The last few years have seen IDW constantly work to reinvent the Transformers franchise. Would they really kill off the most iconic Transformers character to further that process? Considering how often Optimus Prime has died in other versions of the mythology, as well as the fact that the company killed off Cobra Commander after only a handful of appearances in the new G.I. Joe books, that outcome seems plausible. The best thing that can be said about the Death of Optimus Prime is that it doesn't take the predictable route. Regardless of whether Optimus dies, it's clear early into the issue that the franchise really is moving in a new and more interesting direction.
This one-shot picks up shortly after the events of the Chaos event storyline, as Optimus awakens on the barren wasteland that is his home planet, Cybertron. What brought the planet to its current state and what the rest of the Autobots are up to is answered shortly. It was actually disappointing when the rest of the characters were brought into the picture, as the opening pages of Optimus in deep contemplation were the best executed. The book grows a little crowded afterward.
Exposition tends to be a problem, as John Barber and co-writer James Roberts concern themselves as much with wrapping up old plot threads as laying the groundwork for the two upcoming series. As such, the issue isn't as new-reader friendly as it really needs to be. Conversely, hardcore fans might be a little put off with some of the changes brought about in this issue. I picture a Transformers-themed Venn Diagram where only a select portion of the readership are 100% satisfied with the contents.
However, there's no reason to be upset about said changes. Again, Barber and Roberts succeed in delivering a story that finally seems to move the characters and mythology into a place it's never been before. There's a very palpable sense of one generation making way for the next. Unlike the ongoing series, humans seem to have no place in the Transformers-verse anymore. Old figureheads like Megatron and Optimus are now relics of a bygone age. It's akin to Grant Morrison's New X-Men, when Xavier and Magneto were supplanted by younger and more forward-thinking leaders. Through it all, the writers focus heavily on characterization. They lay out the new factions and establish exactly what motivates each. Once the sometimes heavy continuity is successfully navigated, the premise for both of the new ongoing books is laid out clearly and firmly.
Nick Roche's art captures the tense emotions of the script well (not that Transformers are generally the most emotive of comic book heroes). His angular character designs don't sit fully well, recalling the anime-esque style of some of the more recent animated series and ditching the more classic designs seen many other comics. On the plus side, Roche renders the new vision of Cybertron effectively, creating an eerie, alien landscape that pops with Josh Burcham's colors.
There have been plenty of variations of the Transformers universe over the years, and too often they seem to spin their wheels and rehash the same, tired conflicts. Crowded as this issue can be, it makes it abundantly clear that IDW is primed to move their universe forward, and that has me intrigued enough to follow both new books when they launch next month.
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