Comic Review...

Transformers Spotlight
Hardhead/Revelation, part two

Writer: Simon Furman
Artist: Nick Roche

(covers by Nick Roche and EJ Su)

Synopsis: Nightbeat and Hardhead go back to Gorlam Prime to try and find out just what happened to Nightbeat when he was there (see Spotlight: Nightbeat). They find the population frozen in their tracks and undergoing some kind of metamorphosis from organic to techno-organic. They decide to go to the excavation site where Nightbeat last remembered being. Before they get too far, they’re beseiged by an army of Micromasters, who attack Hardhead. He and Nightbeat escape their attackers for the moment. Elsewhere, the Wreckers attack Thunderwing futilely. Optimus Prime and Prowl watch from screens at the Garrus-9 penitentiary and discuss their options. Jetfire reports in and tells them Omega Supreme has identified Galvatron and Cyclonus from the video footage the Autobots have took. Both were aboard the first Ark with Nova Prime. Prime decides they’ll have to send someone to the Benzuli Expanse (where the first Ark had gone to explore) and investigate. Nemesis Prime and Jhiaxus discuss their plans and Jhiaxus tells them Thunderwing has been discovered and Nightbeat has returned to the Gorlam Prime. Nemesis tells him Thunderwing is safe, for now, but that Nightbeat could threaten their plans. He tells Jhiaxus to see to that personally. Hardhead and Nightbeat get to their destination just in time for the Micromasters to find them and attack. The two get down the shaft safely when Nightbeat is possessed (presumably by Jhiaxus). He attacks Hardhead but the other escapes for a few minutes, ending up finally in the glowing pool/portal to the Dead Universe. He and Nightbeat have a showdown and the Micromasters attack Hardhead. He appears to sink into the pool, his fate uncertain. Jhiaxus tells N emesis Prime that Nightbeat is dead and Nemesis resigns himself to the fact he will have to take direct action against Optimus Prime himself. At the Benzuli Expanse, four of the Autobots report back that there is just a void now–the planets and so on nearby the Expanse are now gone. Jetfire suggest to Prime that these four Autobots undergo the Pretender process so they can go into the Expanse safely (how does he know that will protect them, though?)

Comments: Another spotlight where the spotlighted character gets shafted by the already running storyline. Unlike previous stories, this part works fairly well and actually moves the story along! Finally! It looks like things are about to hit the fan and I, for one, can’t wait. The art is by Roche this time around and looks pretty good. One thing I do wonder about is why they bothered redesigning Hardhead with an Earth mode when he was only there for five minutes. I much prefer his original mode (although the same argument could be made for any of these redesigns, I guess). I also wonder if Nightbeat is really dead or not since he’s clearly one of Furman favorites.

Recommended.

Comic Review...

Transformers: All Hail Megatron #1

Writer: Shane McCarthy
Artist: Guido Guidi

(covers by Trevor Hutchinson and Klaus Scherwinski)

Synopsis: A quick one page summary of the Civil War for Cybertron, then we get to "one year later." The Constructicons come to New York and start blasting things... they're quickly joined by the Seekers, Megatron and the other Decepticons. An issue of blasting stuff and pointless heroics later, sees Megatron laughing triumphantly. Meanwhile on Cybertron, Prowl brings in a report of some kind.... he shows it to Jazz, who throws it away in disgust and goes to see Optimus Prime, who is severely damaged. His chest ripped open and he is apparently being kept alive by some of Ratchet's machines.

Comments: I have several problems with this issue. Obviously, it's an issue length battle scene which is something that is a waste of time 90% of the time--and more so when it's pathetic humans versus mighty Decepticons. The outcome is inevitable. Prime on his death bed? How original! No one's ever tried that one before... On a more minor note, there is also some continuity glitches here--all three of the Seekers are F-15 jets. Which is what they traditionally are. Except this is supposed to be the mainstream IDW-verse, isn't it? Why
would they have downgraded from F-22 forms? That makes no sense! Also, Megatron has lost his IDW form for something resembling his Masterpiece toy form... Add to that, the inclusion of Soundwave, with no attempt to explain how he joined back up with the other Decepticons (I suppose they might explain it in the future but right now it makes no sense). Apparently, this series was originally to have been an "Evolutions" style story but the powers that be at IDW liked it so much that they made it the mainstream story instead--and obviously nobody thought to bother editing it help match it up to Furman's already established stories (hence the incongruencies). As with anything, the devil is in the details--and that really ruined this issue for me... maybe it'll get better with time?

Pass.

TF Comic Review...

Transformers Spotlight
Wheelie

Writers: Simon Furman (story/script) and Klaus Scherwinski (story)
Artist: Klaus Scherwinski

Synopsis: Wheelie thinks back to the Great War and how he was sent on a scouting missions years before. He crashed on a planet and has been trying to survive the brutal terrain ever since. One day, he sees what looks like another ship crashing through the atmosphere. He travels after it, dragging his energon convertor with him (the gizmo giving him the ability to continue functioning by synthesizing fuel for him). After a while, he finds a Decepticon ship with Reflector torturing an alien. He frees the alien, allowing it to escape and Reflector to give chase while he boards the ship. But he quickly finds it's ruined beyond repair (also one of the Reflectors is on-board and dead). Wheelie decides to go help the alien out...he finds it nearby and communicates with it. However, it's translator only understands language in rhyme so he adapts his speech to that pattern. They have another ship and the duo work to get it functioning--Wheelie even uses his energon convertor to power it. Just as they get it ready to launch, the two Reflector find them and hold the alien hostage. Wheelie has to decide between launching without his new friend or letting the Decepticons win. He lets the Decepticons take the ship instead... however, he took the safety cap off the energon convertor before he left the ship and it explodes in the air, taking the Decepticons with it. The duo construct a crude shelter and wait things out. Epilogue... some debris in the ancient city/ship has a Quintesson glyph on it.

Comments: Simon Furman said it couldn't be done. He was wrong. Somebody actually did a good TF story based around Wheelie. Apparently this was Klaus Scherwinski's baby all along (I actually posted on Furman's blog before this was announced and suggested he try a Wheelie story too. Just as a lark mostly--I knew it could be done). Anyway, this story was a pretty good spotlight tale and stayed well within the parameters of what a spotlight story is supposed to be (unlike the Cyclonus one). The art is very good overall, although I felt like Klaus made Wheelie look a little too wussy in several panels. I would've like a couple more lines on his face to reduce that appearance (minor nitpick, I know). A good one-shot all in all (I do hope they leave the Quintessons out of the IDW-verse otherwise).

Recommended.

***

Transformers Spotlight
Cyclonus/
Revelation, part one

Writer: Simon Furman
Artist: EJ Su

(covers by EJ Su and Nick Roche)

Summary: Cyclonus flies over Cybertron's charred surface and reminisces about it's condition. He determines someone must pay... Elsewhere, Hound and his unit depart Cybertron for Garrus-9. Sideswipe whines about how they're not going to go look for Sunstreaker on Earth, etc. Hound goes to chastize him when they're abruptly attacked. It turns out it's Cyclonus, who wants to make someone pay for Cybetron's state... They warn him off then blow him up when he ignores them. That doesn't last long, though and he attacks again. They send out a distress signal and Ultra Magnus responds. On Garrus-9, Prime, Prowl and others wonder what happened and how the Monster Pretenders could've been released (I think this ties into the Arcee spotlight that I missed). Meanwhile, Nightbeat wonders at a mission file he recorded to a world he has no memory of being at. He contacts Hardhead and asks for help... Ultra Magnus saves Hound's crew and decides to pursue Cyclonus. Hound and crew decide to back him up (at Sideswipe's urging). Elsewhere, Arcee tortures some generic Decepticon and demands he tell her Banzaitron's plans! He relents... Cylconus flies to a moon and lands. He activates the Nega-core and plans to reactivate the Guardian, but hesitates on that point. The Autobots have tracked him there and attack him. They best him but he manages to switch on the Guardian, who turns out to be Thunderwing! Cyclonus escapes and Ultra Magnus sends a tracking device off after him. Thunderwing guards the cavern that Cyclonus had used the Nega-Core in and does not leave it...
Optimus Prime gathers his forces in the wake of this while Nemesis Prime and his forces begin the transition.

Comments: Not much of a spotlight really. Mostly, we get that Cyclonus is a bit unstable and, um, he's fine with that once he realizes it. Okay... Otherwise, the Revelation storyline is front and center here. I hope this storyline ties everything off--I've felt for some time that there's too much going on at 0nce. Like Furman wanted to throw everything and the kitchen sink in too. I hope this conclusively deals with the whole dead universe/Thunderwing/Sixshot/Arcee/Nightbeat/Galvatron/etc. stuff and clears the decks for new stuff to happen. The art was good as usual--although I ended up with the Roche cover (I wanted the Su one but when there's no other option available...take what you can get, I guess). A decent story overall but like I said, I hope it ties some stuff up finally.

Recommended.

Minor site update and other news...

I finally got around to adding BOP #35's story to my website yesterday night.

It's here:

www.karmicsalt.com/bop35.htm

The final issue's story. As with any of the stories, feedback is both welcome and appreciated.


- Otherwise, I hope to get around to doing up that BOP CD-ROM one of these days... when it's finally completed, it will have all of the issues of BOP on it in pdf format (including the covers, profiles, letter columns, intro columns, etc).

- I'm also working on getting more of my fanfic (Legends) that appeared in the TM online magazine finished up. Next up: part three with Grimlock. Two more parts are slated to follow afterward before it's complete.

- Finally, the TF comic script is finished (in rough, anyway) and I will eventually get around to drawing that up. But it will be some time before it's ready... likely toward the end of the year.

Thunder

B.O.T.S. foto's

Pictures of the Bots convention are somewhere in the middle.
click on foto's and then scroll down is my advice.

HERE's ME !!!



and a few more from TFW2005


Gr johan

B.O.T.S. Convention Holland

I was there also Sunday afternoon with Olaf, Daniel and my girlfriend.
We left from Zwolle and arrived at around 1 o'clock I think. Immediatly after entering the building I registered for the "Jumpstarter Challenge", and after that we tried to fill out this years quiz. After all, some of us remembered the difficult questions from a few years back but during the task we noticed that it got somewhat easier.

Time for the first runaround ! After a quick look at the TFAnimated toys that were put in glass housing for viewing only we walked on and found stuff where I was looking for, Marvel UK G1 comics, first I found No 59 and a little later it was joined by No 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 243 ! :D
By now I was thinking....Ready ! Finished !....but ofcourse I kept looking and searching.

Further on my list was Mega Octane vfrom the RID line, but didn't come across the toy and I wanted to buy some Animated stuff !!(after paying offcourse....)
Then my girlfriend had a queastion:" don't they have that rabiit ? what's his name again ?" "Euh hmmm Stampy right ?" and sure enough a little later we found that one, her first Transformer !

After a short break involving fries and kroket(dutch snack) the time came to participate in the Jumpstarter challenge, with a 'whopping' 5 people involved, anyway I came in second with my very vintage TopSpin !! I was very pleased with my TFMovie Robot Replica Bumblebee and will defend my second place next year.

After another round I bought an Encore Jazz/Meister and after a few more rounds of walking and doubt an Encore Starscream joined him ! My girlfriend bought an Animated Bumblebee because she thought it was cute !

Conclusion: a great improvement comparing to next year !
More space, which made the temperature bearable !
Also nice was the special place for smaller kids, just say the "next generation" of fans showing in that corner the ditch version of TFArmada !
More dealers ! Too bad the Drawing and Kitbash competions were cancelled but I had a really good time and it was nice to see the faces behind the names/websites, which makes it even more fun !

see you next year !

Johan

Additional photo and video will follow !
official Dutch convention site
...and yes, then I will wear my Deaths Head II T-Shirt again.....

Well, I may not know when I'll post some new stuff

It's been a bit crazy lately. I finally decided that if I did not try to go back to college now I'd never do so. So now besides the crazy job that seems to have no end of work in sight...I'm also now a full time student through University of Phoenix Online, going for my Bachelor's in CIS/Visual Media. These classes are real fast, one per 5 weeks. It's going to be fun trying to squeeze everything out in the few free moments. I really did intend to try to get another comic issue done, really.

BTW, Tony B. sent me another two boxes of medias from the Archive. So, perhaps if I get some free time we might actually get an expanded version of the Archive CD out sometime...I had some complaints on the last one, some wanted .pdf versions rather than the .gif and .jpg files I used. The thing is some of these are suffering from toner wear/degradation and I was sometimes doing some brushups in painting programs. What do you think?

I've actually come to sort of like the new TF Animated. I like the little G1 easter eggs they've been dropping and enjoyed seeing Spike, Carly and Daniel even if they are not main characters. I get a kick out of some of the jokes and mild physical humor. I think they actually made Prowl cool and I liked Jazz's portrail. I was not crazy about the Ultra Magnus -Thor routine. Sentinel Prime's a punk. Elita One becoming Blackarachnia was a bit of a twist and I have to wonder how that will play out. Sadly the shows have not made me want to pick up this toy line, I think the Universe (Classics 2.0) will hold more for my money interest wise.

Well, if I can squeeze it out I'll try to post something soon. Take care all.

Warlog Volume 2 issue 4 Cover Online

Hi !
It has taken me more time than I had in mind but I finally have new material online.

I was inspired by the Marvel Transformers US comic 73 since this chapter also has humans in it. You may consider this a Homage.

In 2008 I will try to expand my "skills" , think of drawing human anatomy and new way of coloring. well I try!

The rest of the comic will follow shortly !

see cover here

Greets Johan

btw, nice articles, Tony ! always a joy to read !

Comic Reviews...

Transformers Spotlight
Grimlock

Writer: Simon Furman
Artist: Marcelo Matere

(cover by Marcelo Matere)

Synopsis: Skywatch switches on Grimlock, despite the warnings by one of it's scientists to his boss that the process just isn't ready... Predictably, Grimlock goes haywire and escapes into the world... we learn that it's due to a Cybertronian virus The Machination put into play to ensure Skywatch would lose control. Grimlock wanders around wondering where he is and what's going on. Scorponok beams in then and offers him an alliance. Grimlock refuses and the two fight. Scorpy gets the upper hand and Grimlock uses his last trick--trying to beam up to his old ship. It succeeds--the ship still exists somewhere on the surface and he arrives safe and sound. Meanwhile, Scorponok tells his men to ready the other Dinobots--they will be used as instruments to destroy Grimlock!

Comments: Reads like a set-up for the Maximum Dinobots storyline more then as a solo character spotlight story. I guess there is that aspect where he awakens alone and confused in a new setting but it's quickly overshadowed by Scorponok and all the scheming for the future. An okay tale but does deviate from the character spotlight aspect pretty fast.

Mildly recommended.

***********



Transformers Timelines
Shattered Glass

Writer: Ben Yee and Peter Sinclair (story)
Artist: Don Figueroa

(cover by Dan Khanna)

Synopsis: Classics Cliffjumper arrives in a dark tunnel somewhere. He's tackled by Crankcase, who is quickly put down by a dark colored Rodimus. He takes Cliffjumper back to the Autobot headquarters where everything is dark and twisted--the Autobots act all evil! Cliffjumper is freaked out, objects and Prime hauls off and shoots him. They dump his lifeless body in the Rad Zone, where the Decepticons find him. CJ is revived by the Constructicons. There, is greeted by Megatron and Sideswipe. Sideswipe surmises Cliffjumper is from another universe and explains this world's history to him--how it was Optimus Prime who rose to power and became evil and how it was Megatron and his resistance fighters who tried to stop him. Prime's current scheme is to launch a large vessel called The Ark and go conquer the universe with it... Megatron's determined to stop him and with Starscream, they devise a plan to destroy the ship's launch pad, thus crippling Prime's plan. The Decepticons attack the Autobots and CJ joins them, since he's philosophically on their side anyway. During the battle, Megatron takes a blast from Optimus intended for Cliffjumper (who was thinking how everything is different here, etc). CJ takes the initiative and uses his Glass Gas to finish off the Ark's launch pad and win the day for the Decepticons. It is a major victory and the Decepticons retreat while Prime screams they will pay for their resistance, blah, blah... CJ is glad he's picked the right side.

Comments: Another story that sells the toy set very well. However, this time the use of a non-toy set character (Cliffjumper) gives the story a little more steam then they normally have (plus CJ's always been a fav of mine). The story is simple enough in context but it works and entertains. I am a bit unimpressed by using the cheesy old Mirror Universe schtick here but it works well enough for the story. The art is pretty good and there aren't any frames where I wasn't sure what was going on (unlike what happens with IDW sometimes).


Recommended.

BotCon 08 report!

The time has come...

The words have been written...

The images, posted...


The 2008 BotCon report is here:

www.karmicsalt.com/bc08report.htm

The pictures are here:

http://s114.photobucket.com/albums/n245/tkthunder/botcon%202008/

(there are three separate albums to choose from there. The links are on the left).

Enjoy!
Thunder