Transformers Beast Wars #1: Transform and Get Off the Couch with those Paws!!!

There’s a boatload of comics out this week, but be sure you don’t overlook Transformers Beast Wars #1. I almost didn’t give this book a fair chance, because I like my robots to turn into vehicles, but since Erik Burnham was writing the comic, I decided to check it out and boy am I glad that I did!! This was one of the most engrossing comics I’ve ever read. For real, from the first page, Burnham pulls you in and he does NOT let go until the last page. These characters are for the most part unknown to me. But the introductions are fast and very well spelled out without making them seem like introductions. The main problem I have with Transformers books right now is that they don’t have the right balance of conversation and action. But this one does, with exposition only where there needs to be and great big bursts of action when you want it, This issue is an origin story for the most part, but it’s not a typical one at all, Origins can be really boring and mostly talking and then slight glimpses of the action that you really want to see, but again, Burnham makes a fantastic balance here. Just in the first issue alone, you get the feeling that there’s so much potential for this series, By the end of the issue, you’re head is filled with ways that this book can go and you want to see everything explored. Burnham also gives a sense of humanity to the characters that I haven’t seen in the Transformers comic in a long time, and it’s refreshing and welcome, 

The art by Josh Burcham is really good, He has a really unique ability to render expression on a robot’s face without it making it look ridiculous. Everything looks…alive here. All the characters look like thinking, feeling, creatures as opposed to literal robots just going through the motions, His style is a unique mix of animation and comic art, it fits the feel of the book perfectly and is worlds apart from the art in the other Transformers comics, Know matter which Transformers you’re a fan of, you’ll gladly be a Beast Wars fan by the time you reach the end of this issue.