Rom vs. Transformers: Shining Armor #5 review: Destiny of Stardrive
By Alex Widen
The mess between space powers on planet Xetaxxis comes to a head. Yet how can Stardrive define herself?
Rom vs. Transformers: Shining Knight #5
Writers: John Barber & Christos Gage
Artist: Alex Milne
Colorists: Josh Perez & Priscilla Tramontano
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Imagine being caught in an eternal war between ancient factions who all seem to act similar. Those paying attention to politics often don’t have to merely imagine it. It can often feel that life is a task of trying to find individuality in the midst of the chaos of entrenched warring factions. This is exactly the challenge that Stardrive is facing. A refugee from Cyberton (a planet she never knew), she has been raised to hate her own kind by the Solstar Order of Space Knights.
Image by IDW Publishing
Yet now that she has met fellow Transformers, the grass seems like it isn’t any greener! The war between the Autobots and Decepticons ravages the universe much like the one between Knights and Dire Wraiths. This has come to a head on planet Xetaxxis, where the evil Starscream and Vekktral have formed an alliance of convenience. Yet now even that alliance is over! Vekktral has mastered the possession of a Cybertronian by taking over the body of Ultra Magnus!
Image by IDW Publishing
Dire Wraiths and Transformers Make a Dangerous Mix!
Up until this point, the Transformers and Space Knights had been at each other’s throats. Stardrive finally rebelled against her team, while Rom sought to truly understand the situation. Now with Vekktral merged with Ultra Magnus, they all have a threat to unite against. Yet the merger between a Dire Wraith wizard and one of the mightiest Autobots has resulted in a nearly unstoppable monster! Stardrive has to put aside some of her ambition in order to stop him!
Image by IDW Publishing
In fact, the only Transformers not united against the threat are the Decepticons. Starscream hasn’t forgot about the “Energon synthesizer” that the Solstar Order made for Stardrive. It could turn the tide in their ancient war with the Autobots, and it’s the only reason Starscream has stuck around. And while the battle against “Vekktral Magnus” rages, Stardrive hasn’t forgotten about the Decepticons’ manipulation of her. Therefore, she sets out to stop Starscream at all costs.
Image by IDW Publishing
Meanwhile, Ultra Magnus struggles against Vekktral inside his mind’s eye (or “inner matrix” or so on). Bumblebee pleads for his comrade to fight the possession, which Rom considers impossible. After all, this is 200 years in the past, and Rom hasn’t landed on Earth yet. However, his pleas don’t fall on deaf audio! It seems like Vekktral has underestimated both Ultra Magnus’ resolve as well as the anatomy of a Transformer, and therefore finds himself on the wrong end of Rom’s Neutralizer!
Image by IDW Publishing
“One Shall Stand, One Shall Fall!”
Stardrive has a second showdown with Starscream, and this time she has help! Livia, who has treated her the worst out of her senior Knights, winds up defending her! Highlights include Stardrive literally giving the Decepticon a belly-to-back suplex! While Stardrive proves able to overwhelm Starscream, he decides to cut his losses. A shot to the “Energon synthesizer” causes an atomic level explosion on Xetaxxis, wiping out millions of natives and altering the planet forever!
Image by IDW Publishing
Yet Stardrive is no longer seeing the world is black and white. She remembers it was only last issue that Livia suggested doing the same. Since Rom, as usual, was hesitant at best to destroy a Wraith infested planet, Livia attempted to “compromise” by merely destroying “half” of it. It was only the battle between the Dire Wraiths and Transformers which delayed this action, and only coincidence that Starscream caused such an act first. It cements her resolve to turn her back on everyone!
Image by IDW Publishing
It is a point not lost on Vekktral. While he winds up losing Ultra Magnus’ form and dies amid the massive explosion, he makes sure to cut to the bone. Vekktral doesn’t miss the chance to rub it in that their arrival on Xetaxxis wasn’t entirely due to Dire Wraith aggression. While it is a half truth at best, it proves to be the last straw for Stardrive. Being the only being capable of shedding her Elonian armor, she turns her back on both the Space Knights and Transformers to live on her own!
Image by IDW Publishing
Top Notch Writing Carries the Day!
John Barber and Christos Gage produce a strong finale for their unexpected tale about discrimination. Through the point of view of Stardrive, they managed to tell the story of a minority refugee growing up amid institutionalized ignorance and then facing the worst stereotypes of her cultures head on. By using the backdrop of Rom and the Transformers, the story is done in a way with memorable characters as well as without risking offending anyone, even by accident.
Image by IDW Publishing
The finale manages to bring in even more cameos. Both Optimus Prime and Megatron put in appearances at the very end. Readers learn a bit more about Ultra Magnus — that he’s more of a title than a character, akin to a “judge” from 2000 A.D.! Bumblebee remains among the most sympathetic of the Autobots as he’s often the only one who seeks to compromise with people and look after others. And Ultra Magnus — or Convoy — is able to serve his duty by ensuring Vekktral’s demise.
Image by IDW Publishing
Starscream, much as in previous issues, proves to be a great villain. He’s sleazy, underhanded, yet ultimately a coward. While he’s put everyone through the ringer, his personal tempting of Stardrive helped hit home a lot of the stories’ points. More simplistic writers would have forged clear lines of black and white, yet the lesson for Stardrive isn’t conformity, it’s independence. Seeing him get his comeuppance is greatly satisfying. It’s great seeing Christos Gage get a shot at so classic a villain!
Image by IDW Publishing
A Memorable Clash between Robots and Knights!
The epilogue stresses that there are few clear cut winners in this war. The Dire Wraiths made technology forbidden due to Vekktral’s death. The Autobots suffered losses and failed to stop the Decepticons from destroying another world. Yet even the Decepticons lost a chance to end their war. The alliance between the Solstar Order and Galactic Council ends in its infancy. And as usual, Rom continues to grow dissatisfied at the loss of his humanity amid the massive duties of their war.
Image by IDW Publishing
The art by Alex Milne continues to be more than meets the eye. It’s amazing how much life and expression he gets out of giant robots. This time around he’s flanked by two colorists, usually a sign of rush. Yet the color palette remains consistent without any notice. The design for “Vekktral Magnus” alone must have been staggering to conceive. The mental battle between Vekktral and Ultra Magnus as well as Stardrive’s shifting designs showcases the love and care put into the work.
Image by IDW Publishing
Next: Starscream weaves conniving schemes in #4!
With crossovers among franchises becoming all too common, it’s great to find ones with substance. IDW Publishing has continued to prove that a story featuring memorable characters can offer more than action sequences. While this series had plenty of that, the tale of Stardrive has proven to be an amazing parable. It isn’t easy making a giant space robot relatable, yet this series has done it! Here’s hoping Gage this traditions continue soon in Rom & the Micronauts!