Oh no, There You go, Making Me a Liar.
Spotlight: Doublealer. Revelation Part 3. August 20th 2008.
Don’t let their sacrifice have been for nothing.
And after teetering on a precipice for two issues, here’s where the entire fragile house of cards that is Revelation falls down, as the focus is fully given to a character who has nothing whatsoever to do with the Dead Universe plot and manages to go the entire issue without intersecting with it.
The disconnect between the story and the character being spotlighted is best show by the opening two pages. The first of which is a hasty recap of events so far, whilst the second is Dealer on Earth, talking to Hot Rod and persuading him to go fetch the Magnificence so they can use it to answer all the questions posed by the Dead Universe mystery, whilst standing around the relics of the Huntstreaker story that isn’t anything to do with this series.
That Hot Rod is going to play a major role in Maximum Dinobots means that should have been the natural place to deal with that plot. But frankly, if push came to shove, Dealer and his games could easily have been dropped entirely as a casualty of the speed-wrap-up alongside the Decepticon facsimiles.
Don’t let their sacrifice have been for nothing.
And after teetering on a precipice for two issues, here’s where the entire fragile house of cards that is Revelation falls down, as the focus is fully given to a character who has nothing whatsoever to do with the Dead Universe plot and manages to go the entire issue without intersecting with it.
The disconnect between the story and the character being spotlighted is best show by the opening two pages. The first of which is a hasty recap of events so far, whilst the second is Dealer on Earth, talking to Hot Rod and persuading him to go fetch the Magnificence so they can use it to answer all the questions posed by the Dead Universe mystery, whilst standing around the relics of the Huntstreaker story that isn’t anything to do with this series.
That Hot Rod is going to play a major role in Maximum Dinobots means that should have been the natural place to deal with that plot. But frankly, if push came to shove, Dealer and his games could easily have been dropped entirely as a casualty of the speed-wrap-up alongside the Decepticon facsimiles.
He's ready to axe the magnificence something.
And having Hot Rod, after what Dealer thinks is some clever manipulation on his part, deciding to drop everything in his quest for Sunstreaker (and remember, he’s supposed to be AWOL), also has the negative effect of killing the momentum of Maximum Dinobots before it even starts.
Ironically they’re leaving Earth just as one of the few bits of plot advancement arrive there, as over in China, Straxus and Grindcore (Furman wanted a new character to broaden the scope of the series and liked the name, a name that will go on to have some unexpected significance down the line) arrive and start setting up a spacebridge to syphon off the Ore-13 that Shockwave (student of Jhiaxus) had seeded the planet with to fuel their destruction of the Universe.
In order to make sure we get this, the two characters carefully explain it to each other in a way that is much more straightforward and less portentous than we’ve seen from any Dead Universe people. To the point that, rereading it here for the first time in a while, I thought it might actually mean something that they are far more “These two guys”. But over the page and at the Benzuli Expanse, Cyclonus is also being written in a completely different way to how he was just two issues ago as he and Galvatron come flying out and, upon orders to destroy anyone who might be a threat to their plans, he goes “Dibs on this one!” about the ship captained by Cloudburst.
Ironically they’re leaving Earth just as one of the few bits of plot advancement arrive there, as over in China, Straxus and Grindcore (Furman wanted a new character to broaden the scope of the series and liked the name, a name that will go on to have some unexpected significance down the line) arrive and start setting up a spacebridge to syphon off the Ore-13 that Shockwave (student of Jhiaxus) had seeded the planet with to fuel their destruction of the Universe.
In order to make sure we get this, the two characters carefully explain it to each other in a way that is much more straightforward and less portentous than we’ve seen from any Dead Universe people. To the point that, rereading it here for the first time in a while, I thought it might actually mean something that they are far more “These two guys”. But over the page and at the Benzuli Expanse, Cyclonus is also being written in a completely different way to how he was just two issues ago as he and Galvatron come flying out and, upon orders to destroy anyone who might be a threat to their plans, he goes “Dibs on this one!” about the ship captained by Cloudburst.
Dibs.
It’s unlikely after his Spotlight that Cyclonus would ever say “Dibs”, but in retrospect, the later Cyclonus would die a little inside reading this.
Speaking of characters saying things their later selves would cringe at, on Garrus 9, as Optimus suddenly declares “He’s here”, Fort Max point blank refuses to believe anyone could break into his prison.
Whilst speaking to the guy who has come there because of that time last week someone broke into his prison.
It turns out someone has broken into his prison, as Nemesis Prime blasts in through a wall and starts using his death hands on the guards who weren’t killed in the Combaticon attack. Which leads Prime to decide he’s going to deal with his predecessor himself.
After that plot advancement, and separated from it by an odd out of context panel of Jhiaxus on Gorlam Prime ranting, it’s back to the irrelevant sideshow that the comic is titled after.
Turns out Hot Rod just hid the Magnificence on Ki-Al, the same planet he found it, something that even Dealer (or as he thinks about the name Banzaitron gave him, Doubledealer) can’t quite believe and he has to backtrack on his incredulity about so as not to look suspicious.
Speaking of characters saying things their later selves would cringe at, on Garrus 9, as Optimus suddenly declares “He’s here”, Fort Max point blank refuses to believe anyone could break into his prison.
Whilst speaking to the guy who has come there because of that time last week someone broke into his prison.
It turns out someone has broken into his prison, as Nemesis Prime blasts in through a wall and starts using his death hands on the guards who weren’t killed in the Combaticon attack. Which leads Prime to decide he’s going to deal with his predecessor himself.
After that plot advancement, and separated from it by an odd out of context panel of Jhiaxus on Gorlam Prime ranting, it’s back to the irrelevant sideshow that the comic is titled after.
Turns out Hot Rod just hid the Magnificence on Ki-Al, the same planet he found it, something that even Dealer (or as he thinks about the name Banzaitron gave him, Doubledealer) can’t quite believe and he has to backtrack on his incredulity about so as not to look suspicious.
Not shown: The revolving door on the prison.
As they chug along to the Omega Bunker, Doubledealer thinks about the old team and how he totally had not been influenced by the Power of Friendship with them, whilst not realising what Hot Rod asking some clearly deeply suspicious questions about how the whole mission went tits up means, before Doubledealer “Persuades” him not to over think it. Again, clearly under the impression he’s a more clever manipulator that he really is.
This extended recap probably was needed to bring readers up to speed on a plot that wasn’t even hinted at in the first two issues of this series before the last page of the second, but it’s also very obvious and trite and it’s very hard to care about Dealer’s pangs and denial about those pangs as he follows his “friend” with gun drawn.
The very hasty couple of pages that follow make it very clear who this issue should have been the Spotlight of: Jetfire. As the Technobots (aboard the ship Nightbird) race to get to Cloudburst safely and with the Pretender shells they’re transporting properly grown as Jetfire coaches them from where he is.
As well as being the only moment in the entire series it takes notable time for characters to get from place to place, as a lightbulb goes on over Jetfire’s head as he remembers Thunderwing was remote controlled by Bludgeon last time they fought him and the same set-up is probably being used by Jhiaxus. Which is when you realise this is the character driving and pushing the part of the plot. But instead of being the focus, he’s relegated to coming up with his big idea in just one panel.
This extended recap probably was needed to bring readers up to speed on a plot that wasn’t even hinted at in the first two issues of this series before the last page of the second, but it’s also very obvious and trite and it’s very hard to care about Dealer’s pangs and denial about those pangs as he follows his “friend” with gun drawn.
The very hasty couple of pages that follow make it very clear who this issue should have been the Spotlight of: Jetfire. As the Technobots (aboard the ship Nightbird) race to get to Cloudburst safely and with the Pretender shells they’re transporting properly grown as Jetfire coaches them from where he is.
As well as being the only moment in the entire series it takes notable time for characters to get from place to place, as a lightbulb goes on over Jetfire’s head as he remembers Thunderwing was remote controlled by Bludgeon last time they fought him and the same set-up is probably being used by Jhiaxus. Which is when you realise this is the character driving and pushing the part of the plot. But instead of being the focus, he’s relegated to coming up with his big idea in just one panel.
Wait till getaway finds his buttons.
Optimus does at lease get a couple of pages to face off with Nemesis Prime. Who is very keen on his brand, firmly telling Prime to call him by his new name, his previous identity being just an unshaped embryo compared to his real self, that he has now become.
And yes, it is mildly amusing that, after the Arcee debacle, Furman accidentally has a character talking like they’ve transitioned in a casual way. You might even say that when he’s telling Optimus not to call him Nova, he’s asking not to be Dead Universe named.
He also introduces Optimus to The Darkness, which turns out not to believe in a thing called love, but is the mysterious thing in his chest, though this time it is entirely black rather than a shinning light like last issue.
As has been noted before, the original plan was that Nemesis would have the Matrix (it never having made it to Optimus), and it would have become corrupted whilst in the Dead Universe. But, the use the Matrix is going to be put to in All Hail Megatron meant a substitution was needed. Though I don’t think the Darkness will ever actually be explained, even in later stories to use it, we do at least get told it’s even better than the Matrix as far as Nemesis is concerned.
And yes, it is mildly amusing that, after the Arcee debacle, Furman accidentally has a character talking like they’ve transitioned in a casual way. You might even say that when he’s telling Optimus not to call him Nova, he’s asking not to be Dead Universe named.
He also introduces Optimus to The Darkness, which turns out not to believe in a thing called love, but is the mysterious thing in his chest, though this time it is entirely black rather than a shinning light like last issue.
As has been noted before, the original plan was that Nemesis would have the Matrix (it never having made it to Optimus), and it would have become corrupted whilst in the Dead Universe. But, the use the Matrix is going to be put to in All Hail Megatron meant a substitution was needed. Though I don’t think the Darkness will ever actually be explained, even in later stories to use it, we do at least get told it’s even better than the Matrix as far as Nemesis is concerned.
The one person doing any work this issue.
Though he does basically just use it for the same purpose Thunderwing used the evil Matrix in the Marvel series, to shoot lightening at Optimus Prime.
Back at the Doubledealer story, that that there is not enough to this plot to meet the page count is best shown by the fact the two pals have to climb a mountain to get to the Magnificence. With the “Ionic Energy” in the clouds being the reason “They” can’t fly. Though as Doubledealer is the only one with a flying mode, presumably we’ve been denied the glorious sight of a plucked turkey hauling Hot Rod up to the top.
But before you can ask “Why is Hot Rod climbing a mountain?”, he uses said climb to drop even more heavy hints that he knows exactly what happened years ago as he asks about such curious questions such as how Dealer only got taken prisoner whilst the entire rest of the team was killed.
Back at the Doubledealer story, that that there is not enough to this plot to meet the page count is best shown by the fact the two pals have to climb a mountain to get to the Magnificence. With the “Ionic Energy” in the clouds being the reason “They” can’t fly. Though as Doubledealer is the only one with a flying mode, presumably we’ve been denied the glorious sight of a plucked turkey hauling Hot Rod up to the top.
But before you can ask “Why is Hot Rod climbing a mountain?”, he uses said climb to drop even more heavy hints that he knows exactly what happened years ago as he asks about such curious questions such as how Dealer only got taken prisoner whilst the entire rest of the team was killed.
The real irony is Nick Roche did not introduce the Darkness.
At the top, Hot Rod reaches the Magnificence, and, in one of the stupidest things he could have possibly done, asks it if Dealer betrayed them... as he’s facing away from Dealer, who has a big missile on his shoulder and a gun in his hand. Leaving him just asking to be shot in the back. Which does feel like something James Roberts Hot Rod might do, but here under Furman he doesn’t have that insane ego.
Luckily, Doubledealer is having a moment of not being sure if he really was affected by Hot Rod and the others’ friendship, giving Hot Rod chance to turn and fire first as soon as the yes answer is given. Which sends the double agent falling to his death.
Which is awkward considering the Decepticon Secret Service and the Autobots are working together at this point.
How you can tell this has been a nothing plot is the actual lack of consequence finding out that he has been betrayed by his best friend will have on Hot Rod’s future. The Magnificence will return (in a way that makes a lot of what has happened here retrospectively very funny), even the Omega Guardians will return. But Doubledealer is double denied and will never be mentioned again.
Even in situations where, for example, Hot Rod is betrayed again. Or when he has cause to doubt himself and his leadership skills. Nor will any of the pre-war flashback stories involving Hot Rod feature him and Dealer. It’s a relationship that this issue and the Hot Rod Spotlight desperately attempted to portray as key to the character, which will wind up entirely disposable.
Luckily, Doubledealer is having a moment of not being sure if he really was affected by Hot Rod and the others’ friendship, giving Hot Rod chance to turn and fire first as soon as the yes answer is given. Which sends the double agent falling to his death.
Which is awkward considering the Decepticon Secret Service and the Autobots are working together at this point.
How you can tell this has been a nothing plot is the actual lack of consequence finding out that he has been betrayed by his best friend will have on Hot Rod’s future. The Magnificence will return (in a way that makes a lot of what has happened here retrospectively very funny), even the Omega Guardians will return. But Doubledealer is double denied and will never be mentioned again.
Even in situations where, for example, Hot Rod is betrayed again. Or when he has cause to doubt himself and his leadership skills. Nor will any of the pre-war flashback stories involving Hot Rod feature him and Dealer. It’s a relationship that this issue and the Hot Rod Spotlight desperately attempted to portray as key to the character, which will wind up entirely disposable.
You'd think Hot Rod would learn from this. He won't.
Hot Rod then uses the Magnificence to get the lowdown on the actual plan. Which is where Furman’s idea it would be unreliable unless you phrased your questions exactly the right way might have originally been intended to come into play, but there’s no time for that here, so it’s just spitting facts.
Which means Hot Rod is able to call Ultra Magnus (and how strange in retrospect to have him as a subordinate to Magnus) and explain there are three Nega Cores at three locations (the others on Rotan and Bhul, which Magnus remembers from Spotlight: Arcee), three guardians (Monstructor and Sixshot for the other two) and a use the energon from Earth plot to destroy everything.
All of which are things that a better script could have just had Jetfire do some science to work out based on the info he was getting from the Wreckers, Arcee and the observation team lead by Cloudburst. This whole comic absolutely has been focused on the wrong guys.
Something emphasised by the end of the issue showing that Jetfire has come up with a control cradle of his own to override the one Jhiaxus must be using. Something Jhiaxus will not put up with (it’s not really clear how he knows this is coming), so he sends his just in case reserve guardian out... Bludgeon!
Which means Hot Rod is able to call Ultra Magnus (and how strange in retrospect to have him as a subordinate to Magnus) and explain there are three Nega Cores at three locations (the others on Rotan and Bhul, which Magnus remembers from Spotlight: Arcee), three guardians (Monstructor and Sixshot for the other two) and a use the energon from Earth plot to destroy everything.
All of which are things that a better script could have just had Jetfire do some science to work out based on the info he was getting from the Wreckers, Arcee and the observation team lead by Cloudburst. This whole comic absolutely has been focused on the wrong guys.
Something emphasised by the end of the issue showing that Jetfire has come up with a control cradle of his own to override the one Jhiaxus must be using. Something Jhiaxus will not put up with (it’s not really clear how he knows this is coming), so he sends his just in case reserve guardian out... Bludgeon!
And the climb, is where no man has gone before.
Dan Khanna does a pretty solid job on art, especially considering this issue was apparently something of a rush as colourist Liam Shalloo is on record as saying getting his part done on time took a ball breaking effort.
But, it’s polishing a turd. The titular plot fails for the reasons I’ve already discussed and the actual plot of this miniseries gets shoved around it to the point that the only advancement on it is some new guys digging a hole; Optimus walking down a corridor and getting zapped, and Jetfire putting on a hat. In a story that is so dense and needs to do so much, this is a pissing about from which it would be pretty much impossible to recover from and definitely puts the odds against the last issue hitting any sort of resolution. A disappointing mess.
With this miniseries floundering, next week it’s time to check in on how its rival was doing as I go in for a second bite out of the big apple.
SPOTLIGHT: HARDHEAD
2008
COMMENT
KO-FI
But, it’s polishing a turd. The titular plot fails for the reasons I’ve already discussed and the actual plot of this miniseries gets shoved around it to the point that the only advancement on it is some new guys digging a hole; Optimus walking down a corridor and getting zapped, and Jetfire putting on a hat. In a story that is so dense and needs to do so much, this is a pissing about from which it would be pretty much impossible to recover from and definitely puts the odds against the last issue hitting any sort of resolution. A disappointing mess.
With this miniseries floundering, next week it’s time to check in on how its rival was doing as I go in for a second bite out of the big apple.
SPOTLIGHT: HARDHEAD
2008
COMMENT
KO-FI
