The Energon Pub

Nobody seems to have started a thread about this yet, which I find strange. Didn't many people pick this up, or is it so uneventful that it's not worth discussing?

Anyway, what did everyone think of the issue? I got a little bored of this one, to be honest. The Megatron/Optimus Prime fight was good, but as it dominated much of the issue, not a lot else happened. I'm not a huge fan of watching them fight, to be honest. I prefer Furman's more cerebral moments. Of course, I appreciate that a) many fans love some heavy robot fighting and b) it is quite essential.

Prime seems to have taken a beating and looks nearly off-line by the end. Is this the IDW Death of Optimus Prime? I doubt it.

Koska (his facsimile, at least) has finally been apprehended. Where will the story go from here? Will the Autobots attempt to locate and shut down every facsimile on Earth? What will Megatron's next move be?

The first page was the most interesting to me. We've discussed the identity of the mystery bot in the preview thread so I don't want to go over it here really. I just like the fact that there's other parties in the mix. I'm still of the mind that its Scorponok. Even the machinery in the background of panel three resembles Scorponok's scorpion mode legs. Combine that with the comment about being a team, the fact the silhouette resembles the shape of Scorponok's head, which got damaged in Magnus' spotlight, etc. Blast, I didn't want to talk about this here.

Add to this the unearthing of Shockwave and the Dinobots at the end of this issue, it looks like the ranks will be swelled by the time "Devastation" hits our shelves.

The artwork is good. Skywarp's Skywarp, again, and not Thundercracker.

Astrotrain: in "Infiltration", his robot was cartoon coloured. Now, in "Escalation", his shuttle mode is white, but an up-angle shot in one of the previous issues (3 or 4) of his shuttle mode suggested his underside was purple (or black with purple highlights). What version have they gone with here?

Comments? Opinions? Or are we bored of this story now?

For VSD:

Optimus Prime
Prowl
Jazz
Wheeljack
Ironhide
Ratchet
Hot Rod
Hardhead
Roller

Verity Carlo
Jimmy Pink
Georgi Koska (facsimile)

Megatron
Skywarp
Astrotrain
Starscream (referenced, not seen)

Mystery robot
Dante (mystery bot's human/facsimile associate)

Shockwave
Snarl
Sludge (possibly Slag)
The Machination or Skywatch
The archeologists from the end of Shockwave's spotlight (I forget their names, though I think it does say).

I was very annoyed that the first page or so repeated scenes or at least info from Issue 4. It took me a minute to figure out that I was infact reading a new issue.

Counterpunch wrote:I was very annoyed that the first page or so repeated scenes or at least info from Issue 4. It took me a minute to figure out that I was infact reading a new issue.

Do you mean banter between Optimus and Megatron?

I loved the fact that the prologue takes place in Tampa, Florida
Not sure what Furman's connection with the Bay area is but thisn't the first time he used Tampa as a staging ground for one of his stories.

All in all I am liking this story. The fight between Prime and Megs was great. I'm interested to see the final outcome in the next issue.

The last page was quite interesting as well. I can't wait to see what happens when Shockwave and Grimlock come online again. Not to mention the other Dinobots.

I am so hoping that something happens w/old Shocky & the Dinobots. I was doubtful he would return after the events of Spotlight Shockwave, but now I have other thoughts.......I'm still waiting for a Gestalt to make an appearance though.......&, if Shockwave is gonna be used, there's always the possibility of my favorite to make a comeback from 20 years of transformation lock.........................damn that Bludgeon.......

I think it's a safe bet to say Shockwave and the Dinobots will come back online, and if Grimlock sets out for vengeance against Shockwave, then Optimus Prime is going to have a hard time reigning him in.

Gestalts won't appear, I don't think, until "Devastation", and I'm assuming the first one we see (maybe the only one for the time being) will be Devastator. Pure speculation, though.

As for setting the Interlude in Tampa, well, Furman could have just picked somewhere off a map. Then again, Furman often picks places with unusual names (Eden, etc.). Maybe he chose Tampa because this third party is going to be tampering with events on Earth...?

I neeeeed to re-read this

Well, Zarak is (presumably) dead, so I could see them introducing a new headmaster partner for Scorponok (though I don't see the Scorpion legs in any of the panels, or remember Scorponok being that badly damaged).

But anyway, that would suggest the TF hunters running about work for Scorponok, which would again sort of echo G1 Marvel. These guys could end up being partnered with Mindwipe, Skullcruncher, etc. And if that's the case, could it be that Hunter is being binary bonded to Sunstreaker? That would be a bizarre combination I think.

And I think an entire comic devoted to Megatron and Optimus's first fight of the series was justified.

Leonardo wrote:I think it's a safe bet to say Shockwave and the Dinobots will come back online, and if Grimlock sets out for vengeance against Shockwave, then Optimus Prime is going to have a hard time reigning him in.

Gestalts won't appear, I don't think, until "Devastation", and I'm assuming the first one we see (maybe the only one for the time being) will be Devastator. Pure speculation, though.

And? What about my beloved Soundwave?!?!?!

Decepticlone Soundwave wrote:

Leonardo wrote:I think it's a safe bet to say Shockwave and the Dinobots will come back online, and if Grimlock sets out for vengeance against Shockwave, then Optimus Prime is going to have a hard time reigning him in.

Gestalts won't appear, I don't think, until "Devastation", and I'm assuming the first one we see (maybe the only one for the time being) will be Devastator. Pure speculation, though.

And? What about my beloved Soundwave?!?!?!

My guess is the G-men will take the recently unearthed Shockwave to where-ever they have Ravage and Laserbeak. Shockwave will reactivate, restore the cassettes, and send them to look for Soundwave.

Caelus wrote:Well, Zarak is (presumably) dead, so I could see them introducing a new headmaster partner for Scorponok (though I don't see the Scorpion legs in any of the panels, or remember Scorponok being that badly damaged).

But anyway, that would suggest the TF hunters running about work for Scorponok, which would again sort of echo G1 Marvel. These guys could end up being partnered with Mindwipe, Skullcruncher, etc. And if that's the case, could it be that Hunter is being binary bonded to Sunstreaker? That would be a bizarre combination I think.

And I think an entire comic devoted to Megatron and Optimus's first fight of the series was justified.

The scorpion legs aren't actually in any of the panels. It just there's machinery that looks like them.

Hunter binary bonded to Sunstreaker? That would be different! I like it, though. Maybe they'll intend to bond Hunter to Sunstreaker but instead Hunter might end up being bonded with Hardhead? Who knows?

I agree with your suppositions on Soundwave. Presumably that will happen in "Devastation"?

Well, it certainly was a good read.

I didn't start a thread on it because we had already started talking about it on the five page preview thread, I believe.

I happen to believe the disembodied head could be Starscream, only because I read an interview with Ryall that said Starscream would be a large part of Devastation. Maybe he is going to get a Pretender armor? (yeah right!)

If you have to have a base somewhere why not in Florida??? I mean the Dreadnoks like it okay, right???

The return of the dinobots...ready for a meeting with Devastator in 'Devastation'? That would be really cool! If they can get their systems fixed so there are no Energon problems like before they can kick some serious @$$!!

Prime got PWN'd.

A great read with Megs showing why he is the leader of the cons. I see what you mean about those macine legs, but I was thinking they look like those arms they use on car assembly plants. Hot Rod reminded me of a kid hugging a teddy bear, the way he was holding Koska in that bear hug. And Skywatch have taken over the dig? I believe there is a fourth team entering play here folks.

tigertracks 24 wrote:The return of the dinobots...ready for a meeting with Devastator in 'Devastation'? That would be really cool! If they can get their systems fixed so there are no Energon problems like before they can kick some serious @$$!!

Since the unstable Energon fields seem to have left (since the other guys don't seem to have a problem) I rekon the dinos only need a little tinkering and a kick start with their power grid to bring them back.

Compare the image of the building in Tampa with the Zarak Corporation. The central buildings are identical in structure, including the road layout around it and the little circular centerpiece out front. Further suggesting it's Scorpinok. And for those who think he wasn't damaged except for his eyebrows getting singed, look carefully. The blast actually richochetes off his chest and into his head which could explain all this damage he suffered. If it is him.

I rekon those who found Ravage and Laserbeak were not the Machination, but this Skywatch.

Leonardo wrote:Astrotrain: in "Infiltration", his robot was cartoon coloured. Now, in "Escalation", his shuttle mode is white, but an up-angle shot in one of the previous issues (3 or 4) of his shuttle mode suggested his underside was purple (or black with purple highlights). What version have they gone with here?

Astrotrain has been white from the get go. Except for the underside of his shuttle mode, but real shuttles have black undersides. He hasn't been in train mode yet (unless he was in #3 which I have on backorder now so I can finally find out who this Koska is and why he's so important. In a few weeks.)

I just went on a huge Transformers comic book binge today. Went out with the aim of getting the TPB of "Infiltration" to see what it was like but the store also had the TPB of "Stormbringer" and issues 1-5 of Escalation so how could I refuse? For the record I've found it all pretty good but obviously I'll just discuss Escalation #5.

I've not read any of the "Spotlight" stories yet (I know, shame shame) so I didn't have any clue as to who it could be on the first page but my first hope is Starscream 'cause he got pretty trashed in the finale of Infiltration and who knows what Megatron did with him?

I like the first part of the Prime-Megs fight, especially the banter they have with one and other...brings back memories of the old days. Speaking of the old days I loved the little movie bit of the fight where Megatron says "I need no weapons to kill you Prime...bare hands will suffice!" needless to say I cracked a wide grin at that point. All in all I liked the issue but it is fair to say that the fight, while good, wasn't really strong enough to carry the whole issue the way it does.

I'm desperate to know whats happened to the kids so I'm waiting for Issue #6 with baited breath. In closing, my favourite lines from this issue:

PROWL: One of us'll have to run interference.
HOT ROD: Er, if that's operational jargon for getting shot at...I vote you.
PROWL Yeah, thanks.

My main reason for thinking it isn't Starscream is because last we knew he was recovering in a CR chamber back at the Decepticon base. And even before they hauled him to the CR chamber, there was more of him left than his head.

Insurgent wrote:

tigertracks 24 wrote:The return of the dinobots...ready for a meeting with Devastator in 'Devastation'? That would be really cool! If they can get their systems fixed so there are no Energon problems like before they can kick some serious @$$!!

Since the unstable Energon fields seem to have left...

Until more is said, I'm crediting that to:

A) The natural evolution of Shockwave's work, the Ore-13 being the aberrant biproduct of his being unable to complete it.

or

B) The Earth's seconf moon transformed into a death-satellite and incinerated the surface, stabilizing the energon.




Edit: Pulled out the Ultra Magnus Spotlight and took another look at it. Our Mystery 'Con is definitely Scorponok.

Insurgent wrote:Compare the image of the building in Tampa with the Zarak Corporation. The central buildings are identical in structure, including the road layout around it and the little circular centerpiece out front. Further suggesting it's Scorpinok.

Good spot! I doff my hat to you.

As Caelus said, I'm loathed to think it's Starscream, for the simple reason the shape of mystery bot's head doesn't match that of Starscream's. Starscream has grills on the side of his side, this mystery fellow has horns/antennae, a la Scorponok.

Insurgent, I summised they had picked white Astrotrain, but in "Infiltration" he really is cartoon-coloured (grey with purple trim). Maybe he's a grey train?

Leonardo wrote:Insurgent, I summised they had picked white Astrotrain, but in "Infiltration" he really is cartoon-coloured (grey with purple trim). Maybe he's a grey train?

Really? I thought he was an 'off-white' due to shadows darkening him a bit. Dang, I hate being colour-blind at times.

Caelus wrote:The natural evolution of Shockwave's work, the Ore-13 being the aberrant biproduct of his being unable to complete it.

Actually, he did finish his work on Earth. He signalled his ship to transport him up and that's when he realised it wasn't there and an attack was coming. He didn't get to finish on other planets though. But I guess the stabalisation could be contributed to him finishing. Doesn't matter really, it gave the same result.

I don't want to make a new thread for this thing I've just noticed so hopefully its alright to put it here. Its about Bumblebee's design in the Infiltration/Escalation series.



Is it me or are his shoulders made of the side parts of his feet? What's up with that!?

That's actually his front lights that split to give him the added shoulder bulk. His feet are his rear lights.

Let's take it that Scorponock is on Earth. It follows then that Ultra Magnus, if not already here, is on his way.

What if, with Optimus Prime dead or incapacitated, that we see Ultra Magnus arriving and being forced into taking command of the Autobots - that would tie in nicely with Magnus's character trait of being a soldier and not a leader but being forced to take command because of the situation? Think this is likely?

Great stuff in this issue, did anybody catch the Triple I cameo?

Insurgent wrote:That's actually his front lights that split to give him the added shoulder bulk. His feet are his rear lights.

Correct. I seem to recall, when "Infiltration" first came out, someone posted a rant about how they'd gotten Bumblebee's design wrong, only for everyone else to raise this point!

I missed the Triple I cameo, where was this?

And Astrotrain is definitely a dark E-hobby grey in my issues, not off-white.

Leonardo wrote:I missed the Triple I cameo, where was this?

Here's a hint; "In the national national interest".

It's on the last page.

Stormwolf wrote:

Leonardo wrote:I missed the Triple I cameo, where was this?

Here's a hint; "In the national national interest".

It's on the last page.

Ah, yes, thanks!

stormwolf wrote:Here's a hint; "In the national national interest".

It's on the last page.

I thought that was the people from Skywatch (who also captured Laserbeak at the end of Soundwave Spotlight). Who are Triple I? I've heard that name mentioned before but I don't actually know anything about them.

Leonardo wrote:And Astrotrain is definitely a dark E-hobby grey in my issues, not off-white.

Ah well, must just be my dodgy eyes not seeing it right.