The Energon Pub

Okay, before I start, if you haven't read Spotlight Galvatron yet and you plan too and don't want to know what happens... read no further.


Now, I am a little puzzled at how Galvatron fits into the timeline in this one. Common knowledge places Galvatron in the TF Universe after Movie (when he is reformatted by Unicron) This would therefore make him Unicron's "herald". After Unicron is destroyed and in Season 3 of the cartoon, he acts on his own accord. However... in spotlight, he is the "herald" of Thunderwing. Now as I understand it, the whole Thunderwing Stormbringer series happened well before the movie and the threat of Unicron. Then, they try to tie the spotlight into INFILTRATION / ESCALATION with Hound's team guarding a comm. station under orders from OP while he and the other Autobots are on earth.

I'm not totally sure if Infiltration/Escalation is supposed to be a re-telling of the original earth encounters OR if maybe it is supposed to be a completely separate story-lone all together. If the latter is the case, that still doesn't account for Galvatron and Thunderwinq. I thought that Stormbringer was long after the earth encounter. This makes Galvatron even more of a mysterious presence. Is he supposed to be separate form Megs? or is he a Previous Galv. and perhaps the Galvatrons are a distinct form of heralds?

I am totally confused here.

The IDW continuity is completely seperate from anything that you have seen or read elsewhere. It has nothing to do with the cartoons, the animated movie, the Marvel comics, the Dreamwave comics or anything else besides using the same cast. In this continuity the movie simply doesn't happen and Galvatron is a seperate character from Megatron dating back to Cybertron's Golden Age where he was a crew member aboard the Ark 1. Since then he's been residing in the Dead Universe, a new concept that IDW have introduced and that we still don't have any clear details about though there have been some hints dropped in Escalation and the Nightbeat and Galvatron Spotlights. He's not acting as a herald for Thunderwing, he was recovering Thunderwing's stasis locked remains for his as yet undisclosed master, the common thinking being that this is the historical Prime that was in command of the Ark 1.

Stormbringer happens at the same time as INfiltration (Megatron is heard in the same conversation in both), with the Galvatron spotlight set just after the end of Escalation.

Galvatron probably outdates Megatron in this continuity.

the common thinking being that this is the historical Prime that was in command of the Ark 1.

Where does it say Prime was in command of the Ark 1. If he was onboard, how did Optimus get the Matrix when it went into the Dead Universe? (you know he has it because you can see it glowing in his chest in one of the Stormbringer flashbacks.) All it says is that Prime sent teh Ark out to investigate, not that he was on it.

I believe Galvatron's master is the Dead Universe equivilant of Prime. Possibly going by the name of Nemesis Prime.

Well there is a glow coming from Primes chest in the flashback scene where Megatron's standing over him but that doesn't mean that it's coming from the Matrix, or that could have been a mistake in the colouring stage of the illustration process that wasn't picked up on. There has been nothing story based in the IDW books to date to suggest that Optimus has possession of it and Simon Furman is on record as saying that he does not possess it in this continuity.

The part regarding Galvatron's master is just supposition at this point, hence the prefixing with 'the coomon thinking'. This has been debated quite a bit recently both here and at the IDW forums, and I'd imagine on quite a few others that I don't visit. The majority of opinions that I've seen seem to be pointing in this direction, probably because it ties so well with Furmans comments about the Matrix no longer being in Autobot hands. I'll try to find the original comment from Furman and provide a link.

I dont believe it was a Golden Age Prime that was on the Ark-1. I think he just commissioned the exploration.

MYoung23 wrote:I dont believe it was a Golden Age Prime that was on the Ark-1. I think he just commissioned the exploration.

I just read it and he was on there. We should be getting more answers soon in the Optimus Prime spotlight I hope.

Ok, I've just spent the last few hours trying to find an original quote from either Furman or Ryall that Optimus doesn't have the Matrix. Unfortunately the original statements appear to have vanished with the previous version of the IDW message boards but this thread over at IDW

http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopi ... sc&start=0

contains references to Ryall's original comments on the subject as well as comments from both Simon and Chris relating to the Matrix in IDW continuity and specifically relating back to the Galvatron Spotlight. We're definately going to get some more insight into both the former Primes (beyond the 5 Primes page that we've been teased with) and the Dead Universe in next months Optimus Spotlight.

The glow emanating from Prime in the Stormbringer flashback scene seems to have been written of as either an error or a piece of artistic license on Don's part in another thread dealing with IDW's take on the Matrix on those boards. I'll not bother linking to that because it doesn't include any official word from any IDW staffers. The glow can be retconned in story terms as being from Prime's spark chamber as this is confirmed as being physically in his chest during the fight scene with Megatron in Escalation 5. Towards the end of that issue (pg 20, last panel) there's a view down into Prime's broken chest as Megatron stands over him and no Matrix visible, although that should only be considered as circumstantial since the damage portrayed while severe isn't sufficiently catastrophic that you can actually see right through to the other side.

Am I being just a little bit too anal about this or what?

Hotrod wrote:

MYoung23 wrote:I dont believe it was a Golden Age Prime that was on the Ark-1. I think he just commissioned the exploration.

I just read it and he was on there. We should be getting more answers soon in the Optimus Prime spotlight I hope.

We can't actually confirm that 100% from what's in Spotlight Galvatron I'm afraid Hotrod. I'd certainly agree that Galvatron's narration is very suggestive that this was the case and it's my own personal favourite theory at the moment but the last mention that the Golden Age Prime gets by name is "Prime felt it first, a resonant tug from somewhere deep within the Matrix he carried. It was he ddescribed like a door opening. A door to somewhere else, and within absolute power." against the images of the Ark 1's ill fated mission to the Benzuli Expanse. Any further comments regarding Galvatron's master are phrased as 'he' rather than 'Prime'. I'd say that it's implied that the 'he' in question is the same Prime but for the sake of suspense, along with the lack of any art for that Prime that would confirm this and ruin some surprises in upcoming books, is quite deliberately being left unconfirmed as the pieces of the Dead Universe story arc fall into place.

We'll see more in the Prime book but this is probably going to drag out for over a year. Bear in mind that after Devastation the next main arc is entitled Revelation. That's where my money's on us getting some definative answers to the whole Matrix/Nemesis/Galvatron triangle.

Thanks guys, I suppose if i read the "-ations" it could've made sense to me. I also missed Spotlight:nightbeat so this is all new to me. I rather like the idea of Galvatron pre-dating Megs and being a part of the Golden Age emergence. It provides a good jumping-off point as to why he is still factionless. I like the idea of the Dead Universe and hope that its further developed. Where else was it mentioned? Who else is/was a part of it?

waaaaghlord wrote:

Hotrod wrote:

MYoung23 wrote:I dont believe it was a Golden Age Prime that was on the Ark-1. I think he just commissioned the exploration.

I just read it and he was on there. We should be getting more answers soon in the Optimus Prime spotlight I hope.

We can't actually confirm that 100% from what's in Spotlight Galvatron I'm afraid Hotrod. I'd certainly agree that Galvatron's narration is very suggestive that this was the case and it's my own personal favourite theory at the moment but the last mention that the Golden Age Prime gets by name is "Prime felt it first, a resonant tug from somewhere deep within the Matrix he carried. It was he ddescribed like a door opening. A door to somewhere else, and within absolute power." against the images of the Ark 1's ill fated mission to the Benzuli Expanse. Any further comments regarding Galvatron's master are phrased as 'he' rather than 'Prime'. I'd say that it's implied that the 'he' in question is the same Prime but for the sake of suspense, along with the lack of any art for that Prime that would confirm this and ruin some surprises in upcoming books, is quite deliberately being left unconfirmed as the pieces of the Dead Universe story arc fall into place.

We'll see more in the Prime book but this is probably going to drag out for over a year. Bear in mind that after Devastation the next main arc is entitled Revelation. That's where my money's on us getting some definative answers to the whole Matrix/Nemesis/Galvatron triangle.

I just reread it and you are right. I think I was thrown off by the Primeish looking bot on page 14. (he looks kind of like Lio Convoy but the head is different.)

Can anyone positively ID the bots on the bridge of the Ark-1 sans Galvatron?

MYoung23 wrote:Can anyone positively ID the bots on the bridge of the Ark-1 sans Galvatron?

No yet. Hopefully we will learn who they were soon.

MYoung23 wrote:Can anyone positively ID the bots on the bridge of the Ark-1 sans Galvatron?

I think they were all very purposely designed not to look like any other pre-existing characters.

Besides, Im fairly certain the rest of the crew (and I was sure that there was a Prime on board, ah well) were all turned into that oozey stuff we have seen in the Nightbeat Spotlight, as well as the Galvatron Spotlight.

I too expect many things that are occurring in the Galvatron and Optimus Spotlights to only be hinted at throughout the Devastation arc, I think the focus will mainly be on the Earth conflict/Ore 13/Headmasters. Revelation is where the real crap will hit the fan.

MYoung23 wrote:Can anyone positively ID the bots on the bridge of the Ark-1 sans Galvatron?

That's why no one can confirm if there was a Prime onboard or not. Personally, I don't think it would make any sense for Prime to go on an exploration mission. Perhaps if they have run some scans and returned, then he would go there, but I personally believe he stayed on Cybertron. It would be irresponsible of him to go off and leave Cybertron leaderless. Besides, if we are assuming the being Prime saw in Escalation is Galvatron's leader, he looks nothing like anyone on the Ark.

Anyone else noticed in the Nightbeat Spotlight, there are statues of the bridge crew as a memorial (but without Galvatron) shown in flashback on Cybertron?

Simon Furman is on record as saying that he does not possess it in this continuity.

I did not know that.

I don't think we can rule out that the Prime in the Golden Age would "run off and leave Cybertron Leaderless". Remember, this is the Golden Age - presumably this means no wars or conflicts, exploration being a big deal - example, the ARk 1 mission - so it would be perfectly reasonable given that type of scenario for that era's Prime to leave Cybertron on an exploration mission - especially if he felt "a tug".
Nobody would have expected Galvatron to do what he did so in all honesty, Prime of that era would have been fairly sure he would be returning to Cybertron.

Well, until we are given something concrete, I'm gonna believe Prime was not on the Ark. And the Dead Universe leader guy is IDW's version of Nemesis Prime, a dark and twisted version of a Prime.

ghostofstarscream wrote:Now, I am a little puzzled at how Galvatron fits into the timeline in this one. Common knowledge places Galvatron in the TF Universe after Movie (when he is reformatted by Unicron) This would therefore make him Unicron's "herald". After Unicron is destroyed and in Season 3 of the cartoon, he acts on his own accord. However... in spotlight, he is the "herald" of Thunderwing.

I think that you misread the issue or something, Galvatron is indeed somebody's herald, but it isn't Thunderwing for obvious reasons.

Anywho, try to get your hands on "Target 2006", it depicts Galvatron as a sane and balanced character. That's pretty much how IDW Galvatron seems to be in his thoughts (though he's obviously being controlled).

My money is on Liege Maximo.

Weren't there supposed to be two Arks? In the Nightbeat spotlight, I am sure there were two. In Galvatron, he mentioned the journey started during Cybertron's Golden Age, and the Prime he mentioned could have been Sentinel Prime or someone before him and not Optimus Prime. That is if Furman will follow the era computation like that of the anime:

10,000,000 years ago 2nd Golden Age "War Dawn"
4,000,000 years ago 3rd Cybertronian War
present 2010 3rd Golden Age of Cybertron "Rebirth"

Ahh... good call, I never thought of the possibility of that being a previous Prime... even before Sentinel. That does help it all fit into place a little bit better.

fenrir72 wrote:Weren't there supposed to be two Arks? In the Nightbeat spotlight, I am sure there were two. In Galvatron, he mentioned the journey started during Cybertron's Golden Age, and the Prime he mentioned could have been Sentinel Prime or someone before him and not Optimus Prime. That is if Furman will follow the era computation like that of the anime:

10,000,000 years ago 2nd Golden Age "War Dawn"
4,000,000 years ago 3rd Cybertronian War
present 2010 3rd Golden Age of Cybertron "Rebirth"

The original first Ark had Galvatron on board.

There are at least 32 Arks in existance now though. Ark 32 is the ship that Nightbeat met with Hot Rod and Hardhead on.

fenrir72 wrote:That is if Furman will follow the era computation like that of the anime:

10,000,000 years ago 2nd Golden Age "War Dawn"
4,000,000 years ago 3rd Cybertronian War
present 2010 3rd Golden Age of Cybertron "Rebirth"

I somehow doubt that he'd follow the cartoon when creating a new story.

Anywho, we're heading towards a point where Megatron kills Sentinel Prime and Optimus gets the Matrix (again), like so:

Stormwolf wrote:Anywho, we're heading towards a point where Megatron kills Sentinel Prime and Optimus gets the Matrix (again)

Except that Optimus doesn't have the thing in the IDW continuity. While it's not been confirmed by either Chris or Simon whether or not Sentinel had it previously, it's a fair bet that he didn't either or it would probably have been passed on.

waaaaghlord wrote:

Stormwolf wrote:Anywho, we're heading towards a point where Megatron kills Sentinel Prime and Optimus gets the Matrix (again)

Except that Optimus doesn't have the thing in the IDW continuity. While it's not been confirmed by either Chris or Simon whether or not Sentinel had it previously, it's a fair bet that he didn't either or it would probably have been passed on.

Maybe, I'm still waiting for a confirmation on it aswell. But either way, Prime is probably going to succeed Sentinel Prime during the Megatron origin issues.

Stormwolf wrote:

waaaaghlord wrote:

Stormwolf wrote:Anywho, we're heading towards a point where Megatron kills Sentinel Prime and Optimus gets the Matrix (again)

Except that Optimus doesn't have the thing in the IDW continuity. While it's not been confirmed by either Chris or Simon whether or not Sentinel had it previously, it's a fair bet that he didn't either or it would probably have been passed on.

Maybe, I'm still waiting for a confirmation on it aswell. But either way, Prime is probably going to succeed Sentinel Prime during the Megatron origin issues.

It would not surprise me if the Prime Spotlight also touched upon the moment when Sentinal prime ceased to function, and Optimus took over leadership.

I wonder how leadership is passed in the IDW Furmanverse? Just a "Hey you, yeah you, your'e the leader now. Ack I am dyi..."

That's what I was wondering. I was also wondering whether the Prime's are reformatted in any way once they become leader.

I really enjoyed the Galvatron issue, but part of me keeps asking, if Galvatron isn't a herald of Unicron, why bother making him a herald of anybody at all? I trust in Furman's writing but it does seem a bit of a half-measure.

Good issue, though, I want more of Hound.