Roll Out... into Darkness
Tragedies with Aquaman and Transformers
It was a bit of a busy week and I got sick on Friday and I did not have the time to do as much writing as I would have liked. I had to skip the No Context for the week, sadly, but I am happy to say I got the first of what is hopefully a series of Spooky Season essays out today, as well as my weekly Patreon review.
No additional commentary to share this week. But there’s some good stuff to enjoy from throughout the last couple weeks. Take some time the rest of this week and dig in when you need a break from the grind.
PATREON EXCLUSIVE REVIEW: TRANSFORMERS #1 BY DANIEL WARREN JOHNSON
I've tried to dabble into various Transformers comics over the years. Like everyone else who has ever been a 12 year old boy since the 80s, I was enamored by the franchise and the cool toys. I grew up on Beast Wars (which I'll go on the record saying is the best quality of writing the franchise has ever seen), but I've always had an affection for the G1 figures and their designs. But the comics never worked for me. The level of talent never seemed to match some of IDW's other licensed books, like TMNT for example.
But when Image and Skybound announced Daniel Warren Johnson would be launching a new Transformers series, I knew I was going to have to give another Transformers book a shot. I've long admired his kinetic, motion-filled art and its messy, gritty aesthetic.
Johnson's approach to the Transformers is inspired most of all by the original animated film, which traumatized a generation of kids by killing Optimus Prime. The film took the unending war between Autobot and Decepticon and gave it stakes and consequences. This new comic takes those familiar, boxy toys and makes them feel real. Not by chasing photorealism but rooting the story in authentic emotion.
DWJ approaches this first issue of Transformers as a war story, immediately drawing visual parallels between Cybertronian and human warfare. From the jump, the costs of war and violence are rooted in the human experience.
Spike, our human point of view character, is estranged from his father who is racked by grief over the loss of his other son and Spike's brother. Spike is essentially left to raise himself as his father wallows at the bar. We see the generational scars of loss. It makes the moment where Optimus Prime cradles the corpse of a beloved friend feel authentic.
Read the full review on Patreon for as little as $1 a month
Random Comic Panel of the Week
Do You See the Story? Confronting the Heart of Darkness with Aquaman: Andromeda
The first in a series of Spooky Season entries spotlights a journey into the depths of the sea and human soul in Aquaman: Andromeda. This was a fun piece to write. it gave me an excuse to return to an old classic move: talking about Heart of Darkness. Make time to read this one. Just click the banner below.
You Can’t Go Home Again: Lessons of Failure from Formerly Known as the Justice League
The first edition of the Turtle Book Club is now live for all to enjoy on the main site!
And, hey, did you see the update about the latest DCAU Rewatch entry? That’s been a blast to write about. Join in for the full adventure with me!
Hopefully we’ll get something more interesting than just recapping other posts in the next volume of the newsletter. ‘Til then, transform and roll out