Energon Universe - ongoing Transformers and G.I. Joe comics from Skybound

Admittedly, about 80% of this issue is just a excuse for the artist to draw cool action scenes. I do like this artist's layouts and poses pretty well. It's dynamic. I'm just not sure if the "sketchy" art style really works all that well for giant robots, though? It does work pretty well to represent the "dream world", though. So, I'm a little split on this artist for Transformers. I do like their work better on Ghost Pepper, though.

And I can't really blame this issue for feeling repetitive since...that's kind of the point? We're supposed to feel what Megatron is feeling here. The repetition is there to help sell the audience on Megatron's choice, because otherwise that choice may come across as a little out of character. So, it's doing it's job. And the reveals are JUST interesting enough to make it worth it, in my opinion.

One cynic in me doubtlessly thinks Megatron will become Galvatron, as the series has been doing the "Transformers G1: Buckets of Blood" McCarthy wished "All Hail Megatron" was. However, the other cynic in me feels they're saving Galvatron for when they do THEIR telling of "The Transformers: The Movie".

Another Naively Hopeful part of me is pulling for an original twist.

Night Force is coming to get Scarlett whether she likes it or not! And if she doesn't go with them, she's going to be declared a enemy of the state! Seems a little harsh, but I guess black ops missions aren't known for their patience and understanding.

There's a lot of this "snow effect" on the art. And I know they're trying to use it to set the tone of the scene, but it's kind of just gets in the way. It's like I'm reading this comic on a old, fuzzy TV or something.

But, Scarlett can't leave without Jinx. She's the whole reason Scarlett went through with all this, but she doesn't want to leave.

Then Cobra Commander and his Cobra-ettes show up to steal that Energon Sword for themselves. I'm sure these Cobra-headed helicopters are based on a real toy from back in the day, but they do feel a little out of place in this particular setting.

But, lasers are no match against AWESOME SWORDS! Let that be a lesson you carry with you you're entire life. Storm Shadow makes pretty quick work of most of the Cobra troopers.

Cobra Commander REALLY wants a sword of his own, though. And he VERY nearly gets the Energon Katana for himself. Until the Ninja team shows up!

It's funny that Cobra Commander seems to be surrounded by female Cobra Troopers in most shots, but every time Storm Shadows kills someone, they're male. Must be NINJA MAGIC! They seem to be VERY careful about never showing Storm Shadow actually killing any female characters.

In fact, it's a female Cobra Trooper who gets the Energon Katana, and blows up the Arashikage Temple. Very efficient. I guess this is probably someone we should know? She's blonde with red eyes. I have no idea who this is, but I'm sure the longtime Joe fans may have a clue.

Anyway, Night Force chooses NOW to finally pick up Scarlett against her will. When everything's in ruins. She is not pleased by this turn of events. Especially since she thinks Jinx died inside the temple. But, Storm Shadow finds Jinx. So, Scarlett AND Storm Shadow both have a grudge against Cobra Commander in this universe. Kind of interesting.

We also get a little preview of the new MASK book in the back. I'm a little surprised they're doing that before the Free Comic Book Day issue. It looks solid enough. The preview doesn't really give you a lot to judge anything. But, I don't see anything wrong with it. It didn't really give me a hook to look forward to it, but I'm sure the book will be solid.

She is not an established character, but one of the Commander's loyalist from his failed coup from the first issue of his miniseries. We have seen Cobra-La-ians go after him.

I hope you like squid-spiders, because they're coming to GI Joe! Whether you like it or not.

Over in MASK, they're trying to get a "Weapon of Unknown Origin". I'm not sure if that means it's Cybertronian tech, or if they're maybe teasing something else with that. Something from the Quintessons? Maybe even something from the Space Knights or Visionairies, if Hasbro wants to get ALL their old properties involved in this, somehow?

The Marvel Movie reprint is still going. And EJ Su has another part of his connecting cover for it. But, I think they either messed up or didn't get his artwork in time for the solicit, because they just used his cover for issue #1 again in the thumbnail.

Everyone's favorite character Doctor Arkeville is coming to Transformers! What crazy scheme will he come up with this time? Poisoning the Earth's Energon supply? Building his own race of mechanical men to fight the Cybertronians? Hypnotizing the Cybertronians to his will? Or the most sinister scheme of all...NFTransformers! Oh, the horror!

And in Void Rivals, Darak and Solila (which is misspelled "Solia" in the solicit, because even Skybound can't remember her name) are LOST! With the Cobra-La crew, it seems. I'm guessing there's another layer to their world which they didn't know about before. Either that, or they're stranded on another alien world, somehow. Some of the other covers kind of make it look like a Cobra-La "terraformed" world, so we'll see, I guess.

Apparently, Vector Theta existed before the Sacred Ring was constructed, which is kind of interesting lore. I wonder what it did before getting inserted into this world?

Anyway, Zerta Trion is going to use Vector Theta to repair herself so she can enter the battle! Okay, that's going to make for a interesting finale!

Heh, it's kind of interesting that Pythona and Proximus both misunderstand what each other are. Pythona thinks Proximus is a robot, due to his armor, and Proximus doesn't know how she removed her "mind's eye", which is a interesting name for the crystal on their foreheads. Do I smell...a romance brewing? It's the age old story, how an evil boy meets an evil girl...

Say what you will about The Tribunal, but you can't say he isn't honest. A real straight-shooter, that one. He knows what he wants, and he'll tell you right to your face.

Darak tries to use his Energon boost to take The Tribunal out, but just ends up in a GIANT prison cell with everyone else for his trouble. I guess it's designed with Transformers in mind, due to the scale.

Meanwhile, Grakula is out bonding with her new pet, Borr. Ain't he adorable? And deadly?

Back to Darak's group. Ah, the classic "Guilty or Innocent" scene. We all know how it's going to play out, but it's still kind of nostalgic to see. Anyway, the issue ends with Darak and his dad falling to their doom. They'll probably be fine. The Quintessons don't have the best track record for actually enforcing their sentences.

In the letters page, there is a little talk about ROM. So, I wonder if they're hinting at something. Also, "Darak"'s name is officially pronounced "Duh-rok". I guess I've been going with "Dah-rack" this whole time. So, I guess I'm going to have to work on changing that.

Honestly, I was thinking while reading this that Darak in his armor looks quite a bit like ROM

I was kind of thinking the same thing about some of the soldiers who fought Pythona before Grakula shows up this issue. Mostly due to them using "swords" and shields, and having what feels like very ROM-inspired torsos. Maybe something's on their mind? Or maybe not.

Although, if they do start doing ROM, I wonder how long it'll take for Chris Ryall to show up? Wherever ROM goes, he tends to follow.

Because cribbed dialogue from other sources.

Basically a big fight scene, with nothing much important plot-wise happening except Elita gaining the "ghost" of the Star Saber (which admittedly is cool). Lots of Animated and Prime dudes here. I had to look up Makeshift, I completely forgot about him. At least each of the Decepticons gets an individual moment before she dispatches them all.

Shockwave's head is just a yellow orb on a stick now, which is funny.

Poor Bumblebee, even your corpse isn't safe.

Elita apparently took her "how to open the Matrix" lessons from Ultra Magnus in TFTM, not a good idea.

Looks like Jason Howard is taking over penciling duties, at least for this arc. I'm kinda split on it. On one hand, his style matches that of DWJ and Jorge Corona much better, and that's the "style" I've come to associate with Skybound's run. I love Dan Mora, don't get me wrong, but his style was a big change. But I'm also not really a fan of how Howard draws certain things - Elita's head looks oddly flat, and there's quite a few weird faces this issue (though some I think are a result of him keeping the Animated/Prime characters' weird lack of noses).

Look I get that people think Bumblebee is over used, but to build up hope that he could still be saved and to do this....uggg....I'm fine with him being a minor character...and I'm all for other characters getting the spotlight...love what they've done with Beachcomber.....but Bumblebee has been my favorite Bot since 84....this hurts too much...