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

Shadewing

Well-known member
Citizen
So Bumblebee mini makes me happy, but also has me wondering if this is what was teased in the Energon free comic book day comic
The human(oid) featured on some covers as well as damaged Ironhide on another...keep in mind in the free comic boy issue had a person living in Ironhide....the thing is that looked like it was tied to main Transformers continuity....I can't see how the Bumblebee one is at all.
Anyways happy to see Bumblebee getting some love from Skybound.

No, that's gonna tie into Beachcomber's sidequest in the main book
 

Magnusblitz

Well-known member
Citizen
And the reveal of what hatches from Megatron's cocoon:
Megatronus REX!
HUSBO7KXcAAr8u1.jpeg


Yeah, there's a little bit of G2 Megatron in there. Though, they did put their own spin on him. And taking the name "Megatronus" is potentially interesting. The Thirteen are slowly getting more and more important in this universe, I guess. And Megatron getting the Fallen's flame-aesthetic is interesting. Hopefully, they do something cool with that. This could be the Fallen possessing Megatron's body, on some level, I guess.

The design is... eh. Not terrible, but not great either. It's obviously very Fallen-ish, and not a fan of the boom box shoulders. I'm guessing there's a good chance we get another remold out of the AOTP Fallen toy.

Also, hate that name. I really wish they'd stop making Megatronus a thing.
 

ZakuConvoy

Well-known member
Citizen
The design is... eh. Not terrible, but not great either. It's obviously very Fallen-ish, and not a fan of the boom box shoulders. I'm guessing there's a good chance we get another remold out of the AOTP Fallen toy.

Also, hate that name. I really wish they'd stop making Megatronus a thing.
I'll admit, I kind of wish the design was green, like G2. Just for some visual variety. The design being black and purple just feels kind of "safe". Otherwise, it's Megatron-as-a-tank. Which we've seen a few times before. The most interesting thing visually is his new "rail gun" cannon. And the flames. The flames are eye-catching, I'll admit.

...And, yeah, I'll agree with the whole "Megatronus Rex" thing feeling a bit much. I think they think it sounds epic. But, it kind of ends up feeling like a gag from a Road Runner cartoon.

Although, with the Dinobots arriving around the same time, I wonder if it actually ties into that, somehow? Megatron has been eating sparks. And introducing the Dinobots after months of buildup, only to kill them off by having Megatron "eat" them all, feels like a very Kirkman thing to do. I doubt it...but we'll see.
 

Haywire

Collecter of Gobots and Godzilla
Citizen
"...everything was running smoothly at the Cyberassic World nature park...until the Megatronus Rex escaped!"

I need to catch up on the comic story, but it really does sound like an "isn't this cool?!" idea that maybe needed workshopped just a bit more.
 

ZakuConvoy

Well-known member
Citizen
Transformers #37 is out!

We're checking back in with Cybertron this issue. And it's a fun enough issue. Lots of fights. And it seems like it's going to lead to a few key developments. But, I'll admit, it always feels like we're waiting for the big shoe to finally drop already, with this series. Even when something's happening, it still kind of feels unsatisfying, for whatever reason.

Shockwave has Alpha Trion in his clutches. But, all Alpha Trion can talk about is Shockwave's adorable tiny lightbulb head. So, how long until we get a toy version of this? Given that Kirkman knows about the Thirteen, I guess Alpha Trion being captured could actually lead to something kinda big.

Meanwhile, Elita is stockpiling Energon in a attempt to retake the Well of Sparks from the Decepticons.

And they've partially repaired Bumblebee...but his very spark is shattered, so he won't be waking up anytime soon. Maybe the entirety of that new Bumblebee mini they teased at New York Comic Con is actually this Bumblebee's coma dream? Probably not, but I could see that becoming a retcon.

Jazz thinks Elita should send some Energon to Optimus so that he can defeat Megatron once and for all, but she's focused on her mission. And, honestly...if I was in her position, I'd probably make the same call. It's usually a bad idea to get overconfident and split your resources too early.

Then we get a montage of Elita leading the charge against every Decepticon attack on Cybertron. Showing us she's spreading herself kind of thin.

There is kind of a interesting line between Elita and Blackarachnia. "Does seeing me expose the potential you fell short of?" "I could ask the same of you!" So...are Elita and Blackarachnia supposed to be "twins" or "sisters" in this universe? That would kind of make sense, given Animated Blackarachnia's origins. And we know that Kirkman is a fan of Animated. It's kind of a interesting detail, if that's what we're supposed to get out of that. Blackarachnia could have originally been "Elita-Two" or something. No wonder she changed her name.

"By Star Saber's Ghost, we will take back the Well of Sparks!" I always have to remind myself that she's talking about the Thirteen Weapon Star Saber and not the Japanese character Star Saber. I do wonder if Kirkman will do something to connect the two, at some point.

But, then at a key moment in battle, Elita is BETRAYED! By Mirage! It's ALWAYS Mirage in these things, the poor guy. Or actually, Makeshift disguised as Mirage. Apparently, Shockwave is experimenting with the real Mirage. So...that can't lead to anything good.

But, while Elita is unconscious she gets a Matrix Vision! (TM) And she speaks to...Sparkplug? All the other Primes in the Matrix seem to be busy. Seriously. Kind of makes me wonder what's going on in Matrix Space, since the last time we saw it. The other Primes might still be fighting whatever it is that infected the Matrix. There's also some STUFF behind Sparkplug, and I'm not sure if they're supposed to be "mystic wind" or some sort of "ominous tentacles"? I'm not sure if those are good things or bad things behind Sparkplug. And Elita realizes that Optimus was right and Earth IS key to the bigger picture....somehow. Sparkplug doesn't really say anything deep, Elita just makes a intuitive leap here...I guess? I feel like we missed a panel, here, somehow.

Elita wakes up to find her army won the fight without her. And...I'm not sure what happened to Makeshift, who was ready to steal the Matrix from unconscious Elita. Did he get vaporized, or what? Anyway, Elita tells Jazz to take as much Energon to Earth to support Optimus as he can, and to bring his Autobots all back to her.

Meanwhile, Shockwave's managed to find and awaken Vector Sigma. And now Shockwave can command Vector Sigma! So, I'm guessing first thing he'll do is probably get himself a new body? I wonder what he'll design for himself? Maybe something in "battleship-couture" ala Armada?

Over in the letter's page, Kirkman's already plugging for that Bumblebee mini, that only got announced a few days ago. And, apparently, something involving Megatron will be happening next issue! What could it POSSIBLY be? (Yeah, it kind of already got spoiled, but oh well.)
 
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Shadewing

Well-known member
Citizen
I think its the fact that the Primes seemed to send Sparkplug is the why Elita suddenly feels Earth is important. She's not get a Prime or a Cybertronian. She's getting a vision of a human father worried about his son. His being there is probably important and Elita realizes that.

Also I like that this issue addresses why Jazz left with Elita. Optimus sent him with her to be her counsil. I know some were annoyed that he left earth without explination and this issue is almost as much his as it is Elita's.
 

Magnusblitz

Well-known member
Citizen
TF #37

The 'montage' of Elita doing everything (in Jazz's mind, I suppose) was kinda awkwardly presented... and I think it could've been pretty simple to make it work with just a few extra dialogue boxes bracketing it. But when I first read it I was wondering why each panel was jumping around so much.

Elita has Blackarachnia at gunpoint in one scene, yet BA got free to keep leading the Decepticons later on?

I find it amusing that Elita's group is mostly well-known '84-86 guys (plus Bulkhead and Moonracer) whereas the 'Con contingent is almost entirely non-G1 guys, with the most well-known G1 ones being... Thrust? Octane?

Elita's "ghost" comment is probably about the Star Saber (the weapon) and not Star Saber the dude, but seems like there should be a "the" for the former?

And yeah, that appearance of Sparkplug utterly failed to convince me of Elita's sudden shift in opinion on Earth. I think there's ways it could have, had it been written better, but what we got on page didn't work for me.
 

LBD "Nytetrayn"

Broke the Matrix
Staff member
Council of Elders
Citizen
Why would the Star Saber have a ghost?

Unless it's like the Armada one.

In which case, shouldn't that be "ghosts"?
 

ZakuConvoy

Well-known member
Citizen
I think its the fact that the Primes seemed to send Sparkplug is the why Elita suddenly feels Earth is important. She's not get a Prime or a Cybertronian. She's getting a vision of a human father worried about his son. His being there is probably important and Elita realizes that.
That's probably the idea. I'm just not sure it's enough to really sell the moment, you know? If we saw Elita connect with all of Sparkplug's memories like Optimus did or something, that'd be something. But, he just shows up and suddenly Elita flips. I feel like we needed a little more here.
Elita has Blackarachnia at gunpoint in one scene, yet BA got free to keep leading the Decepticons later on?
Yeah, there's a lot of little moments we kind of skim over in this issue.

Like, I still want to know where Makeshift went. If his body was in a pile of other Decepticons later, I wouldn't have a problem. But, as far as I can tell he just disappears. For a moment I thought maybe Elita at the end WAS Makeshift in disguise. But, that wouldn't make sense, since Elita was the one who had the vision.

Maybe he's Jazz now? He's probably someone, since we never saw his body.

Elita's "ghost" comment is probably about the Star Saber (the weapon) and not Star Saber the dude, but seems like there should be a "the" for the former?
Why would the Star Saber have a ghost?
I'm guessing it's a "ghost" because it's the "echo" of the original Star Saber weapon? I guess? I guess since Prima is in the Matrix, the Star Saber is too? And Elita is able to summon the "essence" of this sword, with it's data still being in the Matrix. Maybe it's basically a "data ghost"?

I don't know. I was just spitballing. Because I COULD see Kirkman turning this legendary sword into a actual character later on. Turning Star Saber the sword, into Star Saber the character. Connecting these two currently unconnected things. Especially if he's been skimming the wiki for ideas. Talking swords are a thing in media a lot. I could see the sword getting a body all it's own, down the line.
 

LiamA

Active member
Citizen
TF #37

The 'montage' of Elita doing everything (in Jazz's mind, I suppose) was kinda awkwardly presented... and I think it could've been pretty simple to make it work with just a few extra dialogue boxes bracketing it. But when I first read it I was wondering why each panel was jumping around so much.

Elita has Blackarachnia at gunpoint in one scene, yet BA got free to keep leading the Decepticons later on?

I find it amusing that Elita's group is mostly well-known '84-86 guys (plus Bulkhead and Moonracer) whereas the 'Con contingent is almost entirely non-G1 guys, with the most well-known G1 ones being... Thrust? Octane?

Elita's "ghost" comment is probably about the Star Saber (the weapon) and not Star Saber the dude, but seems like there should be a "the" for the former?

And yeah, that appearance of Sparkplug utterly failed to convince me of Elita's sudden shift in opinion on Earth. I think there's ways it could have, had it been written better, but what we got on page didn't work for me.

I noticed that too with Elita's group and the Decepticons.
 

Swerve

Life of the Party
Citizen
I can criticize the pacing of this issue
.because it was hard to follow the transitions, but I do want to give Kirkman credit for one major thing. Jazz. A lot of were surprised to see Jazz choose to leave Prime...and Earth, but this issue nicely points out that Prime insisted Jazz go. That makes a lot more sense to me than Jazz choosing to leave......
Also....finger crossed that the now have the Well of (All) Sparks they can restore Bumblebee...look I'm irritated that the 'killed' him but they don't need to run it in our face every other issue.
 

Undead Scottsman

Well-known member
Citizen
Transformers #37
The fact they keep putting teases of Bumblebee coming back is one of the major reason I felt killing him off in issue #1 was pretty lame. I knew he wasn't dead-dead, so in addition to being shock value, it was hollow shock value.

GI Joe #27
Really tired of this "Just don't bother to explain to other people what you saw" malarkey that they did with Baroness in the previous issues, and the subsequent consequences/complications in this issue that stem from it. "Hawk killed Crystal Ball and there was something weird with his face." There, done, would have taken like 3 seconds. Instead it blatently feels like they're railroading an excuse for Baroness to join Cobra. Hopefully her finding the real Hawk defuses that situation, but I feel like the bridge is already burned there on her ever returning to GI Joe.

Outside of that enjoyed the issues, thought the pacing/continuity complaints of TF #37 are pretty valid.
 
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