The Energon Pub

OMG!

This issue was so good. The artwork is good, if not confusing at times, but overall the story is fabulous, and ...wow!

You get guest appearances by G2 Clench, G2 Starscream (European name?), Cy-Kill, Constructicons, Rat Bat, Soundwave, Laserbeak, Buzzsaw, Rumble, Ravage, Frenzy, and a host of others simply in the background...

There's plenty of Megatron mayhem. He seriously kicks so much ass, one of my problems though is the step from who we saw last issue to who we see this issue was a huge leap. He was super violent, super mean, and yet inspirational to his fellows on his team.

Oh you want to know who we see on the bot side... Sentinel Prime, Prowl, Hound, Suntreaker, Sideswipe, Blades, Roadbuster, Whirl, Pipes (I think)...and many more ala the background details.

I can't wait for more people to get this so we can talk about the story and the craziness that Megatron is coming from, and the beginnings of the Decepticons (Ratbat inspired weaponry?).

Ooo this is going to make some people's year!!!! I must read it again!

Good to know that it's definitely out after the confusion between IDW and Diamond's expected release dates. I'll be hitting the comic shop Saturday for this, the non con cover of GoD and any Wildstorm titles from the last couple of weeks. And whatever else catches my beady little eye.

I must have this issue, but alas, I have to wait

The promotion for Devastation on the back cover is very cool too!

Hot Rod being attacked by two Sunstreakers...now we are definitely seeing some things coming to a head, so to speak!

tigertracks 24 wrote:You get guest appearances by G2 Clench, G2 Starscream (European name?), Cy-Kill, Constructicons, Rat Bat, Soundwave, Laserbeak, Buzzsaw, Rumble, Ravage, Frenzy, and a host of others simply in the background...

OK, the Euro Starscream should be Skyquake. I was very surprised to see him and Clench in the series. Did anyone also notice Gobot Crasher? I'm almost %100 sure she was rolling with Clench's-soon-to-be-Megatron's crew.

So, do you think that was Bumper (Bumblejumper)that got taken out by Megs at the end of the issue.

Overall, a lot better read then the first issue. Nice to see Megs going all native on bots. Love the very first page of the issue. I just laughed out loud. So now we have to figure out who Soundwave is working for. Very interesting roll he had there. Guess he could be working for Ratbat.

Prime Evil wrote:

tigertracks 24 wrote:You get guest appearances by G2 Clench, G2 Starscream (European name?), Cy-Kill, Constructicons, Rat Bat, Soundwave, Laserbeak, Buzzsaw, Rumble, Ravage, Frenzy, and a host of others simply in the background...

OK, the Euro Starscream should be Skyquake. I was very surprised to see him and Clench in the series. Did anyone also notice Gobot Crasher? I'm almost %100 sure she was rolling with Clench's-soon-to-be-Megatron's crew.

So, do you think that was Bumper (Bumblejumper)that got taken out by Megs at the end of the issue.

Overall, a lot better read then the first issue. Nice to see Megs going all native on bots. Love the very first page of the issue. I just laughed out loud. So now we have to figure out who Soundwave is working for. Very interesting roll he had there. Guess he could be working for Ratbat.

YEah, Skyquake was the name I could not remember...

Bumper, I am fairly sure was Bumblejumper.

It looks like Soundwave is working for Ratbat, but that seems a bit odd. I can't wait to read #3!

tigertracks 24 wrote:It looks like Soundwave is working for Ratbat, but that seems a bit odd. I can't wait to read #3!

Yeah, I keep on forgetting that Ratabat is one of Soundwave's tapes sometimes. Wonder what happens that might/will switch their positions around. Then again, Megs is a pretty persuasive Con.

Anyone care to give me the usual suspects (lists of character appearances and creative team involved?)

Darth Bombshell wrote:Anyone care to give me the usual suspects (lists of character appearances and creative team involved?)

There's too damn many. It'd be easier for you just to nab your own copy. Do you want characters with speaking lines only? Cause there are so many...

tigertracks 24 wrote:The promotion for Devastation on the back cover is very cool too!

Hot Rod being attacked by two Sunstreakers...now we are definitely seeing some things coming to a head, so to speak!

I'm dying to read Devastation. I am really wondering if that is Starscream's head we've been (not) seeing. I heard he'll be back, so that's a real possibility (hope so!). They never did specify what they did with him, or if he lived.

tigertracks 24 wrote:It'd be easier for you just to nab your own copy.

It probably would...except I'm not planning to get this series at present. And I can't just go down to check the shop either, because I'm pretty much busy for the next three days.

Moonbase2 wrote:

tigertracks 24 wrote:The promotion for Devastation on the back cover is very cool too!

Hot Rod being attacked by two Sunstreakers...now we are definitely seeing some things coming to a head, so to speak!

I'm dying to read Devastation. I am really wondering if that is Starscream's head we've been (not) seeing. I heard he'll be back, so that's a real possibility (hope so!). They never did specify what they did with him, or if he lived.

Starscream is pretty much confirmed by Ryall as having been in CR since Megs took him out in Infiltration. Clever money on the head is Scorponok since he was last seen in the Magnus Spotlight developing but not perfecting Headmaster tech on Nebulos.

waaaaghlord wrote:

Moonbase2 wrote:

tigertracks 24 wrote:The promotion for Devastation on the back cover is very cool too!

Hot Rod being attacked by two Sunstreakers...now we are definitely seeing some things coming to a head, so to speak!

I'm dying to read Devastation. I am really wondering if that is Starscream's head we've been (not) seeing. I heard he'll be back, so that's a real possibility (hope so!). They never did specify what they did with him, or if he lived.

Starscream is pretty much confirmed by Ryall as having been in CR since Megs took him out in Infiltration. Clever money on the head is Scorponok since he was last seen in the Magnus Spotlight developing but not perfecting Headmaster tech on Nebulos.

Hmmm...

I also see...

Stalker (who was later repainted as Machine Wars Soundwave)
Warpath
Sideswipe
Sunstreaker
Monstructor
Overlord
Slugslinger
Spinister
possibly an Aerialbot
maybe Skullgrin's inner robot
Starscream
Red Alert
Huffer
Hun-Grr
Tantrum
Hound
Blades
possibly Wheeljack
Jazz
Whirl
Roadbuster
Blaster

There is a robot who kinda looks like Blaster's buddy Scrounge from the old Marvel comics (US issues 17 & 18?).

The robot that Hook tosses in the smelter resembles one of the downtrodden robots Megatron walked by while he was telling Ratchet how he survived being blown up on a spacebridge (check US issues 56-58...I'm sure it's one of those).

Two of the Autobots that are in Bumper's memories look like they could be Ironhide and Brawn.

Some of these are just wild guesses. I didn't include ones that lacked enough detail to clearly tell who they were, among them being maybe a Powerdasher drill and two Seekers. And if anyone needs a panel breakdown of where certain guys showed up, let me know.

Artist: Alex Milne and Marcelo Matere
Writer: Eric Holmes
Colors: Josh Perez
Letters: Chris Mowry and Robbie Robbins
Edit: Chris Ryall


Bots: Sunstreaker, Huffer, Sideswipe, Prowl, Red Alert, Blades, Roadbuster, Whirl, Hound, Jazz, Bumper, Fastback, Sentinel Prime, Blaster,

Cons: Megatron, Dreadwing (japanese colors), Spinister, Overlord (? pg.4), Clench, Skyquake, Stalker, Starscream, Senator Ratbat, Soundwave, Hungrr, Tantrum, Rumble, Frenzy, Long Haul, Mixmaster, Scrapper, Hook, Scavenger, Bonecrusher, Lazerbeak, Buzzsaw, and Ravage.

Other: Cykill, quite a few unidentifiable bots participating in the gladiatorial events, or in the crowd cheering.

Spinister ? Overlord ? Time to start putting money to the side for this one...

Creature SH wrote:Spinister ? Overlord ? Time to start putting money to the side for this one...

Don't get too excited, many of those listed are just easter eggs, eye candy, fanwank at this point... still cool to see.

Megatron, Soundwave, Ratbat, Constructicons, Frenzy, and Rumble are the main characters...

I havent picked it up yet.

But, this is off topic but since CyKill is back would IDW ever explore a Go-Bots role (retconned of course) in the current IDW universe? They have already established that there are other robotic races in the universe.

I am glad Tigertracks and Hairball have given you character lists DB, because I couldnt have given you such detailed lists (at least not from the first viewing).

The story in this origins is coming along nicely, and I love the fact that there is no possible way anyone could like this Prime, I think most people will be happy when Megatron off's him later on.

I was not too impressed with the art for this issue, it was dark, and unfocused, making it very hard to tell who is who, and what the hell is going on. This is made even more apparent since we have been spoilt with IDW's other lines.
I know Milne was ill while drawing this series, so maybe that it why the art isnt as good as it normally is?

i_amtrunks wrote:I am glad Tigertracks and Hairball have given you character lists DB, because I couldnt have given you such detailed lists (at least not from the first viewing).

The story in this origins is coming along nicely, and I love the fact that there is no possible way anyone could like this Prime, I think most people will be happy when Megatron off's him later on.

I was not too impressed with the art for this issue, it was dark, and unfocused, making it very hard to tell who is who, and what the hell is going on. This is made even more apparent since we have been spoilt with IDW's other lines.
I know Milne was ill while drawing this series, so maybe that it why the art isnt as good as it normally is?

And the fact that he (alex) was not the only one drawing it. Check the inside cover, Marcelo Matere also drew some pages. I agree though, at times, I am wondering just what we are supposed to be seeing, or how the art is moving the story along. Like the whole Megatron removing his helmet, putting on a crown, removing the crown and replacing it with a helmet again...I'm just not sure. Perhaps it is purposeful to place us even more in Megatron's mind, how things are not as cut and dried as they seem, and can be confusing.


I know I'm reaching.

And here I was thinking that Megatron was just replacing his helmet that was knocked off...

More readings will help, I'm sure.

The battle where Megatron kills Clench was what really confused me, I have no idea whats going on.

i_amtrunks wrote:And here I was thinking that Megatron was just replacing his helmet that was knocked off...

More readings will help, I'm sure.

The battle where Megatron kills Clench was what really confused me, I have no idea whats going on.

I have to agree, but it looks to be an inner group rivalry, or perhaps, a gladiator combat with teams, where supposedly they are surrounded, and Clench is trying to lead, but falters. I think that an opposing team member, is forced into attacking and maiming Clench, so that Megatron ccan take over the leadership of the small group, and it appears the overall leadership of the gladitorial games.

tigertracks 24 wrote:

Creature SH wrote:Spinister ? Overlord ? Time to start putting money to the side for this one...

Don't get too excited, many of those listed are just easter eggs, eye candy, fanwank at this point... still cool to see.

Megatron, Soundwave, Ratbat, Constructicons, Frenzy, and Rumble are the main characters...

Yeah, I know... But how often does one see those guys in anything official ? Or at all ?

Creature SH wrote:

tigertracks 24 wrote:

Creature SH wrote:Spinister ? Overlord ? Time to start putting money to the side for this one...

Don't get too excited, many of those listed are just easter eggs, eye candy, fanwank at this point... still cool to see.

Megatron, Soundwave, Ratbat, Constructicons, Frenzy, and Rumble are the main characters...

Yeah, I know... But how often does one see those guys in anything official ? Or at all ?

yeah, of the b-listed decepticons I'ld luv to see those two in anything. But if Overlord gets any real face time i'ld have to come up with a new word to replace fanwank

I just gotta get this!

i loved this myself. eric is aquiting himself admirably in this series. the use of the constructicons was inspired and ratbats role! my current theory is he's attempting to use megs to make a fortune and its all gonna end up in payback as a cassette

its the little touches that got me though. the inclusion of all the euro exclussive/ machine wars characters and bots like sunstreaker and sideswipe watching the match in the audience. definetly in keeping with their less than clean personalities. more of this please!

i must say though i like this prime. he comes off like sam elliots character in "we were soldiers" and he runs the bots like "hill streets blues". this issue was alot denser than number 1 and if it continues like this megatron origin could be the best TF tale this year (no mean feat with devestation on the way!)

in fact my only conscern is its only 4 issues long. it really couldve been 6