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Transformers: Beast Wars Annual 2022
- Writer:
- Nick Marino, Sam Maggs, David Mariotte
- Artist:
- Andrea Bell, Phillip Johnson, Lanna Souvanny
- Letterer:
- Jake M. Wood
- Cover Artist:
- Ryan Miller
- Publisher:
- IDW Publishing
- Price:
- 5.99
- Release Date:
- 2022-04-20
In recent years, IDW comics has done a great deal to expand the Transformers universe. The ongoing Transformers: Beast Wars series even brought an old character back from the dead and reintroduced some old robots from the first generation of Transformers. Now IDW has assembled a team of talented creators to celebrate the fan-favorite bots in Transformers: Beast Wars Annual 2022, a fun anthology that will entertain even the most casual fan.
Transformers: Beast Wars Annual 2022 collects three short stories that celebrate the humorous and exciting nature of the Transformers universe. Skold gets some help becoming more confident in Sam Maggs and Lanna Souvanny's "Skold's No Good, Very Bad Day." Then David Mariotte and Phillip Johnson's "Rhinox's Amaze-ing Adventure" sends Rhinox into an underground labyrinth; then a group of maximals gathers around a campfire to hear the story of "The Morphlings" in the final story by Nick Marino and Andrea Bell.
The first story in the anthology is also the funniest. "Skold's No Good, Very Bad Day" begins as a sentimental story about Skold's lack of self-esteem in a world full of bullies. But, author Sam Maggs surprises the reader with a darkly funny twist that transforms the sweet story into a sinister joke. This tonal shift is remarkably entertaining, and it helps to characterize Skold as a goofy, but dangerous character. Artist Lanna Souvanny matches the tone of Maggs writing wonderfully. Her straightforward approach to each character and the landscape makes the final twist all the more surprising.
The first two stories in Transformers: Beast Wars Annual 2022 are both remarkably fun and entertaining. But the last story is the strongest of the three. By framing the narrative as a campfire story, Marino tricks the reader into anticipating a low-stakes spooky story. So the intense, action-packed tale of robotic bacteria on Cybertron that follows is a pleasant surprise. Artist Andrea Bell renders the beasts of Cybertron in a fun, cartoony style that manages to be cute without undermining the emotional narrative of the story. She draws the numerous wires that make up many of the world's structures with an unparalleled attention to detail, making it easy to get lost in each page.
Transformers: Beast Wars Annual 2022 collects three delightful stories that will entertain even the most casual Transformers fan. Each creative team goes to great lengths to craft a quick, engaging story. "Skold's No Good, Very Bad Day" and "Rhinox's Amaze-ing Adventure" both serve as excellent reminders of how funny the robots in disguise can be. And "The Morphlings" is a great celebration of sci-fi action. This Annual definitely has something for everyone.