Review of IDW Transformers: Unicron #3

Synopsis

Unicron approaches Cybertron, so Windblade enacts a desperate plan-one neither Optimus Prime nor Starscream agree with! Has Windblade outmaneuvered Shockwave's machinations-or played right into his deadly hand?



Story

Back again are we? Well, here we are, halfway through the epic Unicron finale, the giant be-all-end-all story for IDW, the culmination of 13 years of stories. So where do we sit halfway through the 6 part finale, minus a free comic book day intro?



Well, we don't actually sit too far away from where we were last time. The thing about this issue is that, objectively and character-wise, it was good. But pacing wise, I feel like it slowed down some, a bit too much. Now that's not to say the comic is bad by any means, because it isn't, but I feel like it should have moved just a smidge faster.

Pacing wise set aside, let's take a look at what else the comic had to offer. Probably my favorite part of the book was the core character moments. Characters like Bumblebee and Aileron shined together, with Soundwave providing a subtle but meaningful voice in his moments of time. But Starscream once again continues to steal the spotlight, and between last issue and this issue, we truly see his Till All Are One redemption story and his past self truly merge to create a genuinely great and enjoyable Starscream.



The other characters included and the overall action in orbit are also present and they did their part, albeit maybe just a teensy bit too briefly. I understand that this is a dense book and it's basically the big climax of 13 years, but I still think an extra few panels could have made the battle in orbit a bit more memorable. Victorion and the torchbearers themselves stood out, while Elita-1 sort of fizzled out. In a way, Windblade was also sort of just there, as I felt her role really was just telling everyone how terrible they really were over all those years and how this is the final true end result. That said, her and Arcee did work well together, and she served as s a good bounce back for many of Arcee's good character moments.



And meanwhile, Unicron is there, not really doing anything the whole issue except being huge and intimidating, with one brief 1986 callback moment, albeit not the one I would have hoped for. He felt like background in the issue, like the threat is right there, but it really doesn't do anything until page 19. But despite this, it's not like he just spoke to the assembled living beings; no, he remains mute save for his 2 words repeated only once from their initial quote, and honestly, in this case, I think this is all Unicron really needs to be at this point. His presence is enough to satisfy his appearance in the book... at least for now.

Art

Art for this issue once more continues with Alex Milne leading the lining charge, Sebastian Cheng on colors (with David Garcia Cruz this issue too), and Tom B. Long heading up the lettering. The issue was certainly another tough task to conquer, but once again we have some great art and great visual moments. The combination of yet more intense space battle and cluttered city views could be enough to bury some artistic teams, but this one keeps on chugging away.

The visuals are stunning, and it is amazing how, despite the constant shifts from glowing bright light to darkened areas, the action still stands out, the lines are still pronounced, everything still works. It is magnificent.

Also, the shading on the characters works incredibly well. It still amazes me when Milne can make someone with one eye and no face, a faceplate and eyes, or even a faceplate with just a visor still emote as though they had a full normal human like face.



Final Thoughts

This issue felt a bit like it was spinning its wheels in some areas and house cleaning in others, but still delivered on characters and intimidation. I would be doing the book a disgrace if I said it was bad or even mediocre, simply on the weight of the characters and the visuals. But I also feel we are at that point where things should be picking up, and they aren't fully up to my standards quite yet. This appears to be a pattern with recent books, where the first issue comes out swinging, the next 2 are sort of there, advancing the plot and characters but not accomplishing a whole lot, before we get the full on charge to the finish. Now I don't mind that, especially as someone who primarily buys the Trades, but I wish we could have just a bit more in those early-mid issues.



That said, if that last page didn't give you a least a bit of a chill, get out here. In the same way the last part of issue 2 hyped me up, issue 3 did the same. Now I'm hoping it can deliver a little bit more than issue 3 did following issue 2's last pages.



For all the covers part of this issue, take a look at the Vector Sigma Comics Database entry here. And of course, seeing as how we are in a Unicron review, I give you the spotlight/title song for this issue (A tough one to pick I might add): Monster by Skillet.