The Energon Pub

After being left with two different cliffhangers in the last issues of Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye, one could guess that means that Issue #8 returns us back into the fray - the fray, being robots beating the snot out of each other. That would certainly be the right assumption, as the D.J.D and our Decepticon dropouts decide to take center stage in Dinobot Month! If you liked Issue #7, then #8 extrapolates it furthur; as we learn more about the Decepticon Justice Division, their motives and why they're picking on this rag tag crew of 'cons.



The characterization of the D.J.D. is nothing short of magnificent - Tarn, Vos, Kaon, Helex, and Tesarus are as effectively obnoxious and arrogant as Overlord - heck, the D.J.D. is the neo-Squadron X. Some have thought that Roberts has made the D.J.D. a tad bit overpowered, but I think they are simply using their powers and notoriety to their advantage. Black or Sky, the way they decimated the Phase 6 Shadow in the last issue is nothing compared to what they pulled off in #8, or what they could potentially pull off in the future. The way Vos and Tesarus use their abilities, brings back that nostalgic Last Stand of the Wreckers feel.



Flip to the opposite side of the spectrum, and we take a look at our ragtag group of Decepticons.. who honest to Primus don't stand a chance against the D.J.D. Despite the David versus Goliath connotations, the dropouts are certainly a creative bunch. Roberts uses these 'cons as a venue for humor, and I do have to say that #8 delivers some good laughs, among the field of varying emotions. Despite facing the reality of death looming near, the Decepticons stay true to their personalities throughout every inch of the comic. Fulcrum, Misfire, Crankcase, Spinister, Krok and Flywheels make #8 a phenomenal issue - and you'll just have to read the issue to see if they'll make future issues phenomenal too!



of course we can't forget about the catchphrase that's been inked across all of our Transformers comics in this month of August - it's Dinobot Month! So, where are the Dinobots? Well, as we know in Issue #7, there's only one on the planet of Clemency, and that's Grimlock! However with what I'd describe as a mixture of cold feet and disappointment, Grimlock isn't exactly what I'd expect him to be. Well, he's certainly Grimlock, and it's certainly a characterization of 'a' Grimlock - it's not what I'd expect at this point in time. I guess there's only one Fort Max! Speaking of which, we do have a couple of pages on the Lost Light, which does answer some questions, and leaves room for more. My main grip is that IDW uses an * to reference the MTMTE Annual - a comic that's going to be released next week! I'm not going to be complaining about an upcoming 40+ pages, but it would be nice to have closure within a comic.



The D.J.D. make quite the bang in the their first combat sequence, and as readers I think we all want to be thirsting for more. Roberts mixes action and humor into one blend - #8 is certainly one delicious smoothie. Worth the wait and the money.

Thanks for another enticing review. What is the MTMTE Annual? Sounds familiar but I can't find a listing in Amazon. Does it go by another name?

Stormrider wrote:Thanks for another enticing review. What is the MTMTE Annual? Sounds familiar but I can't find a listing in Amazon. Does it go by another name?

Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Annual 2012
James Roberts (w) • Jimbo Salgado, Guido Guidi (a) • Tim Seeley, Alex Milne (c)
THE ORIGIN OF THE KNIGHTS OF CYBERTRON! Rodimus and the crew of the Lost Light finally reach Crystal City, home to the mysterious Circle of Light. But what they find waiting for them is going to change everything—and not necessarily for the better!
FC • 48 pages • $7.99

*Variant covers:
Jimbo Salgado variant! Interlocks with TRANSFORMERS: Robots in Disguise Annual incentive cover from next month!

Bullet points:
• Introducing the artistic wizardry of Jimbo Salgado!
• The first of two interlinked Transformers annuals—the story continues in next month’s TRANSFORMERS: ROBOTS IN DISGUISE annual!
• Double-sized TRANSFORMERS excitement!
• A life-changing chapter of MTMTE!
• Cover and story connect with next month’s TRANSFORMERS: ROBOTS IN DISGUISE annual!

This series is hands down the most fun I've had reading Transformers comics in years. If it continues like this, I can easily see it becoming my all time favorite. There's so much packed into every issue, and while maintaining pace and hitting serious notes, the humor is tied in perfectly. Plus it's so awesome to see some non mainstreamers getting attention, they can really build into characters that we grow with.

I love how the tension builds up with every single issue - for now, we know that it is less than 18 months, and a bunch of big names will be dead. But HOW??? Damn, Roberts is killing the readers with his phenomenal storytelling that mixes mistery and well-hinted spoilers.

Blurrz wrote:

Stormrider wrote:Thanks for another enticing review. What is the MTMTE Annual? Sounds familiar but I can't find a listing in Amazon. Does it go by another name?

Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Annual 2012
James Roberts (w) • Jimbo Salgado, Guido Guidi (a) • Tim Seeley, Alex Milne (c)
THE ORIGIN OF THE KNIGHTS OF CYBERTRON! Rodimus and the crew of the Lost Light finally reach Crystal City, home to the mysterious Circle of Light. But what they find waiting for them is going to change everything—and not necessarily for the better!
FC • 48 pages • $7.99

*Variant covers:
Jimbo Salgado variant! Interlocks with TRANSFORMERS: Robots in Disguise Annual incentive cover from next month!

Bullet points:
• Introducing the artistic wizardry of Jimbo Salgado!
• The first of two interlinked Transformers annuals—the story continues in next month’s TRANSFORMERS: ROBOTS IN DISGUISE annual!
• Double-sized TRANSFORMERS excitement!
• A life-changing chapter of MTMTE!
• Cover and story connect with next month’s TRANSFORMERS: ROBOTS IN DISGUISE annual!

Thanks, strange i can't finsd a listing in Amazon.

I haven't been this excited about a TF comic since the -ation days. And I think I love this series even more. The characterisation of lesser known characters is fantastic. Swerve is definitely one of my favourite characters hands down at the moment, but others pop up too. Rung is up there too. I'm looking forward to him getting his head together (see what I did there?? He's a psychiatrist AND he got his noggin blown apart!! I'm here all week... try the veal).

This series just keeps getting better and better! (Unlike my jokes.)

lowman_x wrote:I haven't been this excited about a TF comic since the -ation days. And I think I love this series even more. The characterisation of lesser known characters is fantastic. Swerve is definitely one of my favourite characters hands down at the moment, but others pop up too. Rung is up there too. I'm looking forward to him getting his head together (see what I did there?? He's a psychiatrist AND he got his noggin blown apart!! I'm here all week... try the veal).

This series just keeps getting better and better! (Unlike my jokes.)

Couldn't agree more! I actually get gisdy in anticipation when I see a new issue is due that week. It's amazig how good this series is, while staying away from all the "mainstream" characters.