Transformers #21: Wild Boys

Transformers writer Brian Ruckley is to be applauded for this issue. He continues the story from the past handful of issues, makes a 180-degree turn and floors it, while the action slowly builds, it still seems really sudden when a lot of fights break out among a lot of robots. Beyond that, what really grabbed me about this issue was that it had the most “stars” by far than any previous issue. This could’ve easily been an episode of The Transformers cartoon, it’s got the cast, the pacing, and enough action to keep a sugared-up kid’s attention. The whole story not only makes sense, but it also pays off some things that have been building for a while and it lays the groundwork for issues to come. Some key story points are finally addressed, and it evolves the VERY important back story another step. We can all see what Ruckley is building up to, yet he makes it really entertaining to watch it happen. No piece of the puzzle is too small when it comes to this book. When it comes to the long game, it’s books like this that writers in other forms of entertainment look to as examples of how to tell a story using multiple parts.

Artists Billie Montfort & Blacky Shepard (who has a name custom made for being a singer in a hair-metal band) have a lot to do this issue. Thankfully, with two artists on this book, the art gets the attention and time that it deserves. There are not too many “risks” taken by the artists, but there don’t need to be, the story they tell doesn’t need them, besides the pencils fit perfectly the way that they are used in the panels.