5 Page Preview of Transformers Escalation #5

Front paged and credited!

Hotrod wrote:Front paged and credited!

We have GOT to stop meeting this way...
hahaha

But on to the topic. That floating head is clearly Starscream. Clearly from my POV anyways.

It doesn't make much sense to me for it to be Starscream. I mean, from what I've gathered from the comics, Shockwave and Soundwave seem to be the ones pullig the strings behind the machination. For all we know, Megs and the other 'cons might not know anything about the machination.

Personally, I think it's Shockwave. But also it could be a TF we haven't been introduced to yet in the comics.

So I guess it's coming out early this month... coolness.

It could also be Scorponok, seeing how his head got damaged in the Ultra Magnus spotlight.

IDW has got me straight buggin'!

So Optimus's gun goes SPUT. SPUT? That's the sound I usually reserved for a Mega Man villain.

Also, I doubt it's Shockwave, as last we checked he was just being uncovered in a fossil bed. My bet is Starscream, since he's supposed to be blown to itty bitty bits anyway.

I'm thinking it's either Shockwave or Starscream, and I'm leaning toward Shockwave 'cause the other Decepticons took Screamer into the command bunker after Megatron slagged him in Infiltration #6.


Still, best way to find out is to get the comic. Can't wait for this one!

"Ill crush you with my bare hands!" coincident?

i luv a good fight

cool looking cover with prime down

Megatron is awesome, no other bot would just rip their main weapon off their forearm and not show some pain or pause for thought.

As for the con suspended from the roof, it looks like a machine that suffered some damage, both Starscream and Shockwave fit this bill, but I dont think that it is either of them. Shockwave is one who would prefer to work alone, with other Cons if he has to, but certainly no squishies, and Starscream it shouldnt be as he should still be in the Decepticon Command Bunker (the impatience of the character could mean it is Starscream) recovering from the beating Megatron gave him from Infiltration #6.

It's coming out next week?

...

Son of a bitch.

It doesn't make sense for it to be Starscream, Starscream is probably put in storage in the Decepticon stronghold.


The head hanging from the ceiling is in a Machination building. It's probably been since before Starscream even arrived on Earth.

I'm starting to lean more and more towards Scorponok.

Stormwolf wrote:It could also be Scorponok, seeing how his head got damaged in the Ultra Magnus spotlight.

It did? I remember Zarak getting beaten, but I didn't think Zarak was Scorponok's head at that point. I'll revisit the issue when I can be bothered to go to the library.

I can't see that head being Shockwave. The dialogue doesn't feel like Shockwave (though I'll admit we haven't actually seen him talk yet, only his thought caps). I'm loathed to think it's Starscream...how would his dismembered head get from the Command Bunker in Oregon to Tampa, Florida?

Soundwave is a possibility, although he must have taken a severe beating.

It could be anyone. It could be Grimlock.

Leonardo wrote:It could be anyone. It could be Grimlock.

It's definately a con, he was first seen speaking with a purple speech bubble (which is exclusive to con characters).

Leonardo wrote:I'm loathed to think it's Starscream...how would his dismembered head get from the Command Bunker in Oregon to Tampa, Florida?

I still think it's Screamer. The scheming tone of voice, dealing with a human that is just as concerned for his own well being as Starscream is and who knows, maybe the human is a facsimile like the guy who was weilding Megatron. That would explain how the head got from point A to point B. Plus Ore-13 might be whats keeping his noodle up and running. But hey, that's all speculation up until it's read.

Here, look at this:

Stormwolf wrote:Here, look at this:

He had his eyebrow shot off... I don't see the point. It's not like his head was knocked off.

Okay, Stormwolf, that's a fair bet. I'd forgotten about that panel with Scorponok's head, and there is a similarity in head design between those two panels. I can see damaged versions of Scorponok's orange antennae in the Escalation panel. Even though Starscream would make more sense (and his head could have easily been transported by Thundercracker or Runabout and Runamuck) I see that Scorponok is a valid contender.

Only time will tell, but I'm really enjoying this book.

Leonardo wrote:Okay, Stormwolf, that's a fair bet. I'd forgotten about that panel with Scorponok's head, and there is a similarity in head design between those two panels. I can see damaged versions of Scorponok's orange antennae in the Escalation panel. Even though Starscream would make more sense (and his head could have easily been transported by Thundercracker or Runabout and Runamuck) I see that Scorponok is a valid contender.

Only time will tell, but I'm really enjoying this book.

Thinking more about it, maybe it is Scorpinoks head and perhaps Zarak is inside in order to stay alive, thus introducing the headmaster process the the comic.

Down_Shift wrote:He had his eyebrow shot off...

It's not the eyebrow. It's the horn.

Darth Bombshell wrote:

Down_Shift wrote:He had his eyebrow shot off...

It's not the eyebrow. It's the horn.

Oooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhh I see it now. It took a friend to walk me through the speration of the horn. It's still difficult for me to look at it and not see the depth.

Here's what I think happend:

Scorponok and Zarak moved their operation to Earth prior to 1984. Later Soundwave shows up and something happens to Scorponok which leaves him in this condition (the horn damage happened previously).

Later Zarak and Scorponok engineerd the Machination to counter any other TF's (Zarak's appearance would most likely be altered).

This leads me to believe that Scorponok was operating by his own agenda before the Magnus spotlight. Zarak must have later teamed up with him after he was let in on the master plan.


Now Soundwave is the unknown factor here, he could have been either with or against Scorponok. Though I think that he was against him, when considering that Soundwave's tech knowledge would have allowed him to repair Scorponok.


Any thoughts on this?

Stormwolf wrote:Here's what I think happend:

Scorponok and Zarak moved their operation to Earth prior to 1984. Later Soundwave shows up and something happens to Scorponok which leaves him in this condition (the horn damage happened previously).

Later Zarak and Scorponok engineerd the Machination to counter any other TF's (Zarak's appearance would most likely be altered).

This leads me to believe that Scorponok was operating by his own agenda before the Magnus spotlight. Zarak must have later teamed up with him after he was let in on the master plan.


Now Soundwave is the unknown factor here, he could have been either with or against Scorponok. Though I think that he was against him, when considering that Soundwave's tech knowledge would have allowed him to repair Scorponok.


Any thoughts on this?

Creative, but too complicated I think. I have to agree with others. It's Starscream...that would explain the need for a new "lease on life"...

I hope its a completely new character into the series. Would make it more fresh!

Strange thought entered my head as I was getting up today. What if it's a Quintesson?

if it's Starscream....

Starscream: I've got no booooody

Its Scorpinok's head. I'm certain. That damage he recevied inthe Magnus Spotlight was 29 years before Infiltration. I reckon he bonded with Zarak to save his life. Something happened which wrecked the body on Earth and now Zarak/Scorpinok is stuck in head mode. The test subject they mention is Hunter. Either they are prepping him for headmaster bonding (although it sounds like they already finished) or as a new body for Zarak so he can move around again. Hence the surgery in Esc #4. Plus, you can make out the shape of his horns.

Dragonslayer wrote:Strange thought entered my head as I was getting up today. What if it's a Quintesson?

As you were getting up? You were thinking about this comic, correct?

Leonardo wrote:

Dragonslayer wrote:Strange thought entered my head as I was getting up today. What if it's a Quintesson?

As you were getting up? You were thinking about this comic, correct?

I woke up and was lying in my bed and decided to read Escalation #4 again. Then I started to think(which is something I don't do a lot of in the morning ) about our mysterious figure. Then my mind randomly shifted gears to TF:TM and to the part where the Quintesson goes, "Sharkticons, execute them!" That's when I had the theory that the floating thingy might be a Quintesson.

Why? What did you think I was thinking about?

Dragonslayer wrote:

Leonardo wrote:

Dragonslayer wrote:Strange thought entered my head as I was getting up today. What if it's a Quintesson?

As you were getting up? You were thinking about this comic, correct?

I woke up and was lying in my bed and decided to read Escalation #4 again. Then I started to think(which is something I don't do a lot of in the morning ) about our mysterious figure. Then my mind randomly shifted gears to TF:TM and to the part where the Quintesson goes, "Sharkticons, execute them!" That's when I had the theory that the floating thingy might be a Quintesson.

Why? What did you think I was thinking about?

I don't know. You could have just asked yourself, "what's that in the mirror?" then thought of it.

Are you, in fact, a Quintesson?

Leonardo wrote:

Dragonslayer wrote:

Leonardo wrote:

Dragonslayer wrote:Strange thought entered my head as I was getting up today. What if it's a Quintesson?

As you were getting up? You were thinking about this comic, correct?

I woke up and was lying in my bed and decided to read Escalation #4 again. Then I started to think(which is something I don't do a lot of in the morning ) about our mysterious figure. Then my mind randomly shifted gears to TF:TM and to the part where the Quintesson goes, "Sharkticons, execute them!" That's when I had the theory that the floating thingy might be a Quintesson.

Why? What did you think I was thinking about?

I don't know. You could have just asked yourself, "what's that in the mirror?" then thought of it.

Are you, in fact, a Quintesson?

Maybe a part of him resembles... no, stopping there.

This comic is going to be all 57 varieties of awesome.
They have almost made Prime cooler than Megatron!
Almost...

I agree, I haven't enjoyed any TF fiction as much as IDW's main line, to be honest. I'm really looking forward to issues 5 and 6.

But the way they are tying the Spotlights with the tale too. It has the makings of a story of epic proportions.

Lets just hope they dont blow it like those idiots at Dreamwave did...

Psychout wrote:But the way they are tying the Spotlights with the tale too. It has the makings of a story of epic proportions.

Lets just hope they dont blow it like those idiots at Dreamwave did...

By hiring "Brad Mick", you mean? Fingers crossed.

Stange how history repeats itself eh, Lord Templar?

I didn't actually cross them!

Leonardo wrote:I didn't actually cross them!

Wishing you had done now?

I will be if IDW hire "Brad Mick"...

newbie here.

I think the head is Scorponok.

Reading the Ultra Magnus Spotlight Magnus says that Scoponok's MO is to operate from the background through dummy corporations and intermediaries who dont know who they serve.

This leads me to believe that the Machination is similar to or the Earth version the Zarak Consortium and The Cranium.

Also, in the Ultra Magnus Spotlight we see a Nebulan being modified with Cybertronian technology. On the first page of the Escalation #5 preview the Agent Dante says that the implants are not being rejected on this subject. I believe Hunter is being modified in the same way as the Nebulan. It doesnt appear to be the same "pod people" process the Decepticons are using.

This process could be the coming of Headmaster technology as previously suggested.

Looking at what Scorpook was doing on Nebulos and what is happening on Earth it leans more towards Scorponok being the head and operating outside the pervue of Megatron.

MYoung23 wrote:This leads me to believe that the Machination is similar to or the Earth version the Zarak Consortium and The Cranium.

While I could see where the Scorponok idea was coming from, I still hadn't quite made this connection between the Machination and the Zarak Consortium (I'm slow, I'm aware). Good thinking.

It looks like Scorponok to me, particularly the bulbous parts on the sides of the head (base of the horns / antennae) and the damage in the upper-left corner. But more than the physical resemblance is the line about the mystery bot and Dante 'making a great team'...

One more thing. Although it's a weak connection, I understand Simon Furman likes to leave little hints like this:

In the Magnus spotlight as he's thinking about accepting Swindle's offer and he muses about Scorpinok, he says that Scorpinok usually acts through dummy corporations. Whenever Magnus gets close, he wraps up his machinations and leaves.

The Earth company is called Machination. Coincidence?

It would certainly explain why the Machination have a very high-tech arsenal which seems specifically designed to take out Transformers...

Also, when Verite and Jimmy are going to break into that custon car shop which is a Machination front Ironhide remarks that they have "holomatter reader" which will detect if his holomatter driver goes inside.

It is clear that the Machination arent a part of Megatron's plans and that the existence of Transformers isnt widely known yet on Earth what could the source of the Cybertronian technology i.e holomatter readers, etc be?

It lends itself to the are 3rd party i.e Scorpornok.

Stormwolf wrote:Cool, so who is the mystery bot?

Shockwave? Soundwave? Somebody we haven't seen up to this point?

Based on what we've seen so far, Starscream or Shockwave would seem most likely, but - just call it a hunch - those panels just said Ratbat to me.

Scorponok would be the best fit, I think.

I'm going with Scorpinok as well.