It’s a Jungle out There.
Robots in Disguise issue 9: Night and the City. September 5th 2012.
Why won’t you stay dead?
The second half of this two parter starts on what seems to be a moment of quiet reflection as Bumblebee sits on the hull of Turmoil’s ship, musing on how nice it would be to use the time machine to fix everything (whilst also fully expectant they’ll be some science reason it’s impossible), but at least enjoying the peace and quiet from no one wanting to go near it thanks to the reputation it has built up. Which lets him take in the view and accept Cybertron is actually a pretty nice place, and he shouldn’t let the weight of his responsibilities crush him…
At which point, he gets a Sky Lynx in the face.
Much to the surprise of the working on the ship Wheeljack, but, after the confusion of the crash has died down, all Sky Lynx can manage to say before passing out, is he lost all his passengers…
Why won’t you stay dead?
The second half of this two parter starts on what seems to be a moment of quiet reflection as Bumblebee sits on the hull of Turmoil’s ship, musing on how nice it would be to use the time machine to fix everything (whilst also fully expectant they’ll be some science reason it’s impossible), but at least enjoying the peace and quiet from no one wanting to go near it thanks to the reputation it has built up. Which lets him take in the view and accept Cybertron is actually a pretty nice place, and he shouldn’t let the weight of his responsibilities crush him…
At which point, he gets a Sky Lynx in the face.
Much to the surprise of the working on the ship Wheeljack, but, after the confusion of the crash has died down, all Sky Lynx can manage to say before passing out, is he lost all his passengers…
No longer Sky high.
Leading to a rather wonderful sequence of Ironhide being besotted by Dinobots, including, thanks to a lovely bit of thinking from Barber, Sludge, as his dinosaur head isn’t his robot one.
Much to Swoop’s frustration, as he just wants his former colleague to stay dead, teetering on quoting Austin Powers at one point.
There’s also a nice comedy beat of Ironhide being initially pleased to see Sludge is fine, until he realises the self-proclaimed “King” is just as violent and crazy as the others. Forcing him to run, just as he gets a video call on his tablet from Silverbolt, ready to explain to anyone picking his signal up what’s been going on…
That’s a nice fast opening with Griffith clearly having a great time playing with the Roche-ness of the Dinobot designs.
Though it is a massive cheat that Ironhide is basically fine after getting a massive flaming sword through the chest, with only a battered windscreen to show for it.
Much to Swoop’s frustration, as he just wants his former colleague to stay dead, teetering on quoting Austin Powers at one point.
There’s also a nice comedy beat of Ironhide being initially pleased to see Sludge is fine, until he realises the self-proclaimed “King” is just as violent and crazy as the others. Forcing him to run, just as he gets a video call on his tablet from Silverbolt, ready to explain to anyone picking his signal up what’s been going on…
That’s a nice fast opening with Griffith clearly having a great time playing with the Roche-ness of the Dinobot designs.
Though it is a massive cheat that Ironhide is basically fine after getting a massive flaming sword through the chest, with only a battered windscreen to show for it.
Turns out two heads are better than one.
Back in Iacon, Bumblebee is worried something could be trying to control them, maybe even trying to control Prowl (heaven forbid), but Wheeljack has to point out that whatever was affecting Sky Lynx wasn’t mind control. And, much to Bumblebee’s frustration, he can’t do more than offer theories:
1: Luck, whatever’s turning people’s minds to mush is either localised to where Sky Lynx flew out to, or they’ve set up camp on the only part of the planet not flipping people out.
2: Some weapon in Kimia that’s still working and doing this to people.
3: The planet itself wants to corral the survivors in one place.
Which Starscream gleefully pointing out that’s probably to make them easier to eat in one go, giving us some top tier sarcasm from Bumblebee at seeing him and Metalhawk again so soon.
But they’re actually here to help, with Starcream offering to fly out and look for that crazy Ironhide (with Metalhawk getting an incredibly bitchy moment of asking “You do know what “crazy” means?” when Bumblebee tries to refute this), but Bee insists no one can fly at night, and he’s sending out his own, faster, team out in the morning.
1: Luck, whatever’s turning people’s minds to mush is either localised to where Sky Lynx flew out to, or they’ve set up camp on the only part of the planet not flipping people out.
2: Some weapon in Kimia that’s still working and doing this to people.
3: The planet itself wants to corral the survivors in one place.
Which Starscream gleefully pointing out that’s probably to make them easier to eat in one go, giving us some top tier sarcasm from Bumblebee at seeing him and Metalhawk again so soon.
But they’re actually here to help, with Starcream offering to fly out and look for that crazy Ironhide (with Metalhawk getting an incredibly bitchy moment of asking “You do know what “crazy” means?” when Bumblebee tries to refute this), but Bee insists no one can fly at night, and he’s sending out his own, faster, team out in the morning.
Metalhawk going full titties out.
Which Starscream thinks is just because Bumblebee believes saving the missing Autobots might win the Decepticon the election, something that Metalhawk chides him for, but Bumblebee’s inner monologue has to agree with, and it’s something that wouldn’t have been true once…
There’s a quick page of Ironhide running and realising Silverbolt’s message is just a recording, and quickly fills him on exactly the same thing having happened to the Aerialbots, the turbofox attack followed by infighting. And it’s not a distress call, it’s a warning to anyone coming into this area, “Everyone’s going to be… out to get you. Everyone is your enemy…even your friends.”
Which is a nice creepy note to end the scene on, with the Dinobots looming behind him, even if Ironhide watching a YouTube video as he tries to leg it is unintentionally quite a funny visual.
Back at Iacon, Bumblebee has realised only one Autobot could beat any fliers, which means going to Maccadam’s and playing the sort of political games he hates himself for. Creating some awkwardness when he walks into everyone talking about what a terrible leader he is, with obviously faked suicides, faked lightening strikes and no chance of elections.
There’s a quick page of Ironhide running and realising Silverbolt’s message is just a recording, and quickly fills him on exactly the same thing having happened to the Aerialbots, the turbofox attack followed by infighting. And it’s not a distress call, it’s a warning to anyone coming into this area, “Everyone’s going to be… out to get you. Everyone is your enemy…even your friends.”
Which is a nice creepy note to end the scene on, with the Dinobots looming behind him, even if Ironhide watching a YouTube video as he tries to leg it is unintentionally quite a funny visual.
Back at Iacon, Bumblebee has realised only one Autobot could beat any fliers, which means going to Maccadam’s and playing the sort of political games he hates himself for. Creating some awkwardness when he walks into everyone talking about what a terrible leader he is, with obviously faked suicides, faked lightening strikes and no chance of elections.
He's fallen down a YouTube hole, just like your aunt.
The nib of Blurr’s issues turns out to be not just Prowl, but the events of his own Spotlight. Which, to be fair, that comic got me down as well. But he’s been haunted by saving Zeta’s life all those years ago, and seeing things go down the same road that Prime took Cybertron has been too much for him.
Bumblebee doesn’t seem to initially take this in, playing his trump card of it not being some autocrat in danger, but barmy old loveable Ironhide. Making Blurr decide to go into action.
Also going into action is the waiting outside, and contemptuous of Bumblebee going into a bar full of people who hate him unprotected, Ravage. Still, he’s got orders from Shockwave to take the Reflector units on a mission they’re really excited to be on, having been told by Shockwave they’re “Fated” for it.
The answer to the question “Who watches the watchers?” turns out to be Arcee, looking down a the Decepticons through the scope of her massive riffle, making “Pow Pow” noises before she decides to let them live. Something she hopes they’ll remember…
Bumblebee doesn’t seem to initially take this in, playing his trump card of it not being some autocrat in danger, but barmy old loveable Ironhide. Making Blurr decide to go into action.
Also going into action is the waiting outside, and contemptuous of Bumblebee going into a bar full of people who hate him unprotected, Ravage. Still, he’s got orders from Shockwave to take the Reflector units on a mission they’re really excited to be on, having been told by Shockwave they’re “Fated” for it.
The answer to the question “Who watches the watchers?” turns out to be Arcee, looking down a the Decepticons through the scope of her massive riffle, making “Pow Pow” noises before she decides to let them live. Something she hopes they’ll remember…
The second funniest "Character whose actions started the war" after Rung.
Meanwhile, the Dinobots have caught up with Ironhide, meaning even he can’t stay on YouTube as Silverbolt continues explaining that he can only reason him being unaffected due to always having been an outsider (a nice use of his bio fear of heights, and gives a reason for the isolated by his visions Ironhide to still be normal). But the other Aerialbots are united now, coming for him, and he doesn’t want to be alone anymore.
Making a contrast with Ironhide still fighting and refusing to give in, beating off the Dinobots enough to make a break for it.
Back at Turmoil’s ship, it turns out that Blurr’s words did reach Bumblebee, and he flat out asks the using working out the ship to distract from his own issues Wheeljack if they could do something like preventing the All Hail Megatron era of comics from happening. Though all he gets is a lot of talk about “quantum” making it impossible.
Though this line of thought has to end when they realise that, during their conversation, the ship behind them has vanished. Causing an appropriate for quantum time travel shenanigans “Oh boy” from Wheeljack.
Making a contrast with Ironhide still fighting and refusing to give in, beating off the Dinobots enough to make a break for it.
Back at Turmoil’s ship, it turns out that Blurr’s words did reach Bumblebee, and he flat out asks the using working out the ship to distract from his own issues Wheeljack if they could do something like preventing the All Hail Megatron era of comics from happening. Though all he gets is a lot of talk about “quantum” making it impossible.
Though this line of thought has to end when they realise that, during their conversation, the ship behind them has vanished. Causing an appropriate for quantum time travel shenanigans “Oh boy” from Wheeljack.
"Reflector never returned home..."
Out in the wilds, Ironhide has managed to get a lock-on Silverbolt’s signal and is really hoping he worked out a solution to all this that didn’t involve everyone dying. Meaning he’s deeply relieved to hear what seems to be Silverbolt’s voice…
But, in a fantastic double-page spread, it turns out to actually be Superion, and the Dinobots are now going to have to face him…
Which should be the cliffhanger of course, but it being a double-page spread does mean there’s one left over, given to Bumblebee musing at the fallout from the missing ship (basically, Starscream denying everything), how he’s gotten Blur back in the fold through deception, and there are no easy fixes. He’s just got to hope the world doesn’t collapse under him for another night…
This is probably the lightest issue of the comic to date, very much continuing the theme of the first part of giving an easy entry point to new readers. It’s also effectively a breather before we return to more involved and heavy plotting to close out the year.
But, in a fantastic double-page spread, it turns out to actually be Superion, and the Dinobots are now going to have to face him…
Which should be the cliffhanger of course, but it being a double-page spread does mean there’s one left over, given to Bumblebee musing at the fallout from the missing ship (basically, Starscream denying everything), how he’s gotten Blur back in the fold through deception, and there are no easy fixes. He’s just got to hope the world doesn’t collapse under him for another night…
This is probably the lightest issue of the comic to date, very much continuing the theme of the first part of giving an easy entry point to new readers. It’s also effectively a breather before we return to more involved and heavy plotting to close out the year.
The Superior way of IDW introducing a combiner.
Most of the interesting stuff in actually in the Bumblebee scenes, as he compromises himself more and more and wishes for simpler times as a result. The Dinobot action is just that, action getting us to the final reveal.
Meaning it’s the biggest chance yet for Andrew Griffith to carry an issue, something he’s clearly having a great time with, selling the action and Ironhide’s determination with aplomb.
Meaning, though there’s not a huge amount to say on this one (This is probably the shortest full issue Revisitation I’ve done in a while), it’s still a tremendously fun romp with lots of nice moments throughout. Only having to go through so many hoops to introduce a combiner is funny in retrospect when compared to what will happen later. Overall, though, this issue really pulls it together.
Next week, thank God for the return of the Annuals!
MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE ISSUE 8
2012
COMMENT
KO-FI
Meaning it’s the biggest chance yet for Andrew Griffith to carry an issue, something he’s clearly having a great time with, selling the action and Ironhide’s determination with aplomb.
Meaning, though there’s not a huge amount to say on this one (This is probably the shortest full issue Revisitation I’ve done in a while), it’s still a tremendously fun romp with lots of nice moments throughout. Only having to go through so many hoops to introduce a combiner is funny in retrospect when compared to what will happen later. Overall, though, this issue really pulls it together.
Next week, thank God for the return of the Annuals!
MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE ISSUE 8
2012
COMMENT
KO-FI
