The Energon Pub

[Rodimus Prime]

I couldn't take it, I had to read the issue, especially since it was hyped up so much. And boy, was I let down. I thought it would have more action than it did, by the way everyone was talking about it. There were so many missed opportunities. Ravage's dismemberment, while a good nod to RoTF, could have meant more, if he was shown fighting better, and it could have been the catalyst to Megatron's entrance. And Megatron himself didn't do much. For all the anticipation, this was a very lackluster issue. For all the lack of fighting in the previous 4 issues, I was expecting ass kicking from start to finish. Seems like Roberts is starting to lose a little wind in the sails. Here's hoping he gets recharged. Supposedly the series is only halfway through.

[AlphaBass]

Question - how does Megs react now, given what Ratchet revealed to him?

[snavej]

At the time of writing, there is a serial murderer of cats loose in London, U.K. It could be Tarn, the meanie. That's his level.

Megatron fooled by a placebo, namely unrefined energon: I certainly don't think that would happen! He would have spotted it immediately. Remember, there is such a thing as scientific analysis. Transformers know energon intimately. If he somehow failed to sense it, Ravage would have. Ravage has superb senses. The whole thing is nonsense.

Megatron undone by a sniper: you'd think that he would have some mechanism to guard against this by now, after so many years of war. Again, nonsense.

Why did Megatron not take cover? He knew that he was facing Overlord, Tarn, et al.

Why did Megatron not fire on Overlord, Tarn, et al. when they were clearly visible on a ridge above and they were top targets?

[MrBlack]

At the time of writing, there is a serial murderer of cats loose in London, U.K. It could be Tarn, the meanie. That's his level.

Megatron fooled by a placebo, namely unrefined energon: I certainly don't think that would happen! He would have spotted it immediately. Transformers know energon intimately. If he somehow failed to sense it, Ravage would have. Ravage has superb senses. The whole thing is nonsense.

Megatron undone by a sniper: you'd think that he would have some mechanism to guard against this by now, after so many years of war. Again, nonsense.

Why did Megatron not take cover? He knew that he was facing Overlord, Tarn, et al.

Why did Megatron not fire on Overlord, Tarn, et al. when they were clearly visible on a ridge above and they were top targets?

As far as the unrefined energon goes, it's worth remembering that Megatron was recovering from a long series of injuries by the time he first started getting dosed up. He spent years in stasis before acquiring an experimental body, which was then put through the ringer by the Deceptigod. He spent months in the wilderness as little more than an exo-skeleton, before being transferred into yet another body, which was quickly disabled, operated on, and ripped in half. He hadn't exactly had time to settle in before being administered the Fool's Energon, and he was recovering from years of Shockwave's...ministrations, which he may have mistaken for the weakness and sickness he associated with the energon. It also does appear to have unpleasant short term side effects, which would have helped with the illusion.

I still want to wait and see what Megatron does next issue. It's possible that Overlord and Tarn did fire, and Megatron acted to dodge or block the shots. I can't see him giving up just because he lost his fusion cannon; he is, after all, more than just a gun.

[snavej]

See my point about Ravage's heightened senses.

Other than that, I generally agree with you.

I don't like seeing super-experienced, super-advanced Transformers making rookie mistakes. Remember 'crazy plan of the week' Megatron in the 1980s cartoon?!

Of course, a time-travelling briefcase and a galactic-level teleporter machine are available in this situation.

Edit: let's not forget that Megatron is an extreme survivor, having been through millions of years of war. He would not be fazed by serious injuries and traumatic events like most people would.

[BATTLEMASTER IIC]

After some thought, I think Overlord is lying about what he did to Rewind. I distinctly remember Rewind's head camera floating around in space as one of the first panels of #16. Something tells me that if Overlord bit Rewind's head off, we wouldn't have seen that. Plus being in the time cell, I don't think he could've killed Rewind that fast, even with his abilities.

[D-Maximal_Primal]

After some thought, I think Overlord is lying about what he did to Rewind. I distinctly remember Rewind's head camera floating around in space as one of the first panels of #16. Something tells me that if Overlord bit Rewind's head off, we wouldn't have seen that. Plus being in the time cell, I don't think he could've killed Rewind that fast, even with his abilities.

I'm with you there. Lest we forget that in all the scenes of Overlord floating in space, his one hand was always hidden by debris

[snavej]

Overlord lying? Well, he is/was a Decepticon commander, after all! It's in the job description.

[AlphaBass]

So are we assuming the object in Overlord's hand is Chromedome's arm, which has his mnemo needles?

[D-Maximal_Primal]

So are we assuming the object in Overlord's hand is Chromedome's arm, which has his mnemo needles?

I was assuming Rewind, but Chromedome's arm would not be a bad guess either

[Trypticon01]

Tarn discretely ordered the DJD back to their ship. I wonder if it isn't the DJD shooting Overlord and Deathsaurus or something. I don't put it past Tarn to have convenientlydecided to readd all of the deserters to The List.

[AlphaBass]

So are we assuming the object in Overlord's hand is Chromedome's arm, which has his mnemo needles?

I was assuming Rewind, but Chromedome's arm would not be a bad guess either

I mention this because Overlord mentioned during Chromedome's session that he toyed with the technology. Having access to his needles would make an already creepy Con creepier.

I guess I could see Tarn turning on Overlord and Deathsaurus, but he spent a lot of time recruiting them, and Tarn mentioned OL was crossed off The List. I don't put it past Tarn, though, since OL already put doubts in Deathsaurus' mind as to whether or not Tarn would actually pull the trigger, as he had a great chance to finish Megs off in 52 and held back.

[Kurona]

Did anyone else feel really sorry for Deathsaurus?

I mean... just, damn. You could see his face go to absolute despair when Tarn told him to order his troops in; the hesitance in his voice. Goddammit he cares ;-;

It's also kind of interesting just how Roberts has deconstructed the main hero and villain of Victory. What used to be the absolute most boring, standard "I am the good guy I will save this beautiful planet" "I am the bad guy I will destroy you mwahaha" characters are now bizarrely on opposite ends of the spectrum with a lot of complexities - albeit Star Saber being a friggin' psycho. I know a lot of people wanna see Cyclonus shred Star Saber to pieces but I kinda wanna see Deathsaurus fight him just as a big contrast with how much has changed since Victory.
I dunno, it kinda feels like Deathsaurus was just used as a random warlord for Tarn to go to for an army, but I kinda wanna see more of the guy.

[D-Maximal_Primal]

I have come to like Deathsaurus. And I do pity him. I hope he comes through the next issue. He is a good character and I like the way he is set up.

[WreckerJack]

This is how reading this issue went.



Poor Skids. Nautica and Swerve are going to miss him so. The panel with Ratchet got me. I always feel bad because I think part of the reason he is so down sometimes is because of patients he was unable to save.

[D-Maximal_Primal]

Poor Skids. Nautica and Swerve are going to miss him so. The panel with Ratchet got me. I always feel bad because I think part of the reason he is so down sometimes is because of patients he was unable to save.

I agree on the Ratchet part. That would take such a toll on a doctor. It's probably why I could never be one: almost doesn't matter how many you save, it's the one you couldn't