This week: After launching the first issue over the holidays, Transformers: Elementals Chapter Two is back this week, and it begs the question – is this DC’s funniest book yet?
NOTE: The following review contains spoilers. If you want a quick, spoiler-free purchase/recommendation of related comics, check the bottom of the article for our final verdict.
Transformers: Elemental Men #2
writer: Al Ewing
artist: Steve Deere
Colorist: Lee Loveridge
Writer: Ferran Delgado
I’ve written several times recently that I think DC Comics is in a strong position right now, perhaps putting out more interesting books than it has since I started writing this column in 2018. version of the character). Black Label continues to publish complex, richly layered comics. In such cases as unknown challenger and question. There are also books like this new god and Black Canary: The best of the best An absolute stunner as a publisher, they hover above them all.
Yes, I’m digging DC Comics’ output right now, to the point where some really good books feel like they’ve been lost. Transformers: Elemental Men #1, For example, show up during Christmas week. Just in time for the holidays, we’re replacing our usual columns with the 10 Best DC Comics of 2024. metamohoHowever, it’s worth discussing because it’s probably the most interesting (and unique) book in DC Comics right now.
Just take a look at the page below…
The book is clearly a nod to a bygone era, taking a minimalist approach to telling the story, with each panel mixing narrative, dialogue, and visual character moments. On the surface, this book’s close cousin might be another of DC’s standout books in recent years (and one of my personal favorites of the past decade), Superman’s Best Friend Jimmy Olsen. Part of the similarity is that both books were drawn by artists Steve Deerehis storytelling deftly sets a unique, entertaining tone while also adept at telling a joke that hits home. There’s a lightness to Lieber’s work without sacrificing any drama, and it feels like there’s an emotional basis here, but why not have some fun before we get started.
That’s why I did the comparison in the first place. but Superman’s Best Friend Jimmy Olsen Also plays with anachronisms like this book does, offering a modern comic wrapped in the garb of the past. But I think to some extent, Transformers Do things with Jimmy Olson Did. Although the script of that book is matt score, This is of course caused by Al Ewing. Both writers have versatile and interesting bibliographies with some very noble ideas, but Ewing’s work – for me – leans more towards science fantasy (perhaps because of his origins in AD 2000), and an affinity for science in Transformers: Elementals.
This book may be to tell a Transformers The story is correct, one must Rather, it does so with the trappings of a bygone scientific age—the Silver Age. Metamorpho and his supporting characters just work better that way, rather than forcing them to put on some bland leather suits or something and attribute their powers to an artificial intelligence (Blair). Instead, he takes everything with complete seriousness, from the cross-element power sets to the bright colors of the character’s classic designs to the soap opera conflicting agendas of the (grossly underrated) supporting cast. Transformers has always kept a low profile and is one of DC’s most interesting romantic characters, his love interest and her capitalist father and caveman bodyguard who also loves her. It’s a lot, and it’s great.
This comic leans into the dramatic and the fantastical in an earnest way at every possible turn, and the result is a minimalist book filled with storytelling that easily makes you wonder why superhero comics break away from such conventions in the first place .
What’s even more impressive to me is that while doing this, it never really feels dated. That’s why it currently ranks among the most interesting books in Washington. I can’t quite figure out how the creative team managed this. Jimmy Olson To be fair, I did that too, but the humor was more obvious in that book. Maybe after reading the full issue the mechanics of this book will become clearer, but with just the first two chapters I was a little overwhelmed. The best I can guess is that the creators are so committed to what they’re doing here that they’re determined to make this story and These The characters, the passion shine through and it never falls into nostalgia. I also think the benefit of this to the book is that there simply isn’t a famous Silver Age run to compare it to, which is to say that if it jogs the memory, what they were doing probably wouldn’t work (imagine a book like books like The Flash, Green Lantern, and even Doom Patrol).
Overall, after the first two questions, I heartily recommend Transformers: Elementals For superhero fans, especially those who appreciate oddities and comics history.
judgment: purchase
Overview
This week marks DC Horror Presents… miniseries, I’m personally sad to see it go. It’s a fun experiment that trades in absurdist takes on classic characters while also trading in horror, sort of like simpsons treehouse of horror Episodes, only related to DC superheroes. While this ending is decent enough, the highlight here is actually DC Horror Presents…#3which likes Transformers It’s Christmas week and everything is in stores. But it’s just a really great book, from Tyler Crook Covers the wonderful stories inside, all written by Franco Francavilla (with letters Simon Bowland) and Patrick Horvath (Also with Bowland’s lettering). “Francavilla” is a moody take on Batman, done in the artist’s retro-horror style, while “Hovath”‘s story is full of pastel flourishes… What follows is a profound body horror story. They’re all great, and if you missed them, I highly recommend tracking the issue. The questions in this series are completely unrelated to each other, so there’s no need to read any of the rest.- Finally, I’ll end this week by saying that we are truly spoiled for choice with great art right now. Not one but two issues were proposed this week Dan Mora and Justice League Unlimited #3 and Superman #22his color is Tamra Bonvillain and Alejandro Sanchez, respectively. then there are Ryan Suk painting Black Canary: The Best of the Best #3 Color by Dave Stewart, Hayden Sherman painting Absolute Wonder Woman #4 Color by Jody Bellaire, and Mikel Janin drawing and coloring Detective Comics #1093. Now it’s really just the embarrassment of having money, and I’m quite enjoying it.
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