Transformers #9

Written by Mike Costa
Art by Guido Guidi
Alternate cover by Don Figueroa

Mystery Society #2

Written by Steve Niles
Art by Fiona Staples

GI Joe: Origins #17

Written by Chuck Dixon
Art by Alex Cal
Cover by Tom Feister

Let’s take it from the top. Transformers #9 did something unthinkable. It made me realize that, as much as I LOVED Guido Guidi’s art n All Hail Megatron, I love Figueroa’s that much more. Guidi nails the cartoonish G1 style, but Figueroa manages to bring these bots to life in an almost realistic manner. Mind you, for an issue that was as human-centric as this one, I was perfectly happy to have Guidi back because as we’ve discussed, Figueroa’s humans just aren’t that great.

Now, if you haven’t been reading this book, this certainly is NOT the time to jump onto it. Costa’s starting a slow boil for the next plot and while there’s plenty going on in this issue and a great tease for what’s to come, there’s absolutely NO bot-on-bot action this time out, and that IS a bit disappointing.

Meanwhile, over in Mystery Society #2, Niles and Staples get us further acquainted with Nick Mystery and the lovely Anastasia. The couple are written superbly well, and the supporting cast - the super powered twins, the always-out-of-place Secret Skull, and late addition J… no, I won’t ruin it for you, but that’s him in the sidecar - all add their own bit of quirky flair to the book. It’s really the couple, though, and their oh-so-true-to-life-relationship despite being on the run from the government and in search of Poe’s missing skull, that REALLY sell this book.

The art is very enjoyable and, while not anything I’d necessarily seek out outside of this book, perfectly suited to it.

Finally, there’s GI Joe: Origins #17, a book I was so excited for after the way Dixon made the previous issue tie in to the first of the ongoing. Don’t get me wrong, there’s some great stuff here, and the best is still what we’re seeing interwoven with the first few issues of the ongoing, but… the Zartan story? I’m not sure I’m thrilled with where this has gone, or is going. That, I suppose, we’ll have to find out.

The best part of this issue? Alex Cal’s art. His character work is quite impressive and he nails the single hardest part of comic book art in my mind - distinguishable characters. He has to - he’s illustrating the story of Zartan, master of disguise. If everyone looked alike, this story would get very confusing, very quickly.

TF #9 gets 4 out of 5 identified Cybertronians

Mystery Society #2 gets 5 out of 5 broken skylights

And GI Joe: Origins #17 gets an apprehensive 4 out of 5 replicated hearts