The Energon Pub

[Darth Bombshell]

So the last issue of Mike Costa's latest literary crime against nature was released today with little advanced fanfare (no preview that I've been able to find; no surprise, really. These things are five pages, and, much like the previous three stories, the story really doesn't kick in till later...), and for those expecting a decent ending to the whole thing...

...well, you'll be disappointed. Much like the rest of his work, Costa promises much, but doesn't deliver.

To boil it down, Ironhide scraps some of the Swarm, Alpha Trion/Mike pulls a Yoda when Ironhide wants answers, Metroplex wakes up to squash more of the Swarm, Sunstreaker/Mike takes another whizz over continuity, Alpha Trion and Metroplex bugger off leaving 'Streaker and Ironhide on Cybertron to kill off the Swarm, and the last page pretty much leaving a clear indication that Ironhide intends to off himself again.

When the first issue was solicited, it ended with this question: You didn't really think his death was just some stunt with no ramifications, did you? Considering the entire mini had no real point at all, took four issues to get less than a quarter of the story done, what plot there was in the thing was boring as hell and with end clearly implying that the main character was going to die again, I say now, as I said then...

Yes, yes it was. Sad thing is, this thing was solicited and promoted to make sure it wasn't. Which makes it sad, though not surprising, that it couldn't.

[Cyberstrike]

So the last issue of Mike Costa's latest literary crime against nature was released today with little advanced fanfare (no preview that I've been able to find; no surprise, really. These things are five pages, and, much like the previous three stories, the story really doesn't kick in till later...), and for those expecting a decent ending to the whole thing...

...well, you'll be disappointed. Much like the rest of his work, Costa promises much, but doesn't deliver.

To boil it down, Ironhide scraps some of the Swarm, Alpha Trion/Mike pulls a Yoda when Ironhide wants answers, Metroplex wakes up to squash more of the Swarm, Sunstreaker/Mike takes another whizz over continuity, Alpha Trion and Metroplex bugger off leaving 'Streaker and Ironhide on Cybertron to kill off the Swarm, and the last page pretty much leaving a clear indication that Ironhide intends to off himself again.

When the first issue was solicited, it ended with this question: You didn't really think his death was just some stunt with no ramifications, did you? Considering the entire mini had no real point at all, took four issues to get less than a quarter of the story done, what plot there was in the thing was boring as hell and with end clearly implying that the main character was going to die again, I say now, as I said then...

Yes, yes it was. Sad thing is, this thing was solicited and promoted to make sure it wasn't. Which makes it sad, though not surprising, that it couldn't.

When has death in ANY Transformers series from Marvel, DW, or IDW (or any other comic book character's death, for that matter in the last 15-20 years) ever had major ramifications longer than six issues?

It was a PR stunt to drum up sales period. I knew it was, and thus it didn't bother me, and you should have damn well known what it is too. That's why publishers do it: to get attention from mainstream media, piss fans off and increase sales.

I mean Optimus Prime's first death in the Marvel series was never going to be permanent since a backdoor to bring him back was written in the same issue. The fact Ironhide stayed dead for 7 months is pointless given that 99.9% of major deaths in comics are reversible. So was Costa wrong to "kill" off no, because even if Simon "can do no wrong" Furman it would have been the same.

The reason that I've greatly enjoyed McCarty and Costa's work on Transformers because he's taken the franchise into new territory and Furman's whole IDW output was nothing new or special it was the same damn thing he wrote for Marvel. I want to new stories not rehashes of the same old crap that I can read in TPB any time I want.

[The Legend]

When has death in ANY Transformers series from Marvel, DW, or IDW (or any other comic book character's death, for that matter in the last 15-20 years) ever had major ramifications longer than six issues?

Catilla? Cyclonus, Scourge and Galvatron? Optimus Prime?

[Burn]

The first issue I liked.

But from there it went downhill. After reading #4 ... ugh. That was one of the worst comics i've read in a while. Completely and utterly pointless.

It's definitely a mini-series people can skip.

[Darth Bombshell]

The reason that I've greatly enjoyed McCarty and Costa's work on Transformers because he's taken the franchise into new territory and Furman's whole IDW output was nothing new or special it was the same damn thing he wrote for Marvel.

OK, if we're going to go down that road, let's take a look at this. Basically, the IDW TV 'verse is a vehicle, and the writer's the guy at the wheel. Furman may have a habit of trotting down well beaten paths, but at least you can know that the guy is dependable and won’t swerve you around and try to scare the living daylights out of you. When McCarthy and Costa got the keys, any resemblance of that pretty much went out the window the minute they metaphorically downed a bottle of Jack and proceeded to speed down the road at top speed, regardless of what they did to the car or anyone they pissed off along the way.

As the old saying goes, new does not always equate to better. I'd rather have something old and reliable than something new that could go south at the drop of a hat.

[Chaoslock]

Well, Costa did it again! This was a totally pointless issue. Give 2 pages to issue 3 to sum these one instead, and the end would be the same. Or give another issue to it to have a proper ending, with some climax, but instead we got... NOTHING.

The whole issue summed up: "A3: Here's a Duracell battery with a lifetime guarantee, play around Cybertron for the rest of your days, Ironhide."

Ironhide offing a whole planet-full of insecticons that even made the wreckers and the remains of the Autobots army run for their lives... extra-size BS.

I feel sorry that I re-renewed my preorder for this miniseries. It was money thrown out the window.


At least by Furman, you knew if somebody died, he would stay dead... or be a zombie... or at least his revival would be cool and move the plot forward- but here, Costa brought back Sun "Prof X" Streaker for....... why did he brought him back again???-

[sabrigami]

Well, Costa did it again! This was a totally pointless issue. Give 2 pages to issue 3 to sum these one instead, and the end would be the same. Or give another issue to it to have a proper ending, with some climax, but instead we got... NOTHING.

The whole issue summed up: "A3: Here's a Duracell battery with a lifetime guarantee, play around Cybertron for the rest of your days, Ironhide."

Ironhide offing a whole planet-full of insecticons that even made the wreckers and the remains of the Autobots army run for their lives... extra-size BS.

I feel sorry that I re-renewed my preorder for this miniseries. It was money thrown out the window.


At least by Furman, you knew if somebody died, he would stay dead... or be a zombie... or at least his revival would be cool and move the plot forward- but here, Costa brought back Sun "Prof X" Streaker for....... why did he brought him back again???-

I actually liked this Mini at first, but now that I've read the whole thing I have to agree that's it's really pointless. I thought I'd never say this, but I wish Sunny would have stayed gone, at least then he would have some semblance of dignity left (A wheelchair? Really?). This really didn't need 4 issues. While the last three were passable on their own this last one felt like a total waste. Way to go Costa, you did it again...sigh. The only bright spot was A3. He was a hoot, too bad the story and reasonings around him were a load of scrap. He was still cool though.

Oh well, at least I will soon have LSotW to read. That will keep me happy for a bit. Guess it's time to stay off of the comics for a bit until Costa gets a clue or gets out. I couldn't agree with your feelings more right now DB, I really couldn't.

[Tigertrack]

There wasn't much to read. Most of the issue was Ironhide hitting things with Insecticon colors.

But what there was to read left me bored, frustrated, ashamed, and wanting to go read some Marvel, or even DW Transformers comics for some sort of perspective. Instead I fell asleep. Same result.

Anyway, I say 'NO PRIZE's around for everyone who saw that it was indeed Metroplex. I suppose some of the more detail oriented among us will go back and read Spotlight Metroplex again, and see if the clues lead to is being A3 that he is on a mission to protect.

C'mon IDW... Are you guys really approving this stuff? Useless mini-series around, they know how Bumblebee was received, and now they blow this into our faces?

I admit and agree with others, the first issue or two with the flashbacks that give us more about IH's past were intriguing. The mystery of his reincarnation (supposed at that time) was yet to be revealed.

But then we found out why... "I need you to step in and take this bullet for Metroplex... 'cause that's what you do. Metroplex is too large to stomp them himself, and I can't be bothered. So you do it. And then you can... whatever you want, just not come with us, cause then you are worthless. I mean, not of use to us anyway. Oh and I fixed your friend, but decided I want to take him with me..."

This was all just ridiculous to me. I read it, I bought them, I wanted to like it. I am unsatisfied. I got done, it said the end (with a title page as the last page), and I felt like, wait, what, did this just end, cause I feel like I got robbed.

Issues 3 and 4 are no good. It's just IH getting his fighting groove on for no apparent reason.

Metroplex couldn't just like blast off??? Apparently they had enough power to make the lifelong battery... What? Energizer Bunny to help IH. Good. He won't be alone. Oh yeah, Sunstreaker gave up becoming fully functional to stay with IH, or burden him more.

I would like to know how Cybertron is going to get better. If IH just wipes out the SWARM, what will happen to Cybertron?

Yay, IDW. My money for you. I did enjoy your Jurassic Park series so far though, although it's tough to follow.

[Darth Bombshell]

I couldn't agree with your feelings more right now DB, I really couldn't.

That's pretty scary, really. Usually I'm written off as a crackpot asshat. When people actually start agreeing with me about the sorry state of the comics verse, I know there's a problem.

[Chupacabra Convoy]

Just read it, and wow. Costa blew his load in issue 1 and 2. As for the ending I don't think Ironhide went to off himself again, but rather ponder the last few cycles worth of events, how Cybertron got to his sorry state, and his lot in life. As for the rebirth of Cybertron, i guess that's where Alpha Trion and Metroplex are off to. I am kind of pissed on how Sunstreaker got shafted in the end there. The whole crippled aspect didn't bother me, but more so how quickly he gets pushed aside the second he pops up in the story. I mean the one chance he gets to shine, and Ironhide shuts him up mid confession. What the hell? Here's hoping for a Sunstreaker spotlight.

The reason that I've greatly enjoyed McCarty and Costa's work on Transformers because he's taken the franchise into new territory and Furman's whole IDW output was nothing new or special it was the same damn thing he wrote for Marvel. I want to new stories not rehashes of the same old crap that I can read in TPB any time I want.

I think main problem with Ironhide and the ongoing series is this "write for the trade" BS. I think this series might played better if it was two slightly oversized issues, even with this bizarre ending. The strong start of the series built up so much movement and anticipation that this ending just couldn't live up to it. Had it been shorter the story would've been less of a let down, and more economically viable to be picked up. I did like All Hail, and despite it's problems, the ongoing does have my attention, but the pacing of everything is hurting the way the stories unfold. I did love the characterization Thundercracker has gotten so far, but it is due more to the fact that he hasn't had enough to make up a single issue until the past year. Also, I feel Transformer comics have been over saturated with Optimus Prime, so having Bumblebee coming in is a fresh breath of air, even though I felt that Jazz should've been made the leader.

Last Stand of the Wreckers proved that Transformers fans want and can handle a lot ideas in a single issue if they're handle well. I mean we play with toys that most people wouldn't have a clue to handle, for fun. My friends say that they should make self transforming toys, which to me utterly defeats the purpose of making them in the first place. All my friends complain about making Ikea furniture, but Ikea got nothing on alternators, and a lot of the movie toys.

[Chupacabra Convoy]

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[Dagon]

I couldn't agree with your feelings more right now DB, I really couldn't.

That's pretty scary, really. Usually I'm written off as a crackpot asshat. When people actually start agreeing with me about the sorry state of the comics verse, I know there's a problem.

Well, I guess that speaks volumes about me as a person, since I find you honest and refreshingly so in the state of a fandom that pretty much eats its own when they are down on something. I find myself agreeing with you almost all the time.

I haven't kept up with Ironhide becuase Bumblebee and the ongoing were killing it for me. We all know that nothing is perfect, but I liked the -itions and AHM, and the new ongoing was just getting to be too much of too little. Was it issue 4 that focused on Thundercracker? that one was good and then after that, poop. I read the first issue of BB and just threw my hands up. Wow, really? The Eternal Sidekick and a crisis of command? Heady, heady stuff there IDW/ (That was sarcasm, to either rectify or amplify the butthurt, which ever it struck anyone as....)

Spotlight Metroplex was giving me hope for something cool in the pipeline, then the more recent stuff bored me to tears. In fairness, I haven't even seen a copy of Last Stand of the Wreckers, which got pretty good press 'round here, and I'm still hoping to read that when it comes out in TPB. Just didn't want to sound like a total knob over here.

[Darth Bombshell]

I find you honest and refreshingly so in the state of a fandom that pretty much eats its own when they are down on something. I find myself agreeing with you almost all the time.

Wow. Thanks. I think you need to sign up at the IDW boards. Every time I do this over there, they always gang up on me and chew me out.

[Chupacabra Convoy]

I find you honest and refreshingly so in the state of a fandom that pretty much eats its own when they are down on something. I find myself agreeing with you almost all the time.

Wow. Thanks. I think you need to sign up at the IDW boards. Every time I do this over there, they always gang up on me and chew me out.

Well, they have a understandable bias, but that's not a reason/excuse for the jerk behavior on their part. So it's like going to a Rolling Stones concert just to say they suck (A waste of your time). Neutral ground is a beautiful thing where everybody with a brain knows to play fair. Oh, good to see you're still around (If I haven't said so already in the Old School Shout thread that I made).

[Random]

Ok, two questions:

Where does this fall in the current timeline? I'm thinking sometime during AHM, possibly between a Spotlight...after the whole "Sunstreaker Headmaster" deal.

At what point did Megatron banish the Autobots from Earth?

[Chaoslock]

Ok, two questions:

Where does this fall in the current timeline? I'm thinking sometime during AHM, possibly between a Spotlight...after the whole "Sunstreaker Headmaster" deal.

At what point did Megatron banish the Autobots from Earth?

1. After the Ongoing 1

2. Sometime between Revelations (the 4-issue spotlight end of IDW) and AHM - for further info, read AHM.

[Dead Metal]

I find you honest and refreshingly so in the state of a fandom that pretty much eats its own when they are down on something. I find myself agreeing with you almost all the time.

Wow. Thanks. I think you need to sign up at the IDW boards. Every time I do this over there, they always gang up on me and chew me out.

You should check out the last post/thread I made there:
http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopi ... ht=#115504

[Calvatron]

I find you honest and refreshingly so in the state of a fandom that pretty much eats its own when they are down on something. I find myself agreeing with you almost all the time.

Wow. Thanks. I think you need to sign up at the IDW boards. Every time I do this over there, they always gang up on me and chew me out.

Please no. there's no reason to add more general bitterness to a group of over-opinionated and often immature postings. It would be so nice if things could stay to concrete discussion about specific issues rather than acting like the 'utimate fan duo' on Metalocalypse. I don't necessarily like where things are going over all, but i can understand that what i want isn't going to come back, period, so there's no point in just talking **** every time something gets released. If you have a critique, fine, but this general uproar that occurs two or three times a month is just tiring. I would so prefer if these people expressed their opinions solely with their wallet at this point, cause i'm tired of hearing 'IDW sucks' as a supposedly concrete criticism.

That said. Alpha Trion was amusing, but i really wish that there was a more concrete explanation given for why Ironhide blowing up the swarm helps save Cybertron. It just doesn't make any sense. It would be nice for this to feel like a "Transformers" comic again rather than a comic that happens to feature the Transformers. Costa has some nice ideas, but i think he would be help greatly if he sat down and wrote out an entire world view for his vision of transformers: who's where, what's going on with each major territory, a history of events, and a set of rules and guidelines for how things work. Having created such a strong structure would really help him to ground his stories in the relevant.

[sabrigami]

I find you honest and refreshingly so in the state of a fandom that pretty much eats its own when they are down on something. I find myself agreeing with you almost all the time.

Wow. Thanks. I think you need to sign up at the IDW boards. Every time I do this over there, they always gang up on me and chew me out.

Please no. there's no reason to add more general bitterness to a group of over-opinionated and often immature postings. It would be so nice if things could stay to concrete discussion about specific issues rather than acting like the 'utimate fan duo' on Metalocalypse. I don't necessarily like where things are going over all, but i can understand that what i want isn't going to come back, period, so there's no point in just talking **** every time something gets released. If you have a critique, fine, but this general uproar that occurs two or three times a month is just tiring. I would so prefer if these people expressed their opinions solely with their wallet at this point, cause i'm tired of hearing 'IDW sucks' as a supposedly concrete criticism.

While I know some people simply state that "IDW sucks", I haven't actually seen many people just post that without a little blurb why. The only exception I can think of is those who have actually posted a lot about their opinions on the subject and just say it sucks now because they are tired of typing the same stuff again and again.

That being said I have no problems with new things. I love new ideas and concepts as long as they are presented well and with some thought. In my opinion IDW just doesn't do this very well. There just seems to be a lack of quality with the writing, art(in some cases) and continuity (including bot appearances and consistency in personalities). It's the lack of quality that bothers me about IDW these days.

[Dagon]

I find you honest and refreshingly so in the state of a fandom that pretty much eats its own when they are down on something. I find myself agreeing with you almost all the time.

Wow. Thanks. I think you need to sign up at the IDW boards. Every time I do this over there, they always gang up on me and chew me out.

Well, I mean it sincerly. As was said in the post above this one I think, you shouldn't be able to get away with just saying "So and such sucks" without quantifying your belief, you should be able to disapprove of something with out being criticized for that. As long as you can support your claim, it's a valid one, and you DB, you seem to be one of the few people on Seibertron that remembers that. You are routinely down on recent IDW comics, but you can at least back up what your reasons are. You are like the opposite of the movie forum, which either loves or hates in totality and then doesn't listen to your reasons if you have a less staunch assessment. All of that was meant as a compliment, so, if it came out differently, I'm sorry. You recognize the idea that we don't have to love every TF related thing, which has become my personal existential TF crisis as of late, and which most other mods on here don't seem to grasp either.

Dead Metal's post on the IDW board has a lot of truth in it too, and it;s a perfect example of what I'm trying to say in the previous paragraph. At least give a reason.

[Stormwolf]

Just finished this miniseries.

The writing contradicts the previous information we had on the Insecticon Swarm. Ironhide along with a dozen or so other Autobots barely managed to fight the swarm. Yet now he can take on hundreds without any help whatsoever.

Costa is atleast trying to clean up the mess AHM made. That bit about Alpha Trion slowly restoring Cybertron is a nice retcon to explain why Cybertron is habitable again.

As a bonus we get Alpha Trion with a actual personality, he's a complete dick, awesome


My rating 6/10.

Not the best story, but definately a step up from the ongoing.

[partholon]

i actually really liked this.

ok the whole series reads like a contintuity fix to address furture stories im sure costa is going to touch on in time , what with all the dandgling threads left from furmans and mccarthys run in relation to the state of cybertron essentially resolved.

by the end of this the trion, the radiation storms, and the swarm are all gone and cybertron is habitable again - if still a husk.

its just the WHOLE thing couldve been done as a subplot in the ongoing that wouldve improved that book no end.

i really couldnt care less about alpha trion so where he's going really doesnt bother me but it was good to see metroplex literally put the smackdown on the remnants of the swarm and while others have intimated that they mayve been reproducing i really got the sense there was only the 2900 odd that megs created and had no problem beliveing ironhide took the majority of them out before met finished the job.

the return of sunstreaker does seem redundant but i presume its because costa wants to use him down the road and i have to say i liked the banter between him and IH what with one not knowing what the other actually DID and IH essentialy being now the bot he was 4 million years ago or so.

the art was lovely and i really liked the colours in this. i dont usually go on about colouring but IDW screw up in that dept every now and again so i like to point out when i think they actually done well.

about the only problem i have is again we've got lots of wasted panels. the whole series really couldve been done in three parts and not felt rushed.

still i did in the main enjoy this series, which is more than i can say about ongoing. its NOT perfect but its a step in the right direction. looks like ill be reading the minis to get my TF fix for the foreseeable.

[Stormer]

With the exception of Last Stand of the Wreckers - now that team really needs to be doing more with Transformers! - I've found Ongoing kinda boring, and while Iron Hide had a few good parts, I was disappointed by ending of IH. I get the sense there is more to the story, but it's just not coming out fast enough for me. It's all just an endless set-up for more, but there's no point. The stories build and build, and then the end plateaus to a lackluster finish. LSOTW left me jaw-dropped and excited for more. We'll see how the Drift series goes - Who's writing that? McCarthy? I so much want to like it, just like I desperately want to like IH and Ongoing...

That being said I have no problems with new things. I love new ideas and concepts as long as they are presented well and with some thought. In my opinion IDW just doesn't do this very well. There just seems to be a lack of quality with the writing, art(in some cases) and continuity (including bot appearances and consistency in personalities). It's the lack of quality that bothers me about IDW these days.

I'm with you there! I love new ideas and heading in different directions - it's just not done well right now. I don't want a story arc to just be ok, I want it to be great.

[angelababy]

This was a totally pointless issue. Give 2 pages to issue 3 to sum these one instead, and the end would be the same. thought I'd never say this, but I wish Sunny would have stayed gone, at least then he would have some semblance of dignity left. As for the ending I don't think Ironhide went to off himself again, but rather ponder the last few cycles worth of events, how Cybertron got to his sorry state, and his lot in life.