John Barber

this pair of stories successfully builds on the foundation laid by the first issue, continuing the anthology approach that allows stories to take place from all over the Back to the Future timeline (and, essentially, multiverse) but also developing its own internal continuity that helps the series stand as its own thing (and not just as an extension of the movies), while also having the kind of fun with plotting that only comes when a narrative has access to a time machine.

Most licensed fiction takes one of two approaches to its stories: tales set before the main narrative, showing what characters were up to before their original story, or stories set after, showing the further adventures of the characters. IDW’s new Back to the Future series, subtitled “Untold Tales and Alternate Timelines” intends to do both (and more), telling tales set before, after, during and sideways to the events of the movies, as Bob Gale, co-writer of the three films, is joined by a series of writers and artists for a unique kind of anthology series.

Since gaining both the G.I. Joe and Transformers licenses, IDW Publishing has done an effective job of carving out a nice little family of titles for both properties, mixing series grounded in their respective pasts with series that move both franchises forward in new and different directions. Transformers vs. G.I. Joe #1 marks the first time IDW has brought these properties together (itself something of a tradition, having been done by most of the major previous license holders, though this is the first time this concept has been applied to an ongoing series). The end result is the first part of a story that, at least initially, appears to be, above all else, a celebration of both G.I. Joe and Transformers and the kind of madcap energy that comes from mashing together two fondly-remembered toy franchises.

The book picks up after the events of “Transformers: Robots in Disguise” issue 23 and again its focus is split between various locales and groups, all of them doing theoretically important things. After seeing Orion Pax, Rodimus and co. depart for the Dead Universe, the crew of the Lost Light, now captained by Ultra Magnus, have struck out in search of Metroplex, and find themselves in a mysterious underwater location and under attack by a minor villain group from a previous issue.

Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye # 23 Written by James Roberts and John Barber Art by Atilio Rojo, James Raiz and Livid Ramondelli With Colors by Josh Perez Published by IDW Comics Imagine you’re attending a low-key dinner party at a friend’s place and exchanging polite conversation with their friends. At first you find …

Transformers: Dark Cybertron #1 Writer(s): John Barber & James Roberts Layouts: Phil Jimenez Finished Art: Andrew Griffith Prologue Art: Brendan Cahill Colours: Josh Perez Prologue Colours: J.P. Bove Letters: Tom B. Long Editor: Carlos Guzman Publisher: IDW Purchase: http://read.idwpublishing.com/Transformers-Dark-Cybertron-1/digital-comic/50636 It must suck being a Transformer. Aside from the obvious benefits such as transforming, having to …