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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).
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