soon?...)



The art, as to be expected on a Milne book, is fantastic. Bold lines, insane attention to detail, not a wide shot or a background missed. And the work on Unicron is the 2nd half of the book is awesome, properly great, kinda like the Transformers version of Bosch's Visions of Hell (maybe a spoiler, depends if you've seen that). The whole book is filled with great detail, great character moments, both story and art wise, and some great backdrops, even if we are literally in space for half the issue.

The coloring really helps bring out all those details too. I envy not a person who has to color Milne art, but Cheng did an amazing job, stellar. All the detail Milne provided was intricately carved out in detail and wonderful colors. He made the fires burn bright and the darkness nearly consume the reader themselves.



And the art would not be complete without our resident Letterer, Tom B. Long. Long still kills the varied speech patterns, and I love the colors and fonts chosen for Unicron. He also is one of the best at making sure you miss as little art as possible while catching your necessary speech bubbles.

For even more information, you can check out our Unicron database entry for this issue

Final Thoughts
Majorly spoilerish ahead



Ok, so as promised from the story section, the final 2 notes before we plunge on:

1) We are pretty much out of filler. Cybertron is next, and the action is going to only heat up from here. Both we and Unicron had the appetizers, it's time for the giant main course guys.

2) Starscream. oh man Starscream. It feels good to have him around for this final push of the storyline. And once again, it's just the way Milne draws him, but the Steve Blum just oozes all over the speech bubbles. This is the Starscream we've always needed in a comic, Transformers: Prime personified in a "G1" comic. It is brilliant.

With that, I wrap things up with this: This is the end, the great finale, the Unicron event that will end a universe, as Unicron's actually pretty rarely do. And the threat is large, it has power, it isn't showing weakness, it isn't showing any cliches, and it knows that only a few, if any, can truly have that happy ending. Heroes will fall, the action will heat up even more, the pace will pick up even more. The final enigma of the universe will be solved.

It is a great read, a part 2 if you will to the Free Unicron #0, one that provides a bit new, repeats some stuff, but still kills you with what it is intended to do. Great job here, let's keep shooting to the stars (so long as Unicron doesn't eat them).



PS: in case you're interested, I felt this song was perfect for this issue. (Obviously)

glad to know i'm not the only person that likes that song

D R E W wrote:glad to know i'm not the only person that likes that song

I'm really glad someone can appreciate the music/lyrics/references I tag into my reviews. It is a great some, and perfect for the issue itself. there is gonna be a high body count...

Not in a place where I can click on the link so what is that song? Good to know things are starting well in unicron. Good review dmax!

ZeroWolf wrote:Not in a place where I can click on the link so what is that song? Good to know things are starting well in unicron. Good review dmax!

Skillet - Not Gonna Die!

Thanks Va'al

Va'al wrote:

ZeroWolf wrote:Not in a place where I can click on the link so what is that song? Good to know things are starting well in unicron. Good review dmax!

Skillet - Not Gonna Die!

I kinda want to lay claim to the other 5 Unicron issues as well simply because I have a line of Skillet songs lined up for reviews, and I think most if not all line up greatly with Unicron!

As for other thoughts of mine on the issue other than those in the review, I know we haven't seen Dirge in a bit, but I was still sad to see him bite the dust.

Also, the scenes inside Unicron were fantastic. I love how he uses the inhabitants of the planets he's eaten as his immune system, all fused together and such. Maybe we'll see a part Wheeljack Antibody.

Also looking forward to learning more about Unicron.

See, I don't have the context of the other books, nor do I know who some of these characters are. To me this was Average. The visual-only Beast Wars cameos are completely wasted. The Dirge scene was pointless, I thought he died around AHM?. As a principal BW fan, seeing Not-Rampage did nothing for me, as with the other wordless cameos. What did annoy me is much like the squandered potential of The Gathering/Ascending we have BW2 & Neo characters practically vomited over the page.

Alas, Unicron's Galactus-lite dialogue continues...

To be honest, as I've mentioned before since there is no herald this time, I think it would be much better to learn nothing more about Unicron. Without him suddenly breaking into out of character monologue, he should just do his thing and remain an enigma in at least one continuity.

Note: I will stick around for one more issue, as they didn't have Prime pull some God-Bot BS to turn the tide. Long may that continue. 2.5/5

If prime did anything to turn the tide, it will be in issue 6, I'm fully expecting earth to be the last colony standing

Hopefully he is dead before then. IDWverse began by subverting TF lore after all. It would be nice if they give that a nod at the end of this continuity.

Isn't it fun to have fun people contributing to a fun conversation.

Va'al wrote:Isn't it fun to have fun people contributing to a fun conversation.

Always. Likewise isn't it fun to occasionally remember that the Transformers is the story of an entire race, not just a Trukk

Vaguely spoilery for people who haven't been following the comics in their chronological order up to now!

So, Unicron - in light of the recent happenings in Optimus Prime, and with another issue out this week exploring Shockwave's endgame in all this, a question:

- if Primes aren't actually real (they are, but not as everyone has seen them until now), but a creation of Shockwave's to support a narrative, but Unicron is, how do we reconcile the various mythologies at the core of the belief system in the IDW TF universe? How does the Guiding Hand fit into all of it?

and an addition:

- the Maximals, part of Liege Maximo's army, are not from Eukarys (which is now gone), but are still beastformers - how does that work?

Those questions were part of my thinking also. By hamfisting the tired Primus/Unicron creation myth into this story, albeit in a couple of panels, it actually created plot holes that wouldn't have existed otherwise.

I don't know about that...even taking away primus/unicron, unicron is tied to Cybertron still because otherwise, why the message? Theres still room to maneuver with these things, after all we still need to find out where Prime found out all that stuff from the first page.

ZeroWolf wrote:I don't know about that...even taking away primus/unicron, unicron is tied to Cybertron still because otherwise, why the message? Theres still room to maneuver with these things, after all we still need to find out where Prime found out all that stuff from the first page.

I don't think it's ever really put down as myth though, is it? Just saying that Unicron vs Primus was a thing from the past, and - I speculate - probably mythologised upon a little.

As for the latter - we'll probably see more in OP ongoing, the scheduling for this is all outta whack.

It's mind boggling that this schedule was okayed, I know for some it's the journey rather than the destination but it does ruin the revelations a bit.

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:See, I don't have the context of the other books, nor do I know who some of these characters are. To me this was Average. The visual-only Beast Wars cameos are completely wasted. The Dirge scene was pointless, I thought he died around AHM?. As a principal BW fan, seeing Not-Rampage did nothing for me, as with the other wordless cameos. What did annoy me is much like the squandered potential of The Gathering/Ascending we have BW2 & Neo characters practically vomited over the page.

Alas, Unicron's Galactus-lite dialogue continues...

To be honest, as I've mentioned before since there is no herald this time, I think it would be much better to learn nothing more about Unicron. Without him suddenly breaking into out of character monologue, he should just do his thing and remain an enigma in at least one continuity.

Note: I will stick around for one more issue, as they didn't have Prime pull some God-Bot BS to turn the tide. Long may that continue. 2.5/5

Well of course you aren’t going to care about the events of the finale if you didn’t actually read the stuff that came before. You don’t care about the deaths Mad-Eye Moody, Tonks and Lupin, Dobby, or Hedwig if you start reading Harry Potter at the Deathly Hallows.

Va'al wrote:Vaguely spoilery for people who haven't been following the comics in their chronological order up to now!

So, Unicron - in light of the recent happenings in Optimus Prime, and with another issue out this week exploring Shockwave's endgame in all this, a question:

- if Primes aren't actually real (they are, but not as everyone has seen them until now), but a creation of Shockwave's to support a narrative, but Unicron is, how do we reconcile the various mythologies at the core of the belief system in the IDW TF universe? How does the Guiding Hand fit into all of it?

and an addition:

- the Maximals, part of Liege Maximo's army, are not from Eukarys (which is now gone), but are still beastformers - how does that work?

I used to have faith these questions would be answered, but now I'm not so sure. It's plausible the answer ends up entirely being "just because" as it relates to the Maximals.

I think it is going to be a strong case of "just because" for a lot of questions.

Which I'm quite happy to be fine with - I don't need all the answers, I'm okay with that - just an extra question buzzing around my head.

Va'al wrote:Which I'm quite happy to be fine with - I don't need all the answers, I'm okay with that - just an extra question buzzing around my head.

I really do want to know how and why Galvatron cared enough about Onyx's "return" to reference it just before dying. I don't expect to find out.

But true, I don't really care about, say, what happened to the Predacons after Revolutionaries. "Destro sent them to live on a farm" is my accepted canon.

ScottyP wrote:

Va'al wrote:Which I'm quite happy to be fine with - I don't need all the answers, I'm okay with that - just an extra question buzzing around my head.

I really do want to know how and why Galvatron cared enough about Onyx's "return" to reference it just before dying. I don't expect to find out.

To get a bizarre supervillain character trait back as reference in this week's comic..?

But true, I don't really care about, say, what happened to the Predacons after Revolutionaries. "Destro sent them to live on a farm" is my accepted canon.

Nsh, it's a plot of land next to a steelworks plant. Y'know, for the flames.

I now unicron 6# to end with a panel of the Predacons living next near that plant...

Dammit, I only read Lost Light (and TAAO) and now in this Unicron issue I learn that Shockwave founded the original 13 primes, W T F??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Where/when was this revealed?

Also, I wasnt too fond of this issue. I feel like not much happened, even though Caminus blew up. Also kinda pissed that the beast wars characters are all just cannon fodder.

william-james88 wrote:Dammit, I only read Lost Light (and TAAO) and now in this Unicron issue I learn that Shockwave founded the original 13 primes, W T F??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Where/when was this revealed?

Also, I wasnt too fond of this issue. I feel like not much happened, even though Caminus blew up. Also kinda pissed that the beast wars characters are all just cannon fodder.

The Shockwave stuff was in Optimus Prime's "The Falling" arc, which wraps up tomorrow. Yay scheduling?

I'd be more upset with the Beast Wars crew if the continuity weren't ending. At least now they're getting to make an appearance at all!

ScottyP wrote:

william-james88 wrote:Dammit, I only read Lost Light (and TAAO) and now in this Unicron issue I learn that Shockwave founded the original 13 primes, W T F??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Where/when was this revealed?

Also, I wasnt too fond of this issue. I feel like not much happened, even though Caminus blew up. Also kinda pissed that the beast wars characters are all just cannon fodder.

The Shockwave stuff was in Optimus Prime's "The Falling" arc, which wraps up tomorrow. Yay scheduling?

I'd be more upset with the Beast Wars crew if the continuity weren't ending. At least now they're getting to make an appearance at all!

Ok, will read up on that then.

And did you notice that the evergreen designs are popping up in the comics. I know you hypothesised that these designs were to unify the look in the reboot to the comics but we are seeing them now in both Shockwave and Bumblebee. That Shockwave looks just like the cyberverse toy we are getting.

Daniel Adkins wrote:Well of course you aren’t going to care about the events of the finale if you didn’t actually read the stuff that came before. You don’t care about the deaths Mad-Eye Moody, Tonks and Lupin, Dobby, or Hedwig if you start reading Harry Potter at the Deathly Hallows.

In Spotlight: Galvatron, did you care when Leadfoot died?



This is Unicron's story, hence his name in the title. That's all you need to know.

Not sure I understand the reference when lead foot only appeared just to die a page or so later...though while I'm here I now fully understand why unicron was summoned in the first place and I think in terms of silliness it really does take the biscuit. The fact that everything from here on out is (the character in question) fault

The death in #1 to me was just another Leadfoot. I'm reading this for Unicron, so the preamble from OP/LL doesn't really interest me beyond that.

Ah now I see your debate better, Dan is arguing you would care about the deaths if you were more invested whole you, as you say, are only there for unicron.

Exactly. I tapped out of IDWverse because I didn't like what was being done in MTMTE/LL/RiD/OP. Reading the occasional story in the TF Part-Work, I still don't. But Unicron, is one of those characters that gives me real nostalgia and genuine excitement.

I like larger than life concepts. Which is why I prefer the Cybertronian cars and spaceships of G1 Post-Movie over the Earth-Based altmodes, from before it. Those I always found generic and boring. You don't get more 'larger than life' than a Transforming Planet.

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:

Daniel Adkins wrote:Well of course you aren’t going to care about the events of the finale if you didn’t actually read the stuff that came before. You don’t care about the deaths Mad-Eye Moody, Tonks and Lupin, Dobby, or Hedwig if you start reading Harry Potter at the Deathly Hallows.

In Spotlight: Galvatron, did you care when Leadfoot died?



This is Unicron's story, hence his name in the title. That's all you need to know.

See, that's your problem right there. This isn't a story about Unicron. It's a story about how Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Windblade, Starscream and everyone else RESPONDS to Unicron, much in the same way the original Godzilla isn't about the titular monster as a character, but about the reactions of the people. Again, this is the finale of years worth of stories.

Also, your Leadfoot point is shifting goalposts and a really weak argument.

Thanks to iTunes, we have a short three-page preview of the next issue of the series to end all series in the IDW publishing Transformers comics - Unicron #2, due out in the next couple of weeks. Check it out below, and join the conversation!

Bumblebee investigates a dark corner of Cybertron’s past, searching for answers: what is Unicron, and why does it want to destroy Cybertron? Meanwhile, Windblade scrambles to figure out a plan as Chromia makes her return—with a Decepticon fleet in pursuit!

oooohhhhhh the art

Well it was nice to see bludgeon again before all the cons get wiped...though I always thought bludgeon would be one to end up throwing in his lot with unicron, cest la vie

Go screamer go! Go screamer go! I want to fight for you my darling flier <3

ZeroWolf wrote:Well it was nice to see bludgeon again before all the cons get wiped...though I always thought bludgeon would be one to end up throwing in his lot with unicron, cest la vie

I believe he was referring to shockwave as his master in OP. Makes sense he’s back under the Decepticons. Starscream fixed him and now he serves him.

Out this week with IDW Publishing are three new issues in their Transformers comics as we rush towards the end of it all in the Summer of Transformers - with our final preview below for the second chapter of the Transformers: Unicron mini-series that will bring an end to the IDW Hasbro universe as we currently know it.

Check out the preview and join the conversation in the Energon Pub discussion boards, and make sure to join us for the review discussion after the comic book is out this Wednesday!

Transformers: Unicron #2 (of 6)—Cover A: Alex Milne—GEM OF THE MONTH
John Barber (w) • Alex Milne (a & c)
Bumblebee investigates a dark corner of Cybertron’s past, searching for answers: what is Unicron, and why does it want to destroy Cybertron? Meanwhile, Windblade scrambles to figure out a plan as Chromia makes her return—with a Decepticon fleet in pursuit!
FC • 32 pages • $4.99

Transformers: Unicron #2 (of 6)—Cover B: James Raiz—GEM OF THE MONTH
John Barber (w) • Alex Milne (a) • James Raiz (c)
FC • 32 pages • $4.99

Bullet points:
Connecting B covers by James Raiz featuring destruction at the hands of Unicron!
The end of IDW Transformers as you know it! Not a hoax, not an imaginary story, just the end of the universe!
Covers by fan-favorite Transformers artists of the past decade!
Every oversized issue packed with bonus content!
Variant covers by Casey Coller, and Francesco Francavilla!