Transformers Energon # 30 (with spoilers)

by: Ruel de Vera



Finally, we get a Transformers Energon story not called "Multiplicity Pt.

something," though events in Simon Furman's "No Exit" tie in directly with the

events of last issue. We begin with a very nifty flashback to a Decepticon

attack being led by Scorponok that Starscream (partly out of truth and partly

out of an attempt to get Megatron's goat) comments on the virtues of Scorponok's

frontline style of leadership. Flashforward to the present, where Scorponok and

Megatron face off in the Yukon territories. Megs has a bone to pick with the

erstwhile Terrorcon leader and what follows is the single most violent, most

graphic throwdown in the entire Energon series. Seriously. It's transformations,

blasting, treachery, hyper-mode--ten total pages of Megatron-versus-Scorponok

carnage. Yikes. It the end of it, however, the biggest baddest Con wins with a

particularly dramatic end for the other. Ouch. Ironhide wakes up in time to

activate the Shielding Tower. Meanwhile, (whew) Jetfire is reporting that

Megatron has returned to a holographic meeting of the Autobot High Council,

adding that Prime is still missing, most likely (according to a tip from Megs)

inside the body of Unicron. Councilor Avalon signs off to discuss things with

his secret ally Alpha Quintesson, and Alpha Q is convinced that there's no way

Prime can survive the inner defenses of the still inert Unicron. Guess Alpha Q

didn't check out the last panel. Cool drawing there--"Ready or not, here I

come!"

This is a solid issue from Furman. The fight scene between Megatron and

Scorponok was quite drawn out but it was vintage Furman--and that's always good

thing. Plus it's definitive, adding the dramatic twists missing from the last

issue. Avalon continues to plot against his own comrades and surely that's going

to come to a head very soon and, as the last panel (you gotta see it for

yourself) indicates, things are heating up. Furman and Dreamwave have already

indicated that Energon will end in six issues to make way for the upcoming

Transformers: Cybertron series and now Furman is obviously preparing for his own

endgame, a storyarc called, fittingly if rather unimaginatively, "Armageddon."

Furman's prep work is more subtle and thorough here than the powerful but

overly, well, kid-friendly end to Armada. This is all a good sign and hopefully

the end of Energon will be better. That being said, if you want to see Furman's

best writing work at the moment, check out War Within, but more on that in

another review.

The big development in Transformers Energon # 30 is the introduction of a

new artist, Marcelo Matere, taking the place of the talented Alex Milne. And

Matere does a slam bang good job. His work is squarely in the almost-animated

category and while this does make for shining, neon robots, it makes for very

dynamic, dramatic battles scenes. Good addition this one.

Well TF fans, Energon is starting to wind up (or down, depending on how you

look at it). The series had its own ups and down--it's currently on an up and

that's a good thing.



Report from Vector Sigma:



1) In the opening flashback sequence (which obviously dates from Armada,) we see

a whole bunch of Armada Decepticons: Megatron, Starscream, Cyclonus, Demolishop,

Thrust, Wheeljack, Predacon, Thundercracker, Terrorsaur and Skywarp. And of

course, a very nice look at Scoponok is action.



2) In the battle between the two Decepticon leaders, they each use aspects of

the respective toys. Scorponok has his hyper-mode and Megatron uses his

remote-controlled tank drone--which of course, as an Armada homage, is a

miniaturized replica of his Armada alt mode.



3) When Ironhide hears the name "Alpha Quintesson," he takes note but,

considering this Dreamwave continuity is different from the TV series

continuity, he doesn't recognize it. The shileding tower is yet another nod to

TV continuity.



4) While Jetfire is speaking to the High Council--or as the balloon says, the

Amalgamation--it becomes clear that I did confuse two of the council members.

The first councillor to speak up in the series was named Levitacus, obviously a

nod to the old testament book. He has remained the same character all throughout

but grew silent after another councillor emerged--Avalon. Avalon, who can be

distinguished (barely) from Levitacus in that he has what appears to be a horned

crest to Levitacus's straight-up crests on the sides--however, did not look that

way the first time he showed up, which was as a countil member without the

horned crest or facial hair. So apparently, Levitacus and Avalon are

different--but for some reason, Dreamwave changed Avalon's look after one issue.

So for the record, in the Amalgamation scene, Levitacus is to the extreme left

and Avalon is to his right--Avalon being the bad guy in hiding or so it seems.



5) Finally, though still in the Amalgamation scene, the holographic image of the

councillor to the bottom extreme right is noneother that the Japanese Star

Convoy (soon to be seen again in the Robotmasters line of toys).