The Energon Pub

News Credits: 4836 · by **william-james88** » Fri Feb 18, 2022 12:31 am

Looks like IDW wants to end on a high with their Transformers content. They have just announced a new 4 issue mini series written by Nick Roche and with E.J. Su as the main artist. That mini series is Last Bot Standing and it will start in May. Here are the details followed by a preview.

In Transformers: Last Bot Standing, the war for Cybertron is long over, yet what it started lingers at the edges of the universe and at the end of time. Readers will discover the planet Donnok, a world poised for an industrial revolution, just beginning to grasp mechanization. The planet’s future is forever changed when a shape-shifted robot from a dead civilization pays a visit.

by **Stormshot_Prime** » Fri Feb 18, 2022 3:50 am

Glad IDW is doing some kind of “License’s End” series at least. RIP IDW G2, may the next series last 10+ years

by **AshelehsA** » Fri Feb 18, 2022 9:46 am

Looks like after 10,000 years Rodimus is free! It's time to conquer Donnok

News Credits: 6 · by **AllNewSuperRobot** » Fri Feb 18, 2022 10:35 am

AshelehsA wrote:Looks like after 10,000 years Rodimus is free! It's time to conquer Donnok

Now I'm picturing Rodimus with that voice...

Meanwhile, I'm intrigued. I like these kind of stories. Just a shame with IDW about to lose the license that they can't just finally release Legacy of Rust, too.

News Credits: 22 · by **Rodimus Prime** » Fri Feb 18, 2022 2:31 pm

I'm intrigued as well. When I saw the headline, my 1st thought was Please please don't be yet another Optimus story. By the looks of the silhouette thankfully it won't be.

News Credits: 2 · by **partholon** » Fri Feb 18, 2022 3:04 pm

its a poetic bow out for sure.

getting serious superman vibes off those preview pages.

be interesting to see what story Nick tells here, and its always nice to see EJ again.

by **Stormshot_Prime** » Fri Feb 18, 2022 3:45 pm

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:
AshelehsA wrote:Looks like after 10,000 years Rodimus is free! It's time to conquer Donnok

Now I'm picturing Rodimus with that voice...

Meanwhile, I'm intrigued. I like these kind of stories. Just a shame with IDW about to lose the license that they can't just finally release Legacy of Rust, too.

Legacy of Rust! Now there’s a name I haven’t heard in years. At this point, why not?

News Credits: 6 · by **AllNewSuperRobot** » Sun Feb 20, 2022 7:37 am

Stormshot_Prime wrote:
AllNewSuperRobot wrote:
AshelehsA wrote:Looks like after 10,000 years Rodimus is free! It's time to conquer Donnok

Now I'm picturing Rodimus with that voice...

Meanwhile, I'm intrigued. I like these kind of stories. Just a shame with IDW about to lose the license that they can't just finally release Legacy of Rust, too.

Legacy of Rust! Now there’s a name I haven’t heard in years. At this point, why not?

I've always thought there has been criminally little done within the entire franchise, regarding Punch/Counterpunch and Doubledealer. There is so much potential to be mined through them. A mindset to be explored and developed. IDWverse 1.0, while they did a decent job with Dealer in the Spotlights. Legacy of Rust will forever be the "we were going to do something with Punch, but didn't".

News Credits: 650 · by **ScottyP** » Wed May 11, 2022 12:38 pm

Just picked up issue 1 and read it. Best TF comic I've read in years. Pacing has that signature momentum to it that Roche's stories have where the suspense reaches a crescendo, genuine surprises occur, things barely settle then a last page hook jabs you in the brain when you realize more isn't coming until next month.

The story so far feels, to me, like a challenge to the well-worn "alien robots land on a planet seeking refuge and/or resources" plot that's been done to death and I am so here for it.

News Credits: 1642 · by **D-Maximal_Primal** » Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:14 pm

Picked up issue 1 myself with that sweet Alex Milne cover art. It was such a joy to read. It was a lot of fun! There is a lot of good stuff already in the book, and I am really looking forward to the other 3 issues.

This comic is continuing a trend where Rodimus is slowly becoming one of my favorite TF characters, across all continuities

News Credits: 6 · by **AllNewSuperRobot** » Fri Jun 03, 2022 3:56 am

Forgot this was coming out! Had to settle for Cover E for the first issue. Nabbed the other three issues though.

News Credits: 1642 · by **D-Maximal_Primal** » Wed Jun 15, 2022 8:00 pm

I bought issue 2 of the comic and finally got to read it last night.

Man, this comic is super awesome. I love old man Rodimus and the way he is written. I haven't been this invested in a TF comic story since IDW2005 with the MTMTE story. It is a lot of fun, and very well written and drawn.

the character choice is also absolutely wonderful. I love seeing RiD2015 get love like this

News Credits: 6 · by **AllNewSuperRobot** » Mon Jun 20, 2022 3:29 pm

Issue 1 & 2 arrived over the weekend. It is interesting. I like where this is in the Transformers timeline. Also that this isn't strictly IDW Rodimus. This could easily be OG Rodimus, who is a superior character. The MTMTE/LL iteration just wasn't a patch on the early Spotlight Hot Rod. Much like how Ultra Magnus was a significant downgrade.
An unusual use of a BW 2 character, too. No idea who the others are? But I don't think it will really matter soon enough. Given the premise. a solid 7/10 for the mini series so far.

News Credits: 1642 · by **D-Maximal_Primal** » Mon Jun 20, 2022 6:24 pm

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:Issue 1 & 2 arrived over the weekend. It is interesting. I like where this is in the Transformers timeline. Also that this isn't strictly IDW Rodimus. This could easily be OG Rodimus, who is a superior character. The MTMTE/LL iteration just wasn't a patch on the early Spotlight Hot Rod. Much like how Ultra Magnus was a significant downgrade.
An unusual use of a BW 2 character, too. No idea who the others are? But I don't think it will really matter soon enough. Given the premise. a solid 7/10 for the mini series so far.

If you are referring to Steeljaw's pack, I am super excited for the members of the team:

Steeljaw - RiD2015 Pack leader who hoped to be the next Megatron
Sharpclaw - his sister, original character made by Nick Roche's daughter
Override - Cybertron
Riotgear/Treadshock/Cyberwarp - All RiD2015 Galvatronus combiner limbs
Scylla/Moon - BWII
Wedge - RiD2001
Nitro/Vex - new characters
Lunaclub: Unite Warriors/JG1
the Veteran: going by issue 3 covers, this is Wheelie with only a head on wheels

News Credits: 6 · by **AllNewSuperRobot** » Wed Jun 22, 2022 2:23 pm

That's why I only recognised Moon (but not Wedge :-?

). I thought all the others were new characters. Aside from watching/sleeping though Siege. I hadn't watched a TF show since I tapped out of Prime.

News Credits: 6 · by **AllNewSuperRobot** » Thu Sep 08, 2022 2:54 pm

So issue 4, was quite bittersweet.

I think by now, most comic fiction seems to end with Rodimus. This one does it well. Forgive me, but as noted above. The Antagonists may have been from other TF series, but they just didn't work for me. Steeljaw in particular, I just couldn't take seriously. A bot mode with a wolf face just looked silly.

Ultimately, I found this a fitting end to IDW's Transformers. Much in the same way as I found 'Peace' likewise for the Marvel Run. Roche managed to end this IDW run on a high. Considering the BW book and ongoing, that was quite an achievement. 9/10

News Credits: 1642 · by **D-Maximal_Primal** » Thu Sep 08, 2022 6:06 pm

I really enjoyed the series, I have every intention of writing a series review when I have some time here. It was a really good read and had a lot of great things about it