As soon as Optimus turns around...WHAM!
Transformers: Ironhide #1
IDW Publishing (May 2010)
WRITER: Mike Costa ARTIST: Casey Coller COLORIST: Joanna Lafuente COVER “A” ARTIST: Marcelo MatereCOVER “A” COLOR: Priscilla Tramontano (cover “A” shown)
LETTERER: Chris Mowry ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Denton J. Tipton EDITOR: Andy Schmidt
On the long dead Cybertron, a light suddenly activates. Then we flash back to the early days of the Great War. Optimus and Ironhide, during a battle, stop an important Energon shipment to the Decepticons. At a celebration, an assassin targets Optimus, but Ironhide takes the shot meant for him. Back to “today” as Ironhide wakes up alone on the now dead planet–except he was supposed to have been killed on Earth (in the first issue of the ongoing)!
What they got right: I’ve mentioned before in reviews that we don’t get enough pre-war stories in this franchise. Well, IDW hasn’t had a lot of early war stories. Costa does a nice job with Optimus and Ironhide’s friendship (first referenced in the “Coda” stories of All Hail Megatron) and bringing us those early years before Thunderwing destroyed Cybertron.
What they got wrong: Are they honestly setting up a return for Ironhide, killed in the ongoing? I realize that they’re robots and easy to bring back, but even in the world of the Transformers death should have some meaning when you don’t have to worry about promoting a certain toy of a returning character. That’s why Optimus was brought back in the old Marvel run, but why kill Ironhide when any meaning in his death is just going to be undone like certain other publishers are currently doing? It ends up being pointless to the story.
Recommendation: If your a fan of Ironhide or want to see the early days of the war, then go ahead and pick this up. Outside of the ending, there’s nothing disappointing here.
I shouldn't have had that extra Energon salad today.
Tomorrow’s Comic: Iron Man: Legacy #2
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