Transformers, Vol. 6

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View books by Bob Budiansky, Don Perlin, Jose Delbo.

The continuing saga of THE TRANSFORMERS - Rated
Story picks up from last Titan Collected Comic). Grimlock, the current Autobot Leader, goes Power Mad, while Ratbat decides to open a Car Wash "of Doom".

The THrottlebots get a face lift (of sorts) and Goldbug seeks help from Buster Witwicky.

An excellent read.

At least the artwork's okay... - Rated
Initially, it seemed that 'The Big Broadcast of 2006' would be included here. That story ranks as probably the worst Transformers comic strip ever (an adaptation of a TV episode bearing no relation to events in the comic, with extremely one dimensional characters, terrible dialogue and a vision of the future completely at odds with the UK stories at the time, which caused the UK comic's tacked-on epilogue to describe it, quite rightly, as 'the equivalent of a childrens' story'), and its presence would not have jarred in the slightest, for this is easily the weakest collection of Transformers comic stories to date.

Ultimately, 'Big Broadcast' has been left out, but that doesn't really improve the book all that much. Things open badly, with 'Buster Witwicky and the Car Wash of Doom', pitting the Autobots' ally against the Decepticons' new hypnotic car wash. Yes, really. Events take a slight upturn with 'Used Autobots', only to descend again, sharply, with 'Child's Play' and 'Spacehikers', starring Blaster and a rather unlikeable group of young children. The closing 'Toy Soldiers' is easily the best story here, but that's not saying much...

Bob Budianski had a habit of focussing on the human supporting characters at the expense of the robot stars, and here he reaches his nadir. The children introduced here are obviously intended to be role models for the readers, which shows the age range the author was aiming for (five to ten year olds), seemingly uninterested in engaging the more mature readership Simon Furman had in mind in the UK comic. Possibly the lowest point - Wheeljack providing a SPACE SUIT for a TEDDY BEAR.

Who do I recommend this book to, then? Not those who wish to remember their childhood through rose-tinted glasses, and especially not to new fans. Not to today's five-to-ten year olds, who would find the children here to be naive and immature. Only to longstanding Transformers fans who have continued to read these very stories through the years and wish to own them in one volume, like myself...