Category Archives: G1

News Roundup – March 3rd

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HI folks, been a while I know, life gets like that sometimes eh? Anywho, lets look at what news we can share today…

Jazz kicks cyber butt

Gaming Nexus take a look at the upcoming Transformers: Fall of Cybertron, and I tell ya, the shots they have look awesome!

MTV is reporting that Michael Bay’s ‘Transformers 4′ is dividing fans, and they’re not wrong from what I’ve seen, almost a split down the middle…

 

UFO, a Cosmos wannabe?

TFormers have images of iGear’s Mini Warriors UFO, which seems to be a homage to Cosmos, and boy does this beauty look cool, check it out…

IDW show off some upcoming Transformers comic covers, and the reaction we can agree with!

Looks like Garry Chalk and David Kaye will be showing up at BotCon 2012, would be awesome to go to that…

ComicBookMovie.com are saying that Transformers 4 will have less jokes and more action while MovieWeb are telling us that it will have an all new cast… Don’t mind too much about the human cast, but they damn well better get the voice cast back.

Hmm, not too much more news that I can see, so, lets leave with a seven page preview of Transformers Robots in Disguise #2 (which I got today, building to an awesome series this)

News Roundup – 27 December 2011

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Okay, so lets see what we have here in the news…

*Opens the cyber newspaper*

Transformers Dark of the Moon named movie with most errors, that just sucks doesn’t it? Wonder why they didn’t reshoot to get rid of the errors…

The Death of Optimus Prime

The Transformers Mosaic team have posted a new comic, Christmas themed, not bad, blends Joss Whedon’s Serenity with Michael Bay’s Transformers ‘verse…

TFormers.com reviews IDW’s Transformers #125 “The Death Of Optimus Prime” and it certainly does sound like a game changing issue… A must read even.

Siebertron compares the Takara TF Prime toys to the Hasbro ones, and I do think I prefer the Hasbro ones…

MTV wonders if Michael Bay will return to direct TF4, and from my POV, I think it may be time to hand the reigns over, don’t get me wrong, I love the first three, but new blood is always good…

IGN looks at the changes ahead for the Transformers comic line as it splits into two, I’m looking forward to seeing the two series and seeing where they go with the big war done, it’ll be interesting.

ASUS plans to continue production of it’s Transformer Prime tablet despite Hasbro’s trademark lawsuit, to me it seems to be a good co-promotional opportunity, pit they can’t see that.

Seems to be it in the way of new, and now for some art…

The 20 Days of Transformers #18-20

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Yeah, so yesterday and Christmas Eve fell to bits, I should have seen that coming when I said I’d post the reviews on those days ;-)

So, here we go with numbers 3, 2, and 1, plus a bonus!

For #3 we have an intro to space, and Cybertron

#3: IDW Transformers Stormbringer Issue 1

Transformers: Stormbringer #1

Open on the maelstrom of hell on Cybertron before cutting to Jetfire and the Technobots who are investigating a power reading on the dead planet Cybertron, a trace of Super Energon. Deciding they need to investigate they head down, making sure they have as much protection against the elements as they can. As they follow the trace to it’s source they discover they’re back to where it all went wrong… Thunderhead Pass!

In a flashback we find Megatron and Optimus Prime working together to stop an unnamed adversary. In the present Optimus Prime can’t shake the feeling that it isn’t over yet. Shaken out of his memories Prime is handed a report from Prowl on Earth, he orders Searchlight to keep him informed before slipping back into his memories of the maelstrom.

Harsh Environment

Back on Cybertron Jetfire and the Technobots are setting up a scanner as Jetfire relates what happened many years earlier, Thunderwing approached the leading Cybertronian scientists regardless of their affiliation his figures point to an inescapable fact… Cybertron is dying. And they need to do something.

In the here and now Jetfire and the Technobots are ambushed by cloaked figures. They attempt to fight back but being unable to see their adversaries they lose and are taken down. Meanwhile their ship is blown out of the sky with missiles.

The Maelstrom

Prime is still lost in his memories of fighting against an apocalyptic creature, he knows that they only contained it, they didn’t destroy it, and that sooner or later everywhere will hear it’s name. On Cybertron Jetfire awakens to see a cult chanting the name of it’s deity… Thunderwing!

As the second arc in the new IDWverse, Stormbringer was our first real intro to the space bound Transformers, and it works so well, but then the story comes from Simon Furman, and that man had a plan all the way back then, couple that with Don Fig’s art and Josh Burcham’s colors, what else could one expect by perfection?

Hail Thunderwing

At #2 we have the end…

#2: Marvel Generation One Issue 80: Ed of the Road

Transformers #80

We open, this the final issue of Marvel’s G1 run, with the death of Getaway at the hands of Dreadwing before we pull back and see that Bludgeon’s ‘Cons have killed a lot of the Autobots, but not all, he has sent out a part to find the remaining ‘Bots and exterminate them for good.

The team in question, Octopunch, Weirdwolf, Fangry and Quake, have gone passed the place where Grimlock hid with the remainder of his troops, as they emerge from hiding Prowl tells Grimlock off for the way he has led them to this point, jumping in as soon as he spotted a ‘Con and leading them right into a text book ambush. As they’re attempting to decide what to do next, Blaster is shot and presumably killed by Quake, it seems Fangry ha led the ‘Cons to double back and ambush the ‘Bots.

Me, Grimlock, Hide Well

Back with Bludgeon and co, they were just wiping out the few remaining living ‘Bots when out of nowhere the human superhero team of The Neo Knights (well, the remaining sane ones), but they’re just the opening act, the main event is above them all… The New Optimus Prime!

Prime explains what happened, how after the last Optimus Prime died, Hi-Q and the Neo Knights sought out the Last Autobot, who, upon seeing the truth behind Hi-Q, that he was a small body, cybernetics wrapped in flesh, with a soul buried deep down, a wise, and noble leader. Taking from their memories The Last Autobot created a new body to house the two souls, making them, finally, one.

We Can Go Home

As The Last Autobot is telling them that the Civil War must end, Bludgeon interrupts, ordering his troops to kill Optimus Prime. As they do so The Last Autobot gets to work, resurrecting the fallen Autobots. Prime is fighting off the ‘Cons when Grimlock’s team returns and wades into the fight, turning the tide with the help of the resurrected ‘Bots.

As the ‘Cons call a retreat they vow that this isn’t the end. Prime then tells the ‘Bots that Cybertron has been reborn, and that it is time for them to return home, that the war is over.

For a finale, this is certainly a good one, it feels almost like the story is too short, that Simon was almost building up to something new and exciting (and maybe now we’ll find out with IDW’s announcement of Transformers Regeneration One). As always with Simon Furman’s writing, this is top notch, Andrew Wildman’s art is, maybe not as good as Don FIg’s, but it’s still way up there with the greats. If that had been the end, it would have been a fitting end, but as we all know, it never ends there…

Well, That's Just Prime

And at #1 we have The Beginning of it all!

#1: Marvel Transformers Generation One Issue 1

Transformers #1

We open this, the first ever Transformers comic with the requisite backstory that tells how the Decepticons came to be and their launching of the first strike in the Civil War that rages to this day. We learn that the war has knocked the planet out of it’s orbit and into deep space. Soon it’s realized that the planet will soon pass through a giant asteroid belt, to clear a path the Autobots build and launch a giant spacecraft, The Ark.

Unbeknown to them Ravage has been spying on them and sees the launch, reporting back to Megatron they decide to go after the ‘Bots. As the Autobots finish clearing a path for Cybertron the ‘Cons attack, taking them by surprise, and quickly gain the upper hand over the weakened ‘Bots, knowing that the only way to stop the secrets of The Ark falling into the Decepticon’s hands Prime sends the ship on a collision course for the nearest planet.

Arise Optimus Prime

The Ark crashes into a volcanic mountain where it lies dormant for four million years until an eruption manages to reactivate the main computers. Knowing it needs to repair the Transformers it launches a probe to scan for life forms to use as templates. The world it encounters is full of vehicles, flying and rolling, and some unidentified organic creatures that seem to work with the lifeforms.

Using the templates from the probe The Ark sets to repairing the Transformers, both Autobot and Decepticon alike. With some of it’s memory banks damaged however The Ark knew nothing of the Great War, but still kept the basic nature of the Transformers the same, so the ‘Bots became vehicles while the ‘Cons become weapons and communications devices.

With the rebuilding complete, the obligatory roll call happens with the Decepticons sounding off before transforming and leaving The Ark, and the Autobots staying behind to observe this new world and it’s inhabitants, and the organic beings that The Ark had dismissed..

We now go to meet one of these beings, Buster Witwicky and his father Sparkplug, after they discuss Buster’s plans for the future, Buster takes a car and heads off to meet his friends. Meanwhile Prime has sent a recon team out into the world, as Prowl, Bumblebee, Hound, Brawn and Cliffjumper come across a drive-in cinema they don’t notice Laserbeak following them, and reporting back to Megatron.

Humans Run The Planet

At the drive-in, the Autobots enter, and Bumblebee decides to go say hi, by crashing into Buster’s car! As Buster finds that no-one’s driving the car the Decepticons attack, damaging Bumblebee in the process. The other Autobots leap into action and fight back, and while they fight the humans run in panic.

As Soundwave and Ravage join the fight Prowl comes to realize that the vehicles are not the inhabitants of the world, the humans are, and that they need to take the fight elsewhere to protect them. As they transform and roll out they draw the ‘Cons with them. Buster meanwhile has come across Bumblebee and manages to jump start him, damaged though he is Buster gets Bumblebee back to his father’s garage where he pleads with him to help fix Bumblebee.

Well, as a start to what would become a major legacy, this was a good story, if a little crude in places, it works, think of the first 4 issues of the series as the pilot story, which it is really. The art is crude too, although I guess it is on par with the art of the times, remember we are talking like 1984, and some of the character colors are off, but then we are talking the very first issue they were still feeling their way.

The Beginning

And lastly as a bonus we got a smoking hot Prima…

Bonus: Optimus Prima: Reformatted

Optimus Prima: Reformatted

Yes, it’s not official, but what can I say, it’s based upon Transformers and it’s just plain awesome.

We open on Optimus Prime, Bumblebee and Carly looking out over the Grand Canyon, as they discuss their next destination, Starscream, Thundercracker and Skywarp ambush them, as Prime and ‘Bee fight back Carly gets away to safety, at least until she gets involved and throws a rock at Starscream.

In anger ‘Screamer orders the destruction of the ledge the ‘Bots are standing on. After falling Prime finds his gun destroyed, so borrowing from Carly, Prime throws boulders at the ‘Cons, damaging Thundercracker and Skywarp. As the ‘Cons retreat Prime calls it in but is interrupted by Bumblebeen who has found Carly, badly injured by the fall.

Reformatted!

As the other Autobots scramble to the rescue Prime resorts to desperate measures and uses The Matrix to heal her. With it’s power The Matrix transforms Carly, granting to her power and the resolve to protect life, oh and some really nifty armor, arise now Optimus Prima! The effort however has drained Prime, as he collapses Megatron arrives with the Seekers.

Without Prime ‘Bee and Carly are sitting ducks until Carly comes up with an idea… She gets Bumblebee to throw her at the ‘Cons. Using her new found power Carly hacks off Skywarp’s arm and Thundercracher’s leg, using the leg as a battering ram she flies it right into Starscream before using her gun to blow off part of his face.

Leg Riding

With no way to stay in the air Carly falls and is caught by Megatron, who promptly fires on her, sending her back into the cliff wall. But not to worry, Carly’s back for round two in no time, as Megatron is about to destroy Prime the other ‘Bots arrive, with his troops badly damaged Megatron calls a retreat.

As the ‘Bots repair their fallen comrades Carly is applauded for her actions, including a decent fist bump from Ironhide, and some innocent flirting between Skyrifre and Carly.

Heavy Armor

Right, this is just plain cool, this comic was done by a fan, an awesomely talented fan, Silas Zee, and I tell you, if you haven’t read this comic, go read it I was lucky enough to get one of the limited run of printed ones, and that is just awesome. The story is as one would expect, different to the standard Transformers story, as is the art, but I feel it benefits from that, amazingly so.

And so, there we have it our top 20 Transformers comics ever, at least as far as I am concerned :) I hope you enjoyed my reviews, I’ll be bringing you more as they come, but from now on no particular order. Also some news on Transformers as it comes to me.

The 20 Days of Transformers #17

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First up, due to a family thing I won’t be able to post the next two days reviews, but fear not, you’ll get them on Saturday and the last one on Christmas Day itself, yes, I’m that dedicated!

Anywho, on with the countdown, we’re at #4, prepare to meet Optimus Prime, for the very first time!

Dreamwave The War Within Volume One Issue One

The War Within Volume 1 Issue 1

The opening shot is a scene of carnage, and the voice over saying “Sentinel Prime is dead…”, we move to Iacon and the Vaults where we find Bluestreak telling Optronix about Sentinel’s death and that Megatron himself killed him. Optronix has already read this and cataloged it however, Bluestreak launches into a little rant about the Civil War and how they weren’t ready for it. he ends by accusing Optronix of being comfortable hidden away cataloging things.

Move to Altihex and Grimlock’s battalion, which includes Ironhide, Kup and Wheeljack, they’re holding the line against the ‘Cons but only just. Meanwhile Bumblebee and Trailbreaker are trying to evac civilians, but there’s a holdout, a bunch who the ‘Cons think don’t even know there’s a fence to sit on. At least there was, Thundercracker and Skywarp take them out in two hits, much to Bumblebee’s dismay. At the battalion races away the entire place goes up in flames.

There's a fence?

Back at Iacon, in the Chamber of the Ancients Optronix has just learned he is to be the next Prime, and, despite his belief that they need to abandon tradition and pick a strong Prime, the Ancients insist that he is the one that was chosen. They send Optronix into the Oracle Tank.

Only the Beginning

Cut to the firestorm that was once the beautiful city of Praxus, former home of Prowl. Where Grimlock has asked to meet Jazz and Prowl, to talk of mutiny if the new Prime isn’t strong enough.

I Am Not Constrained

And back to the Oracle Tanks, and Optronix is being shown visions of the present and future, he asks the one question that’s in his head, if the ‘Cons want Cybertron so much why not let them have it? Later after he has emerged the ceremony begins to pass The Matrix onto the new Prime, unbeknown to the participants an infiltration team of ‘Cons is cutting their way in. As the ceremony concludes and we are introduced to Optimus Prime the ‘Cons attack.

As the ‘Bots leap to action Grimlock holds back, wanting to see what the new Prime is made of. It seems that he’s made of stern stuff as he takes down two of the assassins easily, keeping one to question, but ask he’s demanding to know what’s going on the ‘Con self destructs by melting his brain.

The ‘Bots all congratulate Optimus but he’s not swayed and orders a planet wide evacuation. Deep within Cybertron Megatron awaits the new Prime.

Well, this is an amazing story really, it’s one of those awesome bits of Transformer history that we always wanted to know but never saw, it is, to me, a better explanation of Optimus Prime’s creation than that which we were presented in the original cartoon. Art wise, it’s amazing, as I believe I’ve said is all the Dreamwave era art, as always that’s mostly down to the awesome Don Fig.

The Creative Team

Writer: Simon Furman
Artist: Don Figueroa
Inker: Elaine To
Colorist: Rob Ruffolo
Letterer: Dreamer Designs

Release Date: October 2002
Cover Price: $2.95 (Lenticular incentive cover $5.95 — FYI, I have both covers, yey!)

Trivia: This is the first Dreamwave Productions comic Simon Furman has written.

In The War Within series, most of the characters were given “new” body designs, due to the fact that it takes place long before they arrived on Earth.

One of the buildings in the first establishing two-page panel of Iacon has “Transformers” written in Japanese katakana lettering on the side of it (specifically the main part of the Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers logo).

The term Seeker is used in official canon for the first time.

Meet Optimus Prime

The 20 Days of Transformers #15 & #16

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Well, due to technical difficulties (My scanner wasn’t working and the scheduled text only post didn’t post) yesterday’s review wasn’t posted. So today we’ll give you two reviews, and the scanner is working now (having applied all appropriate brute force (read Hammer) and ignorance…)

At #6 we have a brief introduction…

#14: Dreamwave Generation One Volume 3 Issue 0

Generation One Issue 0

We open on what could be a scene from Transformers The Movie with Unicron devouring Lithone and three voice overs discussing things, including the fact that Unicron, while only at minimal power is still unparallelled and is moving faster than predicted. As we head inside Unicron to the brain chamber where there are cocoons. The voices discuss the ability to take a life form and reshape it to it’s needs. And learning from past errors makes the next wave better. As they note this we see Cyclonus smash his way out of a cocoon.

The focus now shifts to the first wave, Scourge and the Sweeps, we learn that the alpha drone, Scourge, found Cybertron, and reactivated Shockwave. Scourge tailed him for a time before he was forced to save Shockwave from an Extermination Team of Sharkticons. At some point Shockwave turned on Scourge and captured him, and studied him, and learned more about the origins of the Transformers than anyone had previously.

Research Subject

The voices note that a similar figure to Scourge was seen on Earth when Shockwave arrived there, we’re shown Devastator in pieces in a large room somewhere, with Human scientists examining him. Then the voices state that they believe there are still Autobots on Earth, left by Optimus Prime when he left for Cybertron. The voices believe that Prime is still on Cybertron and in a weakened state.

Quick History Lesson

As we’re shown a two page spread of events from the last two years, the voices note that thanks to the chaos their agenda has been kept secret, and they’ve amassed enough data to strike. We switch to the planet Quntessa and as we fly over, showing us the Sharkticons, and the robotic guards before we enter the control room and we learn that the voices were Quntessons! And they want Megatron to stand judgement.

To close we shift to The Planet of Junk and Wreck-Gar singing and dragging a deactivated Transformer behind him. As he reaches another being he dumps the body saying “Lucy, I’m home” The dark voice reminds him eh was asked not to call the other person that. We see now that the body he was dragging was a seeker. The dark voice smiles, and says that the time is near to take revenge on the universe.

Lucy, I'm Home

The last shot shows us the dark voice is in fact a wounded, but fully functional Megatron.

As with all Dreamwave comics this one has awesome art, I always felt that the Dreamwave era art was some of the best, and that’s mostly down to the man Don Figueroa, don’t get me wrong, I love the IDW era stuff, and don’t think I’d go without it no matter what, but some days I wish Dreamwave had kept going, it would have been awesome. The story itself is pretty simple, but then it’s an issue 0 so that’s to be expected. All in all a great comic.

For our #5 we bring you a landmark issue… A half century anyone?

#15: Marvel Generation One Issue 50

Transformers Issue 50

As we open on the Underbase, a construct of unimaginable power and knowledge, a construct that was set free of it’s worldly bounds by Optimus Prime many eons ago. We see it’s power to take life and give power as it destroys a world then powers a sun until it too is destroyed.

Switch to Earth, and in the Arctic where we find Buster Witwicky in bad shape with an Autobot homing beacon. The Aerialbots have been sent to investigate and seeing Buster radio for Fortress Maximus. Not far away we find the Decepticons licking their wounds from their brief civil war when Soundwave alerts them to an incoming Autobot invasion force.

It's A Trap

The Autobots arrive, and Fortress Maximus’ head transforms into Cerebros and then into Spike as he rushes to his brother’s side. Buster is suffering hypothermia and seeing this Spike uses Fortress Maximus to start to slowly raise his temperature. As Optimus Prime arrives they begin to wonder why Buster had a beacon that summoned a full Autobot response team. They don’t have long to wonder as the Decepticons arrive and begin to lay into the Autobots. The Decepticons execute the attack with extreme precision and Autobots fall before them.

Starscream, Tyant of the Universe

Meanwhile we find Scorponok’s ship heading towards The Underbase, it’s sole occupant, Starscream, eager to meet his destiny and to become the most powerful being in existance.

Back on Earth Ratbat has gotten the drop on Fort Max and shakes Buster out of the heating area. Buster lets slip Starscream’s plan to Ratbat who convinces Fort Max to call a cease fire. Soon once all the Transformers are caught up, a plan is devised. The ‘Bots help get the ‘Con ship ready for space and launch headed for Starscream.

Starscream meanwhile has positioned himself in place to receive the “blessings” of The Underbase. As he begins to absorb the power a shot knocks him out of the way, a shot fired by Optimus Prime aboard the ‘Con ship. The combined Transformers believe that Starscream is now history, but unknown to them he still functions, and has more than enough power to pick up Scorponok’s ship and throw it at the ‘Con’s ship, smashing it. As the combined Transformers are thrown out of the smashed ship Starscream transforms and heads towards Earth.

Fortunately Optimus Prime had planned for such a possibility and had the Ark standing by. Soon once all the Transformers are onboard they devise another plan to attack Starscream on Earth. As teams are deployed around the globe, Prime stays behind on The Ark with Buster. As Starscream arrives in New York Ratbat gets his attention long enough for Jetfire and the Aerialbots to get the drop on him, however Starscream is too powerful and knocks the Aerialbots out with one blast. Jetfire knocks Starscream out of the sky onto a bridge where a team of Autobots await, Starscream takes them out too, but is knocked intot eh sea in the process where the Seacons are waiting, they don’t last long, and neither does Blaster when he steps in. Having taken out all the opposition Starscream heads for Tokyo.

On The Ark we see that Prime has built a rocket with reflective panels and with Hi-Q’s help they’re refining it further. As tehy do so a report comes in from Grimlock that Starscream has arrived in Tokyo and he’s taken out the Throttlebots.. As the Dinobots and Scorponok get ready a team of Seekers take on Starscream, and are soon dispatched, As are the Dinobots shortly thereafter, Grimlock however manages to blast Starscream in the direction of the ‘Con Pretenders and the Predacons, who, like all the previous teams don’t last long. As Scorponok prepares to fire Starscream uses Grimlock as a shield.

Growing tired of that Starscream heads for Buenos Aires where the remaining plane ‘Cons are waiting, again they don’t last long, Starscream is becoming more powerful as time passes. The Technobots and Terrorcons are no match, nor is Fortress Maximus. As Starscream pulls a monument up to use as a javelin, Omega Supreme steps in and takes his shot, but ultimately even he falls. As Starscream turns his attention back to Fort Max, Buster radios in from The Ark, causing Starscream to abandon the fight to head off to meet The Underbase.

The Underbase Is Mine

Back on The Ark, Prime launches the missile towards The Underbase just as Ratbat and Scorponok arrive back and accuse Prime of going after The Underbase for himself. As the missile intersects with The Underbase and deflects it Scorponok makes hims move, incapacitating Ratbat and Prime and heading out to get The Underbase for himself. With Buster’s help Prime and Hi-Q are back together and head out to stop Scorponok, getting him out of the way of The Underbase just in time for it fly past and encounter Starscream.

Starscream absorbs the entire power of The Underbase, as he does it mutates him, increasing his size, turning him into a super Transformer. But before he can gloat too much the power overwhelms him, and causes him to explode. Prime notes that Starscream has learned what Prime had learned long ago, that The Underbase is too powerful for any one being to posses.

We end back onboard The Ark where Prime explains the full plan to Scorponok. They make plans to help the wounded Transformers, with Scorponok noting that once that task is ended the truce will be over and their battles will begin anew.

Whew, an awesomely long story this one, but then what would one expect for a 50th issue, similar I expect for IDW’s upcoming 125th issue. The story in fact wraps up a four issue arc called The Underbase Saga. We get to see that combined the Transformers could accomplish almost anything, but sadly the Civil War means that is almost never going to happen. Art wise the art is on par with issues of that era, given the printing limitations, it is better than earlier issues with less coloring mistakes and seemingly smoother lines. All in all a must have for Transformers fans.

The 20 Days of Transformers #14

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Savage and ruthless, the Dinobots have fascinated fans for years… Now our #7 gives you some up close and personal time with them…

IDW Maximum Dinobots Issue 1

Maximum Dinobots Issue 1

We begin with a history lesson from Grimlock on his elite squad, the Dynobots, and how they went after the more insane missions. None of them thought it would end on Earth with their ship damaged and buried in the Franz Joseph glacier in New Zealand (which, FYI, is a 6 odd hour trip from where I’m writing this…)

Grinklock recounts his current list of enemies, Ultra Magnus, a duly-appointed enforcer of the Tyrest Accord, the Headmaster Scorponok and the biggest, baddest ‘Con ever, Megatron. Then askes the worst possible question… “How much worse can things get?”

Skywatch is in the process of testing their remaining Thunder Lizards (aka the rest of the Dynobots) with new cerebral inhibitors in place, they’re proving to be very effective. The team reports their success back to Abraham Dante, aka Scorponok, who is pleased, it means that The Mechination will soon rise. We see that he has an army of clones of Sunstreaker in black, white, red and yellow.

Talking To Ourselves

Speaking of Sunstreaker, we catch up with him and Hunter as they blow up a warehouse in Massachusetts, we learn they’ve just gotten their hands on a shadow drive with data on it, data that points them in the direction of “Dinobots” and Dallas, Texas.

Back with Grimlock, he’s reaching out to some low life contacts for help when Scorponok sends in his Headmaster troops, they miss Grimlock who ambushes them from behind and effectively takes them down before a beacon is planted on him and he’s transported away… To downtown Fallon, Nevada.

Oh Frag

Sightings of a giant robotic T’Rex set off alarms with Skywatch who send the remaining Thunder Lizards towards the town. We close on a familiar red hot rod at the gates to Dante’s compound and Scorponok declaring the Doom of the Dynobots and the Dawn of the Headmasters!

What can I say really? You team Simon Furman, Nick Roche, Josh Burcham and Chris Mowry together and a masterpiece will always emerge, without fail. And the Maximum Dinobots series is no exception. Simon is, at least as far as I’m concerned, the God of Transformers, the man knows how to write our wonderful Robots in Disguise. Nick’s art is fluid and smooth, perfect for the sort of story we’re looking at, and Josh’s coloring style is always fantastic (one day I hope to get close to that level of awesome).

We Have A Visitor

The Creative Team

Writer: Simon Furman
Artist: Nick Roche
Colorist: Josh Burcham
Letterer: Chris Mowry
Editor: Denton J. Tipton

Release Date: December 2008
Cover Price: $3.99

Trivia: This comic was released the same day as the birthday of Grimlock’s first voice actor.

The Sunstreaker clones appear in four different color schemes: gold, black, white and red. Of those four, the white and red Sunstreaker clones pay homage to Sunstreaker’s Diaclone Lamborghini Countach LP500S “Super Tuning” toy colors.

The opening sequence is a raid on an energon silo in Sub-Sector Nine. This is presumably the same raid Shockwave would eventually become involved with, as mentioned in Spotlight: Shockwave, ultimately leading to the Dynobots’ fate on Earth.

Maximum Mayhem

The 20 Days of Transformers #13

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Proving that bigger isn’t always better is our #8…

Dreamwave Micromasters Issue 1

Micromasters #1

Open on a battle, we see the Autobot Micromasters hauling away a downed Autobot while the Decepticon Micromasters attack, which seems to involve a lot of gunfire and verbal sparring. After the Autobot Micromaster Crunch is killed the ‘Bots and ‘Cons bug out and head for home. On the way, the ‘Bots notice a light in the sky, Big Daddy hopes it’s just another meteor.

The light is in fact Countdown and Groundshaker returning from a mission to hunt down ‘Cons, they notice that the planet is a mess and that there seems to be a shortage of manpower. As they head to enter Autobase they encounter Topspin and Twin Twist, who seem surprised to see them and even more surprised that Optimus Prime isn’t with them.

Countdown and Groundshaker report to Ultra Magnus and Fortress Maximus. They report that they split from Jetfire and Omega Supreme, the latter heading to the Sol system after a message, and Countdown and Groundshaker headed off to complete their mission. They ended up on a planet that had been almost wiped out by the ‘Cons and after a skirmish they decided to come back for reinforcements.

Hearing that they want more troops, Magnus shuts them down immediately, they just can’t spare the troops. Disgusted by how things seem to have fallen to ruins, Countdown and Groundshaker storm out, on the way they pass Big Daddy and some other Micromasters heading to report to Magnus and gauge public opinion by overhearing the conversation.

Shockwave is Not Amused

Big Daddy and his team storm into the command room and angrily report Crunch’s death and accuse Magnus of causing it by sending them into a place they shouldn’t have been. Magnus, already angry over Countdown, begins to take it out on the Micromasters, causing Fort Max to step in and stop it.

Meanwhile back at the ‘Con base the Decepticon Micromasters, The Race Track Patrol,  return to find Blitzwing and Octane abusing a Micromaster and refusing to share their Energon with him. They accuse Shockwave and his cronies of hording the fuel and not sharing it with those who did the work to get it. When Shockwave essentially fobs them off they storm out.

Energon Guzzlers

Back at Autobase, in the Aromory the Micromasters are squabbling amongst themselves, causing Big Daddy, already fed up, to leave, declaring that he’s leaving the Autobots. As several others leave with him and head off towards the horizon, then encounter the Decepticon Micromasters, essentially doing the same thing. Before they can get too much further they’re ambushed by Insecticons.

All in all this is a good start to what could have been an awesome ongoing story if they’d done it. It works in well with the Dreamwave continuity that was established and it’s an enjoyable ride. The art is awesome, as is all the Dreamwave era art. Yes, all in all a good comic, well worth getting if you can.

The Creative Team

Writer: Adam Patyk, James McDonough
Penciller: Rob Ruffolo
Inker: Erik Sander
Colorist: David Cheung
Letterer: Benjamin Lee

Release Date: June 2004
Cover Price: $2.95

Trivia: Chronologically, this miniseries follows The War Within series, specifically, The Age of Wrath #3, the final published issue in that series.

In the initial two-page spread, Astrotrain is visible in the distance. However, his blurry appearance initially prompted some readers to mistake him for the planet Quintessa.

The Operation: Containment that Countdown mentions ties in directly to Jetfire’s flashback in “Original Sin”.

They're Here!

The 20 Days of Transformers #12

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What’s metallic on the outside, gooey on the inside and makes a ticking noise? Answer at the end of this review…

Coming in at #9…

Dreamwave Transformers Generation One Volume 3 Issue 7

Infestation

We open on Nightbird… Only it’s not, it’s a movie being watched by a soldier, one whose comrade pulls a prank on before he gets stung by a tiny robo bug…Soon after he’s confronted by something with a weapon, a metallic cannon like weapon.

Turns out that was just a briefing for Jazz, Sideswipoe and Sunstreaker, given to them by Marissa Faireborn, who is hoping to get the ‘bots to help her and the Earth Defense Command (aka EDC).To try to win them over she takes them on a tour of the facility, as they walk through the decon corridor, Sunny and ‘Swipe start egging each other on, Jazz pulls rank to get them to get a move on. They are brought to a room where other deactivated ‘Bots are, including Windcharger and Wheeljack. The humans are being helped to repair the ‘Bots by Bumper and Warpath.

Cut to Decepticon HQ and Starscream returning from his temporary alliance with the Autobots (see previous issues), a homecoming that would leave even an Eskimo feeling cold… Confronting Soundwave he demands to know what’s been going on.

Back with the ‘Bots Marissa is briefing them on the mission they’ve now signed up for, during which Sideswipe notices a shot of an unusual Transformer on a monitor for a few seconds. Soon the team of humans and Autobots are aboard an aircraft headed for the town of San Desto where the soldiers we saw at the start of the story disappeared.. After parachuting in and the obligatory sorting out of who’s in charge (Jazz won that one) the team splits up with ‘Swipe and Sunny heading downwind, Bumper and most of the humans head west and Jazz and the remainder of the humans, including Marissa head elsewhere.

Sideswipe and Sunstreaker

Swipe and Sunny explore, Sunny stating that it’d be better if something found them rather than the humans as they can handle it, the humans can’t. Meanwhile Bumper and his team check out the cinema where the soldiers were last seen and Jazz and his team the hospital.

Suddenly an earsplitting scream draws them all back together at the cinema where they find a traumatized EDC trooper babbling and telling them that “they” got them all. Suddenly the earth shakes under them, and before they can find the cause, the cause finds them… A huge swarm of Insecticons!

Surrounded

Now, admittedly this story is really part of an ongoing story, but I feel it stands on it’s own as a good story, the interactions between Sideswipe and Sunstreaker are spot on for the Dreamwave ‘verse. The art I love, but then then pencils come via the awesome Don Fig. And mostly, I LOVE the way the team made Marissa look, she rocks, even if her eyes do look strange on occasion.

The Creative Team

Writer: James McDonough
Artist: Don Figueroa
Inker: Elaine To
Colorist: Espen Grundetjern, Jong-Im Lee
Letterer: Benjamin Lee

Release Date: August 2004
Cover Price: $2.95

Trivia: The movie one soldier is watching stars Nightbird, a plot device from The Transformers cartoon episode “Enter the Nightbird”, which shares its name with the movie.

Enter the Nightbird is a double feature with a film called Demon Swamp, which was the location where the Insecticons first appeared in The Transformers cartoon episode, “A Plague of Insecticons”.

One of the soldiers calls the other a “real American hero”, which was a tagline for the related toy line, G.I. Joe. The toy line is alluded to later when Jazz tosses out the name G.I. Jane.

Enter the Nightbird

Oh, and the answer to our question? … An Insecticon of course!

The 20 Days of Transformers #11

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She’s mad, bad and dangerous to know… For our #10 we meet the only female Transformer…

IDW Spotlight Issue 12: Arcee

Mad, Bad, and Dangerous to know

Arcee is crazy. The opening shot of the story shows us this much. She’s hunting down Jhiaxus. Ultra Magnus is there to arrest her as she’s left a path of destruction behind her. Arcee however is a hard ‘Bot to take down, Magnus uses a shock grenade to eventually subdue her, mostly.

Arcee’s spark is sent to Garrus-9 Penitentiary under the watchful eye of Fortress Maximus. We learn that Monstructor has been sent to G-9 as well (see Spotlight Optimus Prime) and Jetfire and the Technobots are working on a way to help them. Fortress Maximus just wants them de-sparked and locked up before some Decepticons find out they’re there.

Turns out it’s too late, Banzaitron and his Secret Service team are already on the way to free the gestalt team. Thanks to the Ghost Shields the attack is a surprise and with the Combaticons as ground troops, the guard is soon taken out and Fortress Maximus has to resort to desperate measures and searches the inmate roster for an Autobot of a Threat Level 9 class, with one result… Arcee.

Really Are A Piece of Work

As Arcee is being re-integrated into her body For Max brings her up to speed, telling her that Monstructor is a creation of Jihaxus as well, which gets Arcee’s attention as her goal in life is to destroy all things touched by Jihaxus.

Jetfire and the Technobots are still standing strong for now, but as Scattershot gets ready to terminate the gestalt members, the Combatocons break through, momentarily gaining the upper hand before Arcee arrives on the scene, single handedly taking out a couple of battle hardened Combaticons.

The Day of Reckoning Is At Hand

Almost panicking the remaining Combaticons grab the gestalt team and transport out. As Jetfire and Fort Max wonder who could catch them, Arcee volunteers herself, Fort Max disagrees but Jetfire has a question… What is it between Arcee and Jhiaxus? … Arcee tells them of how she came to be a she, Jhiaxus was experimenting with introducing gender into the Transformer race, and Arcee was the test subject, Jhiaxus fundimentally altered her C.N.A. simply because he wanted to know if he could…

As they watch Arcee leave Fortress Maximus remarks that he almost feels sorry for Jhiaxus.

I’ll say this… Simon Furman most certainly knows how to tell a Transformers tale, and tell it well. Couple that with Alex Milne’s art and Josh Perez and Kris Carter’s colors, awesome. All in all it’s a fantastic introduction to what could arguably be called one of the most controversial, and potentially confusing, Transformers ever (why does gender exist in a purely asexual robotic race?). From my perspective it’s a shame that, as far as I know, it was dictated that Arcee needed to be a very girly shade of pink… I know it’s her original coloring, but there’s no reason the color couldn’t have been darker, more in keeping with her personalty, the pink worked for the original G1 Arcee as she always seemed to me to be a little girly, but this Arcee is much darker and a darker color scheme would have worked well…

The Creative Team

Writer: Simon Furman
Artist: Alex Milne
Colorist: Kris Carter, Josh ‘Bee’ Perez
Letterer: Chris Mowry
Editor: Andrew Steven Harris

Release Date: February 2008
Cover Price: $3.99

Trivia: Arcee’s reference to gendered pronouns makes little sense in context. It stands to reason that a race originally entirely devoid of gender would lack sexually-oriented pronouns in their native language. So the use of “he” and “she” would likely be supplemented with a uniform variation of “it” for everybody. Then again, there have been instances where inanimate ships were referred to as “she” and who here really knows how the Cybertronian languages actually work?

Arcee states that she was the first female Transformer experiment and it is implied she is something rare and (perhaps) unique. However nothing in the issue states that she was the only female Transformer created due to Jhiaxus’s program. Indeed, in Megatron Origin a number of female Transformers make cameo appearances. It may be that Arcee isn’t completely alone and that her trauma stems more from being the first test subject, as well as being used, altered (perhaps against her will), and abandoned than anything else.

The 20 Days of Transformers #10

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Wreck ‘n Rule!

That’s the motto of choice for our #11… Anyone wanna take a guess as to which comic it is? … Didn’t think so…

IDW Last Stand of the Wreckers Issue 1

Wreck 'n Rule

We open, three years earlier, on massive explosions tearing through Garrus-9 Penitentiary and Kick-Off and Fortress Maximus holding the line before visiting the other side of the lines and the ‘Cons pressing in as they’re joined by Overlord, who assumes command… Explosively. With his leadership the penitentiary is soon overrun and Fortress Maximus is given to the assembled ‘Cons for “entertainment.”

Cut to eight months ago where we meet four new recruits for the crack Autobot team, The Wreckers, who have just caused a seemingly large fire by target practice… Ultra Magnus’ ship arrives to pick them up and they’re greeted by none other than Verity Carlo before meeting the legends of the Wreckers, Twin Twist, Kup, Perceptor, Topspin and Springer, after a little banter between Kup and Verity, Springer gets down to business and outlines their mission to Garrus-9 (aka G-9).

You, Me, and an airlock kid...

And speaking of G-9 cut back to two years ago and the Predator team is pursuing an Autobot captive (for fun of course). As they catch up to the Autobot, they fail to pay attention momentarily and Overlord comes to the rescue… And executes the ‘Cons for being sloppy.

Back with the crew on Ultra Magnus’ ship Ironfist has “passed out” after he comes to we learn that he’s also known as Fistitron, an author who wrote datalogs on “Wreckers Declassified.” As Ironfist leaves, embarassed I think about being found out by his heroes, he meets Springer and Kup. The two legends are talking about memories and how the G-9 mission is bound to bring up bad memories of Impactor for Springer.

Alt Modes Are For Wimps

Bask at G-9, one month ago, we see a gladiator like arena where Kick-Off is fighting a ‘Con, and winning, ripping the ‘Con’s hed off, to the enjoyment of Overlord who wants to reward Kick-Off.

Ultra Magnus’ ship has run across a Decepticon Dropship on the route to G-9, a badly damaged Dropship, that’s about to go up in flames, as Magnus attempts to hail them, the ship explodes spectacularly. Verity spots someone who survived and is making their way to Magnus’ ship. Someone Kup, Magnus and Springer all recognize… An Autobot who’s been behind bars for deca-cycles… Impactor!

Verity is Hot... See?

Well, firstly, let it be known that I LOVE Nick Roche’s story telling skills, and his drawing skills, the man does amazing work, and couple it with Josh Burcham’s absolutely stunning coloring skills, this, as well as the rest of the series, is an absolute must have for Transformers fans. And besides that, I must say I love how the guys get Verity to look, she’s like… Hot ;) And that’s not something that gets said about a Transformers comic very often :D

The Creative Team

Story: Nick Roche & James Roberts
Script: Nick Roche
Pencils: Nick Roche
Inks: Nick Roche & John Wycough
Colors: Josh Burcham
Letters: Neil Uyetake
Editor: Andy Schmidt
Associate Editor: Denton J. Tipton

Release Date: January 2010
Cover Price: $3.99

Trivia: While attempting to hail a Decepticon ship, Verity makes a reference to Uhura from Star Trek.

Verity now sports a small tattoo of a green alien head on the back of her right shoulder. This is in tribute to her departed friend Hunter O’Nion, who throughout Infiltration wore a shirt with a similar green alien head on it.

Ironfist brings up the “siege of T’Muk”, a reference to Transmasters UK (TMUK for short, get it?), the fan club and circle of authors and artists that Roberts and Roche are longtime members of, and in which they originally rose to prominence.

Meet Overlord!