The Energon Pub

So, I found this to be a nice change of pace comic, and not at all what I expected it to be.

I was quite impressed when we changed from Kupp's point of view to the other autobots, at just how deranged the radiation had made Kup. I guess I was really not ready for what was revealed to us about who Kup was actually thrashing, and why.

I really liked Springer's dedication to him, and I cannot believe how many 'bots got trashed trying to retrieve him.

Also loved the Prowl/Springer interaction. You certainly could see a big difference in how these two Autobot commanders ran their individual groups.

tigertracks 24 wrote:So, I found this to be a nice change of pace comic, and not at all what I expected it to be.

I was quite impressed when we changed from Kupp's point of view to the other autobots, at just how deranged the radiation had made Kup. I guess I was really not ready for what was revealed to us about who Kup was actually thrashing, and why.

I really liked Springer's dedication to him, and I cannot believe how many 'bots got trashed trying to retrieve him.

Also loved the Prowl/Springer interaction. You certainly could see a big difference in how these two Autobot commanders ran their individual groups.

Indeed.

What I could really use in this instance, is a follow up, letting us know how they got Kup back to his right state of mind.

He really does seem far too crazy to be that rational experienced character we know. What will they use to bring him back from the brink.

(Oh, and we really need a Punch/Counterpunch Spotlight book. These stories are made to tell the adventures of spies and crazy people.)

Counterpunch wrote:

tigertracks 24 wrote:So, I found this to be a nice change of pace comic, and not at all what I expected it to be.

I was quite impressed when we changed from Kupp's point of view to the other autobots, at just how deranged the radiation had made Kup. I guess I was really not ready for what was revealed to us about who Kup was actually thrashing, and why.

I really liked Springer's dedication to him, and I cannot believe how many 'bots got trashed trying to retrieve him.

Also loved the Prowl/Springer interaction. You certainly could see a big difference in how these two Autobot commanders ran their individual groups.

Indeed.

What I could really use in this instance, is a follow up, letting us know how they got Kup back to his right state of mind.

He really does seem far too crazy to be that rational experienced character we know. What will they use to bring him back from the brink.

(Oh, and we really need a Punch/Counterpunch Spotlight book. These stories are made to tell the adventures of spies and crazy people.)

Well, the TF universe has quite a few demented, and 'unique' or 'extreme' personalities to say the least. Would most make for a good book? Not sure, but they could be funny, or at least entertaining.

I'd like to see a Wheeljack Spotlight...even though we do know a lot about him already...

I also want to know what BLASTER is up to.

How about a Spotlight on Maccadam's Oil House? That would be quite interesting.

Or a spotlight about the 'female' transformer and how they are almost a legendary race...kind of Amazonian...

Oh and I was quite curious to see just how much power Springer has to effect troop movements and so forth...

Me likey!

ehhhh I can't be bothered typing up something different so i'll just copy and paste from what I put on another forum.

Wasn't overly impressed when I first started reading it. The art wasn't very impressive and it wasn't the Kup I knew.

But by the end ... WOW! This is a whole new depth to Kup's character and for once he's a truly believable old war horse.

Sure in previous versions he's been old, telling his war stories, joints not working properly. Standard expected stuff really from a war veteran.

But this version, this version is truly believable. An old war horse who's trained the best and brightest, an old war horse who's body is breaking down, an old war horse who was literally on his last legs and dieing.

And then it ended, and it wasn't a happy ending. He didn't get rebuilt. He's left on life support. How many of us have had a grand-parent left laying in the hospital bed, their body failing while machines struggle to keep them alive.

That was my grand-mother, and maybe that's why I did find the ending sad, because Kup, the old war horse, is only being kept alive by a machine, no one knows if he can repaired, so there may come a time when the decision must be made to turn the switch off and let him die.

A very very good story with a sad human touch to it.

I always think it's neat when other Transformers are snuck into random scenes. I think that the 'bot who was giving his report to Perceptor was Siren. And then Sizzle comes running in, letting Springer know that the 'specialist' had arrived (Trailbreaker!). Awesome. Truly awesome.

This issue was a welcome change of pace in the TF comic world for me. The myspace page "Kup" had/has up really helped set up the issue, maybe it'll be a trend to give us fans more backstory in future TF titles.

Pretty good story, seeing Kup going insane gave us access to another aspect of Transformers which we never saw before.

Burn wrote:ehhhh I can't be bothered typing up something different so i'll just copy and paste from what I put on another forum.

like he said... from the same forum in fact.


i picked it up thursday, and i've already read through it several times. this is without a doubt my favorite so far of the spotlight series, which says a lot considering the quality of some of the others. the ending was especially breathtaking. as much as i like the way some of the other high points in the spotlight series tie in with the main storyline, something that (so far) this issue shows no signs of doing, this one demonstrates precisely what the spotlights should be about: giving insight into the personality and motivations of a character through a compelling story that can stand up on its own. new angles for the main story can certainly be nice, but as this issue shows, they're in no way necessary.

the art was great in this issue. it's decidedly not the same "realistic" approach you usually see in recent tf comics, which is a large part of what made it stand out. i loved the way kup's scenes were heavily stylized (it reminded me more than a little of the g2 comics), accenting his detatchment from reality. it was actually a mild shock the first time it showed the other autobots drawn relatively normally, which is pretty indicative of just how engrossing kup's perspective was.

a final note: nick roche deserves a world of credit for this issue, as he came up with both the brilliant script and the art to match. it's rare to see idw giving someone other than furman a crack at writing for the tfs (and i'd rather forget the other instance, the remarkably pointless "hearts of steel"), but in this case it paid off big time. i know he's probably pretty busy with his work as an artist, but i'd love to see roche get the chance to pen a few more tf tales.

Faceful of Kitchen wrote:a final note: nick roche deserves a world of credit for this issue, as he came up with both the brilliant script and the art to match. it's rare to see idw giving someone other than furman a crack at writing for the tfs (and i'd rather forget the other instance, the remarkably pointless "hearts of steel"), but in this case it paid off big time. i know he's probably pretty busy with his work as an artist, but i'd love to see roche get the chance to pen a few more tf tales.

I'm quite interested in his Prowl/Grimock at the Autobot academy idea...

I thought Ryall was also doing some writing for them...And doesn't Forrest Lee or whomever write the Collector's Club comic? I need to check that, but I was pretty sure it was not Furman.

And what thread did you post this in previously? Was there another Kup thread that I missed? I took a quick swoop through, and there was only the 5-page preview, which well, not everybody uses to respond when the actual issues come out.

I agree Roche did a FANTASTIC job. The idea was really well done, and the way he illustrated it set the mood perfectly, and also, portrayed the different points of view very well. As you said, when we saw the rather normal looking bots, it was a surprise. I purposely bought his 'abnormal mind' designed Kup cover because I liked that one better. The other was cool too, but I really thought the abnormal one much better captured what I thought the comic would be about.

I was quite happy to see that the covers also represented the way things were presented inside well...and from the two different perspectives.

Hairball178 wrote:I always think it's neat when other Transformers are snuck into random scenes. I think that the 'bot who was giving his report to Perceptor was Siren. And then Sizzle comes running in, letting Springer know that the 'specialist' had arrived (Trailbreaker!). Awesome. Truly awesome.

I thought the reporting 'bot was just a random autobot, not really meant to represent anyone. I'll have to go back and take a look.

(Some of this is bouncing off replies from other people elsewhere...)

We can't really trust Kup's perspective on anything, be it kill count or what the "zombies" are saying (it's not as if they'd only be saying his name, they'd be trying to explain what was going on...) And the way I'm reading: Prowl doesn't outrank Springer, they're talking as top brass to top brass / I think the deal with the radiation is that they can only beam down a distance from where Kup's holed up (he's built his shelter right on top of a concentration of crystals) and the suits greatly interfere with their mobility.

Generally... wow. Densely written, plenty of text -- you can tell the writer comes from a fan comic background because of the stubborn insistence to fit more in. And it's all good stuff -- characters who're invested in each other, three-dimensional, fallible (that point about Prime going in after Kup sounds spot-on; he would, indeed, Find A Way) and Prowl is, unsurprisingly, a dick. ("...a shambling relic of unrepairable, incompatible junk?" Harsh, dude.) The characters speak their minds far more openly (and more believably, at times) than in the main book. (Siren's "Brief you? Oh, allow me..." is superb.)

Art, characterful without being too exaggerated (in the "normal" pages) and brilliantly atmospheric in Kup-o-vision. Plot a bit pyrrhic, but it's a mission gone bad and we need that sense of risk/consequence for stories set in this warring universe. Package is great -- nice job on the colours to whoever did they (don't recognise your name) and from the shock opening to sketches in the back it all comes off.

I'm reminded a lot of old drop-in Marvel stories, and this is certainly at least equal to Spotlight: Shockwave. Deserves almost a perfect score, IMO -- but so's this doesn't go to Nick's head entirely, would suggest as some others have that it could've/should've been a little clearer Springer didn't knowingly send anyone to their death; he expected more competence and nous from the Ark-19 team, and the same level of commitment he'd get from the Wreckers. With the situation uniquely as it was, even that wouldn't have been enough in the absence of Trailbreaker.

Oh! Oh! And the neat touches tying this into Stormbringer... sparkcores (before we see the Prime/Megs fight in Escalation) explaining that glint of light through Prime's chest, the reference to stealth armour...

More please dammit.

4.5/5

Well said Denyer.

And from my post above, I was surprised to see Prowl and Springer conversing as equals... I like both characters much, but always felt from my US background Springer experience (not much UK until recently), that Springer had no where near the rank and pull as Prowl, but I am happy to see him be Prowl's equal...

And Burn, you are right, the real world relationship is definitely a reason I think this works so well. At this point in time, there is no magical repair that they can do to help him.

When they get to a specialist like Ratchet (although Perceptor is there), maybe he knows of something, but the possible finality of the situation is very uncharacteristic of TF books. Everyone seems to be able to be repaired, even after they hit stasis lock, etc...

(except movie Bumblebee...)

Great points guys, and I agree, if this is not the best Spotlight, it is tied.

tigertracks 24 wrote:I thought Ryall was also doing some writing for them...And doesn't Forrest Lee or whomever write the Collector's Club comic? I need to check that, but I was pretty sure it was not Furman.

And what thread did you post this in previously? Was there another Kup thread that I missed? I took a quick swoop through, and there was only the 5-page preview, which well, not everybody uses to respond when the actual issues come out.

i don't know about the collector's club comics, as i don't get them, so i suppose there could be someone else writing those. but i looked through all the idw comics available through retail (except the stuff i don't care enough to buy, namely the animated movie comic and the bayformers prequel, but i know furman's writing both of those two), and unless i missed something they were all credited to furman. if you can name a specific issue, i'll gladly admit i'm wrong, but the general point remains: non-furman tf comics have been few and far between in idw.

as for the post i pasted here, i didn't say it was from another topic, i said another forum. as in, not this website. you should have a pretty good idea which site i originally posted it on, as i've seen you posting there as well.

Faceful of Kitchen wrote:
as for the post i pasted here, i didn't say it was from another topic, i said another forum. as in, not this website. you should have a pretty good idea which site i originally posted it on, as i've seen you posting there as well.

Ah.. I see. Okay, I was just being worried about redundancy on the site.

You are correct, most are Furman written (98% probably), and it is refreshing when a newcomer is allowed in and does a nice job.

I thought Denyer summed it up perfectly. I loved it, but as it's Sunday night I can't be bothered to go into detail. I'll just say well done, Nick Roche.

I just read the Kup spotlight.

Oh man, they cant let Kup end like that.

MYoung23 wrote:I just read the Kup spotlight.

Oh man, they cant let Kup end like that.

True it would be a sad way to end someone who has seemingly been so influential to a large body of our favorite warriors to have to end up that way. As BURN said, it smacks of real life and it's not pretty.

Picked this up yesterday and have read it at least 5 five times. Great concept. Great Art. Fantastic characterization.

4.9/5 (because it was too short )

Neko wrote:Picked this up yesterday and have read it at least 5 five times. Great concept. Great Art. Fantastic characterization.

4.9/5 (because it was too short )

You know an issue is good when youre upset when you get to the last page.

MYoung23 wrote:

Neko wrote:Picked this up yesterday and have read it at least 5 five times. Great concept. Great Art. Fantastic characterization.

4.9/5 (because it was too short )

You know an issue is good when youre upset when you get to the last page.

Yep. Same thing with Infiltration/escalation. I'm super hyped for the #6 issue but I'm dreading the long wait for Devastation.

The Kup Spotlight was a great book all around. I was, however, really shocked at the sacrifice of so many other Autobots in the attempts to rescue Kup. He really tore some of those 'bots up! Isn't it a little un-Autobot (and un-Spock) to sacrifice many for the one? I know the ones who died in the attempts weren't main characters, but it always makes me sad to see an essentially immortal being die...

I'm glad to see that so many liked this issue. It definitely requires an open mind.

I like how IDW is staying traditioinal and conservative in the main G1 arc and using the Spotlight series as a scratchpad to try new things. It's a good formula. Stick to it, Mr. Ryall.

Dreamwave would have established that the crytals were Corlonium crystals, but I'm just as happy not making that tie to the cartoon.

If Springer is as close to Kup as the Spotlight implies, and if Hot Rod ever gets as close to Kup in IDW as he did in the cartoon, I could see that creating tension between Springer and Hot Rod (tired, yet entertaining).

I also loved that Trailbreaker was the hero of this issue.

Magnus wrote:
If Springer is as close to Kup as the Spotlight implies, and if Hot Rod ever gets as close to Kup in IDW as he did in the cartoon, I could see that creating tension between Springer and Hot Rod (tired, yet entertaining).

I also loved that Trailbreaker was the hero of this issue.

Just because he was the one who was able to complete the mission, he was not THE hero, but one of many. After all, they did lose other bots due to Kup's insanity.

tigertracks 24 wrote:

Magnus wrote:
If Springer is as close to Kup as the Spotlight implies, and if Hot Rod ever gets as close to Kup in IDW as he did in the cartoon, I could see that creating tension between Springer and Hot Rod (tired, yet entertaining).

I also loved that Trailbreaker was the hero of this issue.

Just because he was the one who was able to complete the mission, he was not THE hero, but one of many. After all, they did lose other bots due to Kup's insanity.

Saved the day then, I guess. You know what I mean.