The Energon Pub

[Daniel Adkins]

Ugh, they really cannot draw the masks, can they. The original worked. That does not look like any version of Viper I've known.

All the Masks got redesigned in the IDW continuity.

[Big Grim]

Ugh, they really cannot draw the masks, can they. The original worked. That does not look like any version of Viper I've known.

All the Masks got redesigned in the IDW continuity.

Redesigned to look fairly generic and samey? GG IDW. Well done indeed.

[ScottyP]

I feel like a massive douche about putting down the pushups thing now. Apparently it's a real thing that happens. https://twitter.com/MairghreadScott/sta ... 5095305216

[Daniel Adkins]

Ugh, they really cannot draw the masks, can they. The original worked. That does not look like any version of Viper I've known.

All the Masks got redesigned in the IDW continuity.

Redesigned to look fairly generic and samey? GG IDW. Well done indeed.

*shrug* I wouldn't really say they're "samey," but to each his own. I find Mayhem's new Mask much better than the original, especially in how it recreates a peaked cap and his mustache.

[Va'al]

I feel like a massive douche about putting down the pushups thing now. Apparently it's a real thing that happens. https://twitter.com/MairghreadScott/sta ... 5095305216

That is fascinating (and horrifying) - but it doesn't change my opinion of the reading, unfortunately.
The way in which Scarlett and Optimus are tied in the issue still falls a little short of what it could be, especially with his presence constantly being played down by the actual characters around him such as Elita, Windblade, Starscream - even Ironhide's defense recognises he's an old dude out of his element.


Personally, I'm not a fan of the very US-based military narrative that runs in a lot of the comics we see coming out of Hasbro universe (and I realise that's a lot, and I realise it happens in such wider comics circles too - we commented upon it with John Barber way back in our first interview with him on the Twincast). It may have kicked those sensors in my brain, and made it feel ..meh.

That said, I am hopeful for a pick up in the next issue, leading to the finale.

[ScottyP]

Personally, I'm not a fan of the very US-based military narrative that runs in a lot of the comics we see coming out of Hasbro universe

I was pretty into how OP (the series) was handling GI Joe. Talon gave it some credibility. But this series very much has the 'Murica feeling and maybe that's why it's lacking some deeper punch.

Also, and I can't believe I'm saying this because I hate him but I thought it would've just happened by now since it's a hyper logical plot point that's been built up over 8 years - where is Spike and why is he not helping Colton?

[Daniel Adkins]

I'll be honest, I don't really get a "'Murica" vibe. Unless you're referring to Colton being a white baby boomer who appropriates German iconography who thinks foreigners are ruining his home. Of course, we also have Elita being a political candidate who paints an entire group of people as dangerous criminals.

I feel there's something kinda meta about the fact that all the Cybertronians brush the humans off as not being a substantial threat, considering that that idea has been one of the most common criticisms I've seen naysayers of Revolution/First Strike bring up.

One thing I don't get in regards to Scarlett's monologue is how it doesn't line up with IDW Joe history. The Joes aren't a group of wash-outs. In fact, they're usually the best of the best. And Hawk recruited her, not Colton.

[Stormshot_Prime]

Just have to say. I think Marissa as Earth's Council of Worlds rep wasn't the best writing choice. I think Blackrock would've been better. He's a cybertronian/human hybrid as far as we're concerned, it just seems like a perfect fit.

[Bounti76]

Coming to us via iTunes, we have the three page preview for the penultimate issue in the First Strike event! Keeping right on schedule, this issue will be released on October 11th, after which we invite you all to spacebridge back to the Energon Pub Forums to discuss it!

Prison Break! After a daring escape, Optimus Prime, the Autobots, Scarlett, G.I. Joe and M.A.S.K. must venture into the heart of Cybertron to stop Cobra’s devastating weapon that will kill every Transformer on the planet!

[WreckerJack]

Pyra looks so sad on the cover I don't follow this series normally but I wish I knew what's going on on that cover. Prime doesn't look so good himself.

[Bounti76]

Pyra looks so sad on the cover I don't follow this series normally but I wish I knew what's going on on that cover. Prime doesn't look so good himself.

While covers aren't always a reliable source for what goes on inside the book, my guess is that Pyra Magna, Optimus, and the rest of the figures on the cover have fallen to Ironblood/Colton, and it's up to Scarlett to stop him.

[ScottyP]

Covers are indeed very unreliable as Pyra Magna has barely been in this series so far. If it's a crossover, expect Optimus, Soundwave, Arcee, Windblade, and pick one of Jazz or Starscream. Anything else is a bonus.

[Kurona]

Hell, Fat Tankor has featured on more than one cover in this series for some reason despite having I think all of one panel. Covers are usually weird, but they get extremely moreso during crossovers.

[DeadCaL]

WaitAMinute, what is this, a comic about robots that transform into other things now? I came here for space politics!

[Va'al]

Also via iTunes is a three-page preview at another of the tie-in one-shot comics for the Hasbro Universe First Strike event: Optimus Prime! Bringing back characters from the Revolutionaries series (which just ended this week, by release if not narratively), check out the opening scenes below.

With Cybertron under siege by Baron Ironblood's forces, Optimus Prime and Arcee defend their homeland! Caught in the middle is the human/Transformer team known as the Revolutionaries—and one of them has a secret that puts everyone at risk!

[Va'al]

But wait! There is one more iTunes preview, though this one has not as much to do with Transformers as it completes the story started in Micronauts: First Strike - though still part of the event, of course - Rom: First Strike #1! Check it out below, and let us know what you think.

Rom’s team-up with the Micronauts leads our heroes right to the Dire Wraiths… and their new microscopic threat!

[Va'al]

Also directly from IDW Publishing is the full preview of next week's First Strike #5, the penultimate issue in the Hasbro Universe crossover event, collecting Transformers, GI Joe, MASK, Micronauts and ROM, with Revolutionaries playing a major part plot-wise! Check it out below.

First Strike #5
Mairghread Scott & David Rodriguez (w) • Max Dunbar (a) • Freddie E. Williams II (c)
Prison Break! After a daring escape, Optimus Prime, the Autobots, Scarlett, G.I. Joe and M.A.S.K. must venture into the heart of Cybertron to stop Cobra’s devastating weapon that will kill every Transformer on the planet!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Bullet points:
The Hasbro comic book event of 2017 continues!
It’s a race against time as Cobra reaches their goal! Can our heroes catch up? Or is Cybertron doomed?
Filled with the action, drama and humor you’ve come to expect!
Variant covers by Jay Fosgitt, Davide Fabbri, Leonardo Manco, and Whilce Portacio!

[Big Grim]

I totally read Primes last word bubble in Cullens's voice...

[ScottyP]

I totally read Primes last word bubble in Cullens's voice...

The first clause sounds like a young, bright, 1985 Peter Cullen line while the second sounds like a grim, stern TLK line ><

[Va'al]

Hanging by Many Threads
(Spoiler free-ish)

Synopsis
Prison Break! After a daring escape, Optimus Prime, the Autobots, Scarlett, G.I. Joe and M.A.S.K. must venture into the heart of Cybertron to stop Cobra’s devastating weapon that will kill every Transformer on the planet!

the weapon is deadpan banter, obvs

Story

Mairghread Scott and David Rodriguez are working hard, there is no doubt about that, with several casts from books they have handled, and even more that they haven't. I have given the books so far a lot of grief too, for the approach to certain storylines and backstories, and I feel that having scheduled readings on time may have assuaged some of those grievances, too.

Arcee gets it

Which leads me to this: after having finally read the conclusion to Revolutionaries - which in one way or another was the direct lead, next to Optimus Prime (the others were much minor, all things considered) into First Strike - I can appreciate a lot more than in previous issues the various levels of parallels drawn for Baron Ironblood with the other unlikeable DAD in the series, Optimus himself. Plus, I can see a lot more of the humour in the overall script.

This is good joke

The very big cast was a lot more noticeable this time, but it didn't really put me off (Colton aside) - and it's really quite good to read and see some more flesh being added to Kreiger in the back-up story by John Barber, continuing the Iron axel of evil set-up alongside present events. He was still the one missing a lot of actual characterisation, other than Shazraella's quips, and we finally have some better looks at what he's doing and why he might be doing it.

#relationshipgoals

The plot armour, as other members of staff have called, around Scarlett is at the point of doing my head in; that I actually really want to know what on earth (/Cybertron?) is wrong with Baron Iron Cotton, and why he decided that the best way to solve his issues with aliens is to adopt standard conservative foreign policy. But with just one issue to go? I hope - and I like to believe that - Scott and Rodriguez are up to the challenge.


Art

The overall art direction for the issue, with Max Dunbar and Ander Zarate taking lines and colours, is the best that I've seen in the crossover so far, and the most consistent in both organic and technorganic designs, and there's a lot of really well brought out visual gags - but I'm still really not convinced about the compatibility of John Wycough inks on Dunbar's lines: they flatten a bit too much, and scenes lose a lot of their impact, even with Zarate's efforts on consistency.

See, I wanted to fully enjoy this a lot more

Much like my comments for the script, the back story on the backstory of Baron Ironblood's vault of villains is really quite pleasing from a visual perspective too: Netho Diaz, Walden Wong, and David Garcia Cruz do some good work on bringing the odd shiny darkness of Kreiger and his - probably worst of the lot, with Mayhem - tendencies towards whatever he's tending towards.

That Herr Half-Man to you

Gilberto Lazcano takes the lettering side, and there are some notable placements of speechbubbles to allow the script to shine through - especially with character interaction and comedic timings - and it's good to see some fun in the fontwork too, during louder scenes. The cover used for the thumbnail is one of two coloured by Thomas Teyowisonte Deer, with lineart by Whilce Portacio and the most TF-free of the lot - you can find all of the other variants in our Database entry for the issue, right here, including the excellent Jay Fosgitt one.


Thoughts
Spoilerish ahead

I've said this a lot already, but let me reiterate: I couldn't help but enjoy the story a lot more in this issue after my grievances with last time's, and with Revolutionaries #8 finally sedimenting - for me - some of the parallels being drawn that felt very out of nowhere until now. It's a shame when good writing gets hindered by logistics, and it's something IDW needs to find a way of addressing soon, for the sake of their creators as well as their readers.

*coff*

With an event and a cast this big (the two are very much related) there's bound to be some seeming inconsistencies or sidelining of characters - Windblade is perhaps the most erratic here - and some cameos that may come across as not ..the most apt - you'll see it directly when you read the book - and I'm still not entirely sold on the main threads running through First Strike. But, if nothing else, I do want to know what has happened, and how it will be resolved. I really, really do.

. ½ out of

[Big Grim]

I totally read Primes last word bubble in Cullens's voice...

The first clause sounds like a young, bright, 1985 Peter Cullen line while the second sounds like a grim, stern TLK line ><

Yes! Exactly like that!

[ScottyP]

I like that 5 has some banter.

For the rest of the main story, I'm going to do what my momma taught me and not say anything else when I have nothing nice to say at all.

[Va'al]

I like that 5 has some banter.

For the rest of the main story, I'm going to do what my momma taught me and not say anything else when I have nothing nice to say at all.

I enjoyed it a LOT more on my third read. I really did.
But I wanted to like it more, as I did with #3 and #4.

[partholon]

There's another crossover planned for next year. Adding in Revolution, this means IDW are in the midst of doing at least three big multi-franchise crossover events per year in a row.

this is whats bothering me the most.

i think IDW are making a massive mistake with the way theyre rolling these "events" out.

look at the marvel and DC universes. they worked fine for decades cause in the main crossovers were done between two or maybe three books. NOT the entire production line. events like that only really kicked in around the turn of the century and now theyre yearly events its turning off comic buyers BIG time.

ive been a fan of comics since the 70s but ive bascially sworn off everything cept the TF books which ive been getting up to the last relaunch and im ALREADY fuking lost as to whats going on and how im meant to follow it. im barely out a year FFS !

factor in a general dislike of most of the books they're crossing with and im left with no incentive to come back. its just doesnt feel organic.

IMO it'd be a better idea to make the "event" more focused. TF/ROM for instance- and just leave everyone else to get on with their own stories. then next year make it GI JOE and MASK .

What their doing right now not only feels like overkill, its making it a RIGHT pain to collect their trades if youve previously being collecting individual issues. case in point i dropped OPTIMUS PRIME cause i just dont like the art after the first six issues with the intenst of picking up the cheaper trades down the road.

low and behold OP trade 2 has the "ghost stories" annual i already have bound into it.

i can only imagine what its doing across the other books.

save the full universe crossovers for the truly special occasions as right now im getting FIERCE mid 90s xmen crossover fatigue, and im not even buying the books !

[Va'al]

The story that will start in Optimus Prime: First Strike will find its continuation in Transformers: First Strike, as we knew, and we have a variant cover for Retailer Incentive purposes courtesy of Previews World and drawn by Humberto Ramos - check it out below!

(W) John Barber (A) Priscilla Tramontano (CA) Humberto Ramos
Continued from Optimus Prime: First Strike! When a bounty hunter drags one of their own into the wilds of Cybertron, the Revolutionaries join forces with Arcee and pursue! But in the midst of war, can humans and Cybertronians put aside their differences, or has the invasion of Cybertron doomed any chance at peace?

Bullet points:
* Tying into the events of First Strike-A Hasbro Comic Book Event!
* The second part of the Optimus Prime and the Revolutionaries story-continued from last month's Optimus Prime: First Strike #1!