The Transformers: Heart of Darkness
From Transformers Wiki
| "Heart of Darkness" redirects here. For the mysterious energy from Generation 1, see Darkness (G1). |
The Transformers: Heart of Darkness is a 4-issue limited series published by IDW Publishing in 2011 set in the IDW continuity.
It follows Galvatron's mission before/after the events of Infestation.
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Contents |
Overview
After his rebirth, Galvatron realizes that Gorlam Prime is empty and the population has mysteriously disappeared. With Cyclonus and Scourge, he investigates. They happen upon a heavily damaged Jhiaxus who is restored by the power of the Darkness. Together the group discover a portal to the Dead Universe but before they get any further are attacked by Hardhead and Arcee. The Autobots are initially successful but Galvatron eventually manages to harness the power of the Dead Universe and defeat them. Galvatron enters the portal and encounters the malevolent D-Void who has consumed the sparks of the entire population of Gorlam Prime just to wake up. Galvatron returns from the Dead Universe with new purpose - to raise an army to defend against D-Void's next target; Cybertron.
Galvatron and his team travel the galaxy using the Darkness to reawaken hordes of long-dead mechanoids and recruit them into his army. Sensing D-Void's approach they travel to Dykayra and are confronted by the body of Nemesis Prime which has been reanimated by D-Void. As the two rivals battle Nemesis Prime absorbs the energy from a number of Galvatron's troops enlarging and transforming monstrously. Galvatron barely manages to keep the Nemesis beast at bay before the remainder of the army arrive and force it back through the portal.
Galvatron resumes his quest to build an army but the Autobots refuse to join him. The army return to Cybertron to prepare the first line of defense against D-Void. Galvatron's forces are spotted by Wheelie and Hot Rod who promptly retreat from the planet. Galvatron is unmoved by the Autobot rejection believing that he is doing the right thing in claiming Cybertron for his own to defend it against the coming Chaos.
Creative team
Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, fresh off the Infestation series, teamed up once again to pen Heart of Darkness. Art is by Ulises Fariñas, coloring by Andrew Crossley and lettering by Shawn Lee.
Notes
- Apparently, this story is of such importance to IDW, that they sold the TPB as volume 4 of the main Transformers series (see below).
- Heart of Darkness also marked the return of the famed "dull surprise". Yay.
- Surprisingly, this comic has nothing to do with the classic Joseph Conrad novel Heart of Darkness, despite being named after it. You'd think an Apocalypse Now with giant transforming robots is an idea brimming with potential, but sadly enough, you aren't going to find any of that existentialist jazz here.
- An entertainingly weird aspect of the series' rather idiosyncratic art is that Galvatron's particle cannon starts out fairly short compared to usual depictions, then shrinks over the course of the run, eventually being shorter than his own forearm. The shrinkage is most evident on the cover of issue 4.
Collections
- The Transformers, Volume 4: Heart of Darkness (September 14, 2011) ISBN 1613770510 / ISBN 978-1613770511
- Collects Heart of Darkness issues #1–4.
- Bonus material includes art from all covers.
- Trade paperback format.
- The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume Eight (May 7, 2013) ISBN 1613776276 / ISBN 978-1613776278
- Collects Heart of Darkness issues #1–4, and The Transformers (2009) issues #19–31.
- Hardcover format.
- Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 50: Heart of Darkness (May 31, 2017)
- Collects Heart of Darkness issues #1–4, and Infestation issues #1–2.
- Bonus material includes a post-mortem on "Zombots" across the various comics and a bio on IDW Hardhead.
- Hardcover format.
Volume 4: Heart of Darkness – cover art by Ulises Fariñas and Andrew Crossley
The IDW Collection Volume Eight – cover art by E. J. Su
The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 50: Heart of Darkness – cover art by Guido Guidi (Prowl) and Ulises Fariñas (retro)
