The Energon Pub

Picked this up during lunch..

Read half of it on the short train trip back to the office, and the art is outstanding, and so far the story is exceptionally intriguing. I may discuss the comic later on, dont want to ruin it for those who have not even had a chance to go and get it.

For Darth Bombshell:
Written by: Simon Furman
Art By:Guido Guido
Colours By: Eric Burns
Cover Art: Guido Guido and Alex Milne
Letters by: Chris Mowry
Edits by: Dan Taylor

Characters: Aliens (Possibly inhabitants of Helo-Q), Galvatron, Sideswipe, Leadfoot, Ratchet, Hound, Verity, Jimmy, Warpath, Road Rocket, Skram, Ark 01, Ark 01 Crew (including a Prime), Thunderwing.

Also includes Character studies by Guido Guido for the Autobots, Hound, Skram, Road Rocket, Sideswipe and Leadfoot.

I will say that it is an exceptional read, has some twists and surprises, and definitely sets up some big things for the future. Lucky for the IDW panel, this wasnt released before Botcon, or they'd have had a helluva lot more questions to answer.

Definitely waiting for this one to come to my local shop.

i_amtrunks wrote:Lucky for the IDW panel, this wasnt released before Botcon

The IDW booth in the dealer room at Botcon had a copy available to read (along with copies of Spotligh: Optimus Prime, New Avengers / Transformers #1, and Transformers Devestation #1), so to be honest, us fans didn't really have any excuses for not asking questions about it.

I'm a huge Galvatron fan, and to be absolutely honest, I am saddened to no end that the IDW version of him is not an upgraded Megatron (that was what I originally loved so much about the character). That said, the issue is still a great read, and I'd highly recommend that everyone pick it up!

i_amtrunks wrote:Characters: Road Rocket, Skram

Aren't those G2 characters?

Repugnus wrote:

i_amtrunks wrote:Lucky for the IDW panel, this wasnt released before Botcon

The IDW booth in the dealer room at Botcon had a copy available to read (along with copies of Spotligh: Optimus Prime, New Avengers / Transformers #1, and Transformers Devestation #1), so to be honest, us fans didn't really have any excuses for not asking questions about it.

I'm a huge Galvatron fan, and to be absolutely honest, I am saddened to no end that the IDW version of him is not an upgraded Megatron (that was what I originally loved so much about the character). That said, the issue is still a great read, and I'd highly recommend that everyone pick it up!

Yeah, I flipped through the whole issue at the IDW booth. I really wanted to just sit there and read everything they had but decided that I should just wait.

I'm actually on the other end of the spectrum. I'm absolutely ecstatic that Galvy is NOT a reincarnated Megs. I can't wait to get this today. Guido's art looked incredible in it!!

Prime Evil wrote:I'm absolutely ecstatic that Galvy is NOT a reincarnated Megs. I can't wait to get this today. Guido's art looked incredible in it!!

I'm the same way. I like the idea of Galvatron being his on bot. Maybe it would have been different if the comics ever went as far as showing Megatron become Galvatron in normal continuity instead of Galvatron being from the future. That being said I can't wait to grab a copy today after work.

Spoiler:

Sideswipe's head-shot putting Galvatron down was pure pimp.

Darth Bombshell wrote:

i_amtrunks wrote:Characters: Road Rocket, Skram

Aren't those G2 characters?

TRACKS was in it too. And yes, those are g2 characters.


I think we can assume spoilers here:


Ready? 'Cause I'm spillin' it (after one reading!)...


You've been warned....




Galvatron speaks of being an emissary, and it looks like he was a part of the Ark-1 crew that Nightbeat has been looking for. In fact, this was a time before 'bot and 'con so he does not where a faction badge.

Hound is in charge of what is left of the area where Bludgeon and his crew were cleaned up in Stormbringer. Apparently all have been put in stasis--even Thunderwing.

Sideswipe's complaining about his boring post and wants to be on Earth to help find Sunstreaker, and get in the action. Then Galavatron shows up on Cybertron.

He kills old Leadfoot, but leaves the rest alive, he says to spite the others.

In his thoughts, he was remembering the Ark-1, the dead zone, and a mission.

After he gets his hed blown in by Sideswipe, everyone's sure it is over, he gets up and blasts them all, leaving them alive but wounded, and taking.....(guess who)....Thunderwing.

--I was not disappointed in the wait for this issue. It was fantastic and delivered more clues to mysteries, and the overall plotline.

It is another in a line of great Spotlights. Fabulosuly drawn, and written. Sure I know a new origin for Galvatron is not the most welcome prospect, but I am along on IDW's tour for the whole ride, and I can't wait to see what more they bring us!!!

It was quite refreshing to see Hound, Sideswipe, Warpath, and Tracks... and cool to see Road Rocket, Skram, and Leadfoot too for the first time since the G2 Marvel series.

I can't wait to go back and read it again, and see what else I can pick up, and hear what other people think. IDW and Simon are doing a fantastic job of weaving this tapestry, I throughly enjoy them, and cannot wait for moreto come out.

READ IT!!!

I thought it was a great read, and again the Spotlights utilise under (or never) used characters.

Story was great, art was great. The only thing that I found disappointing that Guido didn't do a "study" of Warpath! The little bit we saw of him made Warpath a serious character for once and I would have loved to have seen a nice study of him like the others.

My Comic shop didn't order it so I will have to wait since it was order today

Burn wrote:I thought it was a great read, and again the Spotlights utilise under (or never) used characters.

Story was great, art was great. The only thing that I found disappointing that Guido didn't do a "study" of Warpath! The little bit we saw of him made Warpath a serious character for once and I would have loved to have seen a nice study of him like the others.

I wanted the same thing for Tracks. Guess they have to save something for Spotlight trade, right?

tigertracks 24 wrote:

Darth Bombshell wrote:

i_amtrunks wrote:Characters: Road Rocket, Skram

Aren't those G2 characters?

TRACKS was in it too. And yes, those are g2 characters.

I'd say they are G2 characters, Nice to see Furman branching out, Now all he has to do is re-introduce the Turbomasters!

Tracks was not in it. I thought it was Tracks as well, but about 2 pages later that Tracks-esque character talks and someone calls him a different name.(not 100% certain, as I dont have the comic infront of me, but I think Road Rocket calls him Skram). I was kinda hoping that it was Tracks, as I could see poor Hound having all kinds of issues dealing with two vain transformers such as Sideswipe and Tracks on his team.

SPOILERS AHOY:


Sideswipe seems to have a "Super Dragon Fist" style punch, as well as a Gun with a power setting (which I absolutely love).

Im lad Galvatron isnt Megatron reborn, I love that he was an original Ark crew member, and killed the Prime of his time by flying into the anomaly.

Was it just me, or did the aliens that Galvy destroyed look somewhat like Quintessons? Not so much when normal, but with their spacesuits on, they did. Could they be related to them in any way?

Needed more Warpath, even if he doesnt use his unique adjectives in the IDW Furmanverse.

Yeah, you're right, no TRACKs. $#!^...

They did look like Quints certainly from the back view that we saw first, but I guess since we have humanoid aliens, add squid-y aliens to the classification possibilities.

I thought perhaps Sideswipe's punch had to do with his pile driver ability that he had in G1 (not drums like Rumble, more like a jackhammer)...

tigertracks 24 wrote:I thought perhaps Sideswipe's punch had to do with his pile driver ability that he had in G1 (not drums like Rumble, more like a jackhammer)...

That's what I was assuming.

I think it was a credit to the writers to see known 'bad-ass fighters' like Sideswipe, actually be quite relavant to the fight.

I thought it was a good issue, especially loved the art. And it looks like I can finally shut up about Hound never getting any exposure - his presence was what really made this book for me!

Judge Deliberata wrote:I thought it was a good issue, especially loved the art. And it looks like I can finally shut up about Hound never getting any exposure - his presence was what really made this book for me!

He seemed uncomfortable in the leadership role. NOt something we are used to seeing Hound do. He's usually a great follower, an excellent scout, but a leader...not a role we have seen him play until now. He has been very underused.

Counterpunch wrote:

tigertracks 24 wrote:I thought perhaps Sideswipe's punch had to do with his pile driver ability that he had in G1 (not drums like Rumble, more like a jackhammer)...

That's what I was assuming.

Piledriver Ability + Jetpack. Beautiful Combination.

I think it was a credit to the writers to see known 'bad-ass fighters' like Sideswipe, actually be quite relavant to the fight.

I was happy to see Roadrocket, Skram, and Leadfoot - it opens the doors to so many more characters.

And the one dude on the Ark wasn't a Prime - Galvatron mentions Optimus having already been the leader and matrix-bearer before the war (a big change in TF continuity!). He did look familiar though, and the guy he was talking to even more. Actionmasters?

Caelus wrote:And the one dude on the Ark wasn't a Prime - Galvatron mentions Optimus having already been the leader and matrix-bearer before the war (a big change in TF continuity!). He did look familiar though, and the guy he was talking to even more. Actionmasters?

I just looked and he does not say Optimus in the flashback he says Prime, which could imply anyone who is bearing the matrix: Optimus, Sentinel, or other... I am guessing it was someone previous to Sentinel, because this was the golden age.

I want to know what 'he' commands the darkness, and Galvatron is the emissary for (herald of)...not Unicron, right??? Who are the others that would see him being merciful?

Caelus wrote:I was happy to see Roadrocket, Skram, and Leadfoot - it opens the doors to so many more characters.

And the one dude on the Ark wasn't a Prime - Galvatron mentions Optimus having already been the leader and matrix-bearer before the war (a big change in TF continuity!). He did look familiar though, and the guy he was talking to even more. Actionmasters?

I agree, it was great to see that some G2 characters are getting some exposure too. As for the other guys on the Ark, I'm a huge Actionmaster fan, and I didn't recognize any of them off hand. Granted, I read it in kind of a rush at IDW's Botcon booth, so I might have missed some stuff. I'll have to go back and check when I pick up my copy from my local comic shop.

tigertracks 24 wrote:I want to know what 'he' commands the darkness, and Galvatron is the emissary for (herald of)...not Unicron, right??? Who are the others that would see him being merciful?

Well, if they're going for someone other than Unicron who's already existed in past continuities, then possibe candidates include Leige Maximo, Dark Nova, Devel Z, the Fallen, or maybe a complete reinvention of an old character, like Overlord. Those would be a few of my guesses (some of which I'm more wild about than others). Otherwise, it might simply be an entirely new character altogether.

I mean, who knows, maybe they're gonna go for a real metatextual take on things and have Galvatron's master be Simon Furman himself!

Since Unicron has been all but ruled out for a very long time, my first thoughts shifted to something akin to "The Fallen" (without actually being him, as he was a DWverse character, and there has never been a mention of the original 13)

I even thought about the Boss character being the Quintessons, but disregarded it quickly, there is no way for them to grant Galvatron that kind of power.

The Leige Maximo would be nice, or hell, even Jiahxus, in a slightly different role to their G2 appearances.

Hopefully it is one of the G2 villians, or a new villian, but its going to have to be an unimaginably big bad.

This was a great read. Left alot of questions. Who is Galvatron a hearld for? If Galvatron is so powerful and his master even more powerful, what does he need with Thunderwing - and for that matter, Nightbeat? Where are Cyclonus and Scourge - two of my favourites.

The highlight for me was not only seeing Hound, but seeing Hound as a leader. Never been done before and would never have expected it either. Seeing more characters introduced was cool too.

Two things I thought of - at one stage, they way Galvatron was thinking, I got thinking there could be a relationship between Galvatron and the Reapers - anyone else see that or think it possible?

Are the others that Galvatron travelled with in ARk 1 dead? I mean, what are all those figures in the silver stuff - they were moving in the Nightbeat spotlight.

All in all, with the heavy tie in to Escalation and Stormbringer, I felt this Spotlight read less like the other Spotlights and more like a regular part of the ongoing story and I don't think we are going to have to wait too long to see how it ties in - Thunderwing going missing is going to get a lot of 'bots attention.

tigertracks 24 wrote:

Caelus wrote:And the one dude on the Ark wasn't a Prime - Galvatron mentions Optimus having already been the leader and matrix-bearer before the war (a big change in TF continuity!). He did look familiar though, and the guy he was talking to even more. Actionmasters?

I just looked and he does not say Optimus in the flashback he says Prime, which could imply anyone who is bearing the matrix: Optimus, Sentinel, or other... I am guessing it was someone previous to Sentinel, because this was the golden age.

I want to know what 'he' commands the darkness, and Galvatron is the emissary for (herald of)...not Unicron, right??? Who are the others that would see him being merciful?

Other heralds maybe? (In Armada, Unicron has 4)

At any rate, I thought the mercy aspect was Galvatron still asserting his indepenence from whatever force controled him. He was supposed to kill everything, but didn't.

I'm liking the theory that the REAPERS may be related to that group in some way, and perhaps they are courting Sixshot, and now Thunderwing to help them, since purification and destruction seem to be the purpose, these two seem to be like perfect candidates to join.

Galvatron picked up Thunderwing, and the REAPERS are going to get Sixshot to join since he seems to need purpose, and feels quite dark and empty inside...almost dead...

What does IDW Sideswip look like? I've been dieing to know. (my comic shop didn't order the GAL spotlight or the TF/Avng so I'm outta da loop).

Could someone scan a pic of him for me?

Neko wrote:What does IDW Sideswip look like? I've been dieing to know. (my comic shop didn't order the GAL spotlight or the TF/Avng so I'm outta da loop).

Could someone scan a pic of him for me?

From the back of the Galvatron Spotlight.