GENERICS:
WILL SIMPSON'S UK WORK
Prominent Issues:
Will Simpson had a very long run on the UK comics, starting from some of the earliest issues and finishing around the half-way make in the one hundred and thirties. His work would later be reprinted way into the 300s.
#41,
Christmas Breaker
Sure, this is the only UK Circuit Breaker story, but who cares? This also happens to be the issue where Optimus Prime dresses up as Santa Claus and walks around like he's stoned! THAT is worth seeing.
#47 + 49, Dinobot Hunt, pts 1 + 3
In Dinobot Hunt Simpson really got to strut his stuff. He did some great work in desert environments, with Snarl going mad in a sandstorm, and Slag fighting Jetfire in a barren wasteland! Excellent stuff.
#61 + 62, Devastation Derby, pts 1 + 2
Sounds leads the Constructicons on a path of destruction. One of the only stories in the comics where a Combiner really gets to strut his stuff and look IMPRESSIVE.
#74, 75, 76 + 77, In the National Interest, pts 1, 2, 3 + 4
This story features the Constructicons and Megatron vs the Dinobots. It features Sludge in love with a human female. It features the incredibly powerful human-built robot, Centurion. It also features some of the BEST Will Simpson art ever.
#80, 85 + 88, Target: 2006, pts 2 + 7, Target: 2006 Epilogue
Each issue of Target: 2006 has a really memorable scene that makes it worth reading. In these Will Simpson's issues you have Ultra Magnus vs. Cyclonus, the destruction of the ship (later known as Nemesis) which brought the Decepticons to Earth, and finally the death of Impactor.
#96, Prey, pt 1
Will Simpson draws the Predacons; plus his takes on scenes from Target: 2006, Aerialbots Over America, and American Graiffiti.
#100, Distant Thunder
An amazing double-sized anniversary issue, with art by Will Simpson. It's this issue that got me addicted to Will Simpson's art.
#103, Resurrection, pt 1
Straxus vs. Megatron. 'Nuff said?
#114, Wanted: Galvatron -- Dead or Alive, pt 2
I've already ranted about this issue on its own page, but basically this is one of the single best UK issues out there in my opinion. Lots of generics and obscures, Death's Head, some awesome Rodimus Prime poetic justice, and Cyclonus and Scourge. In the UK, at least, it doesn't get much better than this. (Admittedly, if I was talking about the US cartoon, Rodimus, Cyclonus and Scourge wouldn't be very good characters on which to recommend a story.)
#117, Hunters, pt 1
I wish I had this issue. It features the glorious beating of Soundwave into the ground by Death's Head. Cool.
#130 + 131, Worlds Apart, pts 1 + 2
The last work of Will Simpson on the UK comics. It's nice to see him go out with a bang; being the first UK artist to draw the Headmasters characters in a strip.
Rant:
Will Simpson's art is, to me, what Andrew Wildman's art MIGHT have been. I've heard many people wax lyrical about Wildman's ability to have his characters express emotion, or about the level of detail he puts into his work. But frankly, Wildman's work has problems. He's not particularly suited to Transformers, for one. He sucks at drawing energy fields, for another. On top of that, Wildman isn't very good at drawing weapons or vehicles (especially vehicles in motion). Simpson has all the advantages of Wildman's art; incredible detail, expressive characters, etc. But none of the disadvantages. When he draws TFs they LOOK like TFs.
The only problem some people might have with Will Simpson is that he often draws Transformers based more on their toys than on their Romita models. Some people seem to have a real problem with TFs that don't resemble their cartoon models. Me, I don't. I love Will Simpson's highly original take on the Transformers. He's up there as about my second favourite Transformers artist (after Geoff Senior).
Will Simpson and Generic Transformers:
Simpson is so insanely inconsistent when it comes to drawing Transformers of his own design that I don't know where to begin. In issue 114 alone he produces some of the best generic Decepticons out there, Nautilus, who looks like he belongs in the Beast Wars and a generic Transformer who looks like he belongs on an old Leslie Neilson sci-fi film. Basically, with Will Simpson it amounts to "When he's good, he's very very good, and when he's bad, he's terrible."
But one thing Simpson has had a chance to do is draw Transformers of other sorts than just 'generic Decepticons who show up, then die'.
His Decepticon slaves are just great (see above). They look as if they've been reduced to all but the most basic of slave functions, with arms and legs stripped of armour, and heads lacking even the typical 'helmet' of most Transformers.
The technicians (just above) under the command of Straxus also have a unique design, suited to their less combat-oriented functions. Their back packs could also be the propulsion systems for some sort of alt modes.
These flashes of brilliance make Simpson one of my favourite artists for generic Transformers.
