The Energon Pub

Counterpunch wrote:Unfortunately, yes, I think that's what will happen. It seems like a terrible choice to me. Sunstreaker has a tremendous amount of story potential that I think will be ruined by this.

Agreed. This is one of the few times I have thought that DW had the point beyond IDWs. Sunny seemed to be halfway to sociopath in DW and there is no real indication of that here. It is a defining characteristic of Streaker that Sideswipe is the only Autobot that he can operate alongside.

Needless to say, I need to know where Grimlock and the Dinobots come into play. I hope to see them disassemble Sixshot into as many parts as possible.

tigertracks 24 wrote:

Blozor wrote:
Devastation will likely be called that because of Sixshot; Furman already pretty much guaranteed that, but I could see the Dinobots and Shockwave contributing, even though he hasn't so much as hinted toward them yet. I could certainly see the five Dinobots taking out Sixshot at the end. Also, Shockwave burned off their fake dinosaur skin leaving their robotic shells exposed, so next time we see them, think we'll see them in their robotic dinosaur form?

Correct about Sixshot and devastation!

At the end of one of the series, Escalation maybe, we saw that there was a group digging up Shockwave and the dinos (big clue), and that the Machination had caught Ravage and Lazerbeak.

I would imagine the dinos will no longer need the fleshy skins, as no other TFs do. It wasn't fake dinosaur skin, it was real flesh!

Couple of points, it's Skywatch that have Ravage and Laserbeak not the Machination, and the images at the end of Escalation with Shockwave and the Dinobots being dug up showed the Dinos as robotic rather than organic outer forms. The last point may be moot since IDW seem happy to let whichever artist happens to be drawing a book work in their own style and use variations on design without too much regard for visual continuity, but since E J is also drawing Devastation it's a fairly safe assumption that we'll be getting robotic Dinobots. The need for the organic outers was explained as a result of the early stages of Shockwave's Regenesis project on the local atmosphere/environment, Shockers had had time beforehand to match shield harmonics and didn't require any organics. There would be no need for this on the bots currently on Earth as the Regenesis effect has run it's course resulting in Ultra-Energon/Ore 13. Besides in that amount of time wouldn't even Cybertronian tech organic outers have rotted away on stasis locked bots?

Counterpunch wrote:Prowl has been a jerk the whole time. That's fine, he can be the TF Cyclops, but let's see him kick some ass too. He's supposed to be Prime's #2, that should equate to 'bad-ass'.

He was likely Sentinel Prime's second (via Megatron Origins), but it seems like Prowl doesn't have such a high rank under Optimus; he mentions how Hot Rod outranks him back in the latter half of Escalation, and it has been stressed time and time again through both of the main arcs that up until Megatron's arrival and the Autobots' belated discovery of Ore-13 that Earth wasn't an important point in the conflict. Given Springer's general attitude towards Prowl and the dialogue between them in the Spotlight: Kup issue, it almost seems like Prowl isn't all that high-ranking (just that he was currently assigned to be Prime's go-between while the leader was on Earth) for one reason or another.

It'd be interesting to see if the events in the Megatron: Origins book shine some light as to how the current Autobot faction came to be, and maybe even show how Prowl seemed to drop in rank. Is it because Prowl's general attitude from being a member of the Security Forces kept him from fully committing to the new Autobot ideal? Did something happen to Prowl that caused him to be demoted when Optimus took the matle of leadership? Or is Prowl, in this universe, just some slave to logic and protocol who tries to compensate by inflating his own importance? Something to ponder for the future.

Hairball178 wrote:Could Wheelie be trapped somewhere close to the edge of the Dead Universe, leading into his own Spotlight story?

Given some of Chris Ryall's comments on the IDW board...no. Something about "only if we can think of some exciting new way to kill him." I'd say it could be misdirection, but the sheer frequency of comments along these lines from some of the IDW guys...

tigertracks 24 wrote:It would be nice to hear people's theories on what the dead universe is, and what impact it will have on the TF-universe (Galvatron gives us more clues)...

After all of the Unicron variations and such, I almost expect that there is no real intention or even sentience to the Dead Universe: the "Dead Universe" itself is just an astrophysical anomaly, some tear in the space-time continuum that is expanding at an alarming rate. However, its effect on sentient beings is alarming: in essence, Galvatron has somehow become altered physically by being in such close proximity to it, but at the cost of some degree of sanity. Much like Kup and his beloved crystals, the anomaly has "convinced" Galvatron of a "greater purpose," when in reality the only source of his mission is his own warped and damaged mind.

As for Prime's own encounter, perhaps the space in which his consciousness entered is sensitive to what is happening in the space-time continuum beyond what can normally be perceived--as though a "spark" free of physical constraints is sensitive to the "Dead Universe" and its reverberations. The appearnace of another Prime could mean two things. In one case, the familiar Prime visage is much like how Kup perceived "zombots" all around him under the damaging influence of the crystals, wherein Optimus is perceiving an entity constructed solely from the anomaly. In the other case, that perhaps the Ark I mission did have a Prime as its captain, and while Galvatron remained somehow physically present in reality, that Prime had its "spark" or consciousness permanently dislodged from its body, but nonetheless still is corrupted and warped by the anomaly into thinking that he, too, is a Harbinger of the Dead Universe.

Or what was done to Nightbeat, and by whom, for what purpose?

Well, we know the "whom"--Galvatron, according to Ryall and Furman--and likely given that piece of knowledge, the grander purpose would be for Galvatron's own interests. Since it's doubtful that Galvatron would have any knowledge or stake in what is happening on Earth, whatever modification had been made might be for the greater purpose of gathering information on the current Prime (something Galvatron might also be in the dark about). Eventually, Nightbeat may very well be the lure that will draw the attention of both factions towards the "Dead Universe," for some darker purpose that could be as "benign" as Galvatron's own insane machinations regarding an astrophysical anomaly, to an even greater doom...

I think that's all I've got for now...

Nothing new to add yet, but I wanted to say thanks for the detailed, and well thought out ideas (and corrections). The amount of knowledge and details paid attention to by each individual is so cool, I love reading each theory...

im still devastated that DEVASTATOR wont be in devastation

Well we've seen, what three (?) combiner teams in their entirety so far and no evidence of them actually combining. Maybe the tech just isn't there in the IDWverse or they're going to deal with it as a new inovation like the Headmasters. If it's the latter then we may see the Constructicons show up once Furman gets around to that part of the story. Devastator in pretty much all versions of G1 is supposed to have been the first gestalt to have been perfected. Saying that, this is IDW and anything can happen.

I've haven't checked in for a couple of days and Wow, there are tons more posts in here. I'll try to play catch up:

Counterpunch wrote:Unfortunately, yes, I think that's what will happen. It seems like a terrible choice to me. Sunstreaker has a tremendous amount of story potential that I think will be ruined by this.

Yeah, that would be terrible. I'm still holding out hope for a IDW misdirection though. All signs point against it, but I'm hoping for Sunstreaker being used as only the template to create Headmaster tech, but before they use the process on him, he'll get rescued. So, they'll have the tech, but he won't become a Headmaster :fingers crossed:

Big Grim wrote:Needless to say, I need to know where Grimlock and the Dinobots come into play. I hope to see them disassemble Sixshot into as many parts as Cybertronicaly possinble.

I figure the Dinobots to factor in as turning the tide in the aftermath of Devestation. I mean, the title lends itself to there being big problems for the Autobots and Earth. So I could see Sixshot kicking the bots around for an arc before the Dinobots come in to play balancing act.

Kranix-76 wrote:He was likely Sentinel Prime's second (via Megatron Origins), but it seems like Prowl doesn't have such a high rank under Optimus; he mentions how Hot Rod outranks him back in the latter half of Escalation.

To be specific, Prowl says, "I may not outrank you...but this is my command and I'm ordering you to go." That could mean that either they are the same rank or that Hot Rod has a higher rank. The reason I think they have the same rank is that if Hot Rod's rank was higher, then militarily speaking Prowl wouldn't have been able to order him at all. But if they are the same rank, he could order him around because it was Prowl's jurisdiction.

Kranix-76 wrote:Eventually, Nightbeat may very well be the lure that will draw the attention of both factions towards the "Dead Universe,"

That's a good theory that I hadn't thought about.

steve2275 wrote:im still devastated that DEVASTATOR wont be in devastation

I was too at first, but I like that we still haven't had Dinobots or Gestalts. It's like we are accruing them for a big payoff two arcs down the road. I agree that the most likely possibility is that they either haven't invented the tech yet or it expends tremendous energy and haven't been able to use it for a while. And in the meantime, I like the prospect of Sideswipe, Sixshot, etc. getting more screentime before things get crazy.

Time for more speculation...

clrobe wrote:Yeah, that would be terrible. I'm still holding out hope for a IDW misdirection though. All signs point against it, but I'm hoping for Sunstreaker being used as only the template to create Headmaster tech, but before they use the process on him, he'll get rescued. So, they'll have the tech, but he won't become a Headmaster :fingers crossed:

I agree...somewhat. Sunstreaker might just be a template for the Machination's own...er...machinations, but I expect that to use an Autobot--especially a brash, condescending 'bot like Streaker--would not be in their best interests. To use a similar design deliberately to mislead the rest of the Autobots, or even infiltrate the Autobot ranks for the Machination's own motives, would make sense...but what use would the Machination have for Sunstreaker himself once the "Headmaster" technology was completed?

There's a chance that he won't just be scrapped outright. Maybe Streaker's memory will be locked, making him a slave to whomever is bonded to him, or his own head (or whole body, assuming the head was never detached) is locked in stasis as a bargaining chip with either side of the Cybertronian conflict. Given the nature of the IDW storylines so far, I doubt that there isn't something greater planned for Sunstreaker...even if, unfortunately, it means a pretty grave fate down the line.

Big Grim wrote:Needless to say, I need to know where Grimlock and the Dinobots come into play. I hope to see them disassemble Sixshot into as many parts as Cybertronicaly possinble.

I'm almost tempted to believe that it won't just be the Dynos that have issue with Sixshot; after all, Ore-13 was Shockwave's pet project, and it is likely that he won't approve of the "logic" behind Sixshot's total destruction of Earth. Someone else in this thread had already commented on the potential for a power struggle between Megs and Shockwave, and if anything would be the catalyst, the presence of Sixshot and the threat he poses to Shockwave's own contingency would be it.

As for the Dynos, there is already a set-up for tension between Grimlock and Optimus; the attack on Shockwave itself was a direct violation of Prime's orders. Perhaps even more than tension with Optimus, the presence of yet another "protocol-be-damned" Autobot just can't bode well for Prowl, especially when said Autobot has a small unit under his command. Combine that with a distinct lack of subtlety, and we have a very interesting dynamic on our hands...

tigertracks 24 wrote:And now thanks to the five page preview of the Prime Spotlight, we know that Wheelie (glimpse), and Omega Supreme (big role) get introduced into the IDW universe!

Omega seems to be an older bot that Prime trusts and can share with. I would imagine he does not have his G1 show speech impediment. Otherwise Prime could just talk to any 'ol computer and feel better.

http://comicnewsi.com/article.php?catid=231&itemid=10065

I will be quite interested to see what feedback Omega gives him, and what we can find out about the dead universe, the matrix, and Primes...

And who is the cool winged Prime behind Sentinel? He looks cool!!!

I'm thinking the four mechs Prime sees, two visable and two in silouette on page 3, are...

Sentinel Prime, kinda a gimmie
Dai Atlas or King Atlas by color scheme,
Titanium Rodimus notice the waist mounted wheels, and
Transtech Cheetor well maybe night slash Cheetor.

The two that were visable were from the past, while the two outlines are of those to come. DW's inserton of Dai Atlas into TF history could have carried over into IDW, and BW may regretably link G1 to the Bowel Movement that prevented Transtech (besides the fans who complained like me...)


I smell power struggle brewing with Shockwave. With his responcibilty with the energon on earth, i'm not sure the STAG soldier will oppose one eye's wishs. He still is the mech who built Sixshot and the triplechangers, and in most continuities has power that can rival Megatron, given proper leveraging; I see him bringing in Astrotrain, Runamuck, Runabout, the Duocons, and repoing some of Meg's troops... maybe the coneheads or ...


Given Scorpinok's headmaster origin... in Magnus spotlight, How are Apeface and Snapdragon going to come into play? All three are technically Triplechangers as well. If the triple changer tech is Shockwave's deal, and Springer is alread around, could they be apart of Shockwave's coupe?

I recently checked out the Kup Spotlight and Megatron Origin #1... these are my first venture into the IDW universe and I'm digging them!

As for Megatron Origin, I was a bit shocked to see the Autobots portrayed in a negative light. But I believe this story is coming from Megatron's POV... similar to A Clockwork Orange. We don't know whether or not to believe the narrator. Looking forward to reading more.

AxiomScion wrote:I smell power struggle brewing with shockwave. He still is the mech who built Sixshot and the triplechangers.

That is incorrect. You are basing a large amount of your assumptions on DW plot points which have no bearing on IDWs re-imagining.

AxiomScion wrote:I'm thinking the four mechs Prime sees, two visable and two in silouette on page 3, are...

Sentinel Prime, kinda a gimmie
Dai Atlas or King Atlas by color scheme,
Titanium Rodimus notice the waist mounted wheels, and
Transtech Cheetor well maybe night slash Cheetor.

The two that were visable were from the past, while the two outlines are of those to come. DW's inserton of Dai Atlas into TF history could have carried over into IDW, and BW may regretably link G1 to the Bowel Movement that prevented Transtech (besides the fans who complained like me...)

I'd assumed it was BigBot, Optimal Optimus Primal, maybe slimmed down some. Something about the height and the way the shoulders look strike me as very Optimal Optimus. There's someone else it reminds me of, too, but I just can't put my finger on it. Was Transtech Cheetor even intended to be a Prime?

Blozor wrote:

AxiomScion wrote:I'm thinking the four mechs Prime sees, two visable and two in silouette on page 3, are...

Sentinel Prime, kinda a gimmie
Dai Atlas or King Atlas by color scheme,
Titanium Rodimus notice the waist mounted wheels, and
Transtech Cheetor well maybe night slash Cheetor.

The two that were visable were from the past, while the two outlines are of those to come. DW's inserton of Dai Atlas into TF history could have carried over into IDW, and BW may regretably link G1 to the Bowel Movement that prevented Transtech (besides the fans who complained like me...)

I'd assumed it was BigBot, Optimal Optimus Primal, maybe slimmed down some. Something about the height and the way the shoulders look strike me as very Optimal Optimus. There's someone else it reminds me of, too, but I just can't put my finger on it. Was Transtech Cheetor even intended to be a Prime?

I think he becomes the de-facto Prime.

We have to assume Megatron's virus killed everyone, even the 'Prime' if there was one at the time. It's like, there wasn't a physical Matrix anymore, but Primal as their spiritual leader was a conduit to it. Cheetor seeminly took that role when Primal was gone.

The Prime behind Sentinel has vanes on his head similar to Big Convoy/Universe Nemesis Prime as does the floating head from the Infraspace sequence and looks to turn into a truck of some kind by the legs. The shoulder design would also fit the basic outline of the Big Convoy design, it's just the wings that wouldn't really fit for a 'Dawn of Futures Past' style redesign of him. This could well be our Golden Age Prime/possible Dead Universe Nemesis Prime and would sort of make sense given that the design has previously been a Nemesis.

I was initially thinking that the whole line up was Primes going backward in sequential order with the silhouettes being the most ancient and that Rodimus may well end up realised as a historical character at some stage. The above point that these may be future echoes of Primes yet to be may be valid and Rodimus and TT Cheetor would make sense and fit the outlines. As for Dai Atlas, am I thinking of the right Jap TF when I say that the Senator's security guard with the shield in Origin 1 puts me in mind of him (definately one of the main Jap guys from around the same time if not, but I'm not as encyclopedic on that period as I could be).

edit- I was thinking Optimus as 5th Prime based on Marvel and Dreamwave, of course that really doesn't have any bearing here.

waaaaghlord wrote: am I thinking of the right Jap TF when I say that the Senator's security guard with the shield in Origin 1 puts me in mind of him (definately one of the main Jap guys from around the same time if not, but I'm not as encyclopedic on that period as I could be).

Yes.

Cool, cheers TT24.

waaaaghlord wrote:Cool, cheers TT24.

Right back at you. Keep that in depth analysis, and theorizing coming. I really enjoy reading them!

okay... maybe not Dai Atlas and such...

...unless the mech behind Sentinel Prime matches/based on the botcon toy of King Atlas i'm guessing the more simple answer, the one i look at last, is that it'sPrime Nova.

I do agree with waaaaghlord over the big/nemesis/convoy thing.

If I'm right about it being Prime Nova... has Prime Nova ever been drawn before...

AxiomScion wrote:okay... maybe not Dai Atlas and such...

...unless the mech behind Sentinel Prime matches/based on the botcon toy of King Atlas i'm guessing the more simple answer, the one i look at last, is that it'sPrime Nova.

I do agree with waaaaghlord over the big/nemesis/convoy thing.

If I'm right about it being Prime Nova... has Prime Nova ever been drawn before...

It's a good idea, but they may not use any of the Marvel characters that were not toys, in place of their own ideas and characters to tell the story.

I do like the idea that the Prime with wings resembles Optimal Optimus with organic looking wings, sort of...

steve2275 wrote:im still devastated that DEVASTATOR wont be in devastation

You sure about that? So Nightbeat is a Galvatron herald! Never thought he was trust worthy in the first place! IDW is the best TF comic seres to date, better storylines(great actually), better dialogue, good action!, above average artwork(although I perfer Pat Lee's artwork!), and just most of the focus on the TF! The only thing that i don't like is the "tag along kids"! That they can do without! And just to think I missing what Dreamwave was doing!



Are the Sharkticons gonna make an apperance? I notice that they were on the cover of the Galvatron Spotlight! Oh and also Unicron's head was in the background of that issueas well!

steve2275 wrote:im still devastated that DEVASTATOR wont be in devastation

You sure about that? So Nightbeat is a Galvatron herald! Never thought he was trust worthy in the first place! IDW is the best TF comic seres to date, better storylines(great actually), better dialogue, good action!, above average artwork(although I perfer Pat Lee's artwork!), and just most of the focus on the TF! The only thing that i don't like is the "tag along kids"! That they can do without! And just to think I missing what Dreamwave was doing!



Are the Sharkticons gonna make an apperance? I notice that they were on the cover of the Galvatron Spotlight! Oh and also Unicron's head was in the background of that issueas well!

Godzilla wrote:


Are the Sharkticons gonna make an apperance? I notice that they were on the cover of the Galvatron Spotlight! Oh and also Unicron's head was in the background of that issueas well!

Your guess is as good as anyone's. We have a lot of questions about who will be appearing (or not).

However, the October solicitations clearly state that there will be Headmasters from the Machination. Who or what they will be exactly, we will have to wait until October to find out!

Godzilla wrote:I perfer Pat Lee's artwork!

Heresy I say!

As far as as the Milne cover goes I hadn't noticed the Unicron background, largely because I only opted for the Guidi cover. Looking at the small image on the inside back cover I can definately make out a Sharkticon in beast mode. Are there any more drawn in there or just the one? If it's just one it could be intended to represent a generic Sharkticon or Gnaw. The inclusion of Unicron's likeness pretty much makes this an arty cover rather than one linked to the story though. IDW's position on the big bad U is that they don't intend to use him, and if they do "it won't be for a very long time".

The likeness of Unicron areas to be ripped right out of Dons MacroMasters line or whatever it was called.

Speaking of Macromasters, I was just rereading it online again last night and there are a couple of pages that the links don't work for. I was thinking about printing the lot out, but missing pages would be even less cool for me in a hard copy version than the irritation of them not being there reading it from a screen. Other than the Macromasters archive site is there anywhere else that maintains an online copy of these that would have the missing pages?