COBRA COMMANDER #3 (SKYBOUND ENTERTAINMENT/IMAGE COMICS)

Welcome to an all-new edition of Parlay Points! It’s the comic book review blog to the ODPH Podcast!

For this entry, the hunt for Energon is on via Skybound Entertainment and Image Comics. The early days of G.I. Joe’s most deadliest foe have not been easy. The never-ending quest for power has led right to the door steps of the Dreadnoks. If last issue’s ending is any indication, the road to victory is sinking fast.

COBRA COMMANDER #3 by Joshua Williamson, Andrea Milana, Annalisa Leoni and Rus Wooton puts COBRA’s eventual leader right in the arms of danger!

Let’s take a closer look and see how things play out!

COBRA COMMANDER #3 by Joshua Williamson, Andrea Milana, Annalisa Leoni and Rus Wooton (Credit: Skybound Entertainment/Image Comics)

*** POSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***

The issue begins with the Commander’s mysterious “bodyguard” walking through the Florida everglades. The Commander is missing. Readers witness that he’s been taken underwater by the swamps’ inhabitants. When a harpoon enters the water, it picks up the Commander out of the jaws of danger…for now.

Meanwhile, Zatana is addressing the rest of the Dreadnoks at their bar hangout. She unveils a valuable object. Readers see first hand an Energon Cube! The mood shifts to optimism. The conversation delivers a note of someone who was snooping around the swamp as well. Zandar walks in with a captured Cobra Commander!

What do the Dreadnoks do with their prisoner? Readers see first hand how unwelcomed guests are treated. However, the breaking of the Commander isn’t so easy. Someone has to walk away with the upper hand. The closing pages reveal a clear cut winner. It also greets readers with a surprise entrant into the fray. With a final page that is guaranteed to leave an impression, the quest for Energon looks to be talking a deadly detour into uncharted waters.

COBRA COMMANDER #3 by Joshua Williamson, Andrea Milana, Annalisa Leoni and Rus Wooton (Credit: Skybound Entertainment/Image Comics) Cover: Paul Azaceta

Williamson dives head first into the dark levels surrounding the search for power. Seeing the amount of violence involved, the chapter walks a fine line of horror. The Dreadnoks are featured as pawns thinking they’re royalty. This plays into the scheming and cunning of the Commander. Once the true game begins, it is an easy connect with readers of who is in charge. The ironic poetry of the closing page is perfect to lead the audience into the story’s next phase.

Milana and Leoni don’t pull their punches with the acts of torture in this issue. It gets taken to another level with the creative use of looking thru The Commander’s eyes for a few panels. This translates greater when the Commander makes his move. Readers will also be blown away by a gorgeous two full page spread giving a certain character a dramatic debut.

Events are concluded on a superb note. Wooden’s lettering is the star of the final page. The words continue to build and elevate an already dangerous situation. It complements a complex game with a clear cut winner emerging.

FINAL POINT: 9

All is fair game in the quest for power. Through Williamson’s excellent storytelling, the face of COBRA stands off against the Dreadnoks in a brutally strong manner. Milana, Leoni and Wooden craft the extreme actions taken leading to a show-stopping finish. The horror-driven tale delivers another winning chapter.

Hit me up on ODPH social media and let me know your thoughts on Cobra Commander #3. Thanks for reading!

TRANSFORMERS #6 (SKYBOUND ENTERTAINMENT/IMAGE COMICS)

Welcome to an all-new edition of Parlay Points! It’s the comic book review blog to the ODPH Podcast.

For this entry, we have arrived at the conclusion of an exciting first arc of a returning fandom. Ever since they re-debuted in the pages of Void Rivals #1, the TRANSFORMERS have become the talk of comic fans once again.

The current series has been nothing short of a runaway success. Each issue has been jam-packed with drama and BIG action. Now heading to the finish line of their first story under Skybound and Image Comics, Optimus Prime and company look to end events with a BANG!

TRANSFORMERS #6 by DANIEL WARREN JOHNSON, MIKE SPICER AND RUS WOOTEN (Credit: Image Comics via Skybound Entertainment) unleashes a devastating threat that even the great Autobot leader might not survive.

Let’s take a closer look at all the action!

TRANSFORMERS #6 by DANIEL WARREN JOHNSON, MIKE SPICER AND RUS WOOTEN (Credit: Image Comics via Skybound Entertainment)

*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***

With their arrival on Earth, the Autobots and Decepticons have brought a never-ending battle to a world not ready for it. There have been casualties and damage galore. Through it all, Optimus Prime and his group have been the only thing holding Starscream and his soldiers back from taking over everything.

The fight has been brought right to the crashed ship where it all began. Starscream has set the trap. He’s unleashed DEVASTATOR onto the Autobots. Who will be left standing in the end?

This issue begins with The Autobots and Sparky Whitwicky looking for cover as Devastator starts its’ attack. Cliffjumper and Carly race into the battle. Carly swerves Cliffjumper out of direction to get higher ground to attack. The pair is greeted by Starscream for a showdown of the ages.

The Autobots reclaim their spaceship but Devastator still pushes its’ onslaught. With more wounded transformers mounting, things are looking bleak. Even the great Optimus Prime looks like his final moments are approaching.

Readers watch as the darkest hour approaches. An ultimate sacrifice is made. Will it be enough to turn the tide? With unrelenting action, the battle is taken to a whole different level of intensity. Choices are made and lines are drawn.

The fallout packs the emotional weight of all of Cybertron. There are strong images declaring victory but none like the final image. That one concludes events with a somber moment showing the high cost of victory.

TRANSFORMERS #6 by DANIEL WARREN JOHNSON, MIKE SPICER AND RUS WOOTEN (Credit: Image Comics via Skybound Entertainment Cover: André Lima Araújo)

Take about ending things on a mic drop moment. Johnson weaves in the heartfelt toll of combat throughout this issue. The opening displays the frantic attempt of survival for the wounded Autobots. Optimus Prime is written as the powerful leader he is, even in a heavily damaged body. This leads into the ultimate sacrifice previously mentioned. Once that moment hits page, Readers will be caught up in the powerful turning point.

From there, it’s nothing but big action. The visions of Optimus fighting back steal each page. No matter what condition, the art reflects his fighting spirit. There is a mind-blowing THREE PAGE ending to the main event. The two-page full spread is jaw dropping of its’ impact. The resolution still conveys the price paid in conflict. The reactions run high for all parties involved. Johnson captures them with ease. This all builds towards the final page. The closing panel might make some eyes water as the adrenaline wears off. It’s a defining image that will leave readers in a bittersweet place until next time.

FINAL POINT: 10

The first arc of Daniel Warren Johnson’s Transformers brings the house down with a rollercoaster of big action and bigger emotion. Readers will be blown away by the intense art and even more impactful writing. It’s high level storytelling that is way more than meets the eye.

Hit me up on ODPH social media and let me know your thought on Transformers #6. Thanks for reading.