After eight issues of treading lightly and skipping gingerly in and out of the events depicted in the Transformers (2007) film, Titan Magazines, fueled no doubt by strong sales, puts on its continuity-stomping boots and starts running with its own “alternate future” storyline.

“Alternate” storylines are usually met with no uncertain amount of eye-rolling, but in this case, with a sequel to Transformers (2007) already in the works, Titan Magazines doesn’t seem to have a choice. Now freed from his tie-in shackles, Simon Furman turns the Transformers’ world upside down and turns in a 51-page high octane epic!

The actual plot of “Twilight’s Last Gleaming” is not particularly innovative (it calls from numerous previous Transformers plots such as “Rhythms of Darkness”), but the script is paced perfectly for its five-issue serialisation. There is also a strong balance between characterisation and action. In particular, Mikaela Bane’s character is surprisingly well fleshed out; at least for a fleshling. In addition to the robot cast from Transformers (2007), several “toy-only” peripheral characters make their debut. But the story never feels over-stuffed with its cast.

Each of the five parts of “Twilight’s Last Gleaming” is drawn by a different artist, each handling the complex character designs with flair and expertise.

In most cases, the artwork veers away from the over-detailed portrayals of the Transformers favoured by IDW Publishing instead feeling a bit more relaxed and confident. This confidence is obvious on the page and the story moves naturally and freely. If you’re of the opinion that the Transformers film’s character designs are too busy and overly complicated then you might be pleasantly surprised seeing what the artists have done here.

“Twilight’s Last Gleaming” ends Titan’s first year of Transformers comics on a high. What started out as a trepidatious tie-in to the Transformers (2007) film has grown and matured, over the course of 13 issues, into a compelling story with some genuinely magnetic characters. Inordinately recommended.

“Twilight’s Last Gleaming” (51 pp) was originally published by Titan Magazines in Transformers #9-13 (March-July 2008)

Category: Titan Magazines
Tags: Andy Lanning | Fabio Makoto Ono | Jeremy Tiongson | Marcelo Matere | Paul Ridgon | Simon Furman | Simon Williams

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