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Issue 18: Shadow War. 7th October 2010.
The night is young and there’s a whole lot more mayhem to be had.
The cover of our final monthly (for now) issue is an incredibly generic angry Optimus Prime that could have been slapped on the front of any issue. Though it does get the character of Bay Prime more than the comic itself does, portraying him as a guy who will see a problem and then stab a problem and then think about it.
The big thing though, is that the aforementioned fact that this is the last monthly issue, as it seems sales have reached the point some severe cutbacks are needed. Now this is technically the start of a three part story. And, for reasons I’ll talk about next time, we can be reasonably sure that this was supposed to run up till the December issue, with the Christmas story then following directly on from it. Though, as Christmas is immovable, it will now slightly confusingly happen in the middle instead.
Which, as we’re only skipping one month before the season to be jolly, suggests either we’ve had one more Robin Etherington strip than was originally intended (possibly all of them were last second budget cutting filler), or the original plan was just to have two issues before we got to the return of Dead End and a third was added when it became the wrap up to the whole Revenge of the Fallen volume. Which was the case (or even if there was another reason entirely for it) will likely remain a mystery for the foreseeable future.
The night is young and there’s a whole lot more mayhem to be had.
The cover of our final monthly (for now) issue is an incredibly generic angry Optimus Prime that could have been slapped on the front of any issue. Though it does get the character of Bay Prime more than the comic itself does, portraying him as a guy who will see a problem and then stab a problem and then think about it.
The big thing though, is that the aforementioned fact that this is the last monthly issue, as it seems sales have reached the point some severe cutbacks are needed. Now this is technically the start of a three part story. And, for reasons I’ll talk about next time, we can be reasonably sure that this was supposed to run up till the December issue, with the Christmas story then following directly on from it. Though, as Christmas is immovable, it will now slightly confusingly happen in the middle instead.
Which, as we’re only skipping one month before the season to be jolly, suggests either we’ve had one more Robin Etherington strip than was originally intended (possibly all of them were last second budget cutting filler), or the original plan was just to have two issues before we got to the return of Dead End and a third was added when it became the wrap up to the whole Revenge of the Fallen volume. Which was the case (or even if there was another reason entirely for it) will likely remain a mystery for the foreseeable future.
Last Christmas (2019, Director Paul Feig)
All of which is more interesting than the actual comic, which feels more like filler than the Blazemaster issue did.
In Salt Lake City (which is pointed out to only be a short drive across the State Line from Las Vegas, making it the third issue of this volume to be based around that area and Furman must be trying hard to put a holiday on expenses) a group of Decepticons it’s going to be difficult to remember after you close the comic (Trenchmouth, Brimstone and Crankstart) are causing chaos to discredit the Autobots and having a grand old time.
Watching all this and very carefully doing nothing is the Wham quoting Bumblebee and a team of equally forgettable Autobots (Slapdash—as the comic has his name, the toy is two words—and Hubcap). Because, as we learn in flashback, Optimus has decided to deal with the escaped Decepticons in a way so secret even NEST don’t know about it to keep the humans safe, whereby they’ll just watch and observe until the target is alone and can be taken out cleanly.
In Salt Lake City (which is pointed out to only be a short drive across the State Line from Las Vegas, making it the third issue of this volume to be based around that area and Furman must be trying hard to put a holiday on expenses) a group of Decepticons it’s going to be difficult to remember after you close the comic (Trenchmouth, Brimstone and Crankstart) are causing chaos to discredit the Autobots and having a grand old time.
Watching all this and very carefully doing nothing is the Wham quoting Bumblebee and a team of equally forgettable Autobots (Slapdash—as the comic has his name, the toy is two words—and Hubcap). Because, as we learn in flashback, Optimus has decided to deal with the escaped Decepticons in a way so secret even NEST don’t know about it to keep the humans safe, whereby they’ll just watch and observe until the target is alone and can be taken out cleanly.
Oh hey... it's that guy.
Which is exactly the sort of thing people who somehow can’t follow the intricate plotting of a Michael Bay film accuse Dark of the Moon of. Except there holding back until the right time makes perfect sense when you’ve only a handful of Autobots to take on an occupying army of Decepticons. Here these three goons cause so much destruction (and somehow no deaths) when Bumblebee alone could take them out in about three minutes it seems rather ridiculous.
Especially as, once the cons are on the open road, they are indeed dealt with super easily, with Bumblebee even flat out killing Crankstart. Which is at least one pleasing moment as it actually feels vaguely like the films. And this may have been an art choice by Davis-Hunt as the dialogue desperately tries to convince you all three have been "Bagged".
Especially as, once the cons are on the open road, they are indeed dealt with super easily, with Bumblebee even flat out killing Crankstart. Which is at least one pleasing moment as it actually feels vaguely like the films. And this may have been an art choice by Davis-Hunt as the dialogue desperately tries to convince you all three have been "Bagged".
Prime's head is well up his own arse here.
We end on the other two (or three if that was Furman's intent, they're in a big old fishing net so it's hard to be sure) being taken to the secret Autobot base (no doubt to escape in a few months like every single other captive we’ve seen), with Prime brooding darkly about how they’re becoming as bad as the enemy by using...deception.
That’s totally Furman just writing Marvel Prime rather than the give no fucks straight down the line Bay version.
The final half page sees Bludgeon pop up to say to the reader he’s declaring war, which is the one and only token effort to make it look like this strip matters. But for a story that should see the series start to kick into high gear for the grand finale, it’s deeply underwhelming.
The editorial has some big news to break to readers... That the competitions is issue 16 had some sort of error in them and will be rerun next issue. I must admit I failed to notice whatever mistake was in there.
That’s totally Furman just writing Marvel Prime rather than the give no fucks straight down the line Bay version.
The final half page sees Bludgeon pop up to say to the reader he’s declaring war, which is the one and only token effort to make it look like this strip matters. But for a story that should see the series start to kick into high gear for the grand finale, it’s deeply underwhelming.
The editorial has some big news to break to readers... That the competitions is issue 16 had some sort of error in them and will be rerun next issue. I must admit I failed to notice whatever mistake was in there.
I think I've worked with Megatron.
Outside of the next issue page there’s no advance warning for the extension of gaps between issues, possibly because it was a last second decision. I suspect it meant a lot of readers had no idea about it going twice a month and just thought the book was done and didn’t come back.
The Secret World of NEST wordsearch is notable for having Skids and Mudflap art around it. Remember them? This stands a good chance of being their last appearance anywhere.
We get four pages all about Megatron, starting with his Mind Maulers. Recognise the robots seen through night vision, find the Wheelies hidden on the page, unscramble the mixed up pictures and sort out the anagrams of his favourite words (such as “Rending”).
The Megatron Talks is a full page interview, all in block capitals and with each answer ending with “MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!”. It’s also where we learn that “Sometimes I make Starscream kneel at my feet like the circuit-less failure he is until he begs for mercy!!!”
As we all suspected really.
Megatron Tank Mode is an oddly late update on his new alternate mode that seems to have been written by someone completely unfamiliar with Transformers as it claims “It’s not often robots come back from the dead”. It also does its best to try and claim the fact Megatron’s head is visible in tank mode is a totally deliberate and clever design choice.
Sure Karen.
The Secret World of NEST wordsearch is notable for having Skids and Mudflap art around it. Remember them? This stands a good chance of being their last appearance anywhere.
We get four pages all about Megatron, starting with his Mind Maulers. Recognise the robots seen through night vision, find the Wheelies hidden on the page, unscramble the mixed up pictures and sort out the anagrams of his favourite words (such as “Rending”).
The Megatron Talks is a full page interview, all in block capitals and with each answer ending with “MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!”. It’s also where we learn that “Sometimes I make Starscream kneel at my feet like the circuit-less failure he is until he begs for mercy!!!”
As we all suspected really.
Megatron Tank Mode is an oddly late update on his new alternate mode that seems to have been written by someone completely unfamiliar with Transformers as it claims “It’s not often robots come back from the dead”. It also does its best to try and claim the fact Megatron’s head is visible in tank mode is a totally deliberate and clever design choice.
Sure Karen.
The kids are alright.
Hopefully accurate competitions this month are for the companion to Joseph Delaney’s Spooks books; the Changeling by Steve Feasey series and Hero Factory toys.
I’m glad editorial clarified next issue is a rerun as we do seem to be getting a lot of the same prizes over and over.
Prime-ary Colours is the pleasingly named colour the cover page this month.
Bumblebee’s Guide to the Solar System completely fails to make any connection between Saturn and Transformers. But, let’s face it, it’s next month we’re all waiting for.
Race for Cybertron is another snakes and ladders style board game that for some reason the editor liked enough to splash across a good chunk of the cover.
Law and Disorder oddly starts with Ironhide being amazed it’s October and asking if readers missed them. Was the move to bi-monthly intended to happen sooner?
There’s only actually one letter this month, from Peter Stifell (13, Ashford) and is full of questions. The most interesting response to which is Ironhide evoking memories of the alternate timeline from the first volume without directly mentioning it when explaining why they didn’t use an Allspark shard to bring Jazz back to life.
The rest of the section is all about reader art, with the likes of Animated Starscream (Gabriel Karpal, 10, South Croydon) rubbing shoulders with Bay Soundwave (Jenifer Tansley, Woking). Showing there was love for both equally in the hearts of kids at the time.
The issue ends with yet more Megatron focused content as he challenges you to collect all he Decepticon symbols in the Mega Maze! Ironically for an issue with a Prime cover, he must have an excellent agent.
Next week... Christmas on Uranus.
ISSUE 17
2010
COMMENT
KO-FI
I’m glad editorial clarified next issue is a rerun as we do seem to be getting a lot of the same prizes over and over.
Prime-ary Colours is the pleasingly named colour the cover page this month.
Bumblebee’s Guide to the Solar System completely fails to make any connection between Saturn and Transformers. But, let’s face it, it’s next month we’re all waiting for.
Race for Cybertron is another snakes and ladders style board game that for some reason the editor liked enough to splash across a good chunk of the cover.
Law and Disorder oddly starts with Ironhide being amazed it’s October and asking if readers missed them. Was the move to bi-monthly intended to happen sooner?
There’s only actually one letter this month, from Peter Stifell (13, Ashford) and is full of questions. The most interesting response to which is Ironhide evoking memories of the alternate timeline from the first volume without directly mentioning it when explaining why they didn’t use an Allspark shard to bring Jazz back to life.
The rest of the section is all about reader art, with the likes of Animated Starscream (Gabriel Karpal, 10, South Croydon) rubbing shoulders with Bay Soundwave (Jenifer Tansley, Woking). Showing there was love for both equally in the hearts of kids at the time.
The issue ends with yet more Megatron focused content as he challenges you to collect all he Decepticon symbols in the Mega Maze! Ironically for an issue with a Prime cover, he must have an excellent agent.
Next week... Christmas on Uranus.
ISSUE 17
2010
COMMENT
KO-FI
