Till All Are One #9
If anyone ever said a trial involving Cybertronians are fair, they’ve never been to one with Starscream in charge. The story continues to see Starscream develop as a leader, not just a usurper. I love the challenges Mairghread Scott crafts for the Supreme Leader, while Sara Pitre-Durocher and Joana Lafuente use some vibrant colors which stand out, most notably when Elita-1 surfaces to assert her standing and influence within the Cybertron society.
I love their work. Scott, Pitre-Durocher, and Lefuente have been working on this series like a well-oiled machine. The artwork evokes a Generation One cartoon vibe.
We see judgment passed, a heroic Autobot cast out, and many changes appear to be in store for the status quo. With last issue revealing a new and sinister enemy who will no doubt return at some stage, I look forward to the fate of Windblade and the rest of Cybertron.
One last thought, with the major reveal at the end of the Transformers Annual, I wonder how much longer Starscream’s hallucinations will continue.
Till All Are One #10
Combaticons! They are ruthless, cunning, brutal, and… in love?
Hoo boy. We get a doozy of a turn here. It seems among the combiner teams, one of the Combaticons has a thing for the leader. This gets weird sometimes. I get IDW has been assertive in the exploration of intimate relationships, but this issue felt a bit, well, forced. Sure, we’ve got some grand scheme by our fearless (or is that fearful?) leader of Cybertron in place, manipulating his pieces where he can, but forcing relationships where none exist? Seems a bit unsettling for me.
I do like the appearance and use of Airachnid, a sinister character in any series she appears in. Her methods of altering and using memories of others is a useful, albeit unethical practice. It comes into play in this tale, however we know from the past, any tool or standalone plot device will often come into play during the main arc. My guess is Starscream will have further use of Airachnid’s talents in the near future.
Till All Are One #11
With the announcement issue #12 will mark the end of the road for Till All Are One, we plunge right into the current conflict. Our main heroine is not as comatose as we think, and the big bad Titan Vigilem/Carcer is not as out of commission as we speak.
The final arc features a battle which Dr. Strange may find fascinating, a battle of mind and wits in a non-corporeal realm, although the physical damage looks and feels all too real. The war for a mind is long, and it will be a matter of time before we find out who has the stronger resolve. Windblade vs. Vigilem. This is it. A verbal duel of words and logic, ends justifying means accompanies what appears to be a physical attack on the mind.
Let’s not forget the other arc in play. The heroic hallucination is no longer satisfied with Starscream’s recent antics, challenging the former Decepticon Saboteur to take a long hard look in a mirror at who he really is… or who he wants to be.
We have one final issue to wrap it up, let’s see what the team of Scott, Pitre-Durocher, and Lafuente have in store for us.
Till All Are One #12
Are you kidding me? It had to end there!? Gah! I want more!!
At least there will be a Till All Are One Annual edition coming soon to hopefully expand on the final moments of the issue. But what does it all mean?
The final issue of the fantastic series shows us the true colors of a being who sought for so long to usurp power, and all he wanted was control, over his own life. We see the true form of someone who could stand up to tyranny and to fear, someone who was “Constructed Cold” which means, body built first, and then given a Spark. In other words, built for purpose, and not given a choice in the matter. Born into an occupation, a class, with no hope of fulfilling greater things. Our heroine Windblade is instrumental in this major revelation and growth for one Cybertronian. We also witness the power of using heroism as a tool to overcome evil, but to manipulate the meaning of triumph and noble intent for one’s own gain.
It is fascinating, we finally see the culmination of two Transformers, initially steadfast in their roles, and through the last year have been made to question who they are, what their purpose is, and how each one commits to change. The burden hardest to bear, shouldering leadership and responsibility causes changes and adaptations to be made.
Big thanks to Mairghread Scott, Sara Pitre-Durocher, and Joan Lafuente on crafting an amazing season of comics this year. I will add a shout out, as my physical comic book collection would not be complete without picking up Cover B, featuring the stellar art of Priscilla Tramontano.
While saddened this series is over, we will get an annual to possibly tie up any loose ends in the future.
