If IDW wants to make Transformers fun and action packed, they need to look to Devils Due. During and after their union with Image Comics, they made a four-part crossover with G.I. Joe, which I’ve reviewed in the past. (Vol 1, Vol 2, Vol 3, Vol 4) At the time they had the license to G.I. Joe but had begun a Transformers crossover with Dreamwave, which they continued after Dreamwave waved goodbye. Josh Blaylock, Dan Jolley, and Tim Seeley wrote some of the best Transformers characters even when their focus was on G.I. Joe. (Hear that, Michael Bay? They knew how to do “US military teams with giant robots against other giant robots” stories.) They rank among my favorite Transformers writers.

Tonight’s fight is a return to Blaylock’s first story, where Cobra Commander found the deactivated Transformers and turned them into war machines under his command–until they finally broke free. Then CC had to run for his life.

“Marvelous” round 11

The Battlefield: G.I. Joe Vs. The Transformers #4; Image Comics/Devils Due (September, 2003)

The Promoters: Josh Blaylock (writer), Mike S. Miller (penciler), Cory Hamscher (inker), Lynx Studios (colors), and Dreamer Design (letterer)

So as I said, Cobra Commander is running for the hills, with Gears and Brawn on his heals.

At this point Cobra Commander wishes he had bought stolen a Total Gym.

It looks like Cobra Commander has bitten off more than he can chew. And this is a guy who, in another continuity, once cloned dinosaurs.

" I only shot you in the back when you weren't looking, but I'm not dishonorable."

But while I could make a “shot in the shoulder” joke about Brawn only die-hard Transformer fans would get, the two Autobots aren’t going down that easy. Except that Storm Shadow is contractually obligated to win any fight not against Snake Eyes.

Surprisingly, Storm Shadow is terrible at MechWarrior.

Yes, even his enemies learn to respect Storm Shadow.

I have nothing to add here, so let me ask--how do these guys transform into those little Trouble Bubbles?

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