COUNTDOWN: 12 bits of Skybound Transformers #1 art that need to be appreciated! – The Source Report

COUNTDOWN: 12 bits of Skybound Transformers #1 art that need to be appreciated!

The dust has barely settled from the first issue of Skybound Entertainment’s brand new Transformers #1 hitting retail, but already we’re hungry for more!

That’s primarily due to the comic being an outright banger and one which has performed extraordinarily well both critically and financially, having debuted with pre-release sales of over 150,000 copies (aka, a lot). Perhaps more importantly, though, it seems to have delighted most Transformers fans (broadly speaking, anyway), generating a huge buzz on social media and the like.

A large part of that hype is, of course, thanks to the talents of Daniel Warren Johnston, who pulled double duty as both writer and artist for this first issue and will be on the book for at least the short term. We’ve already discussed all the many ways the comic feels like classic G1 Transformers at its core yet still manages to infuse it with something fresh and new simultaneously. Still, there’s one other aspect worth highlighting here – the art!

After all, what’s a good comic book without great art, eh? So, for today, let’s keep it simple and showcase twelve examples of interior artwork from Transformers #1 that are absolutely worth appreciating!

WARNING! MAJOR SPOILERS ahead for Transformers #1

#12:

What better place to start than towards the beginning of the book with this rather incredible splash page of the crashed Autobot ship (presumably the Ark, even if it’s not named as such within the comic itself!)? Longtime fans will already be hugely familiar with this kind of imagery from across the last four decades of the franchise. Still, even then, I found this to be quite a stirring interpretation, largely due to the composition and the incredible amount of detail DWJ provides for the circuitry and rock face. The artist revealed during a ‘director’s commentary‘ livestream that he originally planned for the ship to have just three thrusters at the rear but had to change this after a particular request from Hasbro to bring the look more in line with how it’s traditionally portrayed in Transformers media. Either way, this is a rousing early panel, and sets the tone for what’s to come!

#11:

The first example is followed through beautifully with this unbelievably detailed exterior of the downed vessel, complete with offline Autobots and Decepticons strewn all over the place. Again, this sort of imagery aligns with what we’ve seen before, but something about how it’s delivered, not to mention so beautifully rendered, helps it feel distinct and impactful. The positioning of the various bodies and the obvious damage they’ve suffered let us know that the warring factions were clearly in the middle of a pitched battle, all now looking distinctly worse for wear. I also appreciate the subtle but apparent looming presence of Jetfire, who is about to set the rest of the story in motion.


#10:

Skipping forward a bit now, we have this highly kinetic showcase of the Autobots’ vehicular forms in action, which strongly gives off the feeling that they’re hightailing it out of dodge at top speed! Optimus Prime is about as classic as it gets, albeit with some notable embellishments and added touches of detail that sell this image, such as the cables connecting the cab to the trailer. I’m quite a fan of Ratchet’s updated look here, too, and I think both forms do an excellent job of being relatively ‘timeless’ and indistinct in terms of setting, given DWJ has clarified he’s not overly worried about tying this story down to a specific period. Again, they feel classic yet new.

#9:

Of all the many things this book accomplishes within its first issue, it manages to get the human protagonists right in a way that so much of Transformers media often misses. They’re entirely overpowered and in awe of these massive, mighty machines and yet, when the moment comes, they can (and do) make an impact, which gives them a real sense of agency and participation in the storyline. It’s also always enjoyable to see the juxtaposition of their small, feeble forms interacting with the hugely oversized technology of the Transformers, and that’s why this fantastic image of Spike and Carly giving it everything to slide Optimus’ gun across the floor in a desperate moment works so well.

#8:

This was another panel that DWJ highlighted on his livestream, and it’s not hard to see why, given how much it stands out in the book. The composition is hugely exciting, especially how Optimus is posed, lurching forward, looking all blocky and ready for action. It has a real Geoff Senior Marvel UK vibe to it, and the way he is holding his gun feels instantly like classic Prime besides. Yet I also love the almost eery vibe of the Decepticons rising from the grave behind him, rather chillingly being reanimated in a manner which also communicates the extreme urgency of the situation – the longer the battle goes on, the worse the stakes get, and this art perfectly portrays that.

#7:

Given the inherent subject matter of this book, you’d expect there to be a decent dose of transforming throughout, right? After all, it’s in the name! Yet it’s been a common complaint of other Transformers media that such conversions are often noticeably absent, as the characters either spend most of their time in their robot forms or simply change shape “off-screen”. Not so here, though, so we get plenty of gorgeous and rather exceptionally detailed representations of the robots doing what they do best, including this simply marvellous effort above. More, much more of this, please.

#6:

We’ve already highlighted one panel of Decepticons becoming reanimated, but I feel this moment is worth paying particular attention to, not least because it’s the first such example we see in the storyline. I adore how the various panels are seemingly flying through the air and attaching themselves to Starscream’s body, almost Iron Man 3 style, as it creates a real sense of movement and excitement, once again putting an entirely fresh spin on something we’ve seen done more than a few times in media beforehand. There’s also tons of spectacular robotic detailing everywhere you look, conveying a real sense of the inner workings of these titanic automatons. Love it.

#5:

Optimus Prime is at his best when he’s put to the test. That’s when he shows he’s got the touch, after all! Classic Transformers comics are littered with examples of the most iconic Autobot being up against it, only to make the hard choices others wouldn’t typically be able to. This book immediately capitalises on that in a way that also sets up the ongoing storyline by having Optimus forced into destroying Teletraan One to prevent more Decepticons from being reanimated. It’s a crucial turning point, and thus needs some majorly impactful art to communicate that, all of which DWJ delivers with aplomb here! It was especially interesting to see the changes made to this panel during development, as highlighted on the livestream, including the position of the legs being changed from a more traditional wide stance. The result is spot on.

#4:

As single comic book panels go, this one feels as much like an almost meta statement of intent regarding the real-world direction of the book as it does a means of progressing the storyline itself. Sure, it’s shocking enough on the face of it, with one of the Autobot’s most recognisable (and typically pretty loveable) characters taken off the board in such a brutal, unforgiving and forthright manner. Yet there’s an undeniable subtext on offer here, too, as one can only interpret it as a declaration that Bumblebee, who has so commonly and almost ubiquitously been the face of the franchise over the last two decades or so, will certainly not be taking top billing in this instance, by quite literally destroying his face. Still, it’s as stunning as it is shocking, forcing you to admire how well done it all is despite the horror it contains. Will he be back? Probably in time, but it’s a bold panel all the same.

#3:

Following on from the above is this masterful moment, which is simple enough in concept but impactful beyond belief nonetheless. Another aspect of this issue that worked so well for many fans was how it portrayed Optimus Prime, especially by humanising him and showing his softer, more vulnerable side (as well as an innate ability to be a badass action hero, natch), and that’s nowhere better portrayed than right here. It’s the turning point of the issue that shows how real the stakes are for the Autobots, and instantly convinces Spike to join the fray and align himself with the mysterious beings now before him. Masterful stuff.

#2:

As if you needed more convincing on the merits of this comic, here’s Optimus Prime demolishing an unsuspecting Starscream with a rather righteous rainmaker! That’s certainly something we never saw back in the old Marvel days! Seriously, for as bonkers as this moment admittedly is, it’s every bit just as awesome and looks undeniably incredible here. The manner in which the movement is communicated through exaggerated proportions works so well, making a major impact the moment you turn the page and first glimpse it. It’s just one of several distinct points in the book where I found myself audibly gasping!

#1:

Last but most definitely not least, this is about as close to the definition of ‘money shot’ as you can get, right? Do I even need to go into all the various specifics of why this is so good? It’s everything you want from a straight-up Optimus Prime heroic moment to the point where you can almost hear the music and sound effects in your brain. Absolutely poster-worthy.

So that’s our list! Did you enjoy the art from #1?

TTFN

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About Sixo

Transformers collector from the UK, collecting vintage G1/G2, CR/RID, UT & Masterpiece/3P. Find me at twitter.com/SixoTF or on YouTube at youtube.com/SixoTF

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