Transformers Devastation #1
Writer: Simon Furman
Artist: EJ Su
(covers by EJ Su and Nick Roche)
Synopsis: Nightbeat discovers that the computer with the surveillance data about the abandoned Decepticon base in Nebraska has a homing device in it, thus explaining how the Machination have been able to track them to-date. He suggests to Optimus Prime that they move Ark-19 immediately. Elsewhere, Hot Rod and Wheeljack home in on Ironhide's signal and plan to go rescue him before he's destroyed in a scrapyard. Megatron tells Sixshot to get out there and destroy the Autobots--he's sick of their interference. Nearby, the other Decepticons fear Megatron's gone mad and look to reactivating Starscream so he can dare to reason with their Leader. In Brasnya, the Skywatch put Ravage out (who's under their control) and tell him to find the other TFs.... Ravage subsequently howls like a dog (even though he's supposed to be a Jaguar). The humans whine how no one's listening to them while Prime orders Hound, Sideswipe, etc to return to Earth ASAP. Ratbat watches from a higher position as Ark-19 lifts off and informs Megatron. Megatron launches Sixshot after the Autobots, who attacks them mid-flight and their ship begins to crash--right in the middle of suburbia!
Comments: A great cliffhanger ending! The rest of the issue was decent too. I have to say I'm getting a little tired of all the background plotting, though. We have two groups of covert humans running around; the missing Sunstreaker and Hunter; Autobots vs. Decepticons and who knows how many other plot threads waiting to come into play. I want to see something conclusive come of the story called Devastation, like Earth gets destroyed or the Machination are revealed--or something already! Enough plotting, it's time for some pay-off! Other things of note: Ravage howls like a dog, for some reason (did we forget he's a cat?) And where exactly did Ratbat come from? He's never been mentioned before now. Otherwise, a decent issue...
Mildly Recommended.
***
Transformers Beast Wars
The Ascending #1
Writer: Simon Furman
Artist: Don Figueroa
(both covers by Don Figueroa)
Synopsis: Magmatron is temporally displaced after the events of the first mini-series. He can go everywhere in time but not affect anything at all. He witnesses the end of all Transformers then hops back to the Beast Wars once again and watches events. Ravage's Predacons assault Razorbeast's Maximals... Ravage uses the battle as a distraction to try and retrieve the Chronal Phase Facilitators (that Magmatron had tried to use to take Megatron back in the last series) because the main Beast Wars are over and Optimus Primal and the others are returning to the future and Cybertron. Razorbeast defeats him and Magmatron goes further back, to when they originally tried contacting the Maximals on Cybertron for help. The signal never reached Lioconvoy but somehow Magmatron can enhance the signal so it does reach Cybertron this time around. Lioconvoy and the others plan to launch a rescue party, ASAP. Somewhere else, a tyrant(Rampage?) plans to ascend to Godhood (or something nefarious)--is Magmatron's plotting too little, too late?
Comments: Another chapter of the IDW Beast Wars story... hmm. I found the first series to be a bit disappointing so I approached this issue skeptically. It seems like Furman is setting up some kind of new, cosmic apocalypse storyline--one possibly involving Shockoract/Unicron again. Yawn, how exciting... (I'm just tired of Unicron stories in general. I'd like to see him take a long rest in the TF mythos). It's too early to tell whether or not this story will be good or tank. With four issues, I'm not overly hopeful we'll see a resolution soon but perhaps he'll surprise us.
Mildly recommended.
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