Transformers: Windblade – Combiner Wars #3 winds up the final plot lines from the Combiner Wars saga and plunges toward a satisfying conclusion. The various combiners are prepping to square off in Caminus, the spacebridge is revving up to contact another lost colony, and it’s anyone’s guess as to how things will end with all the high stakes!
Transformers fans finally get what they’ve been waiting for with the reveal of Optimus Maximus, the new combiner formed by Optimus Prime, Prowl, Ironhide, Mirage, and Sunstreaker. Caminus seems doomed to more destruction as the various combiners face off, but will things be stopped before everything falls apart? Will Starscream’s plan to become ruler of all the Transformers colonies reach success? Can the spacebridge be used for good, or is it simply a tool for evil?
A lot of major developments take place in this issue, and, again, Windblade is a secondary character, despite it being her book. With all the Combiner action, it’s no shock that the storyline focuses on getting the massive Bots under control enough to avoid mass devastation. Ultimately, the political machinations end in a mostly satisfying way, but there’s definitely room for trouble down the road. Starscream isn’t leashed, he’s just been delayed in fulfilling his dream of world domination.
The artwork for Transformers: Windblade – Combiner Wars #3 looks a lot more cartoony to me than previous issues, but the Bots still look good, which is the most important thing for readers. I missed the more elaborate portrayals of Windblade’s intricate facial features, but they’re not the main focus anyway. Overall, the art is nothing special, but it conveys the story adequately. As long as I can tell what’s happening I’m content.
Overall, there is so much to be tied up in this issue that the plot sometimes feels a little bit rushed; however, things wind up in a satisfying way, and there’s a tease of trouble looming on the horizon. We can’t expect Cybertron to stay out of trouble now, can we?
4 Incredibly Thoughtful Choices to Protect Sentient Beings out of 5
