comics: Armada/Energon guide:

issue nr: 022 series: Armada/Energon cover date: 2004-04-01 writer: Simon Furman penciler: Guido Guidi inker: Rob Armstrong colorist: David Cheung / Jong-Im Lee Autobots/Maximals featured: Optimus Prime, Hot Shot, Inferno, Ironhide, Jetfire, Levitacus Decepticons/Predacons featured: Scorponok, Battle Ravage, Tidal Wave, Cruellock, Divebomb, Insecticon, Megatron Neutralists/Aliens/Humans featured: Rad, Carlos, Alexis, Kicker, Dead End Locations featured: The High Halls - Cybertron, Western Australia, Comsat Alpha - Earth First appearance of: Dead End

Story synopsis
We open issue 22 with Megatron recollecting his capture and dismemberment by Unicron, which occurred in Armada 18. His body destroyed, and his spark made captive by Unicron, Megatron was stuck in a veritable prison. However, Megatron is gradually able to exercise some sort of control over Unicron, however minute it may be, enough to start construction on a new body…

Meanwhile on Earth, Scorponok has Kicker and Alexis held hostage, while Rad and Carlos look on, hoping against hope that the Autobots will show up. It is then that Rad notices Alexis, presumably for the first time in years, and decides to try and rescue Kicker and Alexis by himself, Autobots or no Autobots.

Back on Cybertron, Optimus Prime's recently reformatted squad has just managed to recover from the horsemens' attack when they finally get the distress call from Earth. Realising that over 4 hours have passed during which the Earth has been under Terrorcon attack, Optimus immediately orders a sortie to save the planet.

Upon arrival the Terrorcons immediately set upon Optimus’ strike force, completely and utterly decimating them. With Earth’s Energon boosting their power levels, the Autobots find themselves outgunned at every turn.

Meanwhile, Rad tries to save Alexis, but only manages to fall into Ravage’s trap! In a bid of desperation, Carlos has Rad’s skimmer self-destruct near a Decepticon siphon, causing a huge explosion. Scorponok sees this and immediately orders a disengagement from the completely defeated Autobots in order that he secure the remaining Energon.

As Prime arises from the floor where he lay after being beaten soundly by Scorponok, he telepathically hears Megatron calling his name, stating that he is now ready and waiting…

Remarks
I desperately want to like Energon. I really do. After what Furman did to turn around Armada, and making that comic a true treasure, I’ve had high hopes for Energon. However, after four issues, one feels that the comic is stuck in neutral. This can be attributed mainly to the extensive expository buildup Furman has had to write in order to provide a solid foundation for Energon. For instance, Furman has had to give a reason for Optimus to change bodies, a reason for Megatron’s return, an explanation for the new Terrorcons and their abilities, and of course Kicker and company. This has resulted in four issues where although the action and art is good, one can’t help but be anxious for the introductory story arc to be done with.

Plotwise this issue is fairly bland. After last issue's battle with the horsemen, we are thrust into another battle, which dominates nearly ¾ of the issue. Although grand battles are a necessity, and welcome, the lack of forward plot momentum does hurt. In addition, the complete and utter domination of Prime’s squad, especially after an issue during which they were upgraded to combat Unicron’s new forces, does jar a bit. It’s understandable that Ironhide would be defeated easily, but the ease with which Jetfire, Optimus and Hot Shot are defeated makes it all too blatant to the reader that yet another new upgrade is needed, in this case a nice injection of Energon. Of course one must ask why the Autobots didn't use the spark of combination to combine and fight off the 'cons. This also raises the question of just where are the Mini-Cons? The main reason Armada was such a great success was the extensive characterisation of the pint-sized Transformers. To have such a notable absence really drains the appeal of Energon.

In addition it seems unfortunate to note the relative demise of Prime's soldiers. Jetfire is rapidly joining Soundwave as Transformers we want to speak and act in Dreamwave comics, yet don't.

Finally, the humans are, thankfully, not that annoying. Alexis shakes the 'damsel in distress' role by saving Rad, and the rest of the humans avoid the mistakes made in Armada 3, namely horrific dialogue. At the same time it is slightly off putting that the humans save the day, where supposedly powerful and upgraded Autobots could not.

Artwise Guidi is at his best and his worst. The opening 3 pages are spectacular, and easily rank on my personal top ten list of great art moments in Transformers comic history. Seeing Megatron literally being torn apart is fairly gruesome and also necessary, in order to give Energon more of a darker edge, such as was found in the Worlds Collide arc of Armada.

The rest of the issue is a mixed bag. As Blacksword stated on his take of this issue, “Overall some panels are great, and Guido's close up work continues to be phenomenal, but once he pans out things tend to drop to the level of detail of animation cells, which just doesn't cut it for a comic.” For instance, Scorponok gets an incredible close up on page 4, panel 1, that is simply awesome. However, the moment we pan out the extremely heavy inking from Rob Armstrong that outlines the Decepticons becomes unbearable and the lack of detail really starts to hurt. If he cut back on the overall thickness, it would help tremendously, but mainly, it's a shame Elaine To isn't on hand this issue to do them instead.

On a side note, the new Megatron looks an awful lot like Galvatron. This could be explained as a result of Megatron harbouring a certain respect for the Galvatron that nearly beat him in Armada issue 16. However, this was Hasbro's creation, not Guidi or Furman's. Unfortunately that means Prime is also fairly tubby. His toy form is notorious for being, for lack of a better term, obese, and this doesn't transfer well to the comic format.

In addition the colouring for the Terrorcons is also visually offensive. Scorponok’s colours look like a crayola box exploded nearby, showering him with the worst choice of colours, orange and green. Then, when you mix in large yellow explosions, the three colours combine to give some very sour eye candy to the reader. Contrast that with Optimus in super mode on page 17 panel 3. It’s a great picture and shows how well the comic can look given proper colours. However, in the end it is Hasbro’s fault for the colour scheme of each Transformer, and not Dreamwave’s.

Character development
Scorponok is completely amoral: “I care nothing for conquest or petty revenge. This world is a means to an end, to be used and spat out.” It's very similar to the view the Generation 2 Decepticons (Jhiaxus, Rook, Liege Maximo) held. He constantly refers to bleeding the planet dry, and is very ambitious: "There are no limits... none!" This probably means the 'petty conquest' line to Prime is a slight fib. He was smart enough to tell that Unicron hadn't told them the whole story too.

He also clearly doesn't suffer fools gladly. He's already had Starscream put out of commision and here he warms Tidalwave: "If I have to tell you twice... it will be the last thing you hear." No doubt Tidal Wave's days are numbered. He makes it clear that Kicker would be dead already if he didn't have 'potential.' He also states that Alexis will be ripped to pieces by Battle Ravage if Kicker doesn't cooperate. Evil!

He also loves his Energon, and is gutted when a siphon gets blown up. He goes a runnin' to salvage it immediately, rather than kill the 'bots.

Hot Shot's advice to Ironhide: "Plenty of time to rest when you're dead." The Energon comic sees him a little wiser, but still always ready to give his all.

Optimus Prime is the standard hero type, and one never willing to give in to the Decepticons. He's every inch the commanding soldier in battle: "Evasive - now! Jetfire - let him go. I want no solo heroics. Hot Shot - see to Ironhide. Form on me. Take a compass point and bring all weapons on-line."

Tidal Wave is somewhat rebellious and questions Scorponok on occasion. Scorponok describes Tidalwave's questioning as a, "bad habit... this knack of questioning me, doubting me... undermining me. It reminds me... of Starscream." Tidal Wave does seem to fulfil the role of resident smart mouth for the 'cons at the moment, though he thinks twice at the end before delivering another jibe to Scorponok when the siphon blows up.

He goes about the battle with a certain relish, calling Ironhide a squirt before punching him out. This also suggests a certain familiarity with the Autobot, which is later fleshed out in issue 24.

Cruellock acts like a typical Scorponok crony, who likes to gang up on Tidal Wave and scare him.

Megatron hates Unicron with a passion and is simply itching for the opportunity for revenge. Megatron's desire is so great he's willing to work with Prime and tell him what he needs to know to defeat him. Obviously they have a mutual enemy so its a logical move, plus he needs Prime probably to get free. It is also possible that Unicron is manipulating both Megatron and Prime into making a disastrous mistake that will suit Unicron's own nefarious ends.

Kicker is brave, but ultimately not very smart, as he tells Scorponok far too much information.

Rad is possibly smitten by Alexis. Apparently he hasn’t seen her in ages. But is Rad slightly reckless, risking Kicker's life in saying that the truck 'should' protect him? Still, it proves a smart and quick thought out move.

Alexis is shocked that Rad is attempting to save her, and is ultimately very cynical about his attempt at a rescue. Alexis has been in protests, sit-ins and become a bit of an eco-spokeperson since high school. She's as brave as ever, and when Rad shows up her first instinct is to warn him to get out of there, before saving him by pushing him out of Ravage's way.

Trivia
The claws that Unicron uses to dismember Megatron are identical to the claws found in Transformers: the Movie that attacked Springer, Arcee and Daniel.

The drones that Unicron uses are smaller versions of his planet mode. He also has clones of the Mini-Con Dead End. Unicron uses Dead End to maintain, repair and tend to his body, according to More Than Meets The Eye.

It appears that Unicron is creating some sort of army in pods alongside the inner wall of his body. However, the extensive damage he has suffered is probably what forced him to rely on the Terrorcons rather than on his own made-from-scratch army.

Megatron is able to exercise some element of control and thus fashion himself a new body within Unicron.

Rad’s skimmer has a self-destruct device. (Why?)

Carlos is able to scan the Reuters network in moments to find out what Alexis has been up to lately.

Battle Ravage has an extensive cloaking system.

Cybertronian time is measured far different than Earth time. 4 hours is equal to 'O-Minus 17, first axis rotation.'

Megatron can telepathically communicate with Prime from Unicron.

With Kicker, "the proximity of energon fires sensory nodes in his medulla oblongata, resonating throughout his entire nervous system." This is how the Alterenergy company has consistently managed to locate rich seams of Energon around the planet.

Carlos can send a deep space signal pulse to contact the Autobots on Cybertron. Presumably the Autobots left this means of contacting them behind before they left Earth at the end of Armada? The distress signal he sends even has the 'cons coordinates encoded in it.

The Terrorcons use Energon siphons to power up on pure Energon. Afterwards, it appears to boost both their strength and firepower.

Prime carries Optimus' 1 to 4 in his trailer, and never leaves home without 'em.

Carlos has complete satellite footage of everything going on, detailed enough to tell individuals apart.

Prime's super mode is physically not strong enough for Scorponok when the 'con has had a boost of pure energon.

Memorable quotes
“I care nothing for conquest or petty revenge. This world is a means to an end, to be used and spat out.” Scorponok.

Rad – “H-Hey… Alexis. I’m here, y’know, to save you.”
Alexis - “Sweet mercy. I’m doomed.”

Optimus Prime - "One thing, though, will never change... I'll stop your kind or die tryiiingg!"
Scorponok - "Die trying it is then!"

Not so memorable quotes
“C’mon lad, on your feet” Hot Shot. He was the 'kid' all of ten years ago, and in terms of Transformer lifespans that's nothing, hardly long enough to call Ironhide lad.

Mistakes
One of Prime's speech balloons is said by Hot Shot (Page 8 Panel 1).

reviewed by: Computron