Transformers '84: Secrets and Lies Revisits Cybertron's War With Style
- WRITER
- Simon Furman
- Artist
- Guido Guidi
- Letterer
- Jake M. Wood, Tom B. Long
- Cover Artist
- Guido Guidi
- Publisher
- IDW Publishing
- Price
- 17.99 (USD)
- Release Date
- 2021-02-17
- Colorist
- John-Paul Bove
Few series are more nostalgic and gloriously '80s than Transformers, which returns to its year of origin in Transformers '84: Secrets and Lies, focusing on the ever-raging civil war between the heroic Autobots, led by Optimus Prime, and the unscrupulous Decepticons, led by Megatron, on the metal planet Cybertron. But there is more than meets the eye with this war: the Decepticons are divided, and ambitious scientist Shockwave, frustrated with Megatron's questionable leadership, takes matters into his own hands to further the weaponization of Cybertron.
At first glance, Transformers '84: Secrets and Lies looks like bright, retro, lighthearted fun. But the colorful art style belies a tangled web of loss, intrigue and betrayal rivaling Game of Thrones. Told as a narrative from the elusive Decepticon double agent, Counterpunch, or Punch, the familiar tale of the Cybertron civil war is portrayed in a more serious manner. While Optimus Prime pushes his Autobots in an urgent race against time, the Decepticons are split between their original plan to turn Cybertron into a weapon, and Megatron's obsession with personally taking down Optimus Prime, which is costing them the war. In Starscream's words, "Megatron is the problem."
Transformers '84: Secrets and Lies is a departure from the usual lighthearted tone of the franchise, delivering a darker and more mature story. Optimus Prime is depicted as stern and morose and hurting from the high costs of war. He's also more ruthless, sacrificing his best—and most recognizable—fighters as pawns, a move that might be jarring to longtime fans. That said, neither he nor Megatron end up making many appearances after Issue #0. Much of the story is instead focused on Shockwave, the resident sane man of the Decepticons. Shockwave drives the plot forward, and the audience comes to identify with his struggle, as well as admire his underhanded but brilliant tactics and prowess in battle.
But that doesn't mean the heroes don't have anything to offer. With many of the Autobots absent or out of commission, the audience spends a lot of time with the Dinobots, who frequently clash with Shockwave and the Decepticons, and undergo a great new upgrade (spoiler alert: it involves dinosaurs). They also have the most naturalistic and delightful rapport of all the characters and bring much-needed levity to an otherwise dark narrative.
Visually, Transformer '84: Secrets and Lies is an authentic and impressive throwback. Artist Guido Guidi and colorist John-Paul Bove perfectly evoke the style of the comics of the era, with a bold, saturated color palette, classic halftone textures and scratchy spot blacks. Even the dialogue, courtesy of writer Simon Furman, feels true to the period with its obvious expositions and grand proclamations that made the Transformers franchise so beloved in the first place. There is great attention to detail with each character's speech patterns, with those of the Dynobots—better known as the "Dinobots"—particularly distinctive.
There are times when the heavy and convoluted plot clashes with the brightness of the art and writing. Issue #0 in particular has obvious and clunky exposition and unsubtle character introductions. This may be endearing and exciting to the older fans returning to the franchise, but off-putting and awkward to new readers. This is a trend that continues even into the remaining issues, which becomes all the more out of place the more intense and serious the plot becomes.
The long, complicated story of Transformer ’84: Secrets and Lies is perhaps not the best place for new fans to start. However, for those who know and love the franchise, it's a worthy addition to the Transformers canon, a grown-up story for the children who have grown up along with it, with plenty of rad '80s nostalgia to go around.