The Energon Pub

News Credits: 1452 · by **Blurrz** » Tue Jul 13, 2010 8:22 pm

Transformers 'Ongoing' continues this month, as this Wednesday we'll be seeing the Autobots and the Decepticons fight on Earth. Regulon Four has posted a five-page preview of this issue, as the 'International Incident' starts. Check out the covers, a little bit of the preview and descriptions of the issue below!

“International Incident,” Part 1: After MEGATRON left Earth three years ago, DECEPTICONS all over the globe were left stranded and leaderless. It was only a matter of time before an insane international despot assembled a bunch of them together to serve as a living Weapon of Mass Destruction, setting off the most action-packed TRANSFORMERS storyline in years, with art by fan-favorite Guido Guidi.

* 2 regular covers will be shipped in a 1-to-1 ratio.

Mike Costa (w) • Guido Guidi (a) • Don Figueroa, Guidi (c)

You can find the rest of the preview over at Regulon Four!

Keep it at Seibertron.com for the latest Transformers Comics news on the net!

News Credits: 2 · by **sabrigami** » Tue Jul 13, 2010 8:47 pm

sooo...Humans are making energon cubes now? why? The art is looking pretty good though. I hope the faces remain like they do on the cover with Bumblebee. Awesome faces plus the detailed bodies equals total win for me

. Can't help but think there's no saving the story though. They promise action and stuff in the upcoming issues, but there's very little hope that it will save the moronic plot for me.

by **BIG WHITE PRIME** » Tue Jul 13, 2010 10:13 pm

It better be better than issue 8...that was pretty boring....

News Credits: 8 · by **Hans** » Wed Jul 14, 2010 12:16 am

Yeah, the ongoing has been.... well, I think it's been pretty terrible, really. Definitely not worth the money, because you get very little "meat" to the stories. I hope IDW will finally consider bringing back Simon Furman to G1. Or Nick Roche

Here we have another 5 page preview were events could have been told in one page just as easily.

On the upside though, finally we get Guido on art. At least the pictures are very pretty

I absolutely despised Don's redesigns. I hope he doesn't return to the title, Bayformers seem more like his thing now. Let him do moviecomics and keep Guido on G1.

News Credits: 767 · by **Dead Metal** » Wed Jul 14, 2010 1:56 am

Guido makes everything look awesome.
Fantastico!

A shame the ongoing story is shite.

News Credits: 2 · by **Simes** » Wed Jul 14, 2010 6:47 am

:O You missed out the fourth cover... the Auto Assembly 2010 exclusive *cries*

Like steve2275 on Facebook · by **steve2275** » Wed Jul 14, 2010 7:14 am

o thank guido
regular tf faces

News Credits: 767 · by **Dead Metal** » Wed Jul 14, 2010 7:44 am

I just noticed, Don has a new signature which looks pretty sweet.

News Credits: 487 · by **Darth Bombshell** » Wed Jul 14, 2010 8:36 am

BIG WHITE PRIME wrote:It better be better than issue 8...that was pretty boring....

I think it's a proven fact by now that anything Transformers with the words "Written by Mike Costa" on it is guaranteed not to be good.

News Credits: 8 · by **Hans** » Wed Jul 14, 2010 8:43 am

I dunno, the Ironhide series seems to be alright... Sure, the story didn't build much in the first two issues, but we seem to be getting a payoff in issues 3 and 4. I think.
But the ongoing... don't like it. Also don't like the random killing of characters like Quake, Dreadwind or Scrapper. Especially Scrapper, because now the Constructicons can't form Devastator anymore. Which is just plain stupid.

Dead Metal wrote:I just noticed, Don has a new signature which looks pretty sweet.

There's a signature on the first cover?
Only thing I noticed is that Don has returned to a more traditional look for the faces of the TF's. First the Megatron cover of issue # 7, and now this one. That's a good sign, IMO

Now if they could only stop the re-design frenzy... I mean, to me, there's very little "Bumblebee" on that cover...

News Credits: 767 · by **Dead Metal** » Wed Jul 14, 2010 9:33 am

Hans wrote:I dunno, the Ironhide series seems to be alright... Sure, the story didn't build much in the first two issues, but we seem to be getting a payoff in issues 3 and 4. I think.
But the ongoing... don't like it. Also don't like the random killing of characters like Quake or Dreadwind.

Dead Metal wrote:I just noticed, Don has a new signature which looks pretty sweet.

There's a signature on the first cover?
Only thing I noticed is that Don has returned to a more traditional look for the faces of the TF's. First the Megatron cover of issue # 7, and now this one. That's a good sign, IMO
Now if they could only stop the re-design frenzy... I mean, to me, there's very little "Bumblebee" on that cover...

It's the Prime one that has the new signature.

News Credits: 8 · by **Hans** » Wed Jul 14, 2010 11:02 am

Ah, but he had that one since issue # 1

News Credits: 767 · by **Dead Metal** » Wed Jul 14, 2010 11:26 am

Hans wrote:Ah, but he had that one since issue # 1

Never noticed, was distracted by the horrible nightmare faces:P

News Credits: 8 · by **Hans** » Wed Jul 14, 2010 1:47 pm

Dead Metal wrote:
Hans wrote:Ah, but he had that one since issue # 1

Never noticed, was distracted by the horrible nightmare faces:P

Lol

News Credits: 487 · by **Darth Bombshell** » Wed Jul 14, 2010 5:12 pm

Hans wrote:I dunno, the Ironhide series seems to be alright... Sure, the story didn't build much in the first two issues, but we seem to be getting a payoff in issues 3 and 4. I think.

Problem is, that "payoff" should have been built up way earlier than it was.

by **lowman_x** » Wed Jul 14, 2010 6:37 pm

I think I might be one of the few who actually likes Mike's writing. Hell, it's better than Mcarthy's at least. As to the artwork...

I found the first couple of pages quite nice with a good blend of the new, mechanical look and the old classic look of the 80s cartoon but after that it became more and more cartoony and "Sunbow-y". I found the TF hands (especially) rather simplistic and annoying. I felt like I was reading one of the Budiansky drawn comics of the 80s and, unlike some, I don't really want to go back to the 80s. I've already lived through it (Hypercolour shirts included).

News Credits: 487 · by **Darth Bombshell** » Wed Jul 14, 2010 8:16 pm

lowman_x wrote:I think I might be one of the few who actually likes Mike's writing. Hell, it's better than Mcarthy's at least.

The average fanfic writer is better than McCarthy.

by **lowman_x** » Wed Jul 14, 2010 8:49 pm

Darth Bombshell wrote:
lowman_x wrote:I think I might be one of the few who actually likes Mike's writing. Hell, it's better than Mcarthy's at least.

The average fanfic writer is better than McCarthy.

Touche.

by **lowman_x** » Wed Jul 14, 2010 8:53 pm

Darth Bombshell wrote:
Hans wrote:I dunno, the Ironhide series seems to be alright... Sure, the story didn't build much in the first two issues, but we seem to be getting a payoff in issues 3 and 4. I think.

Problem is, that "payoff" should have been built up way earlier than it was.

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't that what a mini-series is about? Building up in the first couple of issues and THEN the pay-off in the last couple? Because, logically, if the pay-off came in the first issue then you wouldn't have a need for a mini-series. It'd be a one-shot. Or as we like to call it here in the IDW-verse, a "Spotlight". I think the build-up and pace have been spot on and I like how we're as confused as Ironhide as to what the hell is going on.

Nice work, Mike!

News Credits: 2 · by **partholon** » Mon Jul 19, 2010 3:36 pm

ive dropped the book as i cant stand whats being done in it anymore so this issue marks the first TF comic i havent bought in my life.

i'll probaby buy the trade as it works out half price but i just cant justify forkin out 4.50 euros for half a comics worth or writing i dont like.

this has been a cumulative thing for me, been feeling this way since the ongoing launched but enoughs enough.

IDW serously need to sort out what their doing. at this stage it'd take either furman taking over again or james and nick starting from scratch.

News Credits: 8 · by **Hans** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 12:25 am

I'll be happy if Furman comes back to the fold. I really liked what he was doing, and was pretty pissed when Revelation was compressed into four issues (to me, that was the best storyline since Generation 2... also by Furman). Nevertheless, I still thought the four Revelation/Spotlight issues were great. After that, the IDW verse turned into a mess. Wasn't really thrilled with All Hail Megatron because there really was no continuity between the series. Only thing I did like a lot was Guido's artwork. He and Casey Coller are my favourites.

Then the weak All Hail Megatron Coda issues tried to repair some damage and only had one good story in them (Nick's).

When the ongoing started, with it's insane focus on a very unsympathetic and uninteresting Spike (who really wanted to read issue #8?) and the fugly re-designs by Don, things only went downhill further, IMO.

Like Cyberstrike on Facebook · by **Cyberstrike** » Wed Jul 21, 2010 7:02 pm

Darth Bombshell wrote:
lowman_x wrote:I think I might be one of the few who actually likes Mike's writing. Hell, it's better than Mcarthy's at least.

The average fanfic writer is better than McCarthy.

He's better than Furman.
Shane McCarthy brought me back into comics, and it was Furman's crappy IDW stories drove me out of comics.

Hans wrote:I'll be happy if Furman comes back to the fold. I really liked what he was doing, and was pretty pissed when Revelation was compressed into four issues (to me, that was the best storyline since Generation 2... also by Furman). Nevertheless, I still thought the four Revelation/Spotlight issues were great. After that, the IDW verse turned into a mess. Wasn't really thrilled with All Hail Megatron because there really was no continuity between the series. Only thing I did like a lot was Guido's artwork. He and Casey Coller are my favourites.

Then the weak All Hail Megatron Coda issues tried to repair some damage and only had one good story in them (Nick's).

When the ongoing started, with it's insane focus on a very unsympathetic and uninteresting Spike (who really wanted to read issue #8?) and the fugly re-designs by Don, things only went downhill further, IMO.

I'm sorry, but Furman's IDW run was boring, plodding, and in the end it was pure and total crap. His character were dull, his plots were predicatble and rip-offs of Star Trek: Voyager, and the boring and never-ending same old crap stories he had done over and over. I think his best days are over, and he can't write for trade paperback. If he comes back to ongoing I will won't like it.

All Hail Megatron and Ongoing are both much needed fresh blood to a stale comic book.

News Credits: 8 · by **Hans** » Thu Jul 22, 2010 1:56 am

If this is fresh blood, I really don't like the taste of it... Boring, plodding, and incredibly decompressed are words that I would apply to the Ongoing so far. At 4 dollars a piece, I expect a lot more from a comic, and if this storyarc isn't getting any better I'll drop the book with issue # 12.

To each his own, you think Furman is crap, I think he's the best.

Like Cyberstrike on Facebook · by **Cyberstrike** » Thu Jul 22, 2010 12:57 pm

Hans wrote:If this is fresh blood, I really don't like the taste of it... Boring, plodding, and incredibly decompressed are words that I would apply to the Ongoing so far. At 4 dollars a piece, I expect a lot more from a comic, and if this storyarc isn't getting any better I'll drop the book with issue # 12.

To each his own, you think Furman is crap, I think he's the best.

I posted this reply here. It pretty much sums up my feelings for Furman's IDW run.

Cyberstrike wrote:I've been reading Transformers since Marvel US #6, and I have supported the entire franchise for 26 years, and I must say that 98 % of Simon Furman's IDW output was and still is 100% PURE CRAP!

There were only 4 new back stories for any of the characters and that was Galvatron, Sixshot, Thunderwing, and Arcee the rest were same characters as they have been before IDW got the rights.

What new motivations? Cybertron is a dead world and that the Autobot and Decepticons were fighting on other worlds? Been there done that in the Japanese series Headmasters, Masterforce, and Victory.

The Dinobots...I mean the Dynobots are a group of Autobots that do things there own way? Been there done that in every other Transformers series that those characters have been in.

The Decepticons want Ore-13 as an energon source? Been there done that in every other Transformers comics and TV show done.

Arcee is a crazy psycho-bot, Sixshot as a WMD, and Sunstreaker becomes a headmaster and can't stand it is about the only new motivations in Furman's whole arc and none them are good.

So what did we get from Furman? Nothing. No new characterizations, dull action with no real new climaxes, boring as hell plots dog-piled on top of MORE boring as hell plots, and a lot of techno-babble ripped out of a bad Star Trek: Voyager novel.

I left comics because Transformers is the only series that I truly loved was being written by a man whose best days are behind him and instead of getting a new take on the franchise I got nothing and felt nothing towards the series. It was only when I read All Hail Megatron TPB vol. 1 was that I was rewarded with a new and REAL fresh and daring direction when I got through with vol.1, I couldn't wait to find out what happened next a feeling I hadn't felt in a very LONG time.

So this one true Transfan that loves All Hail Megatron and I've read the ongoing series and enjoy it even more, and I think All Hail Megatron and the ongoing series are BETTER than Furman's whole run IDW run.

IMHO there are too many "actual" Transfans think Furman is the only writer who should ever write a Transformers story even though the last good story he wrote was Transformers: Generation 2 #12.

News Credits: 1082 · by **Tigertrack** » Fri Jul 23, 2010 6:25 am

Finally read #9. I feel like I could have told you everything that I learned in this issue before I read it by looking at the covers.

Less happened here then... well... then is what is happening in this post. :BANG_HEAD:

What happens? The Autobots confirm they will help the humans (again), Prime comes out of 'jail' to not lead the Autobots because Bumblebee is the leader, but Prime is the one the humans really talk to anyway...

Oh and the Combaticons have joined some leader to help overthrow this leader's enemies.

Oh No! The president says anyone allied with Cybertronians, or using Cybertronian tech is considered to be using WMDs, and thus, can expect to be made an enemy, and to be policed, etc.

Wait, Spike's group, a US paid, stationed, and organized group, is using Autobots as their partners, and thus, they are considered enemies based on the president's statements.

Oh well, let's do it anyway.

I love Guido, but man, how many times can this guy be forced to draw BBee, Cjumper, Jetfire, and Ratchet in a group shot, and nothing happens?

C'mon Mike ramp it up a bit!!!!!!!!!!! We've been sitting around way too long!

Ultimately, I was bored. And I really dislike how the covers basically are for the following issue, not the one present. No where in this issue is Bbee being attacked or fighting, unless it is happening in his head while he is making dialogue with Spike, et al.