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Eighty-four (84) is a pretty significant number to Transformers fans. All Transformers fans know 1984 was the year that this roller coaster ride kicked off, and many of us haven’t looked back since. Did you know that D-84 was the number of the rare Japanese Destron Abominus giftset? E-Hobby repaint 84 is the wonderfully fun repaint of the minibots into their similar Gobots likenesses. Do you know who Cybertron number 84 is from the Japanese toy line? His significance cannot be overlooked either, considering the fact that he plays a pretty major role in the new Regeneration series at this time. The question I have for you all is: will Issue #84 of Regeneration be as memorable as these infamous 84s are? I’ll take you through some reasons why you might consider purchasing this comic to read and decide for yourself.
REASON #1 -
The importance of Starscream to the storyline.
Starscream has done nothing yet. We know Megatron is paying him the ultimate snub by taking away his voice and making him a subservient ‘zombie’. All the Zombiecons are supposed to be subservient to Megatron, but Starscream is the only one whom he took the ability to speak from. Can you blame Megs? In a ‘redrum’ sort of way, Starscream starts to show the independence, and self-preservation that he is famous for, and that Megatron worked so hard to take away. Starscream makes a move this issue, although it’s very slow, and hard to understand, by the end of the issue the significance leads to more questions.
REASON #2 -
Megatron is batty.
I mean he is. I suppose some might call him VERY FOCUSED. He’s truly showing that he does not care about anyone else, that his only goal is to make himself feel significant again, and he has worked very hard to make sure that has happened. In this issue, Megs is finally seeing his goal come true as his message is sent and received loud and clear. Unlike what IDW has done in the other modern G1series in which they gave Megatron a fairly noble history with clear motivations for his violent behaviors, and shown a clear brotherhood with Autobots that he then fought against, the Megatron in REGENERATION does not seem to have these motivations, or noble history.
REASON #3 -
Wreck ‘N Rule!
The Wreckers are doing what they do best. Lots of rough and tough, special operations, ‘we may never return’ action. One thing that I loved seeing in this issue was the Autobot helicopters taking on the Decepticon jets in an aerial dogfight!
We get to see and learn more about individual Wreckers characters as they work to complete the goals that their two mission groups need to accomplish. Some are very much out of their league. I mean Springer versus Megatron seems like a great fight, but only if I write it. Here? Hmmm... Sacrifice, and loyalty are both expectations that they are all very willing to give to one another.
REASON #4
Optimus Prime Arrives On Earth
Megatron is happy. Optimus is angry. Enough Said?
REASON #5 -
Dual Fates
Kup and Ratchet. Fates intertwined? Or Megatron and Ratchet? You need to read the issue to try to start tying this together.
REASON #6 -
Auntie Will Wipe Out Circuit Smasher
Doesn’t happen in this issue, but couldn’t it? Please?
Overall, there are some great reasons to grab this issue and continue reading this series. More reasons than I gave here (the Hot Rod and Grimlock mysteries...). 84 isn’t that special of an issue for REGENERATION, in my opinion. Not like 1984 special, or Abominus Gift Set special, but it does have Springer in it (C-64), and some great action. The art is consistently as it has been so far...good, bad, workable, refreshing, classic... whatever words you wanted to use to describe it earlier, still apply. There are some really great panels, and then some that are, not quite so great, but the style is consistent. You’ll continue your enjoyment of the series because or in spite of it.
Issue 84 of Regeneration hit stores today. Grab it and continue the blast from the past-iness that we are lucky enough to enjoy.
How do you write a spoiler free review? It’s not easy, but I’ll give it a whirl, so you can enjoy the issue for yourself when it hits comic store shelves tomorrow.
In the very last issue, Megatron made himself and his actions more than known to the Wreckers. Kup captured by the Lobotocons and in Megatron’s clutches, the Wreckers at the mercy of Circuit Smasher after being chased relentlessly by Megatron’s resurrected army and barely getting away a distress call to Cybertron...
"You kids get off my front lawn!"
In this issue it’s no surprise that Megatron goes forward with his plan to face Optimus Prime...again. Using the Wreckers and Kup as bait he’s hoping to lure Optimus to Earth for another final duel --a more final duel than any video game, or space bridge, or crashed starship, or alien controller could hope to achieve--. On Cybertron the message is finally received. But will Optimus answer the call from his deadly nemesis? Will he possibly forego the peace that has been established to once again take up the mantle to fight for freedom that he has been most known for?
On to other new issue news: Circuit Smasher is revealed to be Spike Witwicky -- didn’t see that coming did you--. But how did he become this newly enhanced being with glorious flowing locks? The last thing we all knew, including the Autobots, Spike was binary-bonded with Fortress Maximus. Where was this giant of a warrior, this hero of so many Cybertronian battles? Circuit Smasher Spike’s origins are revealed and the story also uncovers another familiar former human ally of the Autobots. No surprise really, it seemed this major Marvel contributor had to come along at some point with his relationship to the new powers that Spike is showing, and his relationship with the Transformers in general from the previous 80 issues. Maybe he can help the Wreckers to create something as deadly as ‘The Car Wash Of Doom’ to defeat Megatron and the Decepticons.
"I can look thoughtful and glow at the same time."
"Bet you didn't know I was so smart, huh?"
Unfortunately, this story still leaves us with no answer related to Grimlock’s capture from last issue when he went back to the planet Nebulos to get help with his affliction. Instead, we get another plot lead to what might be the end of Cybertron’s peace, and a whole lot more responsibility for the young Autobot cavalier under Prime’s tutelage.
‘Resistance is futile.’ Like the Borg, the rogue, off-planet Decepticons have been working to assimilate other robotic planets to help rebuild their strength, but their real desire, a certain home planet of a certain transforming robot species amy be attainable. If only the Autobot forces there were weakened, or spread thinly enough that a Decepticon uprising and assimilation would work. Hmmm.
Teaser image to a teaser image.
For me, this issue went way too fast and left way too much for next time. Circuit Smasher took up a lot of the story, and we all know that there are copyrights in the way to bringing back Circuit Smasher’s predecessor. It had to be, we had to get this out of the way so that Spike could be used again, even if he looks more like Josie, and less like Spike than I remember. Why he couldn’t remain the Fortress in Fortress Maximus, and Buster couldn’t become Circuit Smasher, I’m not sure? That answer may never come. I honestly wish that Circuit Smasher was not going to become a major character, but I believe he will since Furman has worked so hard to reintroduce Spike and his new powers, back into the plot, and has written out the old Spike. I wonder if we had not stopped with issue #80 way back when, if Furman would have continued to use Circuit Breaker, and found another fate better suited for Spike and Fortress Maximus?
Finally, Optimus Prime is no longer annoying me as much as he did in the first few issues of Regeneration. Furman has crafted him nicely, purposefully making us all feel frustrated like Kup toward Optimus’ in-action. We find out a lot about Optimus’ reasons for acting (not acting) as he has and it was enough at this point for me to forgive him.
"Duh."
I hope Kup lives long enough for him to be able to apologize and forgive Optimus as well. Poor Kup has contracted a pretty bad disease thanks to Megatron, and we’ll need Spike’s human ally to help him to overcome it. At least, that’s what they did when they faced this before.
There’s plenty for the previous Marvel Transformers and Marvel UK readers to find and recognize. But honestly, sometimes it feels like we are being hit over the head and forced to notice these details, rather than having them smoothly worked into the story for us to connect with. Sometimes they seem to be really syrup-y heavy, and not just light, and flavorful, as I feel they should be.
"Torkulon. Torkulon. Why does that sound familiar?"
Wildman’s art is still steadily decent, harkening back to simpler times in Transformers, but some of the panels, and some of the characters really do look very, very simple, with some odd looking facial expression, details, and simplified forms. Scale suffers, as it always seems to with Transformers. Geoff Senors alternate covers also make for some excellent nostalgic feel. Wonder if he’ll ever pencil the interiors?
"Don't look at my hand. It's hideous. I mean my other hand."
Of course, these are just my feelings toward the experience of issue #83. By no means do I not enjoy it, I really do, I love the restart of the old comic series. I often times feel as if it were the early nineties again, and I’m reading this series like it didn’t stop for twenty some years. And that I believe, is a major point of it all. Keep it up guys! And thanks to Seibertron for allowing me to share my ideas out loud with the rest of you all.
Seibertron's friend and neighbor Starlorz has shared his "preview" review of Transformers Fall of Cybertron. This review will be followed up with a full review some time in the next week once we've completed the game. Here are Starlorz's initial thoughts about Transformers Fall of Cybertron, which is in stores today.
Starlorz wrote:Transformers: Fall of Cybertron (FOC) is High Moon’s follow up their 2010 hit Transformers: War for Cybertron (WFC). FOC takes place immediately after the events of WaC and involves the same cast of characters with a few notable additions. For anyone that didn’t get a chance to play High Moon’s original Transformers offering, WFC, I’d highly recommend it. Transformers fans were given a thoughtful treatment of the Transformers franchise which fleshed out some watershed moments from Starscream’s defection to Optimus’ rise to Prime, and video game fans were treated to well-balanced first person shooter that made great strategic use of an innovative transforming mechanic. In other words, High Moon not only succeeded in creating the best Transformers game ever (which was not hard because the bar was set so incredibly low), but actually made a game that would have been great even without the association to a beloved franchise.
I’ve only had the opportunity to play FOC for a few hours at this point, but that is more than enough time to give you a run down on what has changed, what remains the same, and offer my initial impressions of the game.
What’s the same
There are a lot of elements from WFC which carry over to FOC. High Moon’s adept handling of the Transformers continues unabated. The dialogue stays true to the characters and is well written. I don’t mean that it’s well written like Shakespeare is well written, but in tone, style, and content it all sounds like the Transformers I grew up with. The voice acting continues to be spot on, which is what you’d expect given how many voice actors from the original series are used in the game. The robot and vehicle models remain sharp and contain interesting details like parts that move and shift when the player stands still. The art direction is consistently good. Personally, I really wish the backgrounds had a bit more color to them, but given that every time I’ve ever seen Cybertron in cartoon form it was grey with glowing bits all over, and that’s how it looks in this game, I can’t complain too much. The game itself still has two play styles: single player campaign and online multiplayer. The single player campaign is divided into chapters which are further divided by checkpoints. The multiplayer has several familiar modes like Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Capture the Flag and a few others. And as with most good FPS multiplayer games these days, you earn experience as you play that can be used to unlock new weapons and weapon upgrades. The cool addition that FOC brings to this system is that in addition to experience, you also earn money that can be used to buy different body parts or vehicle modes. I’ll cover this in greater depth in my full review. Transforming is still handled incredibly well. It sounds perfect (I would sometimes transform just to hear that sound on command) and looks amazing (one of the characters does a breakdance style windmill move to get into vehicle mode). But most importantly, transforming serves an integral strategic function for game play, especially in multiplayer. The multiplayer levels can be much larger than they would be otherwise, since everyone can turn into a fast mode of transportation. What you are trying to do at any given moment affects what kind of character is most useful. A Scientist in jet form may get you across the map fastest, but it has the weakest firepower once you get there. On the other hand the Titan packs a huge wallop, but takes forever to get anywhere. The interplay between the advantages and disadvantages of robot form and vehicle forms of the four different classes make FOC an incredibly fun, balanced and unique first person shooter.
What has changed
The graphics for FOC have been noticeably improved while simultaneously eliminating the frame rate slow down that occasionally happened in WFC. High Moon has also tweaked the controls, removing the double jump and secondary robot ability while adding a dash/sprint mechanic to the robot form. For a game that so often deals in close quarter combat, the dash/sprint ability is a welcome addition, particularly in multiplayer. Because your shields dissipate so quickly, if someone got the drop on you in WFC, you were pretty much doomed. But in FOC you can dash around the corner to try and get away without taking the time to transform . The four basic types of characters you can choose from have also changed a bit. The new types are the Infiltrator (a cloaking sniper type that transforms into cars and is quick but lightly armored), the Destroyer (armed with rocket launchers, medium armor and transforms into a truck), the Titan (heavy armor, heavy weapons, and slow tank-like vehicle) and the Scientist (lightly armored support class that transforms into a jet/helicopter). Again, I’ll get into much more depth in the full review. Another change is that instead of being able to choose from three different character options at the beginning of every chapter as you did in WFC, you are given no options. While this may seeming limiting, it has the advantage of forcing players to try different ways of taking on challenges. You can’t just choose the same kind of character every time just because you are good with them, but instead you are forced to experience the different play styles the game has to offer.
First impressions
Overall, FOC is an improvement on an already good model. The game is better looking and the controls seem a bit crisper and more refined. From everything I’ve seen so far, this game should please Transformer fans and video game fans alike. And if you happen to be a fan of both, this will probably be another must own title.
I look forward to getting the chance to play the game from start to finish. When I do, check back in for a full game review.
In addition, High Moon Studios and Activision have provided us with in-game screenshots to share with all of you here on Seibertron.com. The first batch of images are general screenshots, and then the next batch of images are from the campaigns on the Xbox 360 and PS3 respectively.
Dinobot Month is upon us! Run for your lives! (or not)
Previously...Issue #81 left off in perfect cliffhanger style. After just getting introduced and proving their metal in this issue, The Wreckers faced an onslaught of Megatron launched nukes. Caught with their afts in a bind, the end looked to be quick, and clean.
Would we be saying goodbye to the Wreckers as soon as we met them? Who would tell the Autobots on Cybertron of what has become of Earth?
Holy Explosive Endings! Same bot time same bot channel... (one month later-ish)
'Loose Ends: Part 2', Issue #82 opens with S P O I L E R S...okay not really, because the five page preview will show you the Wreckers fate of...escape pods! Yes, they had time to get to escape pods (just barely) and shoot to Earth where they regrouped and prepared for Megatron’s onslaught. It was very ‘we only have one chance’ ala the Superfriends, but honestly, how else were they really going to survive? Forgiveable, I suppose.
Wait...Megatron’s onslaught you may question. He’s only one bot. Ah, yes, but he has a small army of familiar lobotomized zombie-like Decepticons to help him and had 21 years to plot his revenge. No more free will for his pawns... Megatron’s orders are followed no matter what. Failing will never be the fault of one of his ‘followers’ again, although I am sure he will find some way to blame the inevitable failure of this trap on them (Starscream, most likely).
Can you tell if I'm wearing a piece?
Let the petrorabbit hunt begin! Instead of petrorabbits though, Wreckers are the endangered species. And as Megatron’s undead horde searches for the Wreckers, the Wreckers try to collect their bearings, their injured comrades, stay low, and then attempt to find a communication array to contact Cybertron.
Ssseeerrvos. SSSEEERRVOS.
August is Dinobot month, remember? For good reason. We now switch to Grimlock en route to Nebulos to find a cure for his (and others) nucleon enhanced and cursed forms. He wants to transform again and thinks the key to that is somewhere on Nebulos.
Viewing a data slug with information on it by ‘Project Lazarus’ senior scientist, BORX, Grimlock believes he can be helped by the scientists working on this project which happens to be taking place on Nebulos. What is this project? Many of you might be able to guess, but I don’t want to spoil it for you. It could prove to bolster both Autobot and Decepticon ranks, if successful.
Grimlock lands on Nebulos finding it to be much less populated than he remembered. Then he is attacked by what appear to be humanoids under some sort of mind control. In a fairly un-Grimlock like moment, he reflects that he must not use lethal force on them to defend himself. And then gets himself concussed and a familiar appendage or two appears in panel to gather him up.
This what new touchy-feely Grimlock get...
By the way, Magnus gets very frustrated and has himself a moment...using once again, the curse word he became so famous for... directing his anger at Kup and Grimlock for being rule breakers without him (more or less).
I can't hand...oh just move on.
Back on Earth. Kup is captured by Zombie Skywarp and has yet another kooky chapter to add to his war story arsenal. Megatron gloats. Megatron sets and baits a trap for..who else? As we near the end of this issue Rack N’ Ruin make a discovery, finding the first group of human survivors, and their protector, a warrior with He-man’s hair and Black Vulcan’s superpowers. And a somewhat familiar name. End issue.
Is it circuit breaker with a newish name?
I am starting to enjoy this series more. Yes, I know it is only the second (second and a half) issue, but I enjoyed this one a lot. Very, very familiar feel, and yet, not as campy feeling as all the previous vintage issues were (most of the time). I found it entertaining. I like this bat crazy, and yet ultimately intelligent Megatron-- I don’t care if I inspire my followers, I’ll simply lobotomize them and easily command them to do exactly what I want. Dude, really? Wow.
And the horrible, twisted situation Megatron has Ratchet in...
I'm at a loss of words too...
Used Ratchet for sale! High miles, but really, really quiet. Runs great!
Contact MANICALMEGS@con.com
Kup’s inner and exterior dialoguing prove again to be fantastic, adding more and more to his character. His revelations about the Autobots lack of ‘cleaning up after themselves’ even after 21 years have passed, his devotion to taking responsibility for it, and doing something about it, are what sets this book apart from the previous 80 in the series.
Wait didn't Unicron...oh well. Turbo Revvin' Dead Con.
Springer dons much more of a leadership role, as he should, and Grimlock’s characterization is well done, building on his new found (late in the original series) appreciation for all life, and trying to fight to protect those that are weaker than he is.
All the main Autobot characters in fact, seem to be reacting to and dealing with different responsibilities, and how they do this is obviously effecting their choices, and relationships. I like this a lot.
As the second issue in the series, we are now beyond the introduction, catch up, and setup, we are now getting more into the characters, and into the deeper action. I also particularly enjoy seeing things that have been happening in the ‘missing’ 21 years... Project Lazarus for one.
And the art is growing back on me. It’s comfortable, and I enjoyed practically every panel of it. There really are some fantastic examples of the more classical Transformers style. Action sequences are excellent, and as a fellow podcaster said, it’s very easy to recognize who is doing what in the panels.
Not much to bag on here, the beginning escape of the Wreckers was a little convenient, but ultimately acceptable. The worst thing is I have to wait another month to read the next issue. Kudos to Simon, Andrew, and the rest of the team for this. You now have the responsibility to continue to keep it up... please!
Pick this issue up Wednesday at your LCS. Don’t miss out.
So since I reviewed the last issue of Dark of the Moon Rising Storm I get to review this one too.
Just like last time I will give a spoiler-laden synopsis and then crucify evaluate the comic based on art and story separately.
Lets get started.
The comic starts off at the N.E.S.T. Base, the bots and the humans have a bit of a conversation on how weird and creepy the refugees are. I'm not really going to describe everything in detail because I don't care, the reason comes later.
We cut back to Optimus Prime and co in a plane off to save Sam. Optimus and Elita have a conversation about how dedicated they are to killing Decepticons. Elita gets angry because Prime left them back on Cybertron and she saw Chromia die, and then died herself or something, Prime then says the funniest line any Optimus Prime has ever said:
“Don't forget you you're talking to, I've died too, Elita.”
For some reason that just cracks me up, he's like Stan Lee, pointing out the awesome things he's done whenever he gets the chance, just that Prime is kinda lame while doing so.
Who edits this? Who edits this? Insecticons. Insecticons.
There is one thing bothering me though, until now I've been under the impression that Arcee is the main unit of the three, while the other two are extensions of her but still have a bit of autonomy from one another. But here it looks like Elita-1 is the main unit while Arcee is part of her. You know what, I'm beyond caring at this point, these three are from now on the Magic Threesome to me.
So anyway, the Magic Threesome is thrown out of the plane to do something, it wasn't really stated what they where going to do, just that it had something to do with infiltration (herm, I'd rather be reading that comic to be honest).
We cut back to EXTREAM Sam and company who are still under attack by Club Starscream. In this fight it is revealed that Bludgeon is not based off off the ROTF toy, but has a new different design, or it's just the artist not giving a f**k about what the character's supposed to look like – take your pick (But I have to say I wouldn't mind buying a toy that looks like that). Also Bludgeon kills a Decepticon while aiming at Mirage, who is invisible, I like Bludgeon especially due to his response:
“Sorry, Storm Surge. I always knew you'd wind up as Collateral damage. Now where did Mirage go...”
Better than "My bad".
We also learn that Wheeljack has forcefields, just like Trailbreaker, oh and he's British. I can't help it, but the pages featuring Mirage and Wheeljack sound like a commercial for their toys.
“Hey kids I'm Wheeljack. I have lasers, I do science and I have a Forcefield!” “That's my best mate Mirage, he goes invisible! And look at his awesome Ninja skills!” “BUY OUR TOYS NOW, buy em or go and ask your bloody PARENTS TO BUY THEM!”
Well, then EXTREAM Sam goes out to find Brains, in an EXTREAM way. There he meets Space Case, who tries to kill Carly so he drinks his POWERTHIRST and gives Space Case an EXTREAM wack to the head with a crow Bar, EXCTREAM.
Then Carly saves Sam by shooting Space Case with a gun that looks to be attached to a Transformer lying on the ground, don't ask me which one, they all look the same, so I guess it's Jazz.
Why Carly, is that a gun or are you just happy to.. NO!
Bad Joke!
Then we go back the the Magic Threesome sneaking up on a large Decepticon, who is talking over a com link with another Decepticon. Stating that the cage is set and the pet is locked up.
It's revealed that the Decepticon is Astrotrain, seriously he's in this comic o_O, so I guess it wasn't Cybertron Thundercracker I saw in the last issue, and the Master is Shockwave. Also the hunt for Brains is just a way of distracting Club Starscream.
There's a tentacle monster in the cage, or is the tentacle monster part of the cage? Also that cage seems useless, because the Tentacle monster can slide it's tentacles through it.
Which idiot designed this?
The Magic Threesome then realizes that the whole thing was a
And are met by Soundwave and his minions, who lay a smackdown on them. Then the Magic Threesome decides to “Kill all Decepticons”, but also tells the Elita part to go get help.
Back to EXTREAM Sam and company and Club Starscream. Starscream finds out that he's been Shockwave'ed and finds himself in the middle of the Autobot reinforcements coming to help EXTREAM Sam.
We then return to Shockwave, who goes to the N.E.S.T. HQ to do what he does best, killing things. Yep, everybody dies,.even humans, but we don't see them die. Their death panels are just the sound effect on a background of random colours.
Feel lucky bud?
So that was it.
On the art:
The art is all over the place, some pages look pretty good while others look freaking horrible. It fluctuates, sometimes parts of a panel look good while the rest of it looks like an afterthought. There are group shots of characters standing behind other characters, where body parts that should be visible are just cut off by empty hippy coloured space. Also sometimes it looks like the art isn't even inked. The colours are a little better than in the previous image but still bad, especially due to the fact that TWO people where responsible for the colours in this comic, TWO and they still look like a comic from the 80's. Seriously, the G1 toon had less colour issues.
Overall, however, I feel that the line-art isn't too bad, it just looks worse than it is due to the colour job. That's the thing with colouring, it can make or break an image.
Oh no, I'm missing body parts! they have been absorbed into the hippy coloured black hole we have here for some reason!
I give the art on the art 3 of 10 stars.
On the writing:
The writing's not that bad, there are a few issues here and there, a few things that don't make sense, and a few things that just seem really really stupid. But overall not that bad, you know stuff is actually happening, characters are actually in character and consistent with their previous portrayals which is more than what I can say of other TF books.
Also I get the feeling that this story will be pretty good once itS' collected in the trade, it's just a shame that the art is so incredibly lazy and god awful.
also I would like to point out that the editing is almost as bad as in Spotlight: Grimlock, just saying.
I give the writing 6 out of 10 stars.
Which gives the comic an average of 4.5 out of 10.
It's been a long day. You're sipping a cold beverage at BotCon 2011 in Pasadena, California. It's one of your favorite times of the year. Not only are you in Transformers heaven, but you've made your trip to the dealer room and unleashed your wallet to buy your holy grail. Now you're hanging with all your buddies from Seibertron.com. You make sure everyone's listening, when you ask the question 'What do you think of the Power Core Combiners? I love those guys!" Everyone around you halts what they're doing. Half of your friends start to scream, while the other half shake their heads in shame. Peter Cullen is even facepalming. The bartender kicks you out for causing the mess, and then... Woah. Let's hold on for a minute here. I'm here to make sure than none of this happens at BotCon 2011, to the person who asked the question, to the friends of that person. and especially Peter Cullen.
The line itself has caused a lot of anguish among Transformers fans the past few months. I've watched forum topics pass by and by. I've tried my best to get a grasp of the situation, and understand the opinions of my fellow collectors. Ultimately I land at the question - How has it come to this? We're in the 21st century, and we've got an entire toyline that's seemingly worse than Armada Side Swipe.
While I originally planned to do a review of the first wave of Power Core Combiners for Seibertron.com, that's something that no collector needs. An essay formed from my single opinion is nothing compared to you going around Seibertron.com, looking at photos of the figures or asking the general community of their opinion on a figure. It's really simple, toys are attractive to people because of their aesthetics. No one should be detered from buying a toy that they like from photos, because of one person's opinion. Especially not from a guy with hairy hands, playing around with a Transformers figure for 10:00 on Youtube with a low quality camera.
So what am I here to do? I'm here to convey the idea of Power Core Combiners. To let you know that it's more than just the toy, but also a movement. If you're not liking the sentence you just read, you probably might not want to read the rest of this article. You likely know me well already - I'm a crazed collector of Transformers: Armada, a Blurr fan, and I'm not exactly one to go along with popular trends. But no, this is not blind love for Power Core Combiners, it's a bit more like tough love. Whether you're laying the smackdown on these toys, or you love them to death, they're still just toys. And that brings us to the start of my discussion.
Toy. Toys. [toi]. Looking it up in the dictionary, obviously you'll find a definition. A bunch of English nonsense, but there's a key phrase - "for children or others to play with". I'm sure you've heard of this all before, but for those who haven't, Hasbro's target audiences are within the definition. The children, and others, which are us Transformers fans. While I wish that us Transformers fans were pushing Transformers in the direction we wanted to, it's just not there. Even if Jon Doe dishes out one grand on Transformers every month, a kid and their ever affectionate parents outnumber us. We humans just can't stop making babies. Then there's Live Action. The 2007 Transformers Movie did not only include explosions from Michael Bay, no, it exploded the Transformers into the stratosphere, and it's a fair guess to assume that alot of kids jumped on the bandwagon.
To the movie toyline in particular. Leading up to the years before it, Transformers was always a singular toy line. Everyone had to go through the disco colors of Generation 2, the clashy colors of Universe, and the cool to me, but probably not very cool to you, Transformers Armada. Now in recent years we've had collective lines sharing the Transformers name under Hasbro's brand. In 2008, there were Movie toys, Universe/Classics 2.0 and Transformers Animated. Respectively we designated the figures under the different sections of the Transformers fanbase, for the movie fans, for the faithful Generation One fans, and for the kids. But there's a big problem here. In no way should Transformers Animated should have been designated towards the children population. Yes, it was a morning cartoon, but the toys were intricate puzzles. They require a force and memory, things that some young children have yet to develop sufficiently. To top it all off, Transformers Animated probably had the worst quality control in the history of Transformers. Loose hands, sloppy paint application, basically the works. Not only is that a huge turn off for us Transformers collectors, but when a kid doesn't like, or can't even play with the Transformers toy, that opens a huge can of warms. The parent's likely going to deem Transformers for being too difficult for their son or daughter. And while the majority of some Animated figures were completely shoddy, it still was successful because of it being part of a cartoon! Fans had to complete the 'cast' or get the toy of their favorite characters. Even to this day, people are demanding figures for Animated characters that have yet to receive one!
Fast forward to 2010. It's the same as 2008 - Hunt for the Decepticons for movie fans, Generations for the G1 fans, and Power Core Combiners for the kids. I ultimately feel that Hasbro deemed that the Animated toyline was a failure, and in order for a 'kid toyline' to be successful, Power Core Combiners had to simplified. There's alot of playability, the line is really aimed for children...
..And just like Transformers: Animated and everything before it, the line has it's own cartoon! Hasbro's got the business down pact, a kid watches Huffer and his best buddy Caliburst blast down Smolder and Chopster. Then after the show's over, the young boy kindly asks his mother to take him to the toy store. Both figures are purchased so he can re-enact their battles all over the carpet floor. Wait.. something's not right there. Ah yes, I got it wrong. The kid buys a comic book, and sees Bombshock with the Combaticons, shooting down Skyburst and the Aerialbots.. Wait that's not right either.
Utterly Dumbfounded. It's been 3 months and I still can't get over the fact that Power Core Combiners has no connecting media. Not only is having no related cartoon for a major toy line breaking the trend, but having a toyline by itself is just silly to me. A single appearance in in Cyber Missions doesn't count either. Even reading Transformers Ongoing #11 got me interested in buying Generations Red Alert, Movie Firetrap (Brawn) and 2010 Takara Predaking. But for the PCCs - No toyline, no comics, no nothing. There's nothing to save this line if it's ratings fall. Compound this entire situation with the fact that the year 2010 yields no Transformers movie and no Transformers cartoon till Quarter 4 - I just see it's more likely for a child to be interested in Star Wars, Ben 10, or Iron Man. Even if a kid is a Transformers fan, I personally believe that the Movie line and Generations are alot more appealing than PCCs.
The last nine paragraphs have led to my conclusion of this situation - Transformers Power Core Combiners have purely been marketed out for children. Personally I believe that Hasbro is using this to test out if a kid-only toy line can suffice. I just don't see that this project is going to work well. An entire toyline made out of Activators wouldn't work either. Yes, maybe Power Core Combiners could work, but not at this time. Maybe in December, when it's Christmas time and toys are bought up more than fast food. Maybe next year, when Transformers 3 comes out and the Transformers buzz is back. But in the Summer of 2010, competing externally against Star Wars, Iron Man, GIJoe, and internally against Generations and Hunt For the Decepticons - PCC's at the bottom of the league, and they traded away their first round draft pick. I just don't see that there's any hope for this line.
Power Core Combiners have been engineered for younger fans, I just don't see how 21st Transformers Technology can make PCC 5-Packs look like antiques compared to their superior Generation One brothers. Is that wrong? Certainly not, I'm sure younger fans and children will enjoy these toys due to their low cost and for the reasons stated above. But to us, to the older fans, to the experienced, Seriously Hasbro? I can't even consider myself as old, but this line is a complete turn off to me - an Armada collector. These Mini-cons are a shadow compared to Targetmasters, Headmasters, and Armada Mini-cons. My fellow Seibertron.com staff member Counterpunch, a man who collects almost everything, is flabbergasted at this line.
I can put words as to why this line was created, to how we got to this point, but I've got nothing in the English dictionary to describe these toys. So, Mamma Mia! I did say that with this article, I would make sure that no one would talk bad about Power Core Combiners at BotCon 2011. I'm sorry if I came off with the intention of making your opinion of these guys to be positive. No, just let your anger and hate out now.
And so we have the next STORY arc in Transformers Ongoing:
Decepticons are the main focus of issue number 7. Not the Earth-bound, homeless guys that were just mostly wiped out and captured last issue by the Skywatch and Autobot team up, no, this is the Decepticon group that fled to space at the end of ‘All Hail Megatron’.
Starscream, Bombshell, and Megatron form the bulk of who this book is about. Told from Megatron’s point of view, he is somehow omnisciently observing and narrating what is going on with his Decepticons while he is recovering/resting/imprisoned in some liquid (like bacta from Star Wars, I think). A blast to the head, again, from way back in AHM’s final episode put him in his current state. Where Megatron is contained is a mystery to us at this time, but based on statement’s made earlier in the issue by Spike’s father, it is alluded to that perhaps Megatron may be hidden deep in a Skywatch research bunker (sound familiar...like the ’07 movie?).
General Witwicky to Major Witwicky:
”What do you think happens to your happy alliance when they see what has gone on in Section 82? You were personally involved in that.”
But no, if you read carefully, the excerpt explaining ‘the story to this point’ on the inside cover, we find out it is Soundwave who is diligently working to repair and recoup Megatron at the Decepticons’ new base. This does explain how to some degree Megatron knows details about the troops here, although how he is able to function to this degree, but not be able to command kind of causes an itch in my brain.
Speaking of the troops, the Decepticons are gathering on an asteroid (think Charr in Season 3 of G1), fighting for survival against one another for energy, as more and more refugees from the war make their way to where the AHM cons fled to.
A couple of things:
There are a multitude of comparisons one can start making between the beginning of this arc, and the previous arc. Told from the leader’s point of view mainly, we have Optimus Prime struggling with how to lead his team when they no longer needed to be soldiers anymore in the first arc, and now we have Megatron reflecting on his faction’s status, and how his leadership is needed to right the Decepticons now, more than ever, and organize the soldiers for the next thing. Megatron as the narrator of this issue, reflects on his leadership style and Optimus Prime’s, how one shall fail, and one shall be triumphant (guess which is which).
It’s interesting to juxtapose the Autobot and the Decepticon soldiers at this point, as well. In the first arc, we saw how the Autobots struggled with their leader surrendering, and choosing and following new leadership. While there were questions of who should lead next and how, the Autobots for the most part kept civil with each other making the choice to be proactive (Hot Rod), or reactive (Bumblebee). Now that the Autobots are all back together under Bumblebee, they may feel less distress, and more organized. No longer do they have to worry about hunting their own to be allowed some semblance of freedom, or allying with former millenium long enemies. No longer do they have to worry about being hunted by their own faction brothers, or by the humans. Where this Skywatch and Autobot alliance takes us will be interesting, but the Autobots are in a much better position than previously. Well done Optimus, just as planned...
However, on the flipside, we have the actual losers of the war that happened during AHM, the Decepticons. They don’t quite handle being without their leader, Megatron, as peacefully as the Autobots did.
The Decepticons are being newly lead by Starscream, who believes the Autobot matrix has chosen him to be the new leader of the Decepticons. He struggles with maintaining his power, how to control the Decepticon troops, and of course, his next step--very similar to Bumblebee’s trials as Autobot leader at the beginning of his tenure.
The Decepticon front liners are having problems of their own. Similar in ways to the Autobot rank and file situation, the cons hunt one another for energon, as Razorclaw looks on proudly, not for the sake of protecting themselves from a third party threat like the humans, as the Autobots ‘had’ to, but to self-govern, and punish the weak, or the rule breakers. Bombshell states to Starscream that this works well, this culling of the herd to make it so only the strongest survive, a statement one would never hear coming out of any Autobot’s mouth--except maybe Grimlock.
Bombshell to Starscream:
”No that problem has sorted itself out, as I thought it would. The population reached a critical level, and now it’s self-governing through cannibalism. Resources will remain stable now, recycling back into the system.
Nice to hear the Decepticons are so ‘green’. Yes, you read that correctly, cannibalism.
Starscream:
”Cannibalism is not an acceptable solution, I need functioning soldiers!”
The Decepticons have major issues. Their ‘generals’ (Shockwave, Soundwave...) are doing their own things, supporting their faction in more behind the scenes ways. The Decepticon warriors are destroying each other, and they seem to have no leadership that they care to recognize, or that can organize them.
Is Galvatron coming soon?
There is hardly an Autobot in this issue, although Optimus does meet General Witwicky, to try to help Spike to further his position that the Autobots are willing to help, and are peaceful.
The human element is still a main factor in Ongoing as the Witwicky’s argue over whether the Skywatch and Autobot alliance is beneficial, and whether the higher level government officials have reasons to accept it.
Spike gives the Autobots props (finally), having outreasoned his father and gaining his support:
ART:
Don Fig is off for the next few issues, and E.J. Su (Spotlight Prowl) has taken over. I was interested in EJ’s art when it so contrasted Don’s Ongoing style when we saw it in Spotlight Prowl. EJ’s got a new look to his ‘stuff’, as said before basing things more on Classics, or classical versions of toys, rather than Don’s new designs, or his own designs as we saw him do in INFILTRATION.
While it is yet another interesting juxtaposition, I have an issue I would like to bring up.
Why the new styles by Don and now EJ? Why are they so different? It’s like night and day, one super-detailed and smooth, another very linear, boxy, and much less detailed.
I never believe my opinion is better than anyone else’s, but I also wonder why are there all of these, for lack of a better term, ‘shadows’ on the characters that look like camouflage? I’m not sure if it’s the penciler or the colorist who put them in, but I am [bold]NOT[/bold] a fan of what they do to the characters’ looks. I think it is meant to be shine vs. dull, but it seems way too...contrived? Unnatural? I think that perhaps a more realistic use of shadow, or a texture could show this with much more effectiveness.
Overall, this looks like an interesting new start for the next story arc. Written similarly so that we see relationships between the Decepticon’s situation, and the Autobot’s situation, we are taking the next step. Where is it going? Will the Autobots ever become confident, and decisive? Will the Decepticons recover and find their way back to Earth, or Cybertron, and start the war anew? Will the pace of stories pick up quicker than the last arc, or are we in for the same lengthy slow build with the Decepticons that we had in the first arc with the Autobots? If we have a Starscream mini, we may be in for the same ride...
Check out the five page preview, and pick up your issue tomorrow, if you are so inclined.
LAST NOTE: Denton Tipton says his goodbyes to Transformers comic editing in the letter's page at the end.
Is this comic series guilty of fanwank? Bringing in characters, and ideas of old to simply make us hardcore fans cryout on message boards how awesome issues are? Many have labeled it as such, which in the text that I have heard the slang fanwank used, likens it to being worse than stealing candy from babies (babies don’t get candy by the way--sad wikitron fan fact). Being talked down upon for being unoriginal, and only liked due to its yank at our gut... is that what this series means to us?
By now you know my feelings about the art, and the much more enjoyable story in this compared to other recent IDW Transformers offerings. Pick any RECENT issue of an IDW Transformers series...got it..good? Wreckers is better in all aspects, any issue of the mini beats any issue you could choose.
So it’s time to start nit-picking Mr. Roche’s story. He’s starting to wrap it up. We have the ‘penultimate’ issue of the series here. Penultimate series issue means--SOME ANSWERS. Unlike ABC’s LOST (in it’s final season), we get SOME answers to our WRECKERS questions, even though they may seem about as satisfying as many of the answers to the mysteries on said show (NOT SATISFYING AT ALL) are.
What do we get answers to?
-what Wrecker(s) spark is extinguished
-what ‘aequitas’ is
-how Ironfist ‘made’ it on the Wreckers
-how totally ‘bad’ Springer really is
-how many OMG moments can Nick Roche put in one series
-how lame Pyro is/is not
-what the black smoke is (oops, wrong fiction)
-how the Wreckers will probably get out of this whole thing
-what was the choice Overlord offered
!!!!!!!SPOILERS!!!
AEQUITAS
This question bugged me since the beginning. And like the answer to the statue on LOST, this one left me disappointed. We were right that aequitas had to do with judgement (google search definition, it’s there). We were right that it was big. But as far as I know, the rest of our ideas we had were all wrong. The biggest let down of this issue is probably this whole plot point’s revelation. Such a pity. Unless you are happy that it was not the obvious. Seeing this one play out in the final issue will determine my happiness with this answer. Fanwank critics should rejoice though...as in this does not feed our wankiness.
WRECKER DEATH
At least one spark is extinguished on the good guys side in this issue, and it relates to the above disappointment. To be expected with so many cons headhunting them on Overlord’s orders (last issue).
IRONFIST
We find out a whole lot about Ironfist/Fisitron this issue. We knew from last issue that some strings were pulled to get him in, ie he skipped tryouts and was appointed to the team. Who might do this? None other than the high-ranking Autobot subject of our other review this month. On top of this we find out Ironfist is credited with making some of the most memorable weapons in certain Transformers’ arsenals, as well as, countless other WMD’s used in the Cybertronian War. Plus, he seems to get +10 in the brains department based on events in the final few pages of this issue. But he also may be upping his insanity +2. Lots going on with this character.
"A brilliantly designed piece of firepower is a work of art to me."
-SIDE SLIDE- finally we get the return of the Autobot Wiki in this issue’s end, and this entry is none other than our befuddled, hero worshiper, IRONFIST. Great, you guys (IDW) forgot to do this in two other issues. Maybe you’ll put something in the final issue about Overlord that takes three pages or something...
--SIDE SLIDE 2--I love how they use the older looking pages, colors, etc., for the flashback pages. What a nice touch from the artistic side, and I never mentioned it before.
SPRINGER = BAD@$$
While looking a crazed torturer in the face plate, Springer manages to have a conversation with Impactor about his feelings. We get to see part of the reason Springer is the leader of the Wreckers, as the two soldiers wax philosophical about the situation that landed Impactor in Garrus-9. This flashback is why Springer should be everyone’s favorite character. Oh my god, behind enemy lines type stuff here. Gritty, grimy, and so Wrecker like. Wait what about Topspin, aww sh--, no way! Stalker is quite good at his job, but someone seems to be a bit better.
OMG
Umm...so everyone was saying something about fun, and fanwank right? Wrong. This series has turned psychological, brutal, and dramatic. This issue revs it up a notch for some things that you were probably not prepared for. Sure there is fanwank type stuff here, but there is more that is just downright gut-wrenching, unexpected, and mind-boggling. Fun has turned into crazy, we’re talking messed up Joker crazy. Disorders upon disorder. It is somewhat tough to swallow at times, because of the dramatic change. But it seems to work for the story.
Okay, some wankiness... a Legion of Doom version of the Wreckers... really? C’mon...
PYRO
Lame, lame, lame. People are going to want to take their Botcon versions and firecracker them after seeing this coward called out, and how he responds. He needs to be drummed out, assuming he survived. Somewhat predictable...probably with all his he’s Optimus Prime Jr. talk.
THE BLACK SMOKE It’s bad Locke. It’s the opposite of Jacob, and it wants off the island. And if you cross it, it can kill your @$$.
THE MACGUFFIN
Once again, it is present, and once again, it may just save the day. Obvious, and easy, it better not be the ‘way out’. Boo to you Perceptor for offering it. Did you hate how the Magnificence made everything ‘too convenient’ in the ‘tion’ series wrap up? Perceptor had better have hated it enough to not use the one present here. Unfortunately, he voted YES.
THE CHOICE
“Fight me, or die...” Not much choice. Same result.
What’s old is new again...
Springer and Impactor UK #167
Where are these guys?
Springer, Sandstorm, and Broadside UK #88
No surprise that you will enjoy reading this one, and probably have to read it a few times . Then you will still be saying, “what the slag just happened?”
Obviously, I do not want to spoil everything for you, but our thoughts about Grimlock are addressed to a degree. I tried to review the plot in this issue without giving up exactly what happened. Hard to do with this and the next issue being the series wrap.
No matter what I say, you’ll be first in line tomorrow to buy it. You should. Buy two. One for each eye. It’s that enjoyable. And it has been that long since we have had something to look forward to this much.
“The evaluation is self-evident: one of their lives is not worth one of ours. That’s what the math dictates.”
Let me get this off my chest first and foremost. I am a Prowl S-L-A-P-P-Y. He was one of the first toys I owned as a child. From the TV show, he was also not everybody’s favorite robot, but he did see plenty of screen time, so I felt comfortable having him as a favorite that nobody else did. Man did I hate seeing him go down like he did in the movie.
In the Marvel comics, he was forgettable until the final issues of the series (“An 80- issue miniseries!”), mostly because in the span of the first 10 issues, he and a band of other Autobots were put down for the count early on by Shockwave, and then put into storage until they could be repaired. When Grimlock found the nucleon and repaired all the wrecked Autobots (wikitron fan fact- causing them to no longer have alt modes), Prowl came back to lead the Autobots as Bludegon led the Decepticons...and of course, Prowl led the Autobots into a Decepticon trap that just about destroyed them. Can’t catch a break. Grimlock dispised him as a weak leader as well.
So, I think you get the picture. Prowl’s claims to fame have been...
-right hand robot to the leader
-tactician/strategist
-unfeeling, logic driven cad
-incompetent leader and soldier
-overall ‘party pooper’ of the Autobots
He did have a shining moment, at least in this Prowl fan’s eyes.
The episode Roll For It in Season 1 was the closest we’ve seen to an independent Prowl who does more than think, or act as a ‘yes man’ to authority. Unfortunately, he needed Chip Chase’s help to be this remarkable a warrior.
The TakaraTomy Binaltech fiction saw the reemergence of Prowl as a character, but again, needing Chip Chase as his more human side.
Prowl has been in every re-imagining of Generation One continuity you can name. His importance, as already stated, has never really gone past that of strategist relying on facts. As you can imagine, when the Transformers Spotlight Prowl was announced I was really excited ('Starscream fangirl' excited, no, excited, yes) that we might get something more about this underrated character.
Artwork:
The return of E.J. Su. Through the hazy mists who is it that we see reappear to light our darkest hour? None other than Transformers artist E.J. Su, back at work with IDW drawing Transformers.
“Hi, I’m EJ Su, you may remember me from such previous Transformers stories as Transformers: Infiltration, the hiding, and Transformers: Escalation, the slow build.”
Oh, and remember when we didn’t like E.J’s new designs on our 'Precious'? Many of us would love to see him come back and give Transformers Ongoing pencils a go.
His art does create a familiar, happy feeling to return to though. E.J. calls upon his ‘-tion’ style mostly, and brings us simpler, blockier designs based on each character’s Classics and Universe toy (for those that had one).
The work is gritty, and energetic, and yet, it fits like an old glove. Textures are handled, but not in an overly complex way. The inks and colors work well with the pencils to create an effect that many of us have missed in our Transformers comics lately.
"AWESOME!"
What I really like though are the uses of the large, dark, shadow spots. They work well, and as a style, allow the artist to use less detail, and think more about the inter-workings of the negative and positive spaces these dark shadows cause. It also allows for more attention to be brought to the parts that are bright, which are usually the most important to helping us see the story.
I am sure that the art is going to cause some wincing among fans, but I find it refreshing, nostalgic, and interesting to look at. It has a certain Mike Mignola Hellboy feel to it (with less hell, more boy) that works well with Transformers.
Plot/Writing:
Since All Hail Megatron Coda #15, Prowl has been left out of things. We’ve seen him helping Rodimus Prime’s bunch trying to get off of Earth in the Transformers Ongoing series (wikitron Fan Fact: Prowl got captured by humans as he was baited into trying to save Breakdown then **edit** rescued, in the battle for his rescue, Ironhide was lost). We’ve seen him pulling some strings as a high ranking Autobot leader to get certain people into certain places (See Spotlights Kup, and Ultra Magnus, and Last Stand of the Wreckers #4).
All this has led us to think is that Prowl is pretty much the Autobot equivalent of Shockwave, albeit less powerful of a fighter. Always calculating the math, and making decisions based on logic and numbers, never using instincts, or feeling to make his decisions. Prowl supports the Autobot cause to no end, and really does not question authority, as long as logic, and the numbers, support it.
This 'attempting to save Breakdown' incident in TF Ongoing #1 was a step in a new direction for Prowl. For those who may have thought, ‘What the hell?’ when Prowl made that somewhat uncharacteristic move, you’re about to be enlightened. This story tells the tale of Prowl between All Hail Megatron, and Transformers Ongoing #1. It gives us insights into the character that we perhaps have not given much thought to, or thought that the writers had given much thought to either.
This spotlight also helps fill in some pieces (like AHM Coda did), it is a fairly necessary read for anyone trying to make sense of the continuity that IDW is placing together.
For fans of Generation One characters that transform into police cars that are not named Streetwise, Siren, or Stakeout, this is written for you, as well.
Finally, Prowl fans can feel good that their guy is not just a logic driven, uncaring, strategist. We saw some passion in the Marvel series, and on the old cartoon, but until now, have really only seen him giving, and receiving orders.
In this issue Prowl has some intense inner dialogue where he is calculating the effectiveness of what they are doing on Earth, making suggestions, and feeling the command structure fall to pieces around him. He is caught up between his emotions and the logic, and this is what drives the story.
And then we see the heart in the tin man...
The entirety of the issue is either Prowl ‘debating’ with himself, self-narrating the story, or dialogue where he interacts with others. It fits very well. It is well written, and Mike Costa deserves praise for this issue's success because he is sure getting enough people contesting his writing/pacing in Transformers Ongoing.
This issue allows us to get into Prowl’s head, and heart, and finally feel he’s...something.
Long time coming, long overdue, and well executed. Prowl fan happy. Enjoy.
Check out the 5-page Prowl preview here, the issue hits your local comic shop somewhere near tomorrow.
We've got another masterpiece video review, coincidently for a Masterpiece Transformers figure. We're talking about MP-8X King Grimlock, a repaint and retool of the original Masterpiece Grimlock. Our good friend Diablien from TFSource goes over the packaging, the paint scheme, articulation, comparisons to the original and so forth. If you're a Grimlock fan or have got some time to kill, then check it out here on Youtube or embed below.
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