The Lights Are On, But You’re Not Home, Your Mind is Not Your Own.
Maximum Dinobots Issue 2. 7th January 2009*.
*Delays in some countries meant this issue didn’t come out there till after issue 3...
As I recall, you trumped my field commander with a vice admiral.
One quick admission before we start, last week I’d forgotten to use all my fingers to count on and described the events of issue 7 of Crisis on Infinite Earths as issue 6. Quite a major mess-up considering how long I spent on that comparison, but the actual issue 6 was definitely still more full of event than that of the sixth part of All Hail Megatron.
Also making miscalculations is Hot Rod, who is now badly beaten up (giving an excuse for his reversion to “Classic” Hot Rod in All Hail Megatron, again, Furman is bothering more about this than McCarthy) and brutalised by Scorponok. Who is impressed enough by Hot Rod doing all this off the back of a minor run-in with the Headmasters in Devastation and, somehow, finding the base of the Machination Empire tm, that he decides to keep him around and reward him with his exposition speeches.
The implication that Hot Rod needed extra help to find Machination Central despite looking for at least a bit of time, is the only hint of the Magnificence having been used for anything we’ll get for close to a decade. Though Scorponok’s casual interest in finding out what trick Hot Rod used is actually something that will get followed up on at that time.
*Delays in some countries meant this issue didn’t come out there till after issue 3...
As I recall, you trumped my field commander with a vice admiral.
One quick admission before we start, last week I’d forgotten to use all my fingers to count on and described the events of issue 7 of Crisis on Infinite Earths as issue 6. Quite a major mess-up considering how long I spent on that comparison, but the actual issue 6 was definitely still more full of event than that of the sixth part of All Hail Megatron.
Also making miscalculations is Hot Rod, who is now badly beaten up (giving an excuse for his reversion to “Classic” Hot Rod in All Hail Megatron, again, Furman is bothering more about this than McCarthy) and brutalised by Scorponok. Who is impressed enough by Hot Rod doing all this off the back of a minor run-in with the Headmasters in Devastation and, somehow, finding the base of the Machination Empire tm, that he decides to keep him around and reward him with his exposition speeches.
The implication that Hot Rod needed extra help to find Machination Central despite looking for at least a bit of time, is the only hint of the Magnificence having been used for anything we’ll get for close to a decade. Though Scorponok’s casual interest in finding out what trick Hot Rod used is actually something that will get followed up on at that time.
Scorponok loves to beat his Hot Rod.
In Fallon, Grimlock has nearly worked the whole thing out, shouting at the correctly assumed by him to be watching Scorponok about this being a way to create a public monster by “Unleashing the beast” and frankly he’s ready to bring it on.
Which has Scorponok remark to Hot Rod that it’s always worth remembering that Grimlock is not an idiot, though his attempts to explain about Nebulos and how that led to the Machination Empire tm are met with enough apathy he decides it’s best to just let the Autobot watch the show as Skywatch arrive in Fallon and unload the Dynobots.
In theory, what follows next is a simple transition page of Huntstreaker racing towards Machination Headquarters, with Hunter and Sunstreaker debating why this is a better idea than going to Fallon (because the HQ is where Sunstreaker’s real head is, and that’s the key to stopping the Headmasters).
But, despite the brevity, it manages to be incredibly painful as Hunter is still insisting on making “Dinobots” a thing, correcting Sunstreaker and, once again, managing to somehow pronounce it differently to “Dynobots”.
Now, in recent times, when people discuss the Slag/Slug thing (much more on that as we go along), I’ve seen people compare still calling the Dinobot “Slag” to dead naming. Which, always makes me feel a bit uncomfortable, however well intended, as there are many reasons people change their names and treating them all on the same level as when people transition feels off (for example, you can call a married woman by her maiden name when talking about your school days together, but you wouldn’t dead name a trans person when doing the same).
Which has Scorponok remark to Hot Rod that it’s always worth remembering that Grimlock is not an idiot, though his attempts to explain about Nebulos and how that led to the Machination Empire tm are met with enough apathy he decides it’s best to just let the Autobot watch the show as Skywatch arrive in Fallon and unload the Dynobots.
In theory, what follows next is a simple transition page of Huntstreaker racing towards Machination Headquarters, with Hunter and Sunstreaker debating why this is a better idea than going to Fallon (because the HQ is where Sunstreaker’s real head is, and that’s the key to stopping the Headmasters).
But, despite the brevity, it manages to be incredibly painful as Hunter is still insisting on making “Dinobots” a thing, correcting Sunstreaker and, once again, managing to somehow pronounce it differently to “Dynobots”.
Now, in recent times, when people discuss the Slag/Slug thing (much more on that as we go along), I’ve seen people compare still calling the Dinobot “Slag” to dead naming. Which, always makes me feel a bit uncomfortable, however well intended, as there are many reasons people change their names and treating them all on the same level as when people transition feels off (for example, you can call a married woman by her maiden name when talking about your school days together, but you wouldn’t dead name a trans person when doing the same).
What a tongue he has.
However, the sort of person who goes out of their way to deliberately mispronounce a name (somehow, in this case) even after having been told repeatedly, just because they think their version is funnier (“Dinobots. Like dinosaurs. You see that, right?”) is peak terf behaviour and if nothing else, means Hunter is exactly like every other conspiracy nut on the internet.
This is also the only scene for Huntstreaker this issue, which might seem odd for a series wrapping up their plots, but it’s actually quite nice Furman doesn’t feel the need to keep cutting back to them when there’s nothing to do with them but watch them drive.
In Fallon, Grimlock is genuinely, and sweetly, overjoyed to see his boys are alive, even as they’re obvious under mental control. Something Scorponok decides to loosen up, just to let their natural aggression come through.
Which may be a mistake, as this crack in their control means the finally almost wise to how this goes Agent Red decides to be pre-emptive this time and go off to “Do something I should have done the moment we lost Thunder-Lizard-1”, leaving the rest of Skywatch to oversee the jamming that’s stopping the Fallon police calling in the National Guard and the road blocks stopping people driving into the town.
This is also where Furman’s Bond fandom really shines through stronger than ever, as he quotes the book (not the film) of Goldfinger, “Once is happenstance, twice is coincidence, three times is enemy action”.
This is also the only scene for Huntstreaker this issue, which might seem odd for a series wrapping up their plots, but it’s actually quite nice Furman doesn’t feel the need to keep cutting back to them when there’s nothing to do with them but watch them drive.
In Fallon, Grimlock is genuinely, and sweetly, overjoyed to see his boys are alive, even as they’re obvious under mental control. Something Scorponok decides to loosen up, just to let their natural aggression come through.
Which may be a mistake, as this crack in their control means the finally almost wise to how this goes Agent Red decides to be pre-emptive this time and go off to “Do something I should have done the moment we lost Thunder-Lizard-1”, leaving the rest of Skywatch to oversee the jamming that’s stopping the Fallon police calling in the National Guard and the road blocks stopping people driving into the town.
This is also where Furman’s Bond fandom really shines through stronger than ever, as he quotes the book (not the film) of Goldfinger, “Once is happenstance, twice is coincidence, three times is enemy action”.
"OK Twatface" "No, it's "Hunter", you can't get anything right"
Notably of course, more time is spent in the book than the film on the idea that knocking out everyone in Fort Knox with gas creates a fake emergency that let’s the heroic “Doctor Goldfinger” ride into town to save the day.
In Fallon, the centrepiece of the issue is a huge Grimlock Vs the Dinobots fight, that sets fire to half the town and sees the Dynobot leader do the old “I know you’re still in there, fight!” thing (most recently seen in Spotlight: Blaster), with particular focus on Slag. Who I don’t think had been portrayed as Grimlock’s right hand man before this, but it lays the groundwork for Slag taking over as team-leader in later years after the boss gets separated from the rest.
In particular, it’s a nice idea the two first met in the brig (which doesn’t really contradict Megatron Origin as they could easily have been in the military before the war, something later stories will confirm), having failed to put up with any crap from their superiors, making Grimlock realise there was potential for a team of like-minded guys.
He also makes a big show of saying he’s going to make up for whatever he’s done in the past, which might not have been the smartest thing to do with a watching audience.
In Fallon, the centrepiece of the issue is a huge Grimlock Vs the Dinobots fight, that sets fire to half the town and sees the Dynobot leader do the old “I know you’re still in there, fight!” thing (most recently seen in Spotlight: Blaster), with particular focus on Slag. Who I don’t think had been portrayed as Grimlock’s right hand man before this, but it lays the groundwork for Slag taking over as team-leader in later years after the boss gets separated from the rest.
In particular, it’s a nice idea the two first met in the brig (which doesn’t really contradict Megatron Origin as they could easily have been in the military before the war, something later stories will confirm), having failed to put up with any crap from their superiors, making Grimlock realise there was potential for a team of like-minded guys.
He also makes a big show of saying he’s going to make up for whatever he’s done in the past, which might not have been the smartest thing to do with a watching audience.
Lucky he didn't quote the bit about Koreans eating cats.
Not that it immediately sinks in to Scorponok, who is to busy explaining to Hot Rod that he’s created this fake emergency so his Headmasters (a convoy of red Sunstreakers heading to Fallon right now) can come in, save the day and become such heroes he’ll get every government contract going for his new shell company Epsilon Holdings (not sure why he needs a new front when no one knows about the old one, but hey) and...erm...
Somehow this will create a galactic empire.
There’s a very quick cutaway here to the wreck of the Skyfire, as three in deep shadow but with monstrous outlines Autobots have arrived and aren’t happy to not find Grimlock there.
This interlude gives Scorponok enough time for Grimlock’s words to sink in, and because he’s a nosey parker, he decides to hold off on sending the Headmasters in, and instead gives the Dinobots their minds back, just to see what shits and giggles happen.
Which is the point Nick Roche gives us another Transformers creator owned shop, in this case, nicer than Pat Lee and going in the other direction on the timeline as we’re a few months before his first credit (though Roche had been trying to help him get his foot in the door before this), the James Roberts owned JimBob’s Diner (built in an old railway carriage, “Rail-y Good Food!”).
Somehow this will create a galactic empire.
There’s a very quick cutaway here to the wreck of the Skyfire, as three in deep shadow but with monstrous outlines Autobots have arrived and aren’t happy to not find Grimlock there.
This interlude gives Scorponok enough time for Grimlock’s words to sink in, and because he’s a nosey parker, he decides to hold off on sending the Headmasters in, and instead gives the Dinobots their minds back, just to see what shits and giggles happen.
Which is the point Nick Roche gives us another Transformers creator owned shop, in this case, nicer than Pat Lee and going in the other direction on the timeline as we’re a few months before his first credit (though Roche had been trying to help him get his foot in the door before this), the James Roberts owned JimBob’s Diner (built in an old railway carriage, “Rail-y Good Food!”).
Roberts trying to get in the door at IDW.
Though if the owner is also meant to be based on James Roberts, Nick is having some fun drawing him as a scrawny old grey haired sweaty man.
Though I’d be sweating if my diner was on fire from a giant robot dinosaur battle.
Grimlock hears the cries, and seems initially dismissive of the “Dumb animal” within, but any further action is stopped by a shot in the back from Slag, demanding to know “What did you do?”, as he and the other Dinobots are all back to normal.
And the argument that follows is where the first cracks in the series show, as Grimlock is honest about having set the Skyfire to blow up everything if their mission against Shockwave failed.
Which disgusts the other Dinobots because they weren’t told in advance.
Though I’d be sweating if my diner was on fire from a giant robot dinosaur battle.
Grimlock hears the cries, and seems initially dismissive of the “Dumb animal” within, but any further action is stopped by a shot in the back from Slag, demanding to know “What did you do?”, as he and the other Dinobots are all back to normal.
And the argument that follows is where the first cracks in the series show, as Grimlock is honest about having set the Skyfire to blow up everything if their mission against Shockwave failed.
Which disgusts the other Dinobots because they weren’t told in advance.
J'accuse Grimlock.
Which is incredibly weak-sauce when Grimlock is able to point out the whole point of their team was they weren’t a team. There’s also the factor he doesn’t mention, that they’d already lost the fight against Shockwave and the explosion changed nothing, except possibly ensuring they survived to live another day, even if going the long way round. So it doesn’t really feel like this team of mad mavericks have anything to complain about, especially “Shoot surrendering enemies” Slag.
At least here, the argument seems to work, with the other Dinobots going silent, and letting Grimlock save JimBob, because he has a strange urge to do so. Unfortunately though, because this series needs to be 5 issues, that’s not where this debate will end.
For now though, Scorponok can only be disappointed he didn’t get some good bitchiness, as he sends the Headmasters in and past the roadblock.
Agent Red meanwhile, after showing some promising self-awareness so far this series, turns out to be falling back on his one and only plan as he arrives in Salt Lake City...
...for a chat with Shockwave.
Oh Agent Red, will you ever learn?
At least here, the argument seems to work, with the other Dinobots going silent, and letting Grimlock save JimBob, because he has a strange urge to do so. Unfortunately though, because this series needs to be 5 issues, that’s not where this debate will end.
For now though, Scorponok can only be disappointed he didn’t get some good bitchiness, as he sends the Headmasters in and past the roadblock.
Agent Red meanwhile, after showing some promising self-awareness so far this series, turns out to be falling back on his one and only plan as he arrives in Salt Lake City...
...for a chat with Shockwave.
Oh Agent Red, will you ever learn?
Agent Red's build a figure Shockwave.
Despite the weakness of the Dinobot argument—which is mainly a retrospective one, knowing where this series is going—this continues to be Furman doing what Furman does best. Big, bouncy, violent action with a nice smattering of characterisation, which Slag especially getting more of a focus than he’s ever had before.
Nick Roche’s art continues to be stunning, that he’s putting enough work in to have fallen behind to the point he’ll need some help on the next two issues is very apparent.
The comparison to All Hail Megatron running at the same time makes the strengths of this issue all the more apparent. Both are trying for a blockbuster movie feeling, but whilst that sags and has long boring sequences, this just gallops along and does its best not to give you chance to think too hard about what nonsense the plot actually is (unless you’re the sort of fool who writes in-depth about it), just like the best movies. My memory is definitely that this is the last issue to really work in this series, but in and of itself, it shows the writer at his best.
Next week sees us go into the second half of All Hail Megatron with a Deluge of new information.
ALL HAIL MEGATRON ISSUE 6
2009
COMMENT
KO-FI
Nick Roche’s art continues to be stunning, that he’s putting enough work in to have fallen behind to the point he’ll need some help on the next two issues is very apparent.
The comparison to All Hail Megatron running at the same time makes the strengths of this issue all the more apparent. Both are trying for a blockbuster movie feeling, but whilst that sags and has long boring sequences, this just gallops along and does its best not to give you chance to think too hard about what nonsense the plot actually is (unless you’re the sort of fool who writes in-depth about it), just like the best movies. My memory is definitely that this is the last issue to really work in this series, but in and of itself, it shows the writer at his best.
Next week sees us go into the second half of All Hail Megatron with a Deluge of new information.
ALL HAIL MEGATRON ISSUE 6
2009
COMMENT
KO-FI
