Go-Bots | Robo Killing Machines

12.28.2018 – The Go-Bots property has been ridiculed, lambasted, and embarrassed for the last three decades or so being called a “poor man’s Transformers” because the toys back in the day that was manufactured by Bandai was affordable in some countries all over the world. The toyline has been introduced under Tonka prior to merging with Hasbro that owned the Transformers property. Originally, the Go-Bots property is known in Japan as Machine Robo a faction-less toyline that produced robots that turn vehicles. Though they are not as popular as their famous counterpart they have built its niche fanbase. It has been thirty years since there’s no material from the brand until IDW Publishing has announced a comic book mini-series based on the original characters like Leader-1 and Cy-Kill. The new series will be a separate universe from Transformers and as mentioned this will be a mini-series that will be written and drawn by Tom Scoili, who worked with John Barber on G.I. Joe VS Transformers mini-series. This time Scoili not only did write and provided the art for the mini-series he also handled the colors and lettering. The pages are impressive and design appears like an old comic book as you go through each scene seeing how the artist took time in making the first issue stand out from the comic shelves having Leader-1 on the cover.

Published: November 2018
Content: For Mature Readers
Language: English

There have been three variant covers but if you plan to pick up this issue you got to appreciate the commander of the heroic Guardians. In the past, there have been comic book-related materials produced in magazine format for the Go-Bots in the US, but in Europe, they are widely known as Robo Machines in a black and white format with a different story unrelated to the American published material. The concept and terms of the characters in Europe were entirely different but slowly aligned with their US counterparts regarding the Guardians and Renegades.

In the latest IDW published series, we get introduced to the beloved characters that are entirely not written for a younger audience. In this universe the human and the Go-Bots live in harmony until Cy-Kill, a gladiator had found a mind of its own to rebel against the human race and formed his own faction that would become the Renegades.

The brutal personality portrayed by Cy-Kill is not your dad’s Renegade. It goes back to the time previous published Transformers books portrayed the Renegade Leader as an inferior gladiator. But Scioli definitely redeemed this character into an interesting individual. Cy-Kill function as a brutal robot that decapitates his victims in his gladiator matches using his physical abilities, and aesthetics functional like his motorcycle tires as one of his primary weapons for combat.

The basic toy does have removable tires but the Super Go-Bot, a larger version that figure doesn’t and was exclusively released for Tonka back in the day was a bit different. There were no moving accessories and that for the reason why the toys were not as favorable compared to the famed Cybertronians that had blasters. But none the less this comic book takes you back to the glory days of the brand and reintroduced to new readers and fans that grew up owning the toys. They may be a “poor man’s Transformers” with weak robot designs, but after reading this first issue you’ll respect the characters have its own tone and concept that you don’t see in Hasbro’s flagship brand.

Cy-Kill Disapproves the 1st issue's cover.

All Hasbro needs to do is reproduce the toys as they hold the rights for the likeness of the main characters since acquiring Tonka more than 20 years ago. It’s unfortunate that outside the US, Bandai has a hold on the characters for the reason why the toys can’t be produced or get a reissue without having a single owner of the brand having split with Hasbro/Takara Tomy and Bandai with the property.

But even though the toys are not going to make a comeback the comic book mini-series is a bold move for Hasbro and IDW Publishing in the right direction in reintroducing these characters in a new light thanks to Tom Scioli in redeeming it for the next generation.

“Go-Bots” is a mini-series is already out now. Check your local comic shops for availability with a cover price of $2.99 US. This comic book was acquired at Planet X Comics for ₱240.00 pesos.

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