The Energon Pub

[MYoung23]

This was like a transition issue if that makes sense.

You knew at some point we had find out what the human were doing. Spike hooks up with a rag tag band of survivors. Somewhere in the city there is gun made from the specs of Shockwave's gun arm which Spike wants to use to take out Megatron.

Apparently, Rumble has been going around being Rumble and one human survivor has a unknown personal beef with him outside the usual genocide that is going on.

On Cybertron, Ironhide apologizes to Mirage who tells him to go stick it in his tailpipe. Meanwhile, the supplies from the Trion have allowed the Autobots to get themselves together.

Drift used to be a Decepticon and start to make a speech. Sideswipe steps in and makes a longer speech. Meanwhile, Ratchet tells Kup that Prime may not make it.

Sideswipe states that the Autobots have lost their way and sports a nihilistic if not suicidal attitude.

All of a sudden Prime walks in all shiny and new, rededicated and ready to fight. Something fishy there.

On Earth, Rumble attacks Spike's group. Spike tries to make a getaway on a motorcyle before getting flipped by Rumble. With Rumble distracted the guy with the beef with Rumble hits him squarely in the face with a bazooka and knocks him at the very least into stasis. A morose Soundwave picks up a limp Rumble and for whatever reason his jamming of all communications in the city stops allowing Spike to get a message to the military but it is too late.

[Firebird]

What was up with the art in issue 9? Guido didn't draw it, and his art is one of the few things that I enjoy about the series.

Oh, and the B cover was great as always. I feel like I buy AHM just for Hutchison's propaganda covers...

[cybercat]

Firebird, you are so right.

Whoever drew the people, umm, how do I say this politely?, might consider actually looking at a few people every now and again?

WHAT, for example, is that weird line he has jaggling down the men's faces over what's supposed to be cheekbone area? It clearly has volume, but for it to be anatomically possible, those gentlemen would have to have suffered fatal damage to their sinuses. Or be 1/2 Bassett hound.

Also, the backs of everyone's heads lack the proper volume, so everyone looks prognathic. The rule is that in strict profile, the ear is central--*half* of the head (the face) is forward of the ear, and half of it (the back brain, etc) is behind the ear. Not according to this guy.

And I'd love to know where everyone's getting to work out to be so buff. AND getting those apparently skin tight (like collarbones?!) shirts.

Plotwise, three words: TOO MANY PEOPLE. (

A few more words: this feels like there's been a LOT of rewriting going on because there are giant cuts in sequencing. The humans decide they need to break in to this place to get this secret weapon and *bam*, next time we see them, they're in and with the weapon. Anyone else feel like maybe there should have been more action/danger/conflict? It doesn't feel like they're 'fighting back' if all they're doing is waltzing in unopposed.

One hopes the rewriting continues and all of these humans get squashed like grapes under Decepticon toes.

HK, how does she get such great uplift for her breasts in a crisis like that?

[ponycorn]

You're on to something MYoung23, I also thought it was a bit suspicious that Ratchet just said Prime was teetering at the brim of the well of all sparks, and then all the sudden he comes up to the rest of the group in his Sunday's best...

Did anyone else notice that Mirages eyes are now RED! Mirage, who can make illusions... Mirage wasn't a traitor, wasn't, but that doesn't mean he won't be.

Also, did anyone notice that when "Prime" was there Sideswipe wouldn't even look at him? Sideswipe, who's ideals sounded a bit on par with Mirage.

I predict that Mirage is already defacting and Sideswipe will join him.

I also wonder what was going on with Soundwave, and if the casualty of Rumble has caused him to think along the same line that Sideswipe is. Once Soundwave did that sonic thing when holding Rumble in his arms, all the sudden the humans could access their communications again.

[Firebird]

Apperently the tapes are jamming communications, I remember Blitzeing stating that in a previous issue. And with Rumble dead there is no jamming in the area.

Deos anyone else thing that Prime isn't Prime? Ratchet states several pages befor his apperance that reactivating him is a longshot, then all of a sudden he shows up fine with a new coat of wax.

I'm glad Hellkitty agreed with my opinion of the art.

[ponycorn]

Apperently the tapes are jamming communications, I remember Blitzeing stating that in a previous issue. And with Rumble dead there is no jamming in the area.

Deos anyone else thing that Prime isn't Prime? Ratchet states several pages befor his apperance that reactivating him is a longshot, then all of a sudden he shows up fine with a new coat of wax.

I'm glad Hellkitty agreed with my opinion of the art.

I can't belive I didn't think of that! Thanks Firebird.

Also, I agree with you on "Prime" and I think it's Mirage. Mirage was quite a treat in his spotlight, I do hope we'll see him leaning that way. Red eyes, faction symbol torn off like Shattered Glass Sideswipes is...

[SentinelA]

Drift used to be a Decepticon and start to make a speech. Sideswipe steps in and makes a longer speech.

How do you know that? I just want to know some about Drift. He's a mystery to me.

[MYoung23]

Drift used to be a Decepticon and start to make a speech. Sideswipe steps in and makes a longer speech.

How do you know that? I just want to know some about Drift. He's a mystery to me.

If you google Spotlight: Drift one of the images you will see is one of Drift with a half Autobot/half Decepticon symbol behind him. Add to that Bumblebee's continuous hatin' on him it is something I inferred

[MYoung23]

I dont think Rumble is dead. There isnt much damage if any to his face. I think he is in the equivalent of a coma. Call it a version of stasis lock.

Good catch on Mirage's eyes changing to red. He may defect. I think Sideswipe is in mourning and has lost his will.

I really dont know what to make of Prime. We can infer from upcoming covers that he comes back. As much as many of us have criticized McCarthy we are giving him the benefit of the doubt that there wasnt just a miraculous recovery by Prime.

[lowman_x]

I'm sorry, but the art in this issue was rubbish. It was sloppy and cut corners left right and centre. An entire page of Sideswipe's head in about 3 different poses in 12 or so panels. Cut and freakin' paste, anyone??

And the style of the other artist was simplified and cheap.

What's happening to IDW and the TFs in particular? Is the licensing for TFs so expensive that they're having to cut corners and bring in cheap artists? Where's the quality gone? Since the beginning Revelations I have noticed a distinct dropping in quality due to (as far as I can figure out) orders (and bad choices) from the "powers that be".

"I know, let's cut the final story arc from 6 to 4 issues to save some cash! I know, let's get in a writer who's a hack and know's sweet %$*@ all about the established continuity! I know, let's now cheapen what was a great series by rushing artwork and making it look like complete rubbish!"

-END RANT-

[Dead Metal]

I'm sorry, but the art in this issue was rubbish. It was sloppy and cut corners left right and centre. An entire page of Sideswipe's head in about 3 different poses in 12 or so panels. Cut and freakin' paste, anyone??

And the style of the other artist was simplified and cheap.

What's happening to IDW and the TFs in particular? Is the licensing for TFs so expensive that they're having to cut corners and bring in cheap artists? Where's the quality gone? Since the beginning Revelations I have noticed a distinct dropping in quality due to (as far as I can figure out) orders (and bad choices) from the "powers that be".

"I know, let's cut the final story arc from 6 to 4 issues to save some cash! I know, let's get in a writer who's a hack and know's sweet %$*@ all about the established continuity! I know, let's now cheapen what was a great series by rushing artwork and making it look like complete rubbish!"

-END RANT-

Do as I did, and quit the comics leaving a bad good bye post on their forum, that'll hurt em.

[lowman_x]

:APPLAUSE:
Do as I did, and quit the comics leaving a bad good bye post on their forum, that'll hurt em.

Yeah, but then there's that whole "what if..." scenario that will play on me. I mean, I would stop reading AHM if I could be guaranteed that a future writer won't reference it in any way shape or form. But seeing as how most good writers do take backstory into account then there is never going to be that guarantee.

[Tigertrack]

DID....NOT....LIKE....IT.

My feelings for the art in the issue. One is so simple it's coloring book quality. The other was okay, but did not make me think that the issue was saved, art-wise.

The actual story pieces were okay, about as okay as any issue of AHM has been, but the Optimus out of nowhere was just...weird. They were talking about him possibly never coming back, and then, there he was, brand spanking new, and ready to inspire and pick up where he left off.

I actually was more interested when Prime was offline, and they were trying to figure out who would lead, who would follow, and whether some actually wanted to follow or not. Now it just seems like it will be more of, "Hurrah Prime's back, we'll kick the cons to the other side of the universe!" and there won't be anymore characterization like Sideswipe, Mirage, etc.

SOundwave and Rumble...meh. I suppose the whole part was okay, but I was really distracted by the art quality, and that's not the way any book should be. The art should be the story, but in a positive way. It was the story here, but rather than telling what was intended, the story was just here's some poor art.

I don't have a problem with Drift. At least he's trying. My only real problem with him was that IDW decided we needed a brand new character to take this role, and not use/re-invent one of 50 possible other available candidates already a part of the whole TF universe.

Overall it was a big whatever. I was let down. Not much positive to say here, except that the Decepticon Civil War hinted at in the letters column, and confirmed by the shattered glass/split factions shown on the next cover has me interested.

[cybercat]

Sorry to take another whack, but I was one of the believers in this series up until this episode. I was so willing to give it time to develop slowly, so I forgave the slow ramp up. And last issue really had me hopeful, so my hopes were dashed from a greater height by this issue and I'm crabby.

But another gripe: is it too much to ask to have continuity even just within one single issue? I agree with all y'all are saying about continuity across the canon, but I'm still fixated on the fact that one of the first things the stupid humans say is that it's raining all the freakin' time, and then, for some completely insane reason, every scene the stupid humans are in from that moment forward it's sunshiney beautiful.

When one writes, especially for comics, the words that are lettered (dialogue, internal monologue) have to do a lot of work carrying meaning. That means they shouldn't be contramanded by the visuals.

HK, Not having a hey-hey-hey, sunshiney day.

[Dead Metal]

:APPLAUSE:
Do as I did, and quit the comics leaving a bad good bye post on their forum, that'll hurt em.

Yeah, but then there's that whole "what if..." scenario that will play on me. I mean, I would stop reading AHM if I could be guaranteed that a future writer won't reference it in any way shape or form. But seeing as how most good writers do take backstory into account then there is never going to be that guarantee.

Oh I think you misunderstood me there, with quit the stories I mean that AHM ruined the whole idw TF universe so much that I quit idw all together. Max Dinos will be the last idw comic I will ever buy, the only thing that could bring me to go back to idw was if they completely ignored AHM and let Furman continue the universe as he had intended after Devastation meaning giving us a propper version of Revalations, Max Dinos and Expansion.

[cybercat]

Oh I think you misunderstood me there, with quit the stories I mean that AHM ruined the whole idw TF universe so much that I quit idw all together. Max Dinos will be the last idw comic I will ever buy, the only thing that could bring me to go back to idw was if they completely ignored AHM and let Furman continue the universe as he had intended after Devastation meaning giving us a propper version of Revalations, Max Dinos and Expansion.

What?! Giving up an entire publisher? You mean you're *not* looking forward to a blatant rip-off even to the concept name of a series? I mean Furman had the -tion noun suffix pretty much locked down, and clearly IDW in other series is trying to corner the market on -ance.

How could you possibly want to quit a publisher before they have a chance to bring you such hit '-ance's as

Self-reliance
Pseudo-science
Noncompliance
and
Home-appliance?

HK, waiting desperately for Transformers ROTF: Concupiscence.

[King Henrik]

i think i've lost faith in this series too. I'll probably finish it, but this was a pretty bad issue. the prime coming back so suddenly thing was just a little too odd. i hope that gets explained a little better in the next issue. prime's speech was cool though.

and the slow churn of this story is getting to me again. i've spent $36 on a series that could have been contained in a single g1 episode(MAYBE 2). character development is great and all, but seriously barely ANYTHING has happened.

i hope the ongoing series will renew my faith again, because i haven't been so crazy about maximum dinobots so far either.

[Dead Metal]

Oh I think you misunderstood me there, with quit the stories I mean that AHM ruined the whole idw TF universe so much that I quit idw all together. Max Dinos will be the last idw comic I will ever buy, the only thing that could bring me to go back to idw was if they completely ignored AHM and let Furman continue the universe as he had intended after Devastation meaning giving us a propper version of Revalations, Max Dinos and Expansion.

What?! Giving up an entire publisher? You mean you're *not* looking forward to a blatant rip-off even to the concept name of a series? I mean Furman had the -tion noun suffix pretty much locked down, and clearly IDW in other series is trying to corner the market on -ance.

How could you possibly want to quit a publisher before they have a chance to bring you such hit '-ance's as

Self-reliance
Pseudo-science
Noncompliance
and
Home-appliance?

HK, waiting desperately for Transformers ROTF: Concupiscence.

Lol.
But at least the -tion saga had a story and good writing and not just nice art.

but hey if I managed to quit Spider-Man and Marvel because of Civil War and "One more Day", I can quit idw completely and entirely without even any hard feelings.

[ponycorn]

Perhaps people who are so firmly against a comic series and publisher should not be posting so frequently in every single thread about said comic series.

I swear Deadmetal I enjoy your posts and discussion in other threads on other topics but this tireless ripping on AHM, even in threads specifically for and about AHM is getting old.

[Down_Shift]

Good god was the art bad. I thought the writing was good. I really liked the thing with Ironhide and Mirage. It almost made you feel like you were watching an awkward moment between friends. You could feel Ironhides shame and feel Mirages anger. I really liked the story, but I've got to say the art was not my cup of tea and a huge step back for the series.

[Dead Metal]

Perhaps people who are so firmly against a comic series and publisher should not be posting so frequently in every single thread about said comic series.

I swear Deadmetal I enjoy your posts and discussion in other threads on other topics but this tireless ripping on AHM, even in threads specifically for and about AHM is getting old.

Lol sorry.
Thank you for waking me up, I usually hate it when people do that.

[ponycorn]

Perhaps people who are so firmly against a comic series and publisher should not be posting so frequently in every single thread about said comic series.

I swear Deadmetal I enjoy your posts and discussion in other threads on other topics but this tireless ripping on AHM, even in threads specifically for and about AHM is getting old.

Lol sorry.
Thank you for waking me up, I usually hate it when people do that.

Sorry if I sounded snippy, I really do enjoy your posts on other topics and I know it must suck to have a series going on you're not in to, especially when it's a maxi series. I'm still not sure I've embraced the IDW GI Joe vs. the last DDP run so I guess I know how you might feel.

[Dead Metal]

Perhaps people who are so firmly against a comic series and publisher should not be posting so frequently in every single thread about said comic series.

I swear Deadmetal I enjoy your posts and discussion in other threads on other topics but this tireless ripping on AHM, even in threads specifically for and about AHM is getting old.

Lol sorry.
Thank you for waking me up, I usually hate it when people do that.

Sorry if I sounded snippy, I really do enjoy your posts on other topics and I know it must suck to have a series going on you're not in to, especially when it's a maxi series. I'm still not sure I've embraced the IDW GI Joe vs. the last DDP run so I guess I know how you might feel.

No offence taken.

OK sadly I do know how bad this issue really is.
Somehow the supplier of my comic store fudged something up and sent me #9 although my order was supposed to end with #8. But I got it for half price as I wasn't supposed to get it. Damn the art is ugly compared to Guidos.
And damn this is the worst issue of AHM so far I managed to find one thing attractive about the series and that was the art this issue was lacing the art that made the comic somehow worthwhile, it especially sucked at the Rumble and Soundwave part.
It also seems as if McCartney finally realized that he has to bring the series to some kind of ending and that he only has 3 issues left to do so, seriously at some places I thought I missed a few pages.
Hopefully this is the last issue I am forced to buy and last time I post on this matter. [/rant]

[trence5]

at you katz talkin' about how sumthin' up with Optimus Prime walkin' in after Ratchet saying he doesn't know if he'll make it....



















I wonder if they'll show what's happening with the other Autobot squads across the cosmos? I wonder what's up with Ultra Magnus?

[i_amtrunks]

Read Max Dino's #4 if you want an update on Magnus.

Having finally got my paws on AHM #9, I can say that it is my least favourite issue thus far, so many pages wasted with the humans, Prime returning in mint condition seemingly only moments after Ratchet saying he might not make it, and an angry Bumblebee raging at Drift seemingly out of left field (all to set up for Spotlight Drift, I am sure ).

The Ironhide-Mirage scene was nice, but then ruined by a whiny Sideswipe scene.

It's still so very "paint by the numbers" in terms of storytelling and characters. Cheesy "Prime saves the day" G1 cartoon ending here we come.