The Energon Pub

[MYoung23]

I thought this was the best issue of the entire AHM series.

Prowl is essentially the Shockwave of the Autobots. He also represents the last remnants of the Cybertron security force before the war started and how much Autobots have changed (or strayed) since their inception. This also parallels how the Decepticons have changed from what Megatron intended so you have two opposing forces fighting but the reasons for their fighting have been corrupted. For Prowl the goal of the war is simply to win it.

I think Perceptor's story also mirrors how much war changes. It seems to me that the Autobots (at least the one's who were civilians) see themselves as fighting to be able to return to their lives before the war and still maintaining their identities. So when Blaster tells Perceptor he has "defiled himself" he is ruing the fact that Perceptor has chosen to give up who is as a scientist. Perceptor, for his part, probably realizes that after nearly being killed who he was before wasnt good enough to win the war and that if he and the Autobots are to ever win his are the kinds of sacrifices that need to be made.

[Blurrz]

From the previews, I sensed this would be pretty badass. The release of this issue and the focus on Perceptor coincides with TRU's Reissue Perceptor. Oh Hasbro Management you sly devil you.

[Elita One]

Kinda off topic but I found out the author of this comic will be a guest at Armageddon Expo Melbourne next month.http://armageddonexpo.com/au/comics-sci-fi-fantasy-trading-cards/shane-mccarthy/#skiptop. News mods feel free to add this to the news page and credit me if you wish. Is the series in a TPB so I can get it autographed? Thanks in advance.
Meaghan/Elita One

[ponycorn]

This was definitely the best among the AHM Coda series!

Prowl and Perceptor totally shined in this, and I like how both "stories" in it seamlessly worked with each other and the rest of AHM.

I like what MYoung23 says about Prowl being the Shockwave of the Autobots, I was also thinking that. I also like what Perceptor had to say about it. I wonder if Prowl predicted what Perceptor's reaction would be to his behind the scenes manipulation.

I also like what Prowl had to say about the "unchecked streak of bravado" running through the Autobot ranks. The bit about mavericks and wild cards was hilarious. It seems like that's the Autobot default bio setting sometimes.

[Darth Bombshell]

I thought this was the best issue of the entire AHM series.

Considering the low threshold AHM has set when it comes to that topic, it's not as if it's difficult to assume anything's "the best."

[Tigertrack]

Easily and by far the best TF issue that I have read since the -tion series and Spotlights hence related.

I absolutely loved the characterization of Prowl, and Springer as his opposite. I think Prowl lovers are either going to become more enamored with him because he has been fleshed out and shown his character more, or hate the fact that they seem to have written him as an uncaring, bean counter/numbers man/asshole that he is shown as. So straightforward in his desire to just win. Using his troops as pawns and not letting feelings come in. Indeed, he seems very like Shockwave who he curiously does not mention on his list of Decepticons who push the limits (Skorponok, Bludgeon, Thunderwing...).

I like how it also seems to make his silence in AHM make sense! He was letting KUP show the group the way because people would actually listen to him (Kup), while they would not listen to Prowl.

The Pretender portion of KUP's recovery I need to read again. He has no shell, or he is the shell? AS in his mind is kept elsewhere? This was confusing for me, but it was nice to see Brainstorm helping with these revolutionary methods, and not just Jetfire.

----

Perceptor's part was interesting too. At this point I want to say, I really enjoyed the art as well. While there were TONS of dialogue in both parts, the art still managed to be noticeable, but in a good way. Nick Roche was excellent, I need to look to see who drew the Wreckers story.

I liked the evolution of his character. Doing what needs to be done, changing and evolving as science has shown other species to do. I would really like to know how he got in such a bad state, but his recovery apparently needed psychological help, which he did not seem to get.

Super solid chest plate, scope, and dampers for arm movemment. Awesome how he was able to just take apart Monstructor with one shot (it seems they might want to fix that flaw in the combination design, if possible). WE see Springer's blades get trashed by acid breath, which may have explained away a question from AHM.

Blurr and Drift playing a game together seemed to be the least needed part of the whole deal. Wasn't sure what they were doing there, except passing time.

Overall, I did really enjoy reading it, and will probably read it again today.

[Jeysie]

The Pretender portion of KUP's recovery I need to read again. He has no shell, or he is the shell? AS in his mind is kept elsewhere? This was confusing for me, but it was nice to see Brainstorm helping with these revolutionary methods, and not just Jetfire.

I read it as being a sort of brain transplant... that before the Pretender process it wasn't possible to simply take Kup's cerebro-cortex out of his old body and put it in a new one.

But heavens yes, Roche's story was lovely to read. It neatly answers quite a few continuity conundrums, gives everyone excellent characterization all around (I really find myself empathizing with all of the characters in the story, all for different reasons), and gives some interesting ethical food-for-thought.

I guess I'm the only person who doesn't like Percy's story, though? I mean the overall concept/explanation isn't bad and I can think of some other Autobots it would work for, but it makes zero sense for Perceptor specifically.

On top of that, the execution of said concept/explanation is lousy. The continuity gaffes of Bludgeon being out and about working for the Cons, the ridiculousness of Monstructor being taken down that easily when the whole group of Banzai-Tron's Decepticons had trouble fighting him as a Nega-Core guardian, the lameness of Drift & Blurr playing a game from a planet they've never been to, Springer being aghast at the sight of Perceptor's innards showing despite him being a Wrecker, the overall cheese and cliche of some of the dialogue, etc. etc. the list goes on.

It's a good thing that Roche's story alone is worth the price.

[Convotron]

I really enjoyed AHM 15. As others have noted, it did a nice job of filling in details and explaining things like why Kup has a cy-gar and Perceptor's change to a super sniper.

[Calvatron]

[quote="Jeysie
I guess I'm the only person who doesn't like Percy's story, though? I mean the overall concept/explanation isn't bad and I can think of some other Autobots it would work for, but it makes zero sense for Perceptor specifically.

On top of that, the execution of said concept/explanation is lousy. The continuity gaffes of Bludgeon being out and about working for the Cons, the ridiculousness of Monstructor being taken down that easily when the whole group of Banzai-Tron's Decepticons had trouble fighting him as a Nega-Core guardian, the lameness of Drift & Blurr playing a game from a planet they've never been to, Springer being aghast at the sight of Perceptor's innards showing despite him being a Wrecker, the overall cheese and cliche of some of the dialogue, etc. etc. the list goes on.

It's a good thing that Roche's story alone is worth the price.[/quote]


I took it as him reacting to his traumatic experiance. It doesn't make sense, because it's perceptor reacting. He's not thinking clearly, and hasn't dealt with what happened to him. so he makes a complete 180 thinking that it will prevent him from being hurt again rather than dealing with what happened and moving on. As for taking out monstructor, i thought it was him trying to show how helpful he can be to the war effort and how he would be the perfect sniper. considering the state he's in mentally, it makes sense that he would want to show up with a bang.

[Jeysie]

It doesn't make sense, because it's perceptor reacting. He's not thinking clearly, and hasn't dealt with what happened to him. so he makes a complete 180 thinking that it will prevent him from being hurt again rather than dealing with what happened and moving on.

Well, no, it makes no sense because it's just out of character for Perceptor.

For one, while he's more compassionate than the likes of Prowl or Shockwave, he's still characteristically the type who doesn't let his emotions get in the way of his rationality. For two, Perceptor's not a stranger to getting badly injured--heck, in SL: Blaster, not only was he also taken offline by a shot that damaged him badly, it was from a fellow Autobot. If he recovered from that while still on an even keel, he can't be that mentally fragile.

Like I said, it's not a bad idea, and there are some Geekbots I could see it fitting--someone like Skids, for instance, maybe. But it feels really OOC here.

As for taking out monstructor, i thought it was him trying to show how helpful he can be to the war effort and how he would be the perfect sniper. considering the state he's in mentally, it makes sense that he would want to show up with a bang.

I think you missed my point here, namely:

In SL: Sideswipe, it takes an entire squad of battle-trained Decepticons just to keep Monstructor busy.

In this issue, he gets taken down by one Autobot who was mostly a non-combat mech until about 5 minutes ago.

It just seems kind of ridiculous.

[Convotron]

The thing with Monstructor's easy defeat is due to its "weak spot" is established in Spotlight: Optimus Prime.

A connective filament directly beneath the mid-torso armature. Striking it with enough force...will send it into spasm.

One well placed punch from Optimus sent Monstructor down for the count. Now how Perceptor knew to shoot there, I'm not sure, but I imagine OP would have put in the equivalent to a field report after bringing in Monstructor. I imagine that info on a dangerous prisoner like Monstructor would/should be sent out to all Autobots in a "in case this guy gets loose..." sort of message.

[Jeysie]

The thing with Monstructor's easy defeat is due to its "weak spot" is established in Spotlight: Optimus Prime.

Yes, I know, but....

1. So in all of that fighting, none of the Decepticons ever hit Monstructor in the chest?

2. Nobody told the Decepticons how to take down Monstructor even though they were helping prevent, you know, the destruction of the entire universe? And then the Decepticons never noticed and fixed that one weak spot even though they managed to reverse-engineer the process enough to both calm the six down into normal warriors (something even Jetfire & his crew couldn't do) and build Devastator?

I don't mind characters getting a little badass time, but not by way of handing the enemy the Idiot Ball.

[Tigertrack]

The thing with Monstructor's easy defeat is due to its "weak spot" is established in Spotlight: Optimus Prime.

Yes, I know, but....

1. So in all of that fighting, none of the Decepticons ever hit Monstructor in the chest?

2. Nobody told the Decepticons how to take down Monstructor even though they were helping prevent, you know, the destruction of the entire universe? And then the Decepticons never noticed and fixed that one weak spot even though they managed to reverse-engineer the process enough to both calm the six down into normal warriors (something even Jetfire & his crew couldn't do) and build Devastator?

I don't mind characters getting a little badass time, but not by way of handing the enemy the Idiot Ball.

In truth, if there were anybody who could hit an exact small size weak spot on an enemy target, I would imagine it would be the guy with the microscope lens that magnifies things to a jillion x the original size, and then uses it to feed data to his rifle scope.

The fact that it was Perceptor who did a complete character 180 basically as a character is the problem here. I guess his psyche finally broke.

[Convotron]

The thing with Monstructor's easy defeat is due to its "weak spot" is established in Spotlight: Optimus Prime.

Yes, I know, but....

1. So in all of that fighting, none of the Decepticons ever hit Monstructor in the chest?

2. Nobody told the Decepticons how to take down Monstructor even though they were helping prevent, you know, the destruction of the entire universe? And then the Decepticons never noticed and fixed that one weak spot even though they managed to reverse-engineer the process enough to both calm the six down into normal warriors (something even Jetfire & his crew couldn't do) and build Devastator?

I don't mind characters getting a little badass time, but not by way of handing the enemy the Idiot Ball.

1. It's not just the chest, it's a specific spot.

2. Considering the general psychology of Decepticons, who's to say they didn't keep the weak spot there in case Monstructor gets out of hand at some point? Megatron put a de-activation code in Sixshot, for example.

Basically, it's not a perfect scenario for Perceptor to take down Monstructor in that way but I just re-read the story and I have to correct myself, Kup told the Wreckers to aim for "where the torso components connect" so the weakness is established in the dialogue. Again, there are decent possibilities as to why Monstructor's weakness wasn't corrected. The thing is, Monstructor's defeat is a detail of the subtext of the story, which deals with Perceptor's drastic turn of attitude and perspective.

In truth, if there were anybody who could hit an exact small size weak spot on an enemy target, I would imagine it would be the guy with the microscope lens that magnifies things to a jillion x the original size, and then uses it to feed data to his rifle scope.

My thoughts exactly. Monstructor's defeat was a way to demonstrate Perceptor's turn as a soldier and deadly sniper. I hope Perceptor's portrayal is consistent with "real world" snipers in that he generally stays back and takes out major targets. It would be cool if he uses his own perception technology to develop a cloaking technology so that he, like a sniper, can camouflage himself to take sniping position.

All this talk of Monstructor and Perceptor...am I the only one who wants to know how Bludgeon became cognitive after his flawed Pretender process freakout? Does his lucidity come at the cost of being weaker since he just upped and ran away after Monstructor was taken down? I thought he was supposed to be super powerful because of the Pretender shell. I read that the Bludgeon issue is going to be explained in the Wreckers mini series but it's kind of odd to be wimpified.

[Jeysie]

2. Considering the general psychology of Decepticons, who's to say they didn't keep the weak spot there in case Monstructor gets out of hand at some point? Megatron put a de-activation code in Sixshot, for example.

Because the Autobots didn't know about Sixshot's activation code. In contrast, if you're trying to engineer a WMD to take down your enemy, if you have to put in a backdoor weakness, you don't keep the thing your enemy already knows about.

The thing is, Monstructor's defeat is a detail of the subtext of the story, which deals with Perceptor's drastic turn of attitude and perspective.

Except that it could have been handled in a way that doesn't contradict known details. In fact, every single one of the contradictions I listed could have been easily avoided with just a little tweaking. Having Blaster be shocked instead of Springer, use Banzai-Tron instead of Bludgeon, have Blurr and Drift play a Cybertronian game of some sort, setting up a scenario where Perceptor gets to use his marksmanship in a way that's less incredulity-stretching, etc. It's kind of emblematic of AHM as a whole... deliberately doing stuff that messes with continuity when there's already dead easy ideas that fit perfectly to use instead.

It wouldn't cure all of the problems with the story, but it'd at least show Tipton can handle the editing side of things competently, if not the writing side.

Personally, I would have much preferred a story that shows Perceptor deciding to take up marksmanship... not because of the silly "I owe a debt" or "being a scientist is useless compared to the Autobots having me as Random Warrior n+1" reasons, but just the sheer practicality that if he's going to be tagging along with Kup, when he and Kup are out on the battlefield, he needs to be able to protect himself. Then when they're not on the front lines, he goes back to doing the science thing. That would actually make sense as being in character for Percy and be cool/interesting. Especially if he also was trying to figure out how he should deal with what Prowl's having him do.

Perceptor being a crafty strategic warrior-scientist type would be awesome. Percy being an emo brawn-over-brains type is just ridiculous and OOC, IMHO.

[Convotron]

2. Considering the general psychology of Decepticons, who's to say they didn't keep the weak spot there in case Monstructor gets out of hand at some point? Megatron put a de-activation code in Sixshot, for example.

Because the Autobots didn't know about Sixshot's activation code. In contrast, if you're trying to engineer a WMD to take down your enemy, if you have to put in a backdoor weakness, you don't keep the thing your enemy already knows about.

Apparently the only ones who knew Sixshot's de-activation code was Megatron and Starscream. The point is that Decepticons don't trust Decepticons. The Decepticons also didn't engineer Monstructor, they studied it for its Gestalt tech. It's a wild dog that they have leashed. Why perfect the weakness if it isn't easy to hit in the first place? Perceptor only hit it because of his new sniping upgrades. Optimus was only able to hit it because he was close, being in its grasp.

- Blaster was shocked. He's the one who said that Perceptor "defiled" himself by making such upgrades.

- Using Banzai-Tron instead of Bludgeon makes much more sense to me. Why is Bludgeon "back to normal" now and why would he be in charge of Monstructor if he's such a wimp now?

- Blurr and Drift playing Go makes no sense to me too but then again, every Cybertronian speaks with North American slang and speech patterns. To me, that's the larger issue throughout Transformers fiction in general. I can understand those who have visited Earth adopting aspects of the culture but not every Cybertronian.

The short story covers why Perceptor is a super sniper earlier in AHM and why he looks the way he looks. To me, Pereceptor's sudden change after nearly being killed makes sense when you compound the way that Prowl is making cold and calculated decisions, taking emotion out of the equation. Perceptor nearly dies and says "Enough is enough, being an easy going field nerd isn't going to cut it.".

The debt thing is forced but it's more for playing up Drift when Drift says that "We all have a debt to pay.", supporting Perceptor's decision to change, much to Kup's apparent surprise by his expression in the panel.

Perceptor's reaction is that of a victim trying to cope with trauma. He makes a seemingly super strong breastplate made out of "adamant crystal" to make sure he doesn't find himself "lying there helpless with a massive aperture" in his chest again, he upgrades his stabilizers to steady his aim, and says that his telescopic cannon thingy can be used for other things in the war. His gung-ho attitude is a common reaction to traumatic experience, the other common reaction being withdrawl.

I don't argue that this could have been much more well written but this turn for the character is far more dramatic than having Pereceptor deciding to become a sniper on his own terms. He's forced to in this case because of what he fears will happen again. One of the common threads in AHM so far is shaking up the status quo so I think how Perceptor's change of attitude is par for course.

[Jeysie]

Apparently the only ones who knew Sixshot's de-activation code was Megatron and Starscream. The point is that Decepticons don't trust Decepticons. The Decepticons also didn't engineer Monstructor, they studied it for its Gestalt tech. It's a wild dog that they have leashed. Why perfect the weakness if it isn't easy to hit in the first place?

You're missing my point again. Sixshot's weakness was a good choice of backdoor precisely because no one but Megatron and Starscream knew about it. They could rely on it without the risk of the Autobots being able to turn him off with ease. In contrast, not fixing a weakness that is accessible to the Autobots is just asking for trouble no matter how supposedly difficult it is to hit. Murphy's Law and all that.

Blaster was shocked. He's the one who said that Perceptor "defiled" himself by making such upgrades.

I meant the part where Springer looks like he's disgusted by seeing Perceptor's exposed bits. You'd think as a Wrecker he'd have seen far worse than that by now (and likely caused by his own hands, at that).

To me, Pereceptor's sudden change after nearly being killed makes sense when you compound the way that Prowl is making cold and calculated decisions, taking emotion out of the equation. Perceptor nearly dies and says "Enough is enough, being an easy going field nerd isn't going to cut it.".

Well, except that again this isn't the first time he's had to deal with that sort of situation, and I'd think that getting shot by a fellow Autobot would have made the SL: Blaster incident even more disturbing, yet he didn't go all unhinged from that.

I don't argue that this could have been much more well written but this turn for the character is far more dramatic than having Pereceptor deciding to become a sniper on his own terms.

I just think it's dull, especially since the fact that it makes no sense for the character pulls me too far out of the mood to be impressed by the drama of it. Personally I'd rather have far less cliche drama and far more interesting food-for-thought and philosophizing. Kind of like the Prowl story in the same issue, for instance!

[ponycorn]

1. It's not just the chest, it's a specific spot.

2. Considering the general psychology of Decepticons, who's to say they didn't keep the weak spot there in case Monstructor gets out of hand at some point? Megatron put a de-activation code in Sixshot, for example.

Good point. This is also not new for gestalts. Recall the three specific spots on Bruticus' back that Starscream built in as a safety. With that in mind, the bit with Monstructor makes much more sense.

With regards for Perceptor as a sniper, this is also not too much of a new thing, also with G1 cartoon roots. I recall an episode where he used his scope in microscope mode either as range finder for another autobot or to shoot something up in the sky himself. Perhaps episode Cosmic Rust? The exact name of the epsiode elludes me. It showed a view through the scope though and it did look like the scope of a weapon.

[Convotron]

You're missing my point again. Sixshot's weakness was a good choice of backdoor precisely because no one but Megatron and Starscream knew about it. They could rely on it without the risk of the Autobots being able to turn him off with ease. In contrast, not fixing a weakness that is accessible to the Autobots is just asking for trouble no matter how supposedly difficult it is to hit. Murphy's Law and all that.

I understand Sixshot's de-activation code is a better "insurance mechanism", I'm just saying with general Decepticon psychology, they'd rather leave it than fix it. I don't know how the writers want to handle Monstructor with respect to what they can do with it. I mean, the Decepticons perfected Gestalt tech from it but are decepticons able to effectively upgrade or fix Monstructor? I know it's a "magic wand" but a writer could say Monstructor's design is beyond current Decepticon ability to enhance and all they did was study the Gestalt mechanisms.

To play Devil's Advocate, if a Decepticon fixed Monstructor, what would stop him from using a control mechanism to keep Monstructor under his sole control so he could make a power play for command? Or if the control mechanism is only known by Megatron then we have a second Sixshot with respect to a nigh unstoppable character.

I meant the part where Springer looks like he's disgusted by seeing Perceptor's exposed bits. You'd think as a Wrecker he'd have seen far worse than that by now (and likely caused by his own hands, at that).

Oh, gotcha. I found the same thing in the panel where Drift talks about debt and Kup is looking at him with mouth agape. I'd expect more composure from Kup and Springer. I don't think it's even a Wrecker issue, one would think that Cybertronians would have a different view of upgrading/operating than a fleshy organic being like us soft humans.

Well, except that again this isn't the first time he's had to deal with that sort of situation, and I'd think that getting shot by a fellow Autobot would have made the SL: Blaster incident even more disturbing, yet he didn't go all unhinged from that.

Chalk it up to the continuity issues in AHM, which is the main criticism I have of the series. I've enjoyed most of it, though.

I just think it's dull, especially since the fact that it makes no sense for the character pulls me too far out of the mood to be impressed by the drama of it. Personally I'd rather have far less cliche drama and far more interesting food-for-thought and philosophizing. Kind of like the Prowl story in the same issue, for instance!

Not only dull but like you said, cliche. IDW Arcee is the same way in that she's a "wronged fembot" and is in super psycho mode...very 90s anti-hero comic book heroine. I definitely like IDW Prowl's characterization as it skirts very closely to crossing moral lines. He has the best intent but you know what they say about the road to hell...

Good point. This is also not new for gestalts. Recall the three specific spots on Bruticus' back that Starscream built in as a safety. With that in mind, the bit with Monstructor makes much more sense.

It may have been unintentional but I look at Monstructor's weak spot as a nod to the G1 combiners and their odd tendency to fall apart from what sometimes look like inconsequential attacks.

[Jeysie]

With regards for Perceptor as a sniper, this is also not too much of a new thing, also with G1 cartoon roots.

I think the basic idea of Perceptor being a sniper is a good one... it's just the execution of the idea thereof that ended up being silly.

To play Devil's Advocate, if a Decepticon fixed Monstructor, what would stop him from using a control mechanism to keep Monstructor under his sole control so he could make a power play for command?

The same thing that stopped whomever installed Sixshot's subroutine, I presume.

Basically, there's no point in having a weapon if your enemy can take it down with one shot.

Chalk it up to the continuity issues in AHM, which is the main criticism I have of the series. I've enjoyed most of it, though.

I... think AHM has a lot more flaws than just that, but I agree that if AHM had less continuity snafus it'd at least be far less irritating about it all.

I definitely like IDW Prowl's characterization as it skirts very closely to crossing moral lines. He has the best intent but you know what they say about the road to hell...

Yeah, I really love the way Prowl's been portrayed here. All too often writers focus on the "prick" side of him without also showing that his opinions, while unpopular, are frequently right nonetheless. Makes the character end up being just a foil to glorify the mavericks.

So this little story that both shows why Prowl's earned his way to being a high-ranking Autobot and gives a little dig at the writers' bad tendency to be biased a little too much towards the lone hero types, is a welcome thing.

[Convotron]

Yeah, I really love the way Prowl's been portrayed here. All too often writers focus on the "prick" side of him without also showing that his opinions, while unpopular, are frequently right nonetheless. Makes the character end up being just a foil to glorify the mavericks.

So this little story that both shows why Prowl's earned his way to being a high-ranking Autobot and gives a little dig at the writers' bad tendency to be biased a little too much towards the lone hero types, is a welcome thing.

Most definitely! The first thought came to my mind when I finished reading "Everything In Its Right Place" was how well Nick had portrayed Prowl. I too have seen far too many instances where Prowl has been written up and off as a "prick" and basically he's only there, as you've said, to glorify the maverick characters. That's not necessarily a bad thing, it's just as valid as any other narrative device, but when it's the only thing that a writer does with the character, it's just lazy. Nick's Prowl is how I feel Vulcans would be best portrayed in Star Trek. The two popular extremes for such intellectual and emotionally removed characters seem to be:

a) Condescending jerks whose main purposes are to put the "cool" lone wolf/maverick characters in a better light and to be easy ways of creating tension among the protagonists.

and

b) Perfectly brilliant characters who are just there to be a mini Deus Ex Machina, just standing around for the writer to provide solutions without ingenuity. The character is so smart, he/she/it just knows everything when needed.

Prowl's role in the IDW continuity as portrayed by Nick is a great way to try to turn things around. The Decepticons have been shown as a focused opposition, mostly outsmarting the Autobots. Prowl recognizes that relying upon units like the Wreckers shouldn't be necessary outside of situations of last resort. The Autobots are working hard instead of working smart.

It seems like the Autobots aren't all that organized so it's up to Prowl to take more drastic measures. He has the answers to potentially turning the tide in the war but few listen to him and Optimus doesn't carry the plans through. Prowl's claim that "The average Autobot default setting is daredevil mavrick." could be a reference to the repeated statement that the Transformers are a race of change and adaptability. Maybe it's in their nature to tend to be more emotional than rational.

It takes extreme measures like the harsh command of Megatron to reign in Cybertronians. Optimus Prime does it by his abilities as a leader and commanding presence. For Prowl, it's about pulling the strings behind the scenes, using someone like Kup as a charismatic figurehead to carry his message and hopefully have his fellow Autobots listen. My hope is that Nick either continues to write more for Prowl or that the other authors actually take note of what Nick has established and run with the ball instead of reverting to "Prowl is a know-it-all jerk" mode. It's so easy to go wrong with a character that is so close to the line of right and wrong.

[Skids]

I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The Prowl/Kup story ranks in the best Transformers-related stories I've ever read.

Liked the new take on Perceptor, lack-of-originality and plot holes be damned. With as many people writing for this ongoing series as there are, filling all the gaps could very well be a daunting task.

Liked the art too, for both stories; I didn't get a chance to comment on AHM #13, but I wasn't really feeling the way Figueroa's been inspired by the Junk-formers too much; his work for the Armada/Energon comics was far better.

Most of all, I like the fact that this story really seems to be going somewhere. Never got all of the AHM-hate to be truthful.

[cybercat]

Yay! I'm late to the party (damn yoooooo work schedule!)! I'll start with the easy stuff: I liked the art. The styles were nicely distinct yet you could recognize characters (like Kup) from one artist's rendition through the other. They were beautifully colored--no distracting overcoloring.

I agree that the 'Go' game was...entirely padding. I'm pretty sure we could have used that page-space to tell more of the relevant story, you know? Which was about Perceptor. It set up a false promise that the story was going to be about Drift. Weirdsville.

I have to admit that while I'm glad to see Prowl getting some character, I have mixed feelings about his character. Yes, he psychologically hangs together beautifully, and everything he says and does makes an absolute and chilling sense so cheers to Nick Roche, but...aren't these supposed to be the *good guys*?! This sort of hearts/minds manipulation, especially so, so very consciously done, really complicates the moral spectrum of the normally squeaky-clean Autobots. I'm not against it--in fact, I YAWN at the 'perfectly pure and good' Autobots as they're normally depicted, but I just wonder why this is showing up...now in the series? Before, when we've had these sorts of moral issues, if memory serves it's been kind of one-off--oh look, he's still angsty about having been tortured by the humans, etc, and we're supposed to feel that he's damaged, but not the Autobots' general moral integrity.

HK, still chewing on it.

[Convotron]

I have to admit that while I'm glad to see Prowl getting some character, I have mixed feelings about his character. Yes, he psychologically hangs together beautifully, and everything he says and does makes an absolute and chilling sense so cheers to Nick Roche, but...aren't these supposed to be the *good guys*?! This sort of hearts/minds manipulation, especially so, so very consciously done, really complicates the moral spectrum of the normally squeaky-clean Autobots. I'm not against it--in fact, I YAWN at the 'perfectly pure and good' Autobots as they're normally depicted, but I just wonder why this is showing up...now in the series? Before, when we've had these sorts of moral issues, if memory serves it's been kind of one-off--oh look, he's still angsty about having been tortured by the humans, etc, and we're supposed to feel that he's damaged, but not the Autobots' general moral integrity.

HK, still chewing on it.

I think the reason this is showing up now is simply due to circumstance. With the Sunstreaker situation resolved, I suppose now is a good time as any to show another darker side of the Autobots. I really like how Nick covered a lot of plot in his half issue short story. I don't know if Prowl's clandestine side is totally Nick's invention or something that has been brainstormed by the overall plotting for the IDW continuity, if such a thing happened.

To me, the way that Prowl is "right" in much of what he puts up as his reasoning for doing things is what makes things so close to wrong. Prowl is all about weighing odds and the pros and cons of scenarios. For him, the pragmatic pros of such degree of manipulation outweigh the moral cons.

As he said, "Necessity rules.". He has, in his opinion, devised strategies for victory but they aren't used by Optimus or they aren't followed through due to emotional interference. To Prowl, the cost of such manipulation is worth the price of preventing further avoidable casualties.

His cold logic can win arguments and he can word things in a way to support his actions but there are times when one doesn't need to be a number cruncher to know right from wrong. I think this is where Prowl might fail in his plans eventually and the consequences of his actions will catch up.

[MagnusPrimal]

Liked the art too, for both stories; I didn't get a chance to comment on AHM #13, but I wasn't really feeling the way Figueroa's been inspired by the Junk-formers too much; his work for the Armada/Energon comics was far better.

Apparently, Don will continue to blend the movieverse designs with G1 designs for the ongoing series. IMO, the faces look awful. I think it's so bad I'm actually not going to buy the book because of it.

I never thought I'd skip a book because Don was doing the art.