The Energon Pub

Tue Jul 16, 2013 3:53 pm

I see why people are nervous about where things are going with Magnus, but I don't really see what there is to get mad about. Ultra Magnus is supposed to be a robot in a big armor suit, and it's not like there is no precedent for robots having different names when they wear armor. Granted, I have a weakness for Dread Pirate Roberts-type characters, but I don't think my optimism is at all misplaced when I say I'm sure we're in for a very interesting ride.

News Credits: 7 · Tue Jul 16, 2013 6:26 pm

As far as the G1 cartoon, Animated, Prime, and RiD (i.e. literally every US cartoon appearance) were concerned, no Ultra Magnus was not a bot in a suit of armor. Not to mention this revelation goes a hell of a lot further than "he's a bot in a suit".

Tue Jul 16, 2013 7:31 pm

Sooooooo....
Looks like Tyrest's a victim of Gideon's Glue, huh?

Tue Jul 16, 2013 9:21 pm

Noideaforaname wrote:As far as the G1 cartoon, Animated, Prime, and RiD (i.e. literally every US cartoon appearance) were concerned, no Ultra Magnus was not a bot in a suit of armor. Not to mention this revelation goes a hell of a lot further than "he's a bot in a suit".

Well that's easy - the toys on which the character was based in those series weren't 'bots in a suit of armor.

News Credits: 5 · Tue Jul 16, 2013 10:45 pm

Me, I don't have any issue with a smaller green bot wearing a suit to get power up armor. In fact, I love that idea since that's his G1 root toy, DW supported that. My biggest beef with IDW UM is that there is no real UM character. It is basically just a bunch of guys who put the armor on and called themselves UM. So far, from the flashback, we saw 3 UM died, and now M.Ambus being the 4th guy. And when he died, another bot will take over.

News Credits: 2 · Tue Jul 16, 2013 11:11 pm

I uh, hm.

...Can't deal with this right now?

:lol:

Wed Jul 17, 2013 1:13 am

The colour scheme of Minimus Ambus is similar to the Dreamwave Ultra Magnus inner bot- green, white, grey. I thought he looked familiar for some reason and I think that may be it. Or not. Maybe my brain will dredge up something else...

I also just noticed something. Is it just me or do Rung and Kaon resemble each other? Also, what does Rung transform in to? He's a psychiatrist so maybe he transforms into a psychiatrist's chair like how Kaon transforms into an electric chair? Or.... what if he turns into something used for shadowplay? He's a psychiatrist so he likes working with minds, he's of a very similar build as Kaon so he could have a similar alt-mode, and he hasn't transformed in Primus knows how long - why? Could he maybe have feelings of guilt about past uses of his alt-mode? Could shadowplay have been used on him and getting into psychiatry was his deep sub-conscious telling him what he used to do for a living?

Dammit! I need to know about this character!

Wed Jul 17, 2013 3:27 am

In all this discussion about powered armor, has anyone considered thinking of Ultra Magnus as a form of Pretender?

If Minimus Ambus was integrated into the armor (since he can change into alt-mode and all), could that then explain why Ratchet and the other medics did not realize the truth about his identity?

But yeah, the reveal of Ambus' green spark is quite intriguing, indeed.

Wed Jul 17, 2013 6:26 am

WHYYYYY does it have to come out on the 30th!? Its too long a wait! Lol
I guess in the meantime I'll be reading more beast hunters and monstrosity comics.. >:oP

News Credits: 1 · Wed Jul 17, 2013 9:55 am

Ideal outcome: Rodimus finally talks some sense in Minimus and makes him realize that what Tyrest is doing, the position he is in, is too much power for any one bot to wield. This would lead the two of them to sneak in and regain the Magnus armor, give Tyrest a healthy dose of humility in the form of an epic ass-whoopin' and maybe we will finally get an U.M. that doesn't have a trypticon sized stick up his ass.
Despite the obvious twist in the plot, I'm sticking with this series to see how it all plays out. Everything so far, while strange at times, has been really good in terms of story line. Well plotted out and very intricate with things planned 5 steps ahead of what the readers are expecting so I have faith that this new twist is going to actually be something that works out for the best and blows all our minds.

News Credits: 2 · Wed Jul 17, 2013 12:34 pm

lowman_x wrote:

I also just noticed something. Is it just me or do Rung and Kaon resemble each other? Also, what does Rung transform in to? He's a psychiatrist so maybe he transforms into a psychiatrist's chair like how Kaon transforms into an electric chair? Or.... what if he turns into something used for shadowplay? He's a psychiatrist so he likes working with minds, he's of a very similar build as Kaon so he could have a similar alt-mode, and he hasn't transformed in Primus knows how long - why? Could he maybe have feelings of guilt about past uses of his alt-mode? Could shadowplay have been used on him and getting into psychiatry was his deep sub-conscious telling him what he used to do for a living?

Dammit! I need to know about this character!

I've thought the same thing. They do share a lot of design similarities. I don't think they are the same though. Too many points don't add up just right. Then again this is Roberts at the helm and he's done crazier before. Could be that the event with the Scavengers doesn't run alongside the adventures of the Lost Light at all and actually takes place in the far future. Then again, why would the DJD have a member that's been an Autobot for eons? Only time will tell... hopefully issue 22 will shed some much needed light on mr. 90% secret compartments

News Credits: 1 · Wed Jul 17, 2013 3:39 pm

Ultra Magnus wrote:I uh, hm.

...Can't deal with this right now?

Well struck, good sir.

Initially seeing the armour burst open to reveal a 'bot that looks like it should be serving in a French restaurant felt like a kick in the nuts as I quite like Ultra Magnus. But I could actually get behind this idea. A single identity that lives for eternity, kicking ass and defying death, it all adds to the legend. It makes me think of Dr. Who, the Avatar, The Phantom. I just hope they reveal that there is/was an original Ultra Magnus that started the legend.

Wed Jul 17, 2013 5:56 pm

sabrigami wrote:
lowman_x wrote:

I also just noticed something. Is it just me or do Rung and Kaon resemble each other? Also, what does Rung transform in to? He's a psychiatrist so maybe he transforms into a psychiatrist's chair like how Kaon transforms into an electric chair? Or.... what if he turns into something used for shadowplay? He's a psychiatrist so he likes working with minds, he's of a very similar build as Kaon so he could have a similar alt-mode, and he hasn't transformed in Primus knows how long - why? Could he maybe have feelings of guilt about past uses of his alt-mode? Could shadowplay have been used on him and getting into psychiatry was his deep sub-conscious telling him what he used to do for a living?

Dammit! I need to know about this character!

I've thought the same thing. They do share a lot of design similarities. I don't think they are the same though. Too many points don't add up just right. Then again this is Roberts at the helm and he's done crazier before. Could be that the event with the Scavengers doesn't run alongside the adventures of the Lost Light at all and actually takes place in the far future. Then again, why would the DJD have a member that's been an Autobot for eons? Only time will tell... hopefully issue 22 will shed some much needed light on mr. 90% secret compartments

Should have clarified: not that they're the same person, but that they're related. There seems to be quite a bit of story about brothers and family members and the like. Rung and Kaon look very similar design-wise. Now, this *could* just be Alex's distinct style coming in to play, but what if it isn't? What if the design cues are intentional? What if the Lost Light crew and the DJD are more intrinsically linked than we thought?

Bear with me:

What if Rung and Kaon are related? What if Tarn is Dominus Ambus - brother to the current (now-demoted) Ultra Magnus/Minimus Ambus? What if the reason Minimus went the Ultra Magnus route was due to a rivalry with his bigger, stronger brother? What if Minimus is on "The List"? What if Tarn is the result of shadowplay conducted on Dominus by Rung millennia ago? What if Tarn (Dominus) finds Overlord and therefore finds Rewind who we find out isn't actually dead?

Knots within knots...

Thu Jul 18, 2013 3:31 am

It's not out of the question for Minimus to have some sort of sibling rivalry with his spark brother. Maybe he felt the need to be known as a "someone" to somehow measure up. (Just the primary notifiers offer some hints in that direction.)

If someone else's theory was correct and Minimus is a .01%...wouldn't that mean the same for his brother?

All I can say for Rung (bless his soul) is...whatever he changes into he has 3 wheels. Hopefully not the Transformers' version of an "Eurkel Machine" But who knows. :lol:

Anyway, anyone notice the repository displayed the large computer screen Ultra Magnus/Minimus Ambus had taken interest in had a certain code?

Section 19
(80) 4

Considering how we already know there's a strong tie to Skids to "19 (80) 4", not to mention how Tyrest blurted out as it's significance (and what can be defined as his massive abuse of power) as a justice anyone else really, really, REALLY disliking the guy?

And them working with Decepticons and unhinged doctors was bad enough. #-o

News Credits: 1 · Thu Jul 18, 2013 6:55 pm

Regarding Rung's alt, here's Milne's original sketch/concept. http://markerguru.deviantart.com/art/rung-design-253697485

HK, contributin' the pretty (the art, that is, not me)

Thu Jul 18, 2013 9:56 pm

Thanks for the link. Communications vehicle. Makes sense.

And explains the thumb. ;-)

Thu Jul 18, 2013 10:09 pm

cybercat wrote:Regarding Rung's alt, here's Milne's original sketch/concept. http://markerguru.deviantart.com/art/rung-design-253697485

HK, contributin' the pretty (the art, that is, not me)

I think it was mentioned somewhere that this might not be the official alt-mode though. I read somewhere in the forum either here or at IDW that Roberts might have other plans in store.

Sagitta wrote:
All I can say for Rung (bless his soul) is...whatever he changes into he has 3 wheels. Hopefully not the Transformers' version of an "Eurkel Machine" But who knows.

Anyway, anyone notice the repository displayed the large computer screen Ultra Magnus/Minimus Ambus had taken interest in had a certain code?

Section 19
(80) 4

Three wheels... could be a communications vehicle OR what about a wheelchair-like device with, say, tools used to physically mess with bots' brain modules? Hmm? HMMMMM? :-P

But seriously, I'm looking forward to the reveals about Rung that will hopefully come soon.

1984. Thought warfare. Is this a direct link to shadowplay? A link to powers that certain characters have like Mindwipe and Soundwave? Time will tell.

Thu Jul 18, 2013 11:11 pm

That reminds me...Magnus/Minimus likes or at least listens to the Empyrean Suite. (iss. 16) Or, as with Skids, it's a suite stuck in his head. (iss. 6)

Another Shadowplay link?

News Credits: 6188 · Fri Jul 19, 2013 3:23 am

lowman_x wrote:
cybercat wrote:Regarding Rung's alt, here's Milne's original sketch/concept. http://markerguru.deviantart.com/art/rung-design-253697485

HK, contributin' the pretty (the art, that is, not me)

I think it was mentioned somewhere that this might not be the official alt-mode though. I read somewhere in the forum either here or at IDW that Roberts might have other plans in store.

Yeah, I was about to say that too. Still, good speculative fuel.

Mon Jul 22, 2013 9:55 pm

personally im not sure what to make of these developments -all i can say is -are they going to save tailgate spark or is he going to go lights out saving everyone. it kinda makes sense since ultra magnus was just a prime figure with a suit of armor -though i don't like the inner bot we will see were this goes. also is everyone on this missing a few bolts -seems to be that way to me