When you get Caught Between the Moon and New York City.
Robots in Disguise issue 3: Stick Together. March 28th 2012.
I’m sorry I zapped you the other day.
First up, apologies for the unplanned two-week break, but two very busy weekends with Karen Gillan and Jenna Coleman, plus a less appealing bug, meant time rather got away from me.
Someone also feeling time might be getting away from them is John Barber. Because it’s worth remembering that he and Roberts were only really expecting 12 issues before the next reboot/relaunch, and so, whilst they both had a good few years of plans and ideas, there was no guarantee of more of that.
Which might explain why we get some unusually rapid movement on setting up a plot he very much wants to get in: Introducing Superion. In what will be the last time a major subgroup from the original line gets an introduction that’s not related to them having a new toy, meaning he can bring in this combiner in a more organic and less forced way that some later ones (and without the bane of my life, the Enigma of Combination).
And with the Arialbots, only Silverbolt has had anything like a speaking role up till now (most recently in Autocracy), so this is largely about introducing them as a group, their issues and sending them off on their way for the next, transformative, stage of their adventure.
I’m sorry I zapped you the other day.
First up, apologies for the unplanned two-week break, but two very busy weekends with Karen Gillan and Jenna Coleman, plus a less appealing bug, meant time rather got away from me.
Someone also feeling time might be getting away from them is John Barber. Because it’s worth remembering that he and Roberts were only really expecting 12 issues before the next reboot/relaunch, and so, whilst they both had a good few years of plans and ideas, there was no guarantee of more of that.
Which might explain why we get some unusually rapid movement on setting up a plot he very much wants to get in: Introducing Superion. In what will be the last time a major subgroup from the original line gets an introduction that’s not related to them having a new toy, meaning he can bring in this combiner in a more organic and less forced way that some later ones (and without the bane of my life, the Enigma of Combination).
And with the Arialbots, only Silverbolt has had anything like a speaking role up till now (most recently in Autocracy), so this is largely about introducing them as a group, their issues and sending them off on their way for the next, transformative, stage of their adventure.
With friends like these...
Meaning the six fliers come in to Iacon, immediately pissed off with the state of Cybertron and the insane idea of letting Decepticons run loose.
Including beloved fan favourite character Barrel Roll. Can’t wait to see what he gets up to over the next few years.
They arrive just in time for Prowl to try and convince the Decepticons that Ratbat committed suicide by stabbing himself with two big swords, with all the conviction of that episode of Blackadder the Third where the guy “accidentally” slits his throat from ear to ear whilst shaving.
Prowl is annoyed to have an ally in Starscream, who, to further his own political ambitions, backs up the idea what Ratbat was skewer himself depressed, and hey, Starscream wouldn’t just side with the Autobots now, would he?
Not buying any of this is Dirge, who turns out to have survived being dumped on Cybertron with a crowd of angry Autobots in All Hail Megatron, but is still very pissed and cynical about them after what nearly happened to him at their hands (and what did happen to Deluge. Sorry Deluge fans).
Including beloved fan favourite character Barrel Roll. Can’t wait to see what he gets up to over the next few years.
They arrive just in time for Prowl to try and convince the Decepticons that Ratbat committed suicide by stabbing himself with two big swords, with all the conviction of that episode of Blackadder the Third where the guy “accidentally” slits his throat from ear to ear whilst shaving.
Prowl is annoyed to have an ally in Starscream, who, to further his own political ambitions, backs up the idea what Ratbat was skewer himself depressed, and hey, Starscream wouldn’t just side with the Autobots now, would he?
Not buying any of this is Dirge, who turns out to have survived being dumped on Cybertron with a crowd of angry Autobots in All Hail Megatron, but is still very pissed and cynical about them after what nearly happened to him at their hands (and what did happen to Deluge. Sorry Deluge fans).
New guy just dropped.
Fan favourite Barrel Roll, despite just two pages earlier talking about how much he hates and doesn’t trust Decepticons, tries to build some bridges and make friends in a very cheerful way.
Hopefully this slightly inconsistent character will get ironed out over his many future years of adventures.
He does clarify he used to be a hot head, but now realises that fliers need to…
Well, he never finishes the sentence (though the title does it for him), because a massive explosion hits the area, killing everyone except the just on the edge Dirge.
It’s a shame this is unintentionally quite funny, I think if Barber had been more confident of a longer run, he’d have seeded in Barrel Roll a little better and given him a longer run before offing him. The end result is a “Hey, meet our old friend who has never appeared before who OH NO THEY DIED” character that even stories set before this will never take the opportunity to flesh out.
Hopefully this slightly inconsistent character will get ironed out over his many future years of adventures.
He does clarify he used to be a hot head, but now realises that fliers need to…
Well, he never finishes the sentence (though the title does it for him), because a massive explosion hits the area, killing everyone except the just on the edge Dirge.
It’s a shame this is unintentionally quite funny, I think if Barber had been more confident of a longer run, he’d have seeded in Barrel Roll a little better and given him a longer run before offing him. The end result is a “Hey, meet our old friend who has never appeared before who OH NO THEY DIED” character that even stories set before this will never take the opportunity to flesh out.
Metalhawk is nearly as wide as the crater.
Which is where our viewpoint character for this issue comes in, Wheeljack. An always reliable favourite it’s hard to go wrong with (and Andrew Griffith gives him a lovely chunky look) who hasn’t had much to do since the Furman era, it’s immediately nice and reassuring to see him get a featured role that sets him up as a major player for the rest of the run.
Before Bumblebee calls him in, he’s having to listen to an argument between two NAILS about how currency is going to work on Cybertron, which might end in an awkward Ghostbusters quote (“Hey man—I’m a scientist”), but is still an important bit of background world building to remind up this shanty town is meant to be rebuilding the civilisation of the planet.
At the explosion site, Wheeljack can confirm it’s not a nuke, but not much else, leading to an argument between Prowl, Meatalhawk and Starscream over whether Decepticons are responsible or if racial profiling needs to stop. With Starscream fully leaning into the political angle by going off on one about the need for better community housing.
Still, his words have enough of an impact on the always open to new ideas Wheeljack to make him investigate the outside chance: That the Decepticons had nothing to do with the explosion, meaning a chat with the one survivor: Dirge.
Before Bumblebee calls him in, he’s having to listen to an argument between two NAILS about how currency is going to work on Cybertron, which might end in an awkward Ghostbusters quote (“Hey man—I’m a scientist”), but is still an important bit of background world building to remind up this shanty town is meant to be rebuilding the civilisation of the planet.
At the explosion site, Wheeljack can confirm it’s not a nuke, but not much else, leading to an argument between Prowl, Meatalhawk and Starscream over whether Decepticons are responsible or if racial profiling needs to stop. With Starscream fully leaning into the political angle by going off on one about the need for better community housing.
Still, his words have enough of an impact on the always open to new ideas Wheeljack to make him investigate the outside chance: That the Decepticons had nothing to do with the explosion, meaning a chat with the one survivor: Dirge.
You're not paranoid if they are out to get you.
Unfortunately, Dirge (strung up in one of those Empire Strikes Back healing tubes) remembers Wheeljack giving him a good kicking during All Hail Megatron. Creating a tension only added to when Silverbolt, really pissed off about the death of his good dear friend Barrel Roll, pulls a gun on the Decepticon.
Wheeljack just about manages to diffuse the situation, but realises that Dirge’s own paranoia about Autobot conspiracies killing Rodimus and his crew and now the Decepticons sounds pretty much like Silverbolt’s conviction the Decepticons have a super-secret bomb despite living in a hovel.
Meaning, much to Silverbolt’s disgust, he now believes there’s more a chance bad luck was behind the explosion that evil intent. And he also gets a lovely line, “I do a lot of things, but I don’t kid about lives.”
Sadly, his new fully open to alternate possibilities mindset comes too late for a group of NAILS, who fall victim to a second explosion.
At the damage site, Starscream comes for an inspection, and, even with Wheeljack being open minded to the Cons not being the cause of all this, has a hard time convincing the Autobot he’s on the straight and narrow now, with only the same regrets Wheeljack himself should have over the dubious things they did during the war.
Wheeljack just about manages to diffuse the situation, but realises that Dirge’s own paranoia about Autobot conspiracies killing Rodimus and his crew and now the Decepticons sounds pretty much like Silverbolt’s conviction the Decepticons have a super-secret bomb despite living in a hovel.
Meaning, much to Silverbolt’s disgust, he now believes there’s more a chance bad luck was behind the explosion that evil intent. And he also gets a lovely line, “I do a lot of things, but I don’t kid about lives.”
Sadly, his new fully open to alternate possibilities mindset comes too late for a group of NAILS, who fall victim to a second explosion.
At the damage site, Starscream comes for an inspection, and, even with Wheeljack being open minded to the Cons not being the cause of all this, has a hard time convincing the Autobot he’s on the straight and narrow now, with only the same regrets Wheeljack himself should have over the dubious things they did during the war.
But, as Wheeljack is being dismissive of the idea of getting the Seekers back together (with most of them being dead or missing), it’s the mention of Thundercracker that gives him an epiphany: Cybertron’s moon is glowing.
It turns out, because Barber and Roberts are working closely together, in a bit of setup for More Than Meets the Eye, Cybertron and its two moons used to be in sync, zapping energy to each other for reasons no one is really sure of. But, with one moon missing, the link is messed up, and energy that should be going there is instead hitting the planet, randomly. Like ball lightning of the sort that is accompanied by thunder, that being the way Wheeljack’s brain works.
And, because it has the great sense of what would make the greatest threat for the end of the issue threat, the next blast will hit Iacon itself.
Luckily, both Starscream and Wheeljack have plans. Starscream’s being to give the NAIL’s shelter in Kimia, as the shell will protect them. Giving the Decepticon’s a public relations victory that annoys Prowl nearly as much as the fact they’ll all be dead in 90 seconds if Wheeljack’s plan doesn’t work.
It turns out, because Barber and Roberts are working closely together, in a bit of setup for More Than Meets the Eye, Cybertron and its two moons used to be in sync, zapping energy to each other for reasons no one is really sure of. But, with one moon missing, the link is messed up, and energy that should be going there is instead hitting the planet, randomly. Like ball lightning of the sort that is accompanied by thunder, that being the way Wheeljack’s brain works.
And, because it has the great sense of what would make the greatest threat for the end of the issue threat, the next blast will hit Iacon itself.
Luckily, both Starscream and Wheeljack have plans. Starscream’s being to give the NAIL’s shelter in Kimia, as the shell will protect them. Giving the Decepticon’s a public relations victory that annoys Prowl nearly as much as the fact they’ll all be dead in 90 seconds if Wheeljack’s plan doesn’t work.
Fans looking at the two new ongoings.
Said plan being that—because if the Transformers are good for one thing, it’s building WMDs—to fire some missiles into orbit to act as a surrogate second moon till a more permanent satellite can be launched as a full-time replacement.
There’s a fantastic full page given over to the launch. Or rather, Arcee sitting in the wilderness after Wheeljack has sadly thought no one will be watching the impressive sight, finding the whole view incredibly cool. Which is an important moment to humanise a character who has only been defined by violence and anger up till now, she can appreciate wonder (even if from a military source) as well.
With the day saved, Wheeljack does something to save the future closer to home, by pointing out that, if he’d been wrong, Starscream would have been the one who saved the Neutrals. So, maybe it is finally time to move on, because they barely survived this, they’ll never cope with a shooting war.
Which, much to his surprise and with the worry he’ll regret it, makes Bumblebee start to apologise to Starscream…
At which point Silverbolt barges in, attacks his leader, and rants about how they’ve been fighting Starscream’s “Kind” for millions of years and any peace with them would be disgusting.
Which feels a bit awkward considering the Decepticons weren’t even behind this current crisis.
There’s a fantastic full page given over to the launch. Or rather, Arcee sitting in the wilderness after Wheeljack has sadly thought no one will be watching the impressive sight, finding the whole view incredibly cool. Which is an important moment to humanise a character who has only been defined by violence and anger up till now, she can appreciate wonder (even if from a military source) as well.
With the day saved, Wheeljack does something to save the future closer to home, by pointing out that, if he’d been wrong, Starscream would have been the one who saved the Neutrals. So, maybe it is finally time to move on, because they barely survived this, they’ll never cope with a shooting war.
Which, much to his surprise and with the worry he’ll regret it, makes Bumblebee start to apologise to Starscream…
At which point Silverbolt barges in, attacks his leader, and rants about how they’ve been fighting Starscream’s “Kind” for millions of years and any peace with them would be disgusting.
Which feels a bit awkward considering the Decepticons weren’t even behind this current crisis.
The famously angry and rage filled Silverbolt.
This causes him to lead the Arialbots out into the wilderness in disgust, with Bumblebee more surprised to realise Starscream is genuinely sad to see them go, because “Fliers need to stick together.” Which means there is a genuine apology from Bumblebee for zapping him, with Starscream being cheerful that the Autobot will not regret letting him into “Our” government…
That’s probably the most straightforward issue of either main ongoing to date, basically being a simple mystery surrounded by some strong character work. But a breather issue at this point was probably exactly the right choice, and it flows along well and fast, with Wheeljack being a character you can’t go wrong with. It also gives Andrew Griffith some nice show-off moments, with the Arcee page being especially striking.
It also does some important work showing that the new status quo could work and solidify into a new better Cybertron, as Decepticons and Autobots slowly come to realise they don’t have to be enemies and there is a better way forward. Something that’s needed and important for the many bumps along the way in the future to have any weight.
The only real weak point is the Arialbots plot goes too fast and feels forced without more time to breath, especially as Silverbolt has been a rather placid fellow in all his previous appearances. Maybe using the Protectobots, traditionally a little more hot-headed, would have worked a little better to immediately sell this dissent.
That’s probably the most straightforward issue of either main ongoing to date, basically being a simple mystery surrounded by some strong character work. But a breather issue at this point was probably exactly the right choice, and it flows along well and fast, with Wheeljack being a character you can’t go wrong with. It also gives Andrew Griffith some nice show-off moments, with the Arcee page being especially striking.
It also does some important work showing that the new status quo could work and solidify into a new better Cybertron, as Decepticons and Autobots slowly come to realise they don’t have to be enemies and there is a better way forward. Something that’s needed and important for the many bumps along the way in the future to have any weight.
The only real weak point is the Arialbots plot goes too fast and feels forced without more time to breath, especially as Silverbolt has been a rather placid fellow in all his previous appearances. Maybe using the Protectobots, traditionally a little more hot-headed, would have worked a little better to immediately sell this dissent.
You'd vote for him over any Tory.
But, of course, introducing a new sixth member of the Protectobots and trying to give him some personality 30 seconds before killing him is exactly the sort of thing that will never, ever happen.
Still, overall, another win for the series I was most worried about revisiting for this part of the project (because I’ve never completely jelled with Barber and he has some very enthusiastic fans), maybe like Bumblebee and Starscream, I’m about to learn to appreciate it more.
Next week, Zeta starts vamping like mad.
AUTOCRACY CHAPTER 5
2012
COMMENT
KO-FI
Still, overall, another win for the series I was most worried about revisiting for this part of the project (because I’ve never completely jelled with Barber and he has some very enthusiastic fans), maybe like Bumblebee and Starscream, I’m about to learn to appreciate it more.
Next week, Zeta starts vamping like mad.
AUTOCRACY CHAPTER 5
2012
COMMENT
KO-FI
