Transformers/G. I. Joe, Vol 1: Tyrants Rise, Heroes Are Born [Paperback]

John Ney Rieber (Author), Jae Lee (Illustrator)

Product Details

• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: Dreamwave Productions; illustrated edition edition
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0973381795
• ISBN-13: 978-0973381795
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 6.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #707,878 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Transformers/G I Joe is fantastic!, June 11, 2005

By 

N. Kok "Kirby Kok" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Transformers/G. I. Joe, Vol 1: Tyrants Rise, Heroes Are Born (Paperback)

Transformers/G I Joe is fantastic! This book has some great artwork by Jae Lee and written by John Ney Rieber! The Transformers/G I Joe story is set during World War II (circa 1939) when the Decepticons and The Cobra join forces with each other. It'up to the Autobots and G I Joe to stop the World War II Decepticon/Cobra Alliance! I love this book very much! Jae Lee's artwork alone is both refreshing and new for the Transformers and G I Joe characters. I love the way Duke, Flint, Snakeyes, Lady Jaye and Scarlett interact with Autobot Leader Optimus Prime the Autobots! Cobra Commander, Destro, and the Baroness also interacts well with Megatron and the Decepticons! Buy it! Highly Recommended! A

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Alternate Take On A Childhood Classic, December 2, 2004

By 

Brandon (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Transformers/G. I. Joe, Vol 1: Tyrants Rise, Heroes Are Born (Paperback)

This book is a great example of what happens when artists and writers have the freedom to step outside of the "universes" dictated by cartoon shows designed to sell toys and promote new characters. Set in WWII, this book shows a different side to GI Joe and the Transformers. A lot of license is taken, so purists be warned--this doesn't have Spike Witwicky, the whole Snake Eyes backstory or the other small nuances (some are annoyances,<cough> Spike <cough>), but overall a very interesting and well drawn book. Much better than the competing title from Devil's Due, which is miserable IMO.

Recommend this book to anyone who's not an uebergeek that gets offended if everything isn't as they remembered at age 7...My only complaint is that the "limited" size (6 regular comic issues) didn't allow for a full set of character development, or further adventures...true fans want more!!!

Please, DW, give us more!!!

3.0 out of 5 stars Good, but not spectacular, July 17, 2009

By 

Zachary Ferguson "Boredom Extraordinaire" (Phoenix, AZ USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Transformers/G. I. Joe, Vol 1: Tyrants Rise, Heroes Are Born (Paperback)

This is a very cool idea for a crossover, and I have to say that it was fairly well executed. However, the book was not perfect. For starters, it is an extremely G.I. Joe oriented story. The characters are very cool, but there are just too many and not all of them get more than a couple lines. So in the end, you get a basic feel for what the characters are like, but nothing deep what so ever. Duke rarely shows any depth, Snake Eyes dominates half the story, but nothing is really gleaned except he has a feud with Stormshadow and all of the Cobra characters get about two pages of appearances.

The actual Transformers are given even less time in-frame. The Decepticons are featured way more than the Autobots and given a lot more dialogue for most of the story. And even when the Autobots are brought in, they talk far more than they actually fight. There are really only a couple pages of actual combat, and rarely between any of the Transformers themselves, with more action being Joes vs. a Decepticon or maybe two frames of Grimlock shooting something. Only a couple Autobots are even shown in vehicle form!

The biggest issue with the story has to be the art. It looks very cool, but the entire story is extremely dark and you can barely see any of the Transformers except for a head or an arm at times. Also, combat is not conveyed very well, with people just seeming to jump from place to place and characters receiving random injuries with no real explanation for them.

All in all, if you are a major Transformers or G.I. Joe fan (or both) then pick this up if you really need it. However, if you are just a casual reader, don't spend the ridiculous amounts this comic is going for, and find another series to hold you over.