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Best Of Transformers: The Eye Of The Storm by Simon Furman
01/07/2008 . Source: Neale Monks 
pub: Titan Books. 264 page graphic novel softcover. Price: £ 9.99 (UK). ISBN: 978-1-84576-910-9. Buy Best Of Transformers: The Eye Of The Storm in the USA - or Buy Best Of Transformers: The Eye Of The Storm in the UK  check out website: www.titanbooks.com
As preposterous as the whole 'Transformers' concept is, some of the comicbooks within the franchise are remarkably entertaining. The first volume of the 'Best Of Transformers' series brings together twelve issues of the classic Marvel Comic that altogether comprise what series writer Simon Furman refers to as the 'Unicron Saga'.
Specifically 'Eye Of The Storm' comprises issues # 62-66 and # 69-75, originally published almost twenty years ago. The two five-issue blocs each contain their own story arcs, but the two are linked together by the threat posed by the threat to the Transformer homeworld posed by the destructive and god-like Transformer known as Unicron.
In the first five issues, the benign Autobots try to locate a relic called the Matrix. The hope is that the Matrix will allow them to defend the planet Cybertron against Unicron. While this isn't the most imaginative plot you'll ever read, the fact the story is told in what were originally monthly instalments means that there's an agreeable balance between the major arc and the smaller adventures they have along the way.
These include 'Alien'-like aliens, film noir gangsters and a giant robot whale parody of 'Moby Dick'. There are, of course, lots of Decepticons as well doing their best to get to the Matrix before the Autobots do, including the delightfully over-the-top Thunderwing.
The last five issues sees Optimus Prime, the leader of the Autobots, try to get his faction and the Decepticons working together to save Cybertron. In the meanwhile, the Decepticons turn on one another as Scorponok and Shockwave battle it out for the leadership. As the Decepticons threaten to level New York, some human super-heroes appear, the four Neo-Knights exclusive to the 'Transformers' universe.
Given that these comics are almost twenty years old, the look and feel is rather different to the stuff we're used to seeing in modern graphic novels. The colours are bright, the lines sharp and the dialogue workmanlike rather than poetic. 'Eye Of The Storm' is a book that places action before character development, but that still leaves plenty of room for all the usual thrills we expect from the 'Transformers' franchise.
As you'd expect for a series with a single writer but multiple artists, as a story things feel pretty consistent but the look sometimes varies from issue to issue. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, and 'Transformers' fans will undoubtedly enjoy being able to compare the artistic styles of three highly talented artists. A two-page introduction by Furman further fills things out with a potted history of the series and some background information on the 'Transformers' mythos relevant to this particular tale. Round this off with a page of biographies and six pages of original cover art and you have a rewarding slice of early 'Transformers'.
Highly recommended.
Neale Monks
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