Reading – Transformers Visualworks

Transformers Visualworks* is a 128-page Japanese Transformers artbook that was published back in 2007. I snagged my copy on eBay in early 2009 and it has become one of those books that I sometimes take down and flip through when my brain is tired and I want to relax by staring at giant transforming robot art.

There haven’t been many Transformers art books — The Art of IDW’s Transformers* is highly recommended — so almost any book is a treat. And this one’s especially fun for me since it’s artwork I hadn’t encountered before, including an entire section in the center that deals with the Japanese Transformers stories that I’ve never gotten into. I can’t say I love the center section of cutesy Japanese Transformers artwork — their character designs are too strange for me — but the beginning and ends of the book are fantastic.

Generation One

Clearly from the era of the classic Transformers cartoon*, what we get are pages and pages of colorful artwork of classic characters in action. Roughly the first 70 or so pages of the book are color and if you check the Flickr set I have created then you can see samples of the artwork in the book. If you’re a Transformers fan then you’ll want to take a little time to review the photos.

Who Needs This Book?

Most Transformers fans who love the eighties versions of the characters and stories will find this book fun. Maybe not $60+ worth of fun, but if you can find the book for $30 or $40 then I think it’s worth grabbing. It’s a quality book, hardcover with excellent binding, and the paper stock is thick and has feels like a professional work.

Black & White Pages

The book closes with B&W character illustrations that look like they may come from the Complete Transformers Ark* book. (I own the second volume, but not the first or the collection, and the art style is similar.) Page after page of clean character designs that make me want to sit down and start drawing transforming robots. If that’s not a good thing then I don’t know what is.

Closing Thoughts

“Fun” is the one word I would use to describe this book. It’s not thick — only 128-pages — but it’s packed with artwork and fun to flip through. Check the Flickr set I have created of photos of the book and decide for yourself. I think that if you like Transformers then you’ll enjoy this book.