Walking Through Town is Quite Scary, it’s Not Very Sensible Either.
Robots in Disguise issue 12: City on Fire. December 12th 2012.
Blow it out your sprocket, “chosen one.”
Though this isn’t the conclusion to a story, John Barber, very much like Roberts just did, still takes the opportunity to use the fact he’s got all the pieces into place to do a full-on fast issue that, if not quite all action (there’s still time for character and mood), barely pauses for breath as it rattles along.
Starting with, after a quick page in the Autobot hospital confirming Prowl has been badly damaged in the blast he walked into, something a worried Wheeljack has no time to react to as Starscream grabs him with some news Bumblebee won’t believe if it comes from himself…
Giving us a fantastic double page spread of a dozen heavily armed Autobots facing off against the battered and damaged Megatron (complete with Sweep body parts hanging off him), as he proclaims, “I come in peace.”
Which Bumblebee naturally doesn’t believe, and, in a nice and long overdue bit of directness when dealing with Space Hitler, just orders the troops to kill Megatron.
Blow it out your sprocket, “chosen one.”
Though this isn’t the conclusion to a story, John Barber, very much like Roberts just did, still takes the opportunity to use the fact he’s got all the pieces into place to do a full-on fast issue that, if not quite all action (there’s still time for character and mood), barely pauses for breath as it rattles along.
Starting with, after a quick page in the Autobot hospital confirming Prowl has been badly damaged in the blast he walked into, something a worried Wheeljack has no time to react to as Starscream grabs him with some news Bumblebee won’t believe if it comes from himself…
Giving us a fantastic double page spread of a dozen heavily armed Autobots facing off against the battered and damaged Megatron (complete with Sweep body parts hanging off him), as he proclaims, “I come in peace.”
Which Bumblebee naturally doesn’t believe, and, in a nice and long overdue bit of directness when dealing with Space Hitler, just orders the troops to kill Megatron.
"That's not the Hasbro approved evergreen design! Kill it!"
Leading to two pages of the somewhat gleeful Autobots blasting the crap out of the Decepticon, with little obvious further damage.
Which is when Needlenose steps in, demanding this stop, pointing out that Megatron is both barely alive and the hero who saved the planet during the Chaos event (Barber again using something that didn’t really work from Costa well), and that enough Decepticons have died tonight.
Starscream tries to push for just killing the guy as well, but his stock is too low with both the Cons and Metalhawk for anyone to care what he thinks.
Still, Bumblebee has to accept killing Megatron would end the alliance once and for all, so he has Wheeljack use his super forcefield to envelop the despot, and makes a point of having Needlenose go check for “survivors” in the Decepticon pen. Though he really wants to find out how many bodies they should be looking for…
‘Bee actually showing some common sense and leadership for once is very pleasing, and the games being played on every side is clearly spelt out.
Which is when Needlenose steps in, demanding this stop, pointing out that Megatron is both barely alive and the hero who saved the planet during the Chaos event (Barber again using something that didn’t really work from Costa well), and that enough Decepticons have died tonight.
Starscream tries to push for just killing the guy as well, but his stock is too low with both the Cons and Metalhawk for anyone to care what he thinks.
Still, Bumblebee has to accept killing Megatron would end the alliance once and for all, so he has Wheeljack use his super forcefield to envelop the despot, and makes a point of having Needlenose go check for “survivors” in the Decepticon pen. Though he really wants to find out how many bodies they should be looking for…
‘Bee actually showing some common sense and leadership for once is very pleasing, and the games being played on every side is clearly spelt out.
Sticking his needle nose in,
At the holding cells (notably not the medical centre, Bumblebee’s generosity does not extend to a doctor looking at him), Wheeljack is wondering if it would be better if he “slipped” during his examination of Megatron, though actually in a less eager way when Ratchet expressed similar ideas back in Chaos Theory, feeling going that way would just wind him up like Prowl, and look how he’s doing.
So instead, he reports that it really is Megatron, that he’s unarmed, and he wants to talk. But Bumblebee remembers Chaos Theory as well, and doesn’t want to do a James Roberts story when Roberts himself just did a sequel to that, so he chats to Metalhawk and Wheeljack instead.
And after initially being short with Metalhawk, and as another sign of him becoming a better and no bullshit leader, he has to accept the point made: That various key and vital Autobots have all been taken off the playing field in the last few months. Ironhide, Dinobots, Aerialbots, Sky Lynx, Omega Supreme and now poor old Prowl.
Plus, a bunch of major Decepticons just got taken off the playing field as well. Someone is up to something, but who?
So instead, he reports that it really is Megatron, that he’s unarmed, and he wants to talk. But Bumblebee remembers Chaos Theory as well, and doesn’t want to do a James Roberts story when Roberts himself just did a sequel to that, so he chats to Metalhawk and Wheeljack instead.
And after initially being short with Metalhawk, and as another sign of him becoming a better and no bullshit leader, he has to accept the point made: That various key and vital Autobots have all been taken off the playing field in the last few months. Ironhide, Dinobots, Aerialbots, Sky Lynx, Omega Supreme and now poor old Prowl.
Plus, a bunch of major Decepticons just got taken off the playing field as well. Someone is up to something, but who?
Hawks, but no doves.
Metalhawk has an idea, there’s a full of themselves opportunist who’s been keener than anyone to kill Megatron and has declared themselves “The chosen one…”
Said Chosen One is surprised to arrive at the Decepticon pen and find that Needlenose is not leading rescue efforts (because there’s no one to rescue), but instead starting a riot, as the Decepticons starts marching out, complete with flaming torches. They’re sick of the ongoing crap they’re getting and want Megatron to order them to start killing Autobots again.
Needlenose, and it’s quite a nice bit of character for him that he’s not completely gung-ho for doing a January 6th, does give Starscream chance to make a speech with the hope of winning the mob over.
Said Chosen One is surprised to arrive at the Decepticon pen and find that Needlenose is not leading rescue efforts (because there’s no one to rescue), but instead starting a riot, as the Decepticons starts marching out, complete with flaming torches. They’re sick of the ongoing crap they’re getting and want Megatron to order them to start killing Autobots again.
Needlenose, and it’s quite a nice bit of character for him that he’s not completely gung-ho for doing a January 6th, does give Starscream chance to make a speech with the hope of winning the mob over.
He'd do much better in British politics.
Which gives us the big character scene of the issue, as Starscream passionately lays out the case for working within the system. That their goal was always equality, and though they lost sight of that along the way, if they now move past Megatron, they can win through the strength of their ideas, not arms. A full validation for everything they stood for and have suffered through. He just needs them to stand with him.
Of course, in a nice tough from Barber, it’s the people who know Starscream best who have the least time for him, and Acid Storm, of all characters, is the one who (in so many words) tells him to stuff it, and the baying crowd goes off to free Megatron. Because once you’ve gone to the effort of making a flaming torch, you might as well use it.
This utter rejection completely breaks Starscream, not helped by Wheeljack choosing that moment to arrive and tell him Metalhawk has pointed the finger at him. Even an actual friend doesn’t trust him.
Which is a little hypocritical as a thing for Starscream to get annoyed about, but he decides he needs a moment alone. However, Wheeljack does make him pause, enough to promise he’ll be back, by assuring the Decepticon that they are friends, as his trust has not been betrayed yet.
It’s a lovely moment of trust in an issue where characters have otherwise been forced into being at cross purposes, and the highlight of the issue.
Of course, in a nice tough from Barber, it’s the people who know Starscream best who have the least time for him, and Acid Storm, of all characters, is the one who (in so many words) tells him to stuff it, and the baying crowd goes off to free Megatron. Because once you’ve gone to the effort of making a flaming torch, you might as well use it.
This utter rejection completely breaks Starscream, not helped by Wheeljack choosing that moment to arrive and tell him Metalhawk has pointed the finger at him. Even an actual friend doesn’t trust him.
Which is a little hypocritical as a thing for Starscream to get annoyed about, but he decides he needs a moment alone. However, Wheeljack does make him pause, enough to promise he’ll be back, by assuring the Decepticon that they are friends, as his trust has not been betrayed yet.
It’s a lovely moment of trust in an issue where characters have otherwise been forced into being at cross purposes, and the highlight of the issue.
I'm not sure what would be worse, getting caught in a riot or trapped in a pub on poetry open mic night.
Wheeljack is worried about the leaderless Decepticon mob, but doesn’t have too much time to worry about it, as Fixit calls him in because Prowl has vanished, and the CCTV footage from his quarters is (alongside a couple of other camera views that somehow manage to be from later in the issue) completely blank.
Or rather, black.
I can’t remember now if this is a red herring or Prowl’s quarters really are the Black Room, but I hope it is, and Shockwave and Soundwave are having to share the bed as everyone else is squashed in there.
As Wheeljack drives to Prowl’s Pad, he goes past Macadam’s, where Blurr is hammering planks across the windows as his clientele prepare for the ultimate lock-in. It’s an important scene because, as well as Jazz being ready to play some music, the crowd who refuse to get involved include some Decepticons (such as Tankor), effectively giving the reader a reminded the ‘Cons are not a hive mind, but a variety of people. Without that, the idea of continuing to work for peace at all would seem ludicrous.
Or rather, black.
I can’t remember now if this is a red herring or Prowl’s quarters really are the Black Room, but I hope it is, and Shockwave and Soundwave are having to share the bed as everyone else is squashed in there.
As Wheeljack drives to Prowl’s Pad, he goes past Macadam’s, where Blurr is hammering planks across the windows as his clientele prepare for the ultimate lock-in. It’s an important scene because, as well as Jazz being ready to play some music, the crowd who refuse to get involved include some Decepticons (such as Tankor), effectively giving the reader a reminded the ‘Cons are not a hive mind, but a variety of people. Without that, the idea of continuing to work for peace at all would seem ludicrous.
Anyone reading this who knows her will be thinking "Big Erica energy."
The main surprise for Blurr is, as he wishes Ironhide was around to help, is Arcee turns out to be hanging from the ceiling in what can only be called “Goblin Mode”, offering to help if they make a deal…
Meanwhile, Starscream has decided to get over his blues by paying a visit to the prison and, using their own desire to see this conversation to bluff past the guards (whilst ignoring the other Decepticon prisoners), and have a little chat with Megatron.
In more immediate danger than having to listen to Starscream is Wheeljack, who makes the mistake of driving right into the Decepticon mob, who turn on him immediately. Either for hurting Turmoil, being complicit in all the recent Decepticon deaths, or because he insists on quoting Ghostbusters at them.
Luckily for him, just as things are about to get very nasty, a Firecon (to be honest, I don’t know which one, which makes him a handy bit of cannon fodder) gets blasted from behind by what turns out to be a supped up super armoured and super armed Prowl, a gift to third party toy makers. Who invites the Cons who are still standing to try resisting arrest.
Meanwhile, Starscream has decided to get over his blues by paying a visit to the prison and, using their own desire to see this conversation to bluff past the guards (whilst ignoring the other Decepticon prisoners), and have a little chat with Megatron.
In more immediate danger than having to listen to Starscream is Wheeljack, who makes the mistake of driving right into the Decepticon mob, who turn on him immediately. Either for hurting Turmoil, being complicit in all the recent Decepticon deaths, or because he insists on quoting Ghostbusters at them.
Luckily for him, just as things are about to get very nasty, a Firecon (to be honest, I don’t know which one, which makes him a handy bit of cannon fodder) gets blasted from behind by what turns out to be a supped up super armoured and super armed Prowl, a gift to third party toy makers. Who invites the Cons who are still standing to try resisting arrest.
Someone in there loves it when they resist.
Which is ironic as it’s an arresting image, though tellingly it feels less heroic than similar end of issue reveals in the past (such as the return of Fort Max in the other book).
Barber is clearly having a blast with this one, rollocking along at a fast pace whilst still managing to keep up the undercurrents of tension and give Starscream one of his best, and far more humbling than any beating from Megatron, moments in years. As things fall apart, the story is coming together very nicely. Especially with Griffith’s return on art, successfully capturing moments like the defeat Starscream feels whilst still staying within his cards close to the chest character.
It might be a light issue in terms of things to talk about (it’s really a lot of ratcheting up of events), but it’s still a very strong end to the first year of the series, promising great things from the second.
Next week, a break from the ongoing narratives of either series as we get back to what Transformers is really about.
MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE ISSUE 11
2012
COMMENT
KO-FI
Barber is clearly having a blast with this one, rollocking along at a fast pace whilst still managing to keep up the undercurrents of tension and give Starscream one of his best, and far more humbling than any beating from Megatron, moments in years. As things fall apart, the story is coming together very nicely. Especially with Griffith’s return on art, successfully capturing moments like the defeat Starscream feels whilst still staying within his cards close to the chest character.
It might be a light issue in terms of things to talk about (it’s really a lot of ratcheting up of events), but it’s still a very strong end to the first year of the series, promising great things from the second.
Next week, a break from the ongoing narratives of either series as we get back to what Transformers is really about.
MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE ISSUE 11
2012
COMMENT
KO-FI
