Review: Transformers: Last Bot Standing #1

Nick Roche is a creative genius and Transformers Last Bot Standing shows exactly why. This is a fun, frenetic, incredibly well crafted book with the right balance of buildup, character work and crazy action. Working along with E.J. Su, Roche has crafted a quaint western tale disrupted by the ultimate laconic outsider in a disturbed violent Rodimus. The action takes place after a lot of buildup but it’s worth the wait with incredible robot art against the backdrop of a simple world.

The story takes place on Donnokt at the end of time and space. At first it’s not clear how the story fits into Transformers continuity. But it soon becomes clear that this desert planet is the refuge of Rodimus, escaping a final battle among the Transformers and willing to do anything to remain hidden. The story begins with a Transformer crashing down in a capsule near a small desert town.

The central humanoid character is a young wrangler named Shib Wallkis who runs transportation along with her two brothers Treyvon and Beets and a massive wagon. Shib clearly has some issues beyond financial hardship given her eyes shifting to red and hanging a medication around her neck. The townspeople come to Shib asking her help in investigating an explosion in the hills. They track the visiting Transformer just before Shib’s wagon transforms into Rodimus himself. The visitor seems thrilled to have found Rodimus, but the Autobot leader viciously pulls the visiting robot apart.

The action and the art are simple, intense and absolutely beautiful. The contrast between the art here and the surrounding simplistic western world makes it even more majestic. Rodimus rips the visitor apart before quietly leaving the townspeople and asking to be left alone. The issue ends with another robot challenger arriving in a similar fashion to the first. This one seems much less friendly.

This book is an interesting, genre bending treat with an epic scope, incredible art and mysterious protagonist. Clearly this combines elements of Clint Eastwood and Old Man Logan, but it’s an exciting tale with absolutely unique style and art. Seeing Rodimus at the end of it all fighting against himself and his attackers is a fascinating basis for the series.

Writing: 4.3 of 5 stars
Art: 4.8 of 5 stars
Colors: 4.7 of 5 stars

Overall: 4.5 of 5 stars

Writing: Nick Roche
Art: EJ Su and Nick Roche
Colors: Rebecca Nalty
Publisher: IDW Publishing

Author Profile

M.R. Jafri

M.R. Jafri was born and raised in Niagara Falls New York and now lives with his family in Detroit Michigan. He's a talkative introvert and argumentative geek. His loves include Star Wars, Star Trek, Superheroes, Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers, Transformers, GI Joe, Films, Comics, TV Shows, Action Figures and Twizzlers.