Image credit: Jason Brown, midlifegamergeek.com
The Decepticon ranks are full of legendary characters. Megatron. Starscream. Soundwave. Shockwave.
And now…a ballpoint pen.
Ballpoint is a small Decepticon with more self-confidence and self-belief than most of his colleagues, and he greatly overestimates his own abilities.
And yes, he can transform into a pen.
When kicked out by the Decepticons, he sets out to prove himself by defeating the entire Autobot army. Alone.
This is an all-ages graphic novel aimed primarily at children, but I have to say I really enjoyed it. It’s full of clever and hilarious visual gags (and Bumblebee’s toying with the lyrics to Transformers’ iconic needle drop “The Touch” is sublime), and the art is absolutely stunning. The cartoonish, vibrant and colorful style is full of life and personality, and the exaggerated poses and movements of the Transformers make it very easy to imagine that this is an animated show.
Artist Mars Jr.’s twist on the familiar design of classic Transformers is great, but it’s not just aesthetically pleasing.
Brian “Smitty” Smith provides readers with a great deal of wit, charm, and heartfelt stories along with humor, making them an absolute pleasure to read.
My only criticism is that there haven’t been any more adventures with the lovably incompetent but confident ballpoint pen yet. However, that will soon change in July 2026.
Considering it’s aimed at children, there’s also a section at the end of the book with tips for discussing the story and its themes with young readers, which is a nice touch. It’s great to see the Transformers license being utilized in so many different ways. Ballpoint’s first adventure is a very good introduction to the little Cybertronian.
Transformers – The Worst Bots Ever: Encounters with Ballpoint is available for purchase on Amazon.
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