Today’s GN> Transformers Animated: Bots of Science

Ever have that strange feeling of deja vu?

Adventures in Reading: Transformers: Bots of Science

IDW Publishing (October 2010)

I was curious to see what a “junior graphic novel” would be like. I support literacy and kids reading comics. However, had I know this was a full price comic that just features an adaptation of a comic story I already own (even worse, a back-up story), I probably wouldn’t have picked it up. This book is an adaptation of a story that was in issue #3 of Transformers Animated: The Arrival, a miniseries featuring original stories set in the Animated universe. (IDW has been publishing adaptations of the actual show using screen captures in a regular GN format.) That means I paid $3.99 for a story I already own in a bigger comic. That seems a high price to me, but I don’t know what others books in this style cost. (I’ve seen illustrated books in this style, complete with the “4” level reading button.)

Still, it is an interesting story for the kiddies, with large, easy to read text for those just learning to read. If you haven’t read the comic (my first review for the Spotlight was issue #5), the story has Ratchet helping a Decepticon in the days of the War as he deals with Cosmic Rust (a concept first introduced in the original cartoon). I’d have to recheck my copy, but I think they reused the art, which is spot-on for the series.

This may be a good comic for kids just learning to read, but for adults I recommend either tracking down issue #3 of The Arrival or the collected graphic novel. It’s better for your wallet and a better read for those of us who can already read. (Which I assume most of you can do unless you’re using a reader program for this blog. 🙂 )

Tomorrow’s Comic> The Phantom: Generations Special