The Energon Pub

[Daniel Adkins]

As someone who's already seen the profile for Centurion form the Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook, trust me, it's even crazier than that.

[Kurona]

As someone who's already seen the profile for Centurion form the Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook, trust me, it's even crazier than that.

I can't wait

[Targetmaster Kup]

As someone who's already seen the profile for Centurion form the Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook, trust me, it's even crazier than that.

Spoil me please!

[Daniel Adkins]

Alright. But trust me, it's worth the wait.

Basically, the Axalon crew are servants of Onyx Prime who crash on Earth while looking for the Enigma of Combination. During the crash, the Talisman erases their memories. Shockwave, coming to Earth during the events of his Spotlight issue, discovered their wreckage. The crew were initially confused as to their identities and saw a video transmission bounced from Shockwave's ship of the Autobots and Decepticons. Shockwave decided to use the Axalon crew in a sick experiment, convincing them that they were the Autobots and Decepticons of his era. These ersatz Autobots and Decepticons became the characters that would later wake in the 19th century, becoming the Hearts of Steel Transformers.

So yes, Hearts of Steel (and by extent, Infestation 2) happened in the main IDW universe.

[Kurona]

Alright. But trust me, it's worth the wait.

Basically, the Axalon crew are servants of Onyx Prime who crash on Earth while looking for the Enigma of Combination. During the crash, the Talisman erases their memories. Shockwave, coming to Earth during the events of his Spotlight issue, discovered their wreckage. The crew were initially confused as to their identities and saw a video transmission bounced from Shockwave's ship of the Autobots and Decepticons. Shockwave decided to use the Axalon crew in a sick experiment, convincing them that they were the Autobots and Decepticons of his era. These ersatz Autobots and Decepticons became the characters that would later wake in the 19th century, becoming the Hearts of Steel Transformers.

So yes, Hearts of Steel (and by extent, Infestation 2) happened in the main IDW universe.

Welp, time to buy Hearts of Steel

[o.supreme]

ok, so I just got issue #4 (2 months late, but I guess better late than never, don't worry about them trying to connect this to other series, or chronological reading order or anything...)

But at this rate I cant see this series going much longer. I was so excited to finally see Predaking in IDW, only to have him taken down in like 2 seconds...Like TAAO, I'm betting this title doesn't make it past the 12 issue mark. IDW really needs to figure out what they want, they've created a huge mess with this Hasbroverse. 2 TF titles a month and some occasional one shots or mini-series were ok, and even they couldn't keep up at times.

Sorry for the rant its just frustrating. I go to the comic store once a month, on the last Wednesday to be precise because I know that's when the books come out.

Currently Revolutionaries is 2 months behind, unless we get an unprecedented 3-issues this month, LL is a month behind, and I cant even keep track of some of the other releases...

[Kurona]

Revolutionaries is ending rather soon. Deliberately, not by cancellation.

[Daniel Adkins]

Well, we already know Revolutionaries is ending at issue 8, leading directly into the First Strike event.

[Va'al]

Well, we already know Revolutionaries is ending at issue 8, leading directly into the First Strike event.

Followed by Action Man and the First Strikers.

[Va'al]

Iron Filings
(Spoiler free-ish)

Synopsis
Cobra Commander vs. Hearts of Steel! Thousands of years ago, a starship crashed on Earth—and the Hearts of Steel Transformers were born… but how can these steampunk Cybertronians be real?! And what does Cobra Commander want with them, when he hasn’t even got Cobra to back him up? The Revolutionaries have uncovered one of the darkest and most incredible secrets on Earth!

But actually also none of that

Story

Keeping with my regular lateness on the non-core Transformers titles from IDW - much like IDW itself really, all things considered - this review of Revolutionaries happens a couple of weeks after the book's release, but still worth having here given the arrival of First Strike and a LOT of references to TF lore so far. Also note: the synopsis is, in fact, for issue 5.

Hey Costa run!

In issue 4, there's more Iron than a gym full of anaemia-battling robots, with an array of GI Joe villains showing up to play the part of 'super evil bad guys' working behind the scenes of everything we've seen so far, and to continue some of the storylines from that book in its more recent IDW incarnation.

Iron.. Who?

But what this issue is also brimming with, is allusions and references to some very early TF stories from IDW runs, including International Incident and the personal issues with Kup after his Spotlight and the Coda to All Hail Megatron, and not just in passing, but woven into the fabric of the story from continuity and dialogue perspectives. In John Barber we still trust.

Art

Fico Ossio returns to bring the more dynamic, if not indeed flexible, and softer lineart for the issue - and the Predacons take on some different guises than previously seen. Overall, however, the action scenes can be followed easily, there isn't too much overcrowding, the panels flow, and the only moment things are a little unclear may also be due to the script.

And this is a Good Panel™

Reuniting the dynamic duo, colourist Sebastian Cheng brings the usual gloss to the lineart, but this time round, I was able to appreciate the shading and different use of lighting in some of the panel compositions, thanks to the fire theme brought on by the highly theatrical villains of the week month, too.

Toasty

Instead of the usual caption devices, we have a slight twist to how it's employed allowing Tom B. Long to make the most of it and the multiple soundwords spread across the book during the numerous fights. As for the covers, I have highlighted, in the thumbnail, the Tone Rodriguez and Thomas Teyowisonte Deer variant; all others are easily accessible via our database page (along with full character roster too, here),

Thoughts
Spoilerish ahead

Despite the healthy dose of exposition - and believe me, a lot of it in this issue - the pacing worked well, and all the recapping that takes place actually covers up some holes in various storylines, from Cobra to the Predacons, and follows up on previous characterisations of a number of characters with tact and precision, really.

Movie cameo! Oh, Barber..

This is also probably the clearest the visuals have been in a while, with Ossio and Cheng working together nicely on layouts within the panels too, and reinforcing the feeling that Revolution was indeed too early for its times and the books involved. Plus, Predaking looks great. Different, sure, but good. And as always - the book has humour. Like, actually funny moments. Do not underestimate this part.

. out of

[ScottyP]

Agreed on the visuals, definitely avoided the cluttered feel I got from some of their other work.

Just a short PSA: if you read this series and pick up the Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook today, avoid the bios for Centurion and Atomic Man as these spoil big chunks of upcoming Revolutionaries issues! To be fair to the editors, Rev 6 was supposed to be out in June, but here we are with 5 coming out next week.

[Big Grim]

Centurion? Not heard that name alongside Transformers since G1 Marvel UK! I loved the design of that Mechanoid!

[o.supreme]

Just a short PSA: if you read this series and pick up the Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook today, avoid the bios for Centurion and Atomic Man as these spoil big chunks of upcoming Revolutionaries issues! To be fair to the editors, Rev 6 7 was supposed to be out in June, but here we are with 5 coming out next week.

Corrected to be accurate, yes they are THAT far behind. Also its kind of sad...after years of wanting another sourcebook, specific to all the TF characters (more specifically Japanese characters and newly created ones since the DW one came out). We finally get this...

Now I'm not complaining that it is including GI Joe, MASK, Action Man etc.... However, Transformers itself had well over 300 entries in the original DW 8 issue series which covered pretty much every North American toy based character from 1984-1991. GI Joe alone has probably just as many characters. I don't see this sourcebook being as extensive as it should be. Each series should have dedicated sourcebooks so that fans can pick-and choose which ones they like, or all if they so choose. Having this one mish-mash covering only a few of the characters from each series seems quite a wasted effort.

[Daniel Adkins]

Centurion? Not heard that name alongside Transformers since G1 Marvel UK! I loved the design of that Mechanoid!

Yes, Centurion was established as the name of the Hearts of Steel Bumblebee-looking guy who may or may not BE Hearts of Steel Bumblebee. So, not really the same character.

[Kurona]

Just a short PSA: if you read this series and pick up the Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook today, avoid the bios for Centurion and Atomic Man as these spoil big chunks of upcoming Revolutionaries issues! To be fair to the editors, Rev 6 7 was supposed to be out in June, but here we are with 5 coming out next week.

Corrected to be accurate, yes they are THAT far behind. Also its kind of sad...after years of wanting another sourcebook, specific to all the TF characters (more specifically Japanese characters and newly created ones since the DW one came out). We finally get this...

Now I'm not complaining that it is including GI Joe, MASK, Action Man etc.... However, Transformers itself had well over 300 entries in the original DW 8 issue series which covered pretty much every North American toy based character from 1984-1991. GI Joe alone has probably just as many characters. I don't see this sourcebook being as extensive as it should be. Each series should have dedicated sourcebooks so that fans can pick-and choose which ones they like, or all if they so choose. Having this one mish-mash covering only a few of the characters from each series seems quite a wasted effort.

Except unlike the Dreamwave sourcebook, this one doesn't seek to give bios on the entire universe's character set nor is it centred around Transformers. The entire point is a focus on the expanded Hasbro universe and the characters that have had specific fictional focus within it (aside from the books that haven't had anything to do with the extended Hasbro universe; like Lost Light and Sins of the Wreckers). You are coming at it from a completely different premise and judging it unfairly because it's not what you personally wanted.

For what it is, this Sourcebook is excellent. It gives you a good reminder of major players within the universe, ties everything in in ways you might not have thought of, has a good sense of humour (that DOC, Buster and Bob page is pure beauty), and in general is just a good fact file.

[Big Grim]

Centurion? Not heard that name alongside Transformers since G1 Marvel UK! I loved the design of that Mechanoid!

Yes, Centurion was established as the name of the Hearts of Steel Bumblebee-looking guy who may or may not BE Hearts of Steel Bumblebee. So, not really the same character.

Ah, okay. Interesting to hear! Cheers!

[Daniel Adkins]

http://www.comiccrusaders.com/exclusive ... onaries-5/

The full preview for issue 5 is out.

[Targetmaster Kup]

http://www.comiccrusaders.com/exclusive-preview-revolutionaries-5/

The full preview for issue 5 is out.

THis makes it clear, to anyone who was doubting, that Centurion is Hearts of Steel Bumblebee.

[Va'al]

Fellow Seibertronian Daniel Adkins has spotted the first of several expected full previews on ComicCrusaders for next week's releases from IDW Publishing: Revolutionaries #5! Featuring art by both Fico Ossio / Sebastian Cheng and Guido Guidi, the five pages can be seen below - check them out, and head back for a review on Seibertron.com after the book is released.

M.A.S.K. vs. the ATOMIC MAN! The Revolutionaries uncover the deep, dark secret of Mike Power, the Atomic Man—and enlist the help of M.A.S.K. to bring in the long-lost agent! But there’s more to Power’s story than anyone imagined, in the oddest story of 2017!

[Lore Keeper]

Hearts of Steel and Beast Wars? My inner child is jumping for joy! I have a very strong feeling this is how they're going to introduce Optimus Primal into the story.

[Silverwing]

Wait, is that one of the O parts from RID on the ship?

[Kurona]

Wait, is that one of the O parts from RID on the ship?

Nope - unless the resemblance is intentional; this is in fact the Talisman that has been featured throughout the entire Revolutionaries series.

[Windsweeper]

Very interesting. At first glance that crew resemble Ironhide, Prowl, Bumblebee (or Bugbite).

Domitus resembles Big Convoy, I think that was the mammoth's name in Beast Wars and the guy with the Ratchet looking head's colour scheme reminds me of Clench or Tarantulus.

I wonder who they are?

[Daniel Adkins]

Very interesting. At first glance that crew resemble Ironhide, Prowl, Bumblebee (or Bugbite).

Domitus resembles Big Convoy, I think that was the mammoth's name in Beast Wars and the guy with the Ratchet looking head's colour scheme reminds me of Clench or Tarantulus.

I wonder who they are?

Have you read the miniseries Hearts of Steel?

[o.supreme]

In a way this kind of makes sense. Since IDW's inception 11 1/2 years ago, They have had the main "New" Transformers Universe. They have also had comics for the movie verse, and tie-in comics for TFA, and several series for the aligned continuity (FOC, TFP, BH etc...) Even a 2 issue GI Joe/TF crossover (Prior to the Hasbroverse). And a separate continuity for BW.

But Hearst of Steel was always an oddity. Unfortunately no other "alternate" universe stories were ever published, so I guess it makes sense to retcon it into the main continuity somehow.

I wonder though...because I collect the individual issues, and not the TPB's, I like to sort my comics by chronological reading order

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Transformers_(IDW_Publishing)#Chronological_Comic_Order

I wonder where Hearts of Steel will eventually officially be placed? I guess its not a big deal at the moment since all my comic books are in storage, but eventually I'll have to take that 4 issue series out of my "Miscellaneous" collection and file it in somewhere with the main IDW continuity.