Broken Frontier

Jetfire and his crew have a run-in with a mad scientist under the surface of a ravaged planet Cybertron. Who does Optimus Prime call? The Wreckers!!

There have been references to the goings-on of Transformers: Infiltration, but beyond that, Stormbringer has given what it promised—all out robot action on Cybertron. Issue #1 clearly set the stage for status quo changes and gave veiled hints at what has happened on the Transformers’ home planet causing it to become a wasteland. In issue #2, the intrigue only increases. Optimus remembers the last minutes of Cybertron’s life and the tragic consequences of the Decepticon/Autobot war and the Wreckers are called in for action. Meanwhile, Jetfire tries to convince Bludgeon his plan to revive a mad robot who nearly obliterated his home planet is…well…not such a good plan…

Simon Furman’s name is synonymous with good Transformers stories. He has been writing about their adventures for awhile now and is responsible for some of the most memorable moments in the mythos. Stormbringer only adds to the list. His Optimus Prime is a contemplative leader who clearly knows the high cost of war. His Jetfire is a scientist who made a few mistakes and feels a deep sense of regret because of them. His Megatron, though only glimpsed in short snippets, is a villain through and through, evidenced by his words and actions. Additionally, the story is rich with history, clearly thought-out, but just so much is given away to keep the reader wanting more. In short, Furman is an expert with the lore.

Don Figueroa’s art with Furman’s words is a match made in heaven. Where the writer weaves an entrapping tale, the artist paints the shiniest pictures. His smooth lines and hard edges work together to create a science-fiction feel that was sorely lacking in Infiltration. These robots in disguise are in their homes, in their spaceships, on alien worlds, particularly the destroyed Cybertron, where things look differently than they do on Earth. Figueroa captures these fantastic images with seeming ease. His Transformers are intricately designed, every angle serving to make the robots look, to speak in the vernacular, pretty freaking cool.

And that is the best way to describe this book—pretty freaking cool. Some may say it gets a bit preachy in its transparent anti-war/side-effects of war message. However, it is a good message to preach about, and when it is wrapped in a stupendous story and amazing art, it’s easier to hear.