Books like Transformers: Autocracy

SXSW 2014. South by Southwest is an interactive, music and film festival in Austin, Texas and since Comixology has a major presence there this weekend, it gave some free books accessible to its subscribers as it launched some major initiatives. This is one of those books.Looks like this was wish granted unexpectedly. After reading the first chapter of this digital premiering series on Madefire where I gave it high marks, part of me was wishing I could have read the entire story. I almost bought this during a Comixology sale, opting for another Transformers collection but I didn't have to wait long though because Comixology made this collection part of its SXSW 2014 freebies.Transformers: Autocracy was written to be the back-story to what has been a superlative run and handling of the franchise in comic book form by IDW. It's pre-war Cybertron where the Autobots, led by pre-Optimus Prime Orion Pax were the police force keeping the peace from the terrorist Decepticons who were of course led by the surprisingly charismatic Megatron. I really liked how the writing team set the story up. The Decepticons here were actually a lot more sympathetic because they were standing up against a corrupt senate and ruthless tyrant in Zeta Prime. The Autobots were the "fuzz" or "pigs" or worse, seen as complicit in Zeta Prime's tyranny.The entire 12 chapter story brought redemption to the Autobots or more specifically, Orion Pax as he began to move from sitting on the fence to a more proactive role in bringing justice and freedom back to Cybertron.This was a great story, more so because it allowed Flint Dille to bring to full circle his involvement in Transformers. Dille is an animation veteran and was one of the writers and producers on the original Transformers cartoon and the 1986 animated movie. This story allowed him to redeem Hot Rod. I rather not reveal spoilers but the last chapter features a panel by panel rendition of a key scene in the animated movie that featured Optimus Prime, Megatron and Hot Rod. Does history repeat itself? If you're a Transformer fan worth his salt you would get this collection and read it and find out for yourself.