Revisitation 173: Crowning Achievement.

11/1/2025

This week, Prowl keeps trying to drop a Bombshell without anyone noticing, and the Decepticon Rep Theatre put on their latest masterwork, all as Omega Supreme finds out what happens when you sit on the fence politically.

All as I look at Robots in Disguise issue 11!

2 Comments

Llama God

14/1/2025 07:17:36 pm

Now, this is an issue that, on first read, very much disappointed me. Why? Because I was really getting into the politics and intrigue on post-war Cybertron, and the return of Megatron seemed like it was going to derail all of that and take us back to a more familiar setting which was likely to be far less interesting than what we'd had over the last 11 issues.

As it turns out I should have had a lot more faith in Barber, because that's exactly what doesn't happen. It is, in fact, just yet more misdirection on top of all the other misdirection (which I still didn't notice first time round - I'd like to say that I was still expecting writing complexity on the level of Costa and so was expecting nothing at all, but I think I wouldn't have realised either way).

Second (or whatever this re-read is for me) time around this issue is, indeed, a lot more satisfying when armed with foresight. I mean, it was actually satisfying right up until that final stage first time around. Even without knowing what's actually going on there's still a lot going on, with Omega Supreme being blown up and most of the main "bad guys" apparently being taken out - and all that stuff, along with Starscream's maneuvering, was very entertaining. This time around there's all the added layers.

I mean, I do feel a bit daft for not having figured the Prowl thing out given how heavily ironic and winking at the camera some of his dialogue seems now, but that also doesn't mean it's bad - it worked first time around for one reading, and now absolutely works for the other, actual reading. It's very well done.

So yes, this is another great issue, and a good one to return to this comic with, as it sets a lot of things in motion, and also entertains in its own right. Oh, and the art is - as ever - great from both artists.

Very much looking forward to the rest of this arc playing out now. Next!

T-Wing link

17/1/2025 06:02:40 pm

This one definitely works better with foresight, because I definitely remember the "What is Barber THINKING killing all these guys??" backlash at the time. In the end, only Triggerhappy and Blot's fans have got something to complain about.

I also remember people oddly not buying Arcee being able to take these guys out on her own, despite this Arcee's rep and despite her doing proper Batman prep time and rigging the location in advance. I think I bought that she could take down these guys like this even before I knew it was all a big ruse.

The Prowl stuff works so well because we're completely used to Prowl being shady and manipulative at this point. It's a layer of camouflage on what WOULD have been an obvious plot to catch onto; someone being under Bombshell's control. It kind of reminds me in a weird way of Spotlight: Blaster. Furman was so into trying new things back then that I almost thought Beachcomber was acting of his own volition trying to kill Blaster, which made the reveal of Bombshell control almost seem like a safe and predictable out.

Revisitation 173: Crowning Achievement.

Leave a Reply.

Author

Archives

Categories