The Energon Pub

A weekly Q&A among the fandom. Have a franchise Q you are looking for an answer to? Sound off! (Something a little light-hearted, especially as Real Life really isn't right now)

1. Which Transformer has been overlooked/slept on/screwed over the most, across media?

Scourge is the objective right answer, but all are welcome?

Honestly, for me it has been Shockwave. Maybe I'm biased because he's my favorite Decepticon. I grew up reading the G1 comics, and in them he was a near-unstoppable menace who was without question Megatron's superior in every way and should've been leader of the Decepticons.

It seems that all subsequent series (and even the G1 cartoon) has relegated him to just another lieutenant or mad scientist. I wish he had gotten the characterization in recent series that he had in G1. Prime came close, but even there he was a lackey, even if that Megatron did deserve being undisputed leader.

So much wasted potential in 35 years.

Absolutely agree with Shockwave. The IDW version might as well have been an OC too. I think when it comes to overlooked Decepticons there is definitely a larger conversation to be had. Megatron/Galvatron, Starscream (and Seekers), Soundwave and sometimes Cyclonus. These are regularly represented names/characters. But the rest..? The Marvel Comic even featured new leaders, that simply don't happen anymore. The negative side to fandom's and licensed properties in general. I still recall Robert Kirkman's The Walking Dead (comic). Wherein the regular cast would occasionally be mass culled. Leading to new/secondary characters taking the spotlight.

I was going to hand over to others for Question Two, but I feel this one is timely now:

Who is to succeed Peter Cullen, as Optimus Prime?

Animated Batman had a similar problem with the loss of Kevin Conroy. But is there any clear frontrunner to take over from Mr Cullen??

Well, at the time he started doing it, the guy who voiced him in WFC rubbed me the wrong way, but now I can see him taking on the character permanently. He's very close to Cullen's tone and inflections. Jon Bailey?

Personally, with all due respect to PC's achievements and memory, my favorite voice of Optimus has always been Garry Chalk, whether he was Primal or Prime from the Unicron Trilogy, especially Armada. Unfortunately he's up in age now as well as having health issues, so he can't step in to be permanent. His voice is also different.

Considering Michael Bay's penchant for both exotic and fast cars as well as his portrayal of the military in his movies, why didn't we get either the Stunticons or the Combaticons in the 1st Bay trilogy, instead of a horribly realized Devastator?

Raised on The Movie (for G1) and Beast Wars for Transformers in general, I rate Garry Chalk very highly as an Optimus. I would like them to veer away from sound-a-likes though. The character should be able to move on from a singular voice.

Considering Michael Bay's penchant for both exotic and fast cars as well as his portrayal of the military in his movies, why didn't we get either the Stunticons or the Combaticons in the 1st Bay trilogy, instead of a horribly realized Devastator?

I think the Combaticons would have made a better enemy threat in Bayformers 1, in particular. Especially with the military emphasis.

With Cullen's passing, should Optimus himself be retired from further series, at least as the leader? Maybe pick a new character to be the new permanent leader?

All in favour of that. The poster child syndrome of pop culture has never been a positive. Wolverine isn't all there is to X-Men. Batman shouldn't be all encompassing within DC. Optimus Prime was so Intertwined with Peter Cullen, now would be a great time to put him to rest. Just as I hear Skybound did with Bumblebee.

Yeah, they definitely did. Hopefully. I'm tired of that little yellow turd.

And I agree about the poster child syndrome, though when I hear DC I think of Superman 1st. But I alsovthink Optimus needs to be retired. Maybe from now on we can have Orion Pax around with a new voice actor.

Why did it take so long for Hasblow to get on a relatively correct scale for the toys? Was Aaron Archer incompetent?