Transformers #8 picks up right after we went through some drama heavy aftermath of the first story arc. Daniel Warren Johnson has been taking the full opportunity to modernize the Transformers franchise while making sure to maintain the core designs that made it so beloved in the 1980s. With where things stand right now there is still plenty of opportunity to further explore the emotional and action-focus stories Transformers can deliver. We got the chance to check out an early copy of Transformers #8. Find out how it turned out with our advanced review.
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Daniel Warren Johnson
Artist: Jorge Corona
Colorist: Mike Spicer
Letterer: Rus Wooton
TRANSFORMERS #8 SOLICITATION
“WELCOME TO CYBERTRON! As the Autobots and Decepticons make some tough choices to survive on Earth, the return of a fan-favorite Decepticon will change the war on Cybertron forever.” – Image Comics & Skybound
REVIEW
Transformers #8 continues the momentum of making the reader feel the fallout of the first story arc in this series. Daniel Warren Johnson understands readers will only take death and other tragic events as seriously as the creative does. Just having things happen for character motivation sake won’t get readers bought into the impact of tragic events. Transformers #8 shows exactly why creative buy in on putting over the weight characters are carrying is so important.
A key success point for Transformers #8 is that Johnson and artist Jorge Corona put a lot of care in showing rather than telling. We aren’t simply told a character is feeling a certain emotion. We are shown it through a combination of their dialogue and action. Both were needed to get to understand how universe changing the presence of the Autobots and Decepticons are. Getting the weight of that over creates even greater meaning to the small bits of action we get in Transformers #8.
As with the previous issue, Arcee steals the show. It can’t be understated how Arcee has quickly gone from being revived in Transformers #5 to now in Transformers #8 being a lead character. The connection Arcee is building with Carly is a natural way for this progress to happen for the Autobot. Transformers #8 does a great job at using flashbacks and present day to show how far Arcee has come through all of her experiences.
This in turn makes Carly’s development stronger. Spike still gets some quality screen time that continues his progression but there is doubt in this iteration of Transformers Carly is the lead human character. It’s a smart call as the events that kicked off this version Transformers impacted the world in a unique way. Carly’s development reflects that impact and how the reaction is being shown not only in this series but in the G.I. Joe comics as well.
While Arcee and Carly certainly carry this issue the other Autobots get a lot of continued progression. Johnson makes sure to maximize the page count of Transformers #8 so at least everyone on the Autobots side gets development. We see that with how Optimus Prime and Cliffjumper get some emotional impactful scenes. It all leads to a major surprise that hit hard because of the unexpected approach Johnson took with presenting it. The presentation will certainly get a lot of fans talking after reaching that point in Trasformers #8.
In terms of the Decepticons, they don’t get what feels as much screen time as they did in the previous issue. But boy the screentime the Decepticons do get drives home how different of a leader Soundwave is compared to Megatron and Starscream. Soundwave’s brutal methods are hammered home. What those methods are and where they lead us to creates even more questions as to the direction the Decepticons will be heading in the Soundwave Era for the villains.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Transformers #8 is an incredible display of storytelling. Daniel Warren Johnson and Jorge Corona make sure the reader understands how seriously they must take every character moment and event that takes place in this series. This is truly a must-read comic book.
Story Rating: 10 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 8.5 Night Girls out of 10
Check out a preview for Transformers #8 by clicking here.
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