When you began talking about how Optimus is a father figure for the kids whose relationship with their dad wasn't so good, it made me think more about the moment Sparkplug sacrificed himself to save Optimus. Sparkplug being a dad and the matrix carrying the wisdom of previous primes, makes me wonder if this would be the potential start with Skybound turning Optimus into a fatherly figure in the comics. While Sparky wasn't a prime, he was absorbed into the matrix, so his knowledge of being human, living a rough life, and being a father could subtly be translated through Optimus as he continues to live on Earth and try to possibly comfort Spike after learning his dad is gone.
This was nothing short of genius. Sparkplug’s sacrifice was perfectly appropriate, sort of a “it all comes full circle” since Prime used the matrix to save Spike’s life so now he’s returning the favour. And I have a funny feeling we haven’t seen the last of Sparky, maybe his conscience still exists inside the matrix. Plus seeing a combiner being totally unstoppable was definitely the cherry on top for me. Lately I feel in other continuities they keep going down way to easy, whereas in the original movie it took all the Dinobots to bring down Devastator and that was still a close call. There’s even transformers that can one-shot a combiner like Sixshot or Windblade lol. Great vid 👍
Thanks! And yeah, I feel like Devastator was a serious threat in this issue. That showdown with the Dinobots always stuck with me, because, as you said, it was a close call. Overall, love the way they handled Devastator here, definitely has me looking forward to future combiners!
You did a good job with your analysis of Optimus Prime. Don’t stop your interpretation, it’s your take that keeps me interested in this continuity! I look forward to Starscream answering for his actions.Keep up the marvelous work!!
I'm stopping the video 1 minute in to say I have been looking forward to your discussion of this. This comic has been just amazing so far. DWJ is a master of his craft. But MAN, is that last panel heartbreaking....
Many are under the impression that the best day of the month is when the newest issue of Skybound’s Transformers comes out. They have all of them been deceived, for the best time of any month is when Moonbase Three drops the accompanying video for said issue. 😎 What an ending. What a great friggin comic. The art, the colors, the drama, it’s all working in tandem to create an exquisite comic experience. I commented on the review for the first issue that I foresaw this arc becoming one of those great introductions to the franchise, an evergreen classic to give to both old and new fans. I think with this finale, this opening arc has accomplished just that. A complete story, but with hooks for follow-ups (I’m particularly interested in how Carly and Cliffjumper will reconcile after CJ backed down). Sparky’s sacrifice, what can you even say? An iconic moment on par with “going on the offensive” or the reveal of Devastator, but with the emotional punch of a freight train. I’ll never forget that, especially not with that closing panel hammering it home even harder. Optimus sacrificed their most precious resource to save Spike, and Sparky repays that debt in full with his life. Chills. Some of the best TF comics I’ve ever read, I tell ya I cannot wait for the next issue. As some who is more of a stickler for rules, it should be noted we don’t know the properties of the Matrix in this continuity! We only vaguely know how it works generally, and here we barley know that, so I’m fine with what was done in this issue. However, I would like to get more concrete info on not just the Matrix but the lore and backstory soon. As an aside I had a similar reaction to you for the death of Optimus Prime. Granted, I was a bit older when I saw the 86 movie so it was less likely to affect me like that, though I would go as far as to say Transformers: The Movie instilled an appreciation for stories where anyone can bite the dust (Boardwalk Empire is my show of choice). And with all that, I must thank you for this great series of reviews! Always with the keen analytical eye, these have been my #1 source of hype for Skybound. Absolutely magnificent job, cheers to 3k[!] MB3! [Edit: I didn’t think about it until after I already wrote out this novel, but with the Autobots back in control of the Ark, what are they going to do with Skywarp? I can’t imagine OP will allow him such a horrible tortuous existence, and perhaps that could be the springboard to create some really interesting new dynamics with a reactivated, bitter Skywarp who hates both Autobots and Decepticons.]
Aw, man, you are too kind! Thank you for coming along on this journey with me. It's been a blast, and I've appreciated every part of it! Always enjoy reading your keen insights! Really like how you phrased it with Sparky paying back the debt from Optimus' sacrifice in full and it's spot on as well! That's a good point about the Matrix in this universe and yes, I would like to see some deep lore for this continuity soon! My hope is that, now that we've got the introductory story arc wrapped up (which is definitely a great entry point for old and new fans alike, as you observed), maybe we'll get some of those worldbuilding details start to come through in future stories. Fingers crossed! I need to see the scene where the Autobots discover what the Decepticons did to Teletraan/Skywarp ASAP! I'm EXTREMELY curious what's going to happen there...Skywarp seems like he could be influencing the direction of a few plot elements on both the Autobot and Decepticon side of things, even passively in his current state. Looking forward to the next arc!
I'm here for the momentum toss by Optimus Prime! Also at first, when the song reference came up in the panels, I was playing in my head, "HERE COMES THE BOOM" hahah but THE TOUCH definitely is more accurate ahhaha
I wasn't QUITE among them, but i kinda get why there were so many kids that became suicidal or locked themselves in their room all summer when Prime died in the 86 movie. I saw it in the theater for my fifth birthday, and I distinctly remember crying my little eyes out on that deathbed scene, but I also remember being very much OK and all-in on our new hero Rodimus Prime by the end of it. And I'm saying that as someone who very much agrees with your dissertation on the "Peter Cullen Optimus=father figure", both then and now. I think the interview where Peter relates the advice his older brother gave him, and exactly why he voiced Prime the way he did, explains a lot.
That's a heck of a fifth birthday right there! Rodimus Prime is a fascinating character in his own right, one that I was also onboard with by the end of the movie. But yeah, there's something special about Optimus, and I totally agree with you in that I think Peter Cullen's relationship with his older brother Larry was a big factor in shaping what made the character so special.
I’m so glad that Devastator survived. I hated when reading dreamwave how they just wasted him the first mini series. Also, judging by the preview pages for issue 7, I think Thundercracker may have found out what really happened to Skywarp. Speaking of which, there is no way the autobots are going to just let Skywarp stay the way he is. I think it’s possible they could bring him back and have him be an autobot. The series seems to love switching things up so I wouldn’t put it past them
Hey, that's a cool idea! I wonder if they'll go there... I was also glad to see that Devy made it through. You never know, with how brutal this series can be at times. And you're right, judging by the preview for next issue, Starscream's reckoning is not far off... I'm so pumped!
I really like the camaraderie between the Decepticons (except for Starscream). They really have this brothers in arms bond and trully believe they are fighting for a just cause (whatever that is). I wonder if Megatron has the same brotherly but ruthless approach with his subordinates.
@@zaimhazim4029 I honestly can't wait for megatron to return just to see his dynamic with everyone. Thankfully, he's gonna be in the upcoming free comic book day issue
Great job reviewing the first story arc. It should feel like closing the door on a chapter of your channel too. Glad to have been here for the beginning of your channel and look forward to many more videos in the future!
Thanks, man! Appreciate you taking this journey with me. It definitely does feel like closing a chapter of the channel, but I'm looking forward to what happens next.
Amazing video. Thank you for providing insightful imagery into the storyline, art and most of all history of why we all love transformers. Your parts of the video about Spicky and Prime as father figure really hit home as a son and dad. I don’t know how but one day I owe you a beer.
Thanks, man, that means a lot! I'm stoked to hear you got something out of it - that's my main goal in making these. Appreciate you taking the time to watch and letting me know what you thought!
3:58 exactly. And who knows this may be set up for something down the line, perhaps establishing how *this* matrix, so the reader has an idea what to expect from it in the future
Love your take on the Sparky/Optimus dynamic. I started to suspect DWJ would do something interesting with them ever since the parallel opening panels last issue. Awesome job diving into the deeper themes of the stories beyond just the surface level, both here and in all your analyses!
I just have to say as we come to the end of the full DWJ arc, I have really appreciated your well-thought yet pretty objective takes on this comic throughout these six issues. And the conclusion should be if one is actually paying attention, it hits FAR more than it misses. Yet there seem to be a LOT within the fandom as I've seen online as well as personally spoken to who have panned the series for a multitude of reasons (my favorite being a podcast repeatedly claiming this book has been for people who haven't read a TF comic in decades, all while I sit there knowing I can run circles around their IDW knowledge, I HEAR how much they forget of it). Me though, I've thoroughly enjoyed this ride. When I discovered DWJ on his Beta Ray Bill miniseries, I said a bit of the dialogue here and there was a bit hacky, but the overall story was great and the artwork for me anyway, was jawdropping. This was an exact repeat honestly (I think back to Starscream's 'violence party' line last issue 😅), just in the format of my favorite IP and a bit better just from the artist's continued growth. And a "repeat" certainly isn't a negative, this series was astounding honestly. DWJ, Spicer, and Wooten should be proud of this book, I think history is going to consistently look well upon it. Thanks again Moonbase, now let's see what the next arc will hold!
Beta Ray Bill: Argent Star is so awesome! 🤘🏻 Thanks for taking this trip with me! It's been a blast and I'm looking forward to what the future holds! I do agree with you, so far this series seems poised to be remembered fondly, but I'm not surprised it's got detractors or is divisive - one thing I've learned from observing online Transformers communities is that it's pretty rare (if not impossible) for something within the franchise to appeal to everyone. That's probably true for a lot of things, but it seems more pronounced with Transformers for some reason - maybe because there have been so many different iterations? I dunno.
This was such an incredible arc finally being on more DWJ goodness. If you haven’t I’d recommend his Image comics Extremity & Murder Falcon. Also I’d love a Optimus Figure with the Megatron arm.
That's a heck of a cover! And yeah, it really looks like he's holding Kup's head, so there must be a story there! One of the incentive covers for #7 has Ultra Magnus and Arcee on it, which might not mean anything, but...maybe it means we're going to be expanding the cast with some significant names in the next arc. Fingers crossed!
The semi-magical nature of the willing sacrifice of Sparkplug's life into the Matrix, gives one pause about the potential bigger background elements of the setting. I'm talking about Primus.
I'm really digging the human cast in this series. It's a toss up between Sparky and Carly for me, but I agree that Sparky is probably the best written one.
Thank you, I appreciate that - glad to have you here! I agree that there are ways we can see more of Sparkplug...excited to see where Skybound goes with it!
The interaction between Prime and Soundwave at the end reminds me of the Marvel UK Comics where Ultra Magnus offers a truce and Soundwave politely declines saying it wouldn't work out
@@Moonbase3 I do really hope Soundwave and Optimus eventually team up like the IDW Comics. Maybe Prime could repair Ravage using the power of the Matrix or something to earn his trust. It seems like there is some sort of fighting between the different Decepticon sub-factions in the upcoming issues, maybe Thundercracker, Skywarp and Soundwave will temporarily help out the Autobots to defeat Starscream, Astrotrain and the Combaticons. The alliance will probably end when Megatron comes back.
I was three years old when I experienced the death of Optimus Prime and I was quite shaken up at the time but I found the Return of Optimus Prime on VHS right when it was released and that made everything better. I still get emotional watching that scene
The matrix is supposed to be a gateway...like in stargate the event horizon looks like its a wall of water...so it's more of a permanent fixed gateway to the core of Cybertron/Primus life energy...maybe to the Plasma Energy Chamber...When it was used against the madness plague in Return of Optimus Prime, those crystals regrew back later in the Japanese anime so the casing is more like a fixed stargate then and the crystals is condensation(like frost crystals) of the energy leaking from that gateway...So for all we know Sparky emerges into Cybertron.
I always wondered what happened to Sparkplug after Season 2 of G1. Like did he accidentally get mangled by Metroplex before 2005 but after Scamble City? Did he go retire and move to Space Florida? At least they put him to use here.
No worries, I understand. No hard feelings. I appreciate the message! I'm still learning and figuring stuff out with this channel, so I'll keep trying to get better about making my thumbnails interesting without giving away critical spoilers.
A fantastic issue, I feel like there could be long lasting consequences of Sparky's actions in future, if the writers choose to explore them. Anyway, I can't wait to see where the series goes as they expand the scope of the book.
So far, this series has been so good, I´ll just sit back and enjoy whatever it dishes out. But the leaks suggest we might see Elita-1 in the Transformers series soon... and Springer in Void Rivals.
2 things on Sparkplug's death 1) this series starts with the senseless death of Davey by Starscream then ends with the Sparkplug's self sacrifice for Optimus and 2) this is got to be Sparkplug best death, Dreamwave/Regeneration One hade hime die off screen, IDW had die to Galvatron after making a very foolish deal with the Decepticon. Further Sparkplug's attitude to the Transformers harkens back to the Marvel series. Marvel Sparkplug saw the robots well meaning but potentially dangerous and over the course of the comic's run his whole life was turn upside down and Buster Kidnapped for months on end and Spike was grafted to Transformer permanently. Contrasting with Skybound's story Sparkplug see the Transformers as a very real threat reacts like a soldier only to slowly realize that the reality of the situation and helps out the Autobots. When Optimus throws Devastator over the cliff I got Steven Universe vibes from when Pearl did a similar thing to Sugilite. Looking forward to more Cybertron then what we saw back in Void Rivals #4.
Great rundown of the previous iterations of the character! The whole thing with Galvatron in IDW slipped my mind for some reason. I think some of his decisions and behavior early on in this series are what makes his sacrifice all the more impactful in this issue. And an interesting comparison to Steven Universe - I'm not familiar, but I'm curious about the potential similarity there...
@@Moonbase3 For Transformers a whole there are a few similarities between it and Steven Universe. Gem/Cybertronians both genderless, space fairing races with limited shapeshifting abilities. Inspire of being genderless the majority of their spies take a look that can be construed apart of a heteronormative 2 gendered(Cybertrionians for the most part look male while Gems overwhelmingly look female) Cybertronians can mechanically transform into any one thing for the most park while Gem can alter their form for limited campout of time based their imagination(Amethyst). Both sides got caught up a civil war, that also happened to be on Earth. Cybertrionians have mechanical bodies that encase an etherial life force(spark) while Gems are hard light projection from their gem. Both species can combine with others of their race. As a mechanical races Cybertrionians will repair their selves and if need be get replacement parts while Gems on the other hand indulge in mechanical prosthetics/augmentation(Peridot)
im not too keen on the fact that one human could supercharge the matrix the way it did because, logically that doesn't make sense given the size and what not but its not a big deal, it did its job fine. I do however want to rearrange Cliffjumpers face a thousand times more now because of the double whammy blunder he pulled between these two comics. So basically the same as he was in g1. And lastly I can be at peace with Starscream's character. At first I he was too gore-y and violent, but then realized that's how he's supposed to be when Megatron's not around B slapping him. As well as seeing his ark with thundercracker forshadowed. Great issue as always, looking forward to the next issue. And devastator slaps.(like literally he violated optimus!)
What a great first arc. TF is back! While I'm going to miss Daniel's art.. Seinfeld the previews of upcoming arc with Jorge Corona it doesn't look that bad. It definitely has the same aesthetics.
Nice analysis on the Optimus father-figure thing(and my condolences).I was n the minority the whole time that sparkplug would be the one to die and not Optimus(still way too early for his death cuz I want to see him and megatron go at it and him and Duke interact)though I still felt it when it seems like he was going to die.its gonna be really hard and gut wrenching when spike learns of his father's death now that he's awake.it was so badass when Optimus was revived and the touch immediately came to mind when he wrecked devastator.judging by the sneak preview of issue 7 I would not be surprised that Soundwave is gonna reveal that starscream was the one who killed skywarp not the autobots(despite Soundwave had a hand n that aswell though he'll put it all on starscream and im fine with that).speaking of skywarp his body is still n the ark and equipped/attach to teletran-1 so I'm curious to see how that will go especially if he is still alive.
Thank you, I appreciate that. :) There's a lot of cool stuff coming up, that's for sure. I agree, the preview for issue 7 makes it seem like the truth is out and TC doesn't look happy. But I suppose we'll see - it could just be Starscream's general bumbling that has the Decepticons fed up with him...but I think you're right about Soundwave throwing him under the bus. I'm very curious to see what the Autobots make of the situation with Skywarp / Teletraan...
Mannn… I started collecting Newage transformers just because of these comics lol. I’ve always had Newage jazz and just thought maybe he need a friend or 2 😂. Love the videos 💯💯
Man I was so excited for this issue I nearly fainted. It didn't disappoint. I had a feeling Sparkplug was going to be the one who dies simply because it feels too early to kill off any of the other principal cast and now that I think about it, it adds a nice little bookend to the first arc. The first issue had Carly lose her father, this issue had Spike lose his. I wonder what's next for Spike and Carly going forward now that both have been orphaned. You know I saw someone point out on Reddit that Bluestreak probably would have been a better choice for Cliffjumper's role in this, and I hate to say it but they're probably right. He's got the backstory of losing everything to the Decepticons and a reluctance to fight both of which feel more Bluestreak. Still, it's really nice to see new takes on old characters and I think Cliffjumper deserved a bit of time in the spotlight again after being reduced to a red-shirt joke for the past couple of years. I'm guessing now that we've set up our central cast, the next couple of issues are going to be focused on laying the groundwork for the overall status quo for the Autobots and Decepticons in the Energon Universe. I get the feeling that at some point we're going to be getting a time jump of about six months or so. I assume they're going to wanna have some crossover with the G.I. Joe stuff eventually and if they don't have an explicit time jump to match up with the Joe books it's gonna be...weird continuity-wise.
Great observation about Spike and Carly's shared loss! There seems to be a good number of those sorts of connections, loops, and mirror images in this arc. Wow, Bluestreak DOES actually make a lot of sense for the role! Interesting...in any case, I agree that it's nice to see Cliff get some substantial page time with some new takes applied to him, but, thinking about it now...Bluestreak deserves that kind of chance to shine as well! (I've always had a soft spot for him after he tried to talk Ironhide down in the early episodes of the G1 cartoon). Both characters voiced by Casey Kasem, too! I'm eager to see how things are going to fit together in terms of timelines...I think you're onto something there with the time jump. The series will have to catch up to Duke at some point, as I believe that's the title that's the furthest out chronologically... Thanks for the comment, dude! Appreciate you sticking with the channel through all this. It's been a blast, and I'm looking forward to more!
@@Moonbase3 Yeah I agree Bluestreak deserves some time to shine too. Oh well. Maybe someday. I've actually made a mental note to feature him in my fanfiction writing eventually. (That's one of the fun parts of fanfiction. If canon lets you down make your own) And You're welcome. I'm happy to stick around and I can't wait to see what the Energon Universe Team has in store for us.
Something I think would be really cool in a future issue is if Prime psychologically enters the Matrix where he meets the original Primes of this continuity but also runs into Sparky again which by extension makes him an "honorary Prime".
I've definitely been wondering if Sparky might still be there somewhere/somehow inside the Matrix. He definitely lived up to the best of the Prime lineage with his actions at the end.
Like you said it should be interesting to see how Thundercracker will react to the truth about Skywarp, if he ever learns it. Whether he tries to overthrow Starscream or takes a face turn like he did in IDW. Who knows.
Interesting...I hadn't considered that! You're talking about the opening mini series where he fires on Megatron despite being given orders not to, right? Or is there another one I'm missing?
Not gonna lie, I think it's so cool that we're getting a new comic that adds to the functionality of the matrix and the overal mystic techno magic that is the matrix. This is only one of two comics I read that actually even explored the idea of doing this, the other being the IDW comics where they explained what the matrix actually WAS which was insane to me. Loving evert single bit of this comic so far.
Before my criticisms, I'm going to say overall I love this series - best Tf series of all time and we're only on issue 6. However, there are a couple of issues that have cropped up that I feel I need to speak on. One, the killing of Bumblebee (if that is in fact what has really occurred). The killing in and of itself is not the issue. It's the fact that after killing 'Bee - Cliffjumper has essentially taken on not only his role as the 'little guy' but also his overall personality. This comes totally to the fore in issue 6 when he has the chance to kill Starscream (who is right off his tech spec bio in a way we've never gotten to see). Cliffjumper's personality has hatred of the Decepticons built in to it as well as his rashness and overall disregard for human safety (or property), but in this series virtually every action he has taken is one that would be more appropriate to Bumblebee. When I write Transformers fiction based on G1, I use the established personalities of the character instead of changing the character's personality outright. If this guy is in the mix with these characters, he is going to act like himself, modified by the absence or presence of other characters- like we do in real life. I don't feel that's how CJ is being written. it's not the end of the world, though. Two, the damage that these characters can take has always been...flexible, but the issue I've found with damage in the first six books is that everything is so deadly when Devastator shows up it made me wonder how they ever survived him in the past - and by extension, ANY of them fighting each other - what were they fighting with before? Spit balls? One thing IDW did well was better define a fatal injury to a Transformer. I'm not bashing. I'm just saying these things are kind of little bits that take me out of the story somewhat.
I can see where you coming from with your critiques. I think you raise a good point about Cliffjumper. I'll be interested to see what they're building towards with that character, but right now I can definitely see what you're saying. Although, I will say, him smashing through the house to take on Laserbeak in issue #3 felt like a very Cliffjumper thing to do, so I think there's still a bit of the classic interpretation of the character in there at times. As for Devastator, it's a good question. I assumed it was worse this time around because the Autobots - even though they were freshly refortified - were still not at full strength. No base, and just enough reinforcements to handle what they thought were the existing crop of Decepticons...maybe they had more resources available to them in the past and that helped them pull through easier? I dunno.
That's interesting - potentially revamping the idea of Powermasters! I feel like we might get some hints of that stuff in Void Rivals, maybe. The cover to #10 has me suspicious, anyway. In any case, I would love to see Powermaster Prime appear - I always loved that design!
@Moonbase3 imagine it. Sparkplug emerges from the matrix, reformatted to interface with Prime. Or Sparkplug communication with Prime through the Matrix. Either way i am excited
Not really in terms of specifics...but there were clues leading up to this that the Matrix's power was linked to someone sacrificing their own life to use it. Apparently that works with humans, too!
What if a innocent spirited minded human child were to prove worthy of welding the awe inspiring power and abilities of the matrix of leadership all shazam captain marvel Billy batson he-man prince adam like eh??
We have games like War/Fall of Cybertron, we have comics like these, how can someone not say we could have made movies 1000x better than the bay movies?
I knew going into this run that DWJ's style was not going to work for every Transformers fan. Hopefully future artists will hit the mark for you, especially since you're liking the writing!
I disagree. I think this artwork is trash. So cheap, lazy and unpolished. Arcee barely has any detail to her face in multiple panels. Cracker’s head is misshapen (most of the seekers are). And the art style is all over the place. Bots are drawn “sketchy” and rough, while humans are incredibly detailed for some reason. It’s a terrible contrast.
DWJ's style isn't for everyone. I will say, though, that sometimes the reverse of what you said is true - the bots, vehicles, and machinery are sometimes drawn with more details while the humans are less detailed. I think it's just Johnson's style. Regardless, I can't fault you for your preferences - it's if it doesn't work for you. :)
Except you can use the Matrix as a turbo battery. What is unexpected and BS is that it drains Prime's Lifeforce and that a human can somehow energize it. The Matrix is an artifact of universal power as Unicron is a universal threat. At least post Shroud. This whole comic run is a load of horse manure.
I wonder if they'll ever explain some of that stuff with the Matrix in this series. Dunno. In any case, I hope the future stories are more to your taste!
Spark plugs sacrifice translate into trimming away the fight of this already train wreck. Prime ripping off devastators fingers and this stupid lettering remember the song, made me wanna vomit. It completely pissed me off..Then theres sorry ass cliff Jumper didnt kill star scream, and the failure to kill carla, Karly whatever her name is...I just stopped reading this trash,,,Unsubscribing to this...This nothing but terrible train wreck of trash comic
When the panel said “You Know The Song!” I started singing The Touch!
Me too
Took me a hot minute to understand what it was talking about FORGIVE ME!!!!
@@ignitedmotion5807 you shall be.
i havent even seen that panel in this bid yet and already i got the song stuck in my head
We all did!
“You know the song” I love that nod to the fans telling us “you know exactly what plays here” and oh yes we do!
😎
When you began talking about how Optimus is a father figure for the kids whose relationship with their dad wasn't so good, it made me think more about the moment Sparkplug sacrificed himself to save Optimus.
Sparkplug being a dad and the matrix carrying the wisdom of previous primes, makes me wonder if this would be the potential start with Skybound turning Optimus into a fatherly figure in the comics. While Sparky wasn't a prime, he was absorbed into the matrix, so his knowledge of being human, living a rough life, and being a father could subtly be translated through Optimus as he continues to live on Earth and try to possibly comfort Spike after learning his dad is gone.
Interesting thought! I'm definitely wondering what kind of other effects there will be as a result of Sparky entering the matrix...
It’s over…FINISHED! But…it never ends…
🔥🔥🔥 Nailed it! 10/10! 😎
This was nothing short of genius. Sparkplug’s sacrifice was perfectly appropriate, sort of a “it all comes full circle” since Prime used the matrix to save Spike’s life so now he’s returning the favour. And I have a funny feeling we haven’t seen the last of Sparky, maybe his conscience still exists inside the matrix. Plus seeing a combiner being totally unstoppable was definitely the cherry on top for me. Lately I feel in other continuities they keep going down way to easy, whereas in the original movie it took all the Dinobots to bring down Devastator and that was still a close call. There’s even transformers that can one-shot a combiner like Sixshot or Windblade lol. Great vid 👍
Thanks! And yeah, I feel like Devastator was a serious threat in this issue. That showdown with the Dinobots always stuck with me, because, as you said, it was a close call. Overall, love the way they handled Devastator here, definitely has me looking forward to future combiners!
If this ever became an animated series with the same art style and what not I think transformers fans like myself would go absolutely crazy
That could be really cool!
Imagine if the studio that did Mob Psycho 100 did this arc. Everybody would crap their pants
Especially if they put The Touch in when Optimus goes 1v1 against Devastator
I'd watch it on the spot. I don't care what streaming service it was on, I'd pay for the service just to watch it
You did a good job with your analysis of Optimus Prime. Don’t stop your interpretation, it’s your take that keeps me interested in this continuity! I look forward to Starscream answering for his actions.Keep up the marvelous work!!
Thank you! That really means a lot to me, so I greatly appreciate the comment and the kind words! Thanks for listening!
@@Moonbase3 You’re welcome!
I'm stopping the video 1 minute in to say I have been looking forward to your discussion of this. This comic has been just amazing so far. DWJ is a master of his craft. But MAN, is that last panel heartbreaking....
Hope the rest of the video doesn't disappoint. 😁 Agreed about DWJ and that last panel...I was absolutely gutted! Hit real hard!
Many are under the impression that the best day of the month is when the newest issue of Skybound’s Transformers comes out. They have all of them been deceived, for the best time of any month is when Moonbase Three drops the accompanying video for said issue. 😎
What an ending. What a great friggin comic. The art, the colors, the drama, it’s all working in tandem to create an exquisite comic experience. I commented on the review for the first issue that I foresaw this arc becoming one of those great introductions to the franchise, an evergreen classic to give to both old and new fans. I think with this finale, this opening arc has accomplished just that. A complete story, but with hooks for follow-ups (I’m particularly interested in how Carly and Cliffjumper will reconcile after CJ backed down).
Sparky’s sacrifice, what can you even say? An iconic moment on par with “going on the offensive” or the reveal of Devastator, but with the emotional punch of a freight train. I’ll never forget that, especially not with that closing panel hammering it home even harder. Optimus sacrificed their most precious resource to save Spike, and Sparky repays that debt in full with his life. Chills. Some of the best TF comics I’ve ever read, I tell ya I cannot wait for the next issue.
As some who is more of a stickler for rules, it should be noted we don’t know the properties of the Matrix in this continuity! We only vaguely know how it works generally, and here we barley know that, so I’m fine with what was done in this issue. However, I would like to get more concrete info on not just the Matrix but the lore and backstory soon. As an aside I had a similar reaction to you for the death of Optimus Prime. Granted, I was a bit older when I saw the 86 movie so it was less likely to affect me like that, though I would go as far as to say Transformers: The Movie instilled an appreciation for stories where anyone can bite the dust (Boardwalk Empire is my show of choice).
And with all that, I must thank you for this great series of reviews! Always with the keen analytical eye, these have been my #1 source of hype for Skybound. Absolutely magnificent job, cheers to 3k[!] MB3!
[Edit: I didn’t think about it until after I already wrote out this novel, but with the Autobots back in control of the Ark, what are they going to do with Skywarp? I can’t imagine OP will allow him such a horrible tortuous existence, and perhaps that could be the springboard to create some really interesting new dynamics with a reactivated, bitter Skywarp who hates both Autobots and Decepticons.]
Aw, man, you are too kind! Thank you for coming along on this journey with me. It's been a blast, and I've appreciated every part of it! Always enjoy reading your keen insights! Really like how you phrased it with Sparky paying back the debt from Optimus' sacrifice in full and it's spot on as well!
That's a good point about the Matrix in this universe and yes, I would like to see some deep lore for this continuity soon! My hope is that, now that we've got the introductory story arc wrapped up (which is definitely a great entry point for old and new fans alike, as you observed), maybe we'll get some of those worldbuilding details start to come through in future stories. Fingers crossed!
I need to see the scene where the Autobots discover what the Decepticons did to Teletraan/Skywarp ASAP! I'm EXTREMELY curious what's going to happen there...Skywarp seems like he could be influencing the direction of a few plot elements on both the Autobot and Decepticon side of things, even passively in his current state. Looking forward to the next arc!
I'm here for the momentum toss by Optimus Prime!
Also at first, when the song reference came up in the panels, I was playing in my head, "HERE COMES THE BOOM" hahah but THE TOUCH definitely is more accurate ahhaha
🤣
I wasn't QUITE among them, but i kinda get why there were so many kids that became suicidal or locked themselves in their room all summer when Prime died in the 86 movie. I saw it in the theater for my fifth birthday, and I distinctly remember crying my little eyes out on that deathbed scene, but I also remember being very much OK and all-in on our new hero Rodimus Prime by the end of it. And I'm saying that as someone who very much agrees with your dissertation on the "Peter Cullen Optimus=father figure", both then and now. I think the interview where Peter relates the advice his older brother gave him, and exactly why he voiced Prime the way he did, explains a lot.
That's a heck of a fifth birthday right there! Rodimus Prime is a fascinating character in his own right, one that I was also onboard with by the end of the movie. But yeah, there's something special about Optimus, and I totally agree with you in that I think Peter Cullen's relationship with his older brother Larry was a big factor in shaping what made the character so special.
Maturing is realizing Primes death was unavoidable but I understood why they disliked it
I’m so glad that Devastator survived. I hated when reading dreamwave how they just wasted him the first mini series. Also, judging by the preview pages for issue 7, I think Thundercracker may have found out what really happened to Skywarp. Speaking of which, there is no way the autobots are going to just let Skywarp stay the way he is. I think it’s possible they could bring him back and have him be an autobot. The series seems to love switching things up so I wouldn’t put it past them
Hey, that's a cool idea! I wonder if they'll go there...
I was also glad to see that Devy made it through. You never know, with how brutal this series can be at times. And you're right, judging by the preview for next issue, Starscream's reckoning is not far off... I'm so pumped!
I really like the camaraderie between the Decepticons (except for Starscream). They really have this brothers in arms bond and trully believe they are fighting for a just cause (whatever that is).
I wonder if Megatron has the same brotherly but ruthless approach with his subordinates.
@@zaimhazim4029 I honestly can't wait for megatron to return just to see his dynamic with everyone. Thankfully, he's gonna be in the upcoming free comic book day issue
Another day, another banger. The next team that takes over is gonna have a lot to follow up on.
Big shoes to fill, no doubt!
Great job reviewing the first story arc. It should feel like closing the door on a chapter of your channel too. Glad to have been here for the beginning of your channel and look forward to many more videos in the future!
Thanks, man! Appreciate you taking this journey with me. It definitely does feel like closing a chapter of the channel, but I'm looking forward to what happens next.
Amazing video. Thank you for providing insightful imagery into the storyline, art and most of all history of why we all love transformers. Your parts of the video about Spicky and Prime as father figure really hit home as a son and dad. I don’t know how but one day I owe you a beer.
Thanks, man, that means a lot! I'm stoked to hear you got something out of it - that's my main goal in making these. Appreciate you taking the time to watch and letting me know what you thought!
3:58 exactly. And who knows this may be set up for something down the line, perhaps establishing how *this* matrix, so the reader has an idea what to expect from it in the future
I agree!
Love your take on the Sparky/Optimus dynamic. I started to suspect DWJ would do something interesting with them ever since the parallel opening panels last issue. Awesome job diving into the deeper themes of the stories beyond just the surface level, both here and in all your analyses!
Thank you! I appreciate that, dude! DWJ certainly put some thought into the whole Optimus/Sparky thing, and I think it paid off nicely!
Gran video como siempre 🤩🤗😎!
Thank you, my friend! Much appreciated! 😁
I appreciate your thanks🤩🤗😎
I just have to say as we come to the end of the full DWJ arc, I have really appreciated your well-thought yet pretty objective takes on this comic throughout these six issues. And the conclusion should be if one is actually paying attention, it hits FAR more than it misses. Yet there seem to be a LOT within the fandom as I've seen online as well as personally spoken to who have panned the series for a multitude of reasons (my favorite being a podcast repeatedly claiming this book has been for people who haven't read a TF comic in decades, all while I sit there knowing I can run circles around their IDW knowledge, I HEAR how much they forget of it).
Me though, I've thoroughly enjoyed this ride. When I discovered DWJ on his Beta Ray Bill miniseries, I said a bit of the dialogue here and there was a bit hacky, but the overall story was great and the artwork for me anyway, was jawdropping. This was an exact repeat honestly (I think back to Starscream's 'violence party' line last issue 😅), just in the format of my favorite IP and a bit better just from the artist's continued growth. And a "repeat" certainly isn't a negative, this series was astounding honestly. DWJ, Spicer, and Wooten should be proud of this book, I think history is going to consistently look well upon it. Thanks again Moonbase, now let's see what the next arc will hold!
Beta Ray Bill: Argent Star is so awesome! 🤘🏻
Thanks for taking this trip with me! It's been a blast and I'm looking forward to what the future holds! I do agree with you, so far this series seems poised to be remembered fondly, but I'm not surprised it's got detractors or is divisive - one thing I've learned from observing online Transformers communities is that it's pretty rare (if not impossible) for something within the franchise to appeal to everyone. That's probably true for a lot of things, but it seems more pronounced with Transformers for some reason - maybe because there have been so many different iterations? I dunno.
This was such an incredible arc finally being on more DWJ goodness. If you haven’t I’d recommend his Image comics Extremity & Murder Falcon. Also I’d love a Optimus Figure with the Megatron arm.
Extremity and Murder Falcon are great! I really dig Extremity, in particular.
OH MY GOD! Shockwave is on cover B for Transformers #9!!!
Can’t wait to see him as we haven't seen him since Void Rivals. It also seems like that he is holding Kups head?
That's a heck of a cover! And yeah, it really looks like he's holding Kup's head, so there must be a story there! One of the incentive covers for #7 has Ultra Magnus and Arcee on it, which might not mean anything, but...maybe it means we're going to be expanding the cast with some significant names in the next arc. Fingers crossed!
was not expecting six feet under to be mentioned. probably my favorite tv show next to the leftovers.
Dude! Leftovers is up there for me as well! Such a great show.
Man… that was beautiful.
The semi-magical nature of the willing sacrifice of Sparkplug's life into the Matrix, gives one pause about the potential bigger background elements of the setting. I'm talking about Primus.
There's an interesting thought! Yeah, I'm wondering where they'll go from here with all that stuff.
Fantastic video 👍👍👍👍👍👍
Thank you! Much appreciated! 🙂
@@Moonbase3 Your welcome! I will say this is the most violent transformers comic since the 86 movie.😱😱🫣
Yeah, it can get pretty intense!
Thanks!
Thanks!
Sparky is imo the best writen and my personal favorite human in all tf
I'm really digging the human cast in this series. It's a toss up between Sparky and Carly for me, but I agree that Sparky is probably the best written one.
Digging your channel, subbed. I hope we get more of Sparkplug as time goes on. Lots of opportunities here.
Thank you, I appreciate that - glad to have you here! I agree that there are ways we can see more of Sparkplug...excited to see where Skybound goes with it!
Also the FCBD issue is gonna show more Cybertron flashbacks. Cannot wait!!!
That FCBD book is looking tasty. Can't wait to see Megatron in action!
The interaction between Prime and Soundwave at the end reminds me of the Marvel UK Comics where Ultra Magnus offers a truce and Soundwave politely declines saying it wouldn't work out
That was a standout moment in TFUK, for sure. And a cool visual nod to The Killing Joke as well!
@@Moonbase3 I do really hope Soundwave and Optimus eventually team up like the IDW Comics. Maybe Prime could repair Ravage using the power of the Matrix or something to earn his trust. It seems like there is some sort of fighting between the different Decepticon sub-factions in the upcoming issues, maybe Thundercracker, Skywarp and Soundwave will temporarily help out the Autobots to defeat Starscream, Astrotrain and the Combaticons. The alliance will probably end when Megatron comes back.
I was three years old when I experienced the death of Optimus Prime and I was quite shaken up at the time but I found the Return of Optimus Prime on VHS right when it was released and that made everything better. I still get emotional watching that scene
Yeah, I could imagine it hitting hard at that age!
My dad introduced me to Transformers when I was a kid and I've been a life long fan ever since.
That's awesome!
The matrix is supposed to be a gateway...like in stargate the event horizon looks like its a wall of water...so it's more of a permanent fixed gateway to the core of Cybertron/Primus life energy...maybe to the Plasma Energy Chamber...When it was used against the madness plague in Return of Optimus Prime, those crystals regrew back later in the Japanese anime so the casing is more like a fixed stargate then and the crystals is condensation(like frost crystals) of the energy leaking from that gateway...So for all we know Sparky emerges into Cybertron.
Interesting thought! I didn't know some of that stuff from the Japanese series...
YOU KNOW THE SONG!
🎵🎶
I always wondered what happened to Sparkplug after Season 2 of G1. Like did he accidentally get mangled by Metroplex before 2005 but after Scamble City? Did he go retire and move to Space Florida? At least they put him to use here.
The Show's writers probably forgot about him
🤣
Awesome how not everyone's had a chance to read the issue yet and there's spoilers right in your thumbnail, really appreciate that.
Sorry about that.
@@Moonbase3 I'm sorry as well, I could have been less pissy about that, I was in a bad mood. Apologies for my moodiness.
No worries, I understand. No hard feelings. I appreciate the message! I'm still learning and figuring stuff out with this channel, so I'll keep trying to get better about making my thumbnails interesting without giving away critical spoilers.
A fantastic issue, I feel like there could be long lasting consequences of Sparky's actions in future, if the writers choose to explore them.
Anyway, I can't wait to see where the series goes as they expand the scope of the book.
Agreed, this seems like it's laying the groundwork for many possible stories... I'm looking forward to seeing what they end up doing!
That dude looks as big as one of the wonders of The Ancient World.
If only the Movies could be like this.
So far, this series has been so good, I´ll just sit back and enjoy whatever it dishes out. But the leaks suggest we might see Elita-1 in the Transformers series soon... and Springer in Void Rivals.
I'm excited for both - although I think I'm slightly more excited to see Springer in Void Rivals. Hoping they both stick around for a bit!
Oh you were a tough kid eh..tough guy over here
🤣 I definitely would not say that I was a tough kid!
Rest of us were crying uncontrollably but tough guy over here was putting his cigarette out in another kid's eyes when optimus died @Moonbase3
LOL!!!
Did you notice how Jazz was miscolored as Cliffjumper in the first page/ fourth panel?
I did! Still hoping Skybound can minimize these sorts of errors in the future.
2 things on Sparkplug's death 1) this series starts with the senseless death of Davey by Starscream then ends with the Sparkplug's self sacrifice for Optimus and 2) this is got to be Sparkplug best death, Dreamwave/Regeneration One hade hime die off screen, IDW had die to Galvatron after making a very foolish deal with the Decepticon. Further Sparkplug's attitude to the Transformers harkens back to the Marvel series. Marvel Sparkplug saw the robots well meaning but potentially dangerous and over the course of the comic's run his whole life was turn upside down and Buster Kidnapped for months on end and Spike was grafted to Transformer permanently. Contrasting with Skybound's story Sparkplug see the Transformers as a very real threat reacts like a soldier only to slowly realize that the reality of the situation and helps out the Autobots. When Optimus throws Devastator over the cliff I got Steven Universe vibes from when Pearl did a similar thing to Sugilite. Looking forward to more Cybertron then what we saw back in Void Rivals #4.
Great rundown of the previous iterations of the character! The whole thing with Galvatron in IDW slipped my mind for some reason. I think some of his decisions and behavior early on in this series are what makes his sacrifice all the more impactful in this issue. And an interesting comparison to Steven Universe - I'm not familiar, but I'm curious about the potential similarity there...
@@Moonbase3 For Transformers a whole there are a few similarities between it and Steven Universe. Gem/Cybertronians both genderless, space fairing races with limited shapeshifting abilities. Inspire of being genderless the majority of their spies take a look that can be construed apart of a heteronormative 2 gendered(Cybertrionians for the most part look male while Gems overwhelmingly look female) Cybertronians can mechanically transform into any one thing for the most park while Gem can alter their form for limited campout of time based their imagination(Amethyst). Both sides got caught up a civil war, that also happened to be on Earth. Cybertrionians have mechanical bodies that encase an etherial life force(spark) while Gems are hard light projection from their gem. Both species can combine with others of their race. As a mechanical races Cybertrionians will repair their selves and if need be get replacement parts while Gems on the other hand indulge in mechanical prosthetics/augmentation(Peridot)
Interesting...yeah, I can see there are several points of similarities! Cool! Thanks for the breakdown. 😎
'Exquisite' all I could say about this series 👍🔥🔥👍
🔥🔥🔥
Sparky going into the Matrix reminds me of Megatron eating people in GIJoe vs Transformers lol
im not too keen on the fact that one human could supercharge the matrix the way it did because, logically that doesn't make sense given the size and what not but its not a big deal, it did its job fine. I do however want to rearrange Cliffjumpers face a thousand times more now because of the double whammy blunder he pulled between these two comics. So basically the same as he was in g1. And lastly I can be at peace with Starscream's character. At first I he was too gore-y and violent, but then realized that's how he's supposed to be when Megatron's not around B slapping him. As well as seeing his ark with thundercracker forshadowed. Great issue as always, looking forward to the next issue.
And devastator slaps.(like literally he violated optimus!)
Very good issue. I'll probably check out the art in the next issue before i buy.
You can see the preview already on Skybound’s website … still using the same colorist, so I think that helps with the transition
I like what I'm seeing in the preview pages so far!
What a great first arc. TF is back! While I'm going to miss Daniel's art.. Seinfeld the previews of upcoming arc with Jorge Corona it doesn't look that bad. It definitely has the same aesthetics.
I like what I saw in the previews. Like you said, there are some similarities. I think it looks promising!
@Moonbase3 idk whyni said Seinfeld instead of seeing lol fkn autocorrect. Yeah man couldn't agree more
Interesting 🤔
Nice analysis on the Optimus father-figure thing(and my condolences).I was n the minority the whole time that sparkplug would be the one to die and not Optimus(still way too early for his death cuz I want to see him and megatron go at it and him and Duke interact)though I still felt it when it seems like he was going to die.its gonna be really hard and gut wrenching when spike learns of his father's death now that he's awake.it was so badass when Optimus was revived and the touch immediately came to mind when he wrecked devastator.judging by the sneak preview of issue 7 I would not be surprised that Soundwave is gonna reveal that starscream was the one who killed skywarp not the autobots(despite Soundwave had a hand n that aswell though he'll put it all on starscream and im fine with that).speaking of skywarp his body is still n the ark and equipped/attach to teletran-1 so I'm curious to see how that will go especially if he is still alive.
Thank you, I appreciate that. :)
There's a lot of cool stuff coming up, that's for sure. I agree, the preview for issue 7 makes it seem like the truth is out and TC doesn't look happy. But I suppose we'll see - it could just be Starscream's general bumbling that has the Decepticons fed up with him...but I think you're right about Soundwave throwing him under the bus. I'm very curious to see what the Autobots make of the situation with Skywarp / Teletraan...
Mannn… I started collecting Newage transformers just because of these comics lol. I’ve always had Newage jazz and just thought maybe he need a friend or 2 😂. Love the videos 💯💯
Thanks! And that's cool - I don't have any New Age stuff, but I've been tempted by more than a few of them as they look great!
"...and any Victory Laurels
would come wreathed,
in the ashes of defeat."
Megatron #85
Loose Ends
Sparky merging with the matrix works well. Sparky merging with a magical spark. Oh it’s perfect irony.
Ha! That's so true!
Man I was so excited for this issue I nearly fainted. It didn't disappoint.
I had a feeling Sparkplug was going to be the one who dies simply because it feels too early to kill off any of the other principal cast and now that I think about it, it adds a nice little bookend to the first arc. The first issue had Carly lose her father, this issue had Spike lose his.
I wonder what's next for Spike and Carly going forward now that both have been orphaned.
You know I saw someone point out on Reddit that Bluestreak probably would have been a better choice for Cliffjumper's role in this, and I hate to say it but they're probably right. He's got the backstory of losing everything to the Decepticons and a reluctance to fight both of which feel more Bluestreak. Still, it's really nice to see new takes on old characters and I think Cliffjumper deserved a bit of time in the spotlight again after being reduced to a red-shirt joke for the past couple of years.
I'm guessing now that we've set up our central cast, the next couple of issues are going to be focused on laying the groundwork for the overall status quo for the Autobots and Decepticons in the Energon Universe.
I get the feeling that at some point we're going to be getting a time jump of about six months or so. I assume they're going to wanna have some crossover with the G.I. Joe stuff eventually and if they don't have an explicit time jump to match up with the Joe books it's gonna be...weird continuity-wise.
Great observation about Spike and Carly's shared loss! There seems to be a good number of those sorts of connections, loops, and mirror images in this arc.
Wow, Bluestreak DOES actually make a lot of sense for the role! Interesting...in any case, I agree that it's nice to see Cliff get some substantial page time with some new takes applied to him, but, thinking about it now...Bluestreak deserves that kind of chance to shine as well! (I've always had a soft spot for him after he tried to talk Ironhide down in the early episodes of the G1 cartoon). Both characters voiced by Casey Kasem, too!
I'm eager to see how things are going to fit together in terms of timelines...I think you're onto something there with the time jump. The series will have to catch up to Duke at some point, as I believe that's the title that's the furthest out chronologically...
Thanks for the comment, dude! Appreciate you sticking with the channel through all this. It's been a blast, and I'm looking forward to more!
@@Moonbase3 Yeah I agree Bluestreak deserves some time to shine too. Oh well. Maybe someday. I've actually made a mental note to feature him in my fanfiction writing eventually. (That's one of the fun parts of fanfiction. If canon lets you down make your own)
And You're welcome. I'm happy to stick around and I can't wait to see what the Energon Universe Team has in store for us.
Something I think would be really cool in a future issue is if Prime psychologically enters the Matrix where he meets the original Primes of this continuity but also runs into Sparky again which by extension makes him an "honorary Prime".
I've definitely been wondering if Sparky might still be there somewhere/somehow inside the Matrix. He definitely lived up to the best of the Prime lineage with his actions at the end.
No way! Sparky sacrificing by entering the Matrix and it worked!
Pretty surprising stuff!
I feel like we will see sparky again. likely as a Headmaster or possibly transform the matrix into a body
It's certainly possible! I wouldn't put it past Skybound to do something with it eventually.
Like you said it should be interesting to see how Thundercracker will react to the truth about Skywarp, if he ever learns it. Whether he tries to overthrow Starscream or takes a face turn like he did in IDW. Who knows.
Yeah, I'm definitely interested in seeing what happens there!
Cliffjumper not taking the shot. Is that not a call back to the cartoon?
Interesting...I hadn't considered that! You're talking about the opening mini series where he fires on Megatron despite being given orders not to, right? Or is there another one I'm missing?
Another pretty great issue by skybound
Not gonna lie, I think it's so cool that we're getting a new comic that adds to the functionality of the matrix and the overal mystic techno magic that is the matrix. This is only one of two comics I read that actually even explored the idea of doing this, the other being the IDW comics where they explained what the matrix actually WAS which was insane to me. Loving evert single bit of this comic so far.
I'm liking that aspect of it as well!
@@Moonbase3Have you watched Encanto?
@@AndrewDavis-sj6mb I have not! I wasn't even aware of it until your comment. :)
yep got a sub from me to keep up with the comics
Before my criticisms, I'm going to say overall I love this series - best Tf series of all time and we're only on issue 6.
However, there are a couple of issues that have cropped up that I feel I need to speak on.
One, the killing of Bumblebee (if that is in fact what has really occurred). The killing in and of itself is not the issue. It's the fact that after killing 'Bee - Cliffjumper has essentially taken on not only his role as the 'little guy' but also his overall personality. This comes totally to the fore in issue 6 when he has the chance to kill Starscream (who is right off his tech spec bio in a way we've never gotten to see). Cliffjumper's personality has hatred of the Decepticons built in to it as well as his rashness and overall disregard for human safety (or property), but in this series virtually every action he has taken is one that would be more appropriate to Bumblebee.
When I write Transformers fiction based on G1, I use the established personalities of the character instead of changing the character's personality outright. If this guy is in the mix with these characters, he is going to act like himself, modified by the absence or presence of other characters- like we do in real life. I don't feel that's how CJ is being written. it's not the end of the world, though.
Two, the damage that these characters can take has always been...flexible, but the issue I've found with damage in the first six books is that everything is so deadly when Devastator shows up it made me wonder how they ever survived him in the past - and by extension, ANY of them fighting each other - what were they fighting with before? Spit balls?
One thing IDW did well was better define a fatal injury to a Transformer. I'm not bashing. I'm just saying these things are kind of little bits that take me out of the story somewhat.
I can see where you coming from with your critiques. I think you raise a good point about Cliffjumper. I'll be interested to see what they're building towards with that character, but right now I can definitely see what you're saying. Although, I will say, him smashing through the house to take on Laserbeak in issue #3 felt like a very Cliffjumper thing to do, so I think there's still a bit of the classic interpretation of the character in there at times.
As for Devastator, it's a good question. I assumed it was worse this time around because the Autobots - even though they were freshly refortified - were still not at full strength. No base, and just enough reinforcements to handle what they thought were the existing crop of Decepticons...maybe they had more resources available to them in the past and that helped them pull through easier? I dunno.
Do you think Sparlplug isn't done. Maybe a part of Power Master Prime
That's interesting - potentially revamping the idea of Powermasters! I feel like we might get some hints of that stuff in Void Rivals, maybe. The cover to #10 has me suspicious, anyway. In any case, I would love to see Powermaster Prime appear - I always loved that design!
@Moonbase3 imagine it. Sparkplug emerges from the matrix, reformatted to interface with Prime. Or Sparkplug communication with Prime through the Matrix. Either way i am excited
This is.a good.stroy
Engine is workin just needed a new spark plug
🤣
Does anyone understand how Sparkplug walking into the Matrix can fix Prime?
Not really in terms of specifics...but there were clues leading up to this that the Matrix's power was linked to someone sacrificing their own life to use it. Apparently that works with humans, too!
1:31 when the rpe of optimus prime is over
?
Starscream rock n roll salute, then later asking what's a dad! Hilarious!
I suppose they have rock shows on Cybertron tho no dads!
🤣
They'll all be back.
Quite possible!
a highly traumatizing scene to me
That's fair. I know it hit some kids pretty hard. It's pretty intense for a kid's movie!
Your reviews rule
Thanks! Glad you're enjoying them - I appreciate the comment and that you're giving the videos a shot. 👍🏻
Also. Ive always been more of a Decepticon fan, and particularly not a fan of Optimus Prime. But DWJ made me like OP more and more with this run.
That's awesome to hear!
What if a innocent spirited minded human child were to prove worthy of welding the awe inspiring power and abilities of the matrix of leadership all shazam captain marvel Billy batson he-man prince adam like eh??
Where can I find these skybound comics?
Amazon & Google Play for digital, and your local comic shop or www MyComicShop.com for printed issues!
We have games like War/Fall of Cybertron, we have comics like these, how can someone not say we could have made movies 1000x better than the bay movies?
the size of each devastator limbs supposedly made of decepticons that is no bigger than OP
Yeah, there's usually some crazy mass-shifting going on with combiners!
Sparky noooo 😭
Why is it a “fledgling” series? From all accounts it’s selling very well
I meant it in the sense that it's still a relatively new and young series. :)
Gotcha. Yes it’s one of my favorite new titles along with Void Rivals
Yeah, Void Rivals is great! The new arc started really strong, too.
How in the hell would Sparkplug know that stepping into the matrix would result in everything that transpired as a result?
U mean optimus prime wrecks devastator
Ultimately, yes. :)
Devastator kill Optimus
It looks like the work of an artist with good gesture and compositional skills has been inked over by a 8 year old.
😂 I disagree, but that still made me chuckle.
I miss Dreamwaves art
Dreamwave had some good art, but I like this too.
I love the stories but dislike the artist
I knew going into this run that DWJ's style was not going to work for every Transformers fan. Hopefully future artists will hit the mark for you, especially since you're liking the writing!
I disagree. I think this artwork is trash. So cheap, lazy and unpolished. Arcee barely has any detail to her face in multiple panels. Cracker’s head is misshapen (most of the seekers are). And the art style is all over the place. Bots are drawn “sketchy” and rough, while humans are incredibly detailed for some reason. It’s a terrible contrast.
DWJ's style isn't for everyone. I will say, though, that sometimes the reverse of what you said is true - the bots, vehicles, and machinery are sometimes drawn with more details while the humans are less detailed. I think it's just Johnson's style. Regardless, I can't fault you for your preferences - it's if it doesn't work for you. :)
Except you can use the Matrix as a turbo battery. What is unexpected and BS is that it drains Prime's Lifeforce and that a human can somehow energize it. The Matrix is an artifact of universal power as Unicron is a universal threat. At least post Shroud. This whole comic run is a load of horse manure.
I wonder if they'll ever explain some of that stuff with the Matrix in this series. Dunno. In any case, I hope the future stories are more to your taste!
Have to say, not digging the artwork. It seems insanely cheap and far inferior to past comics. Where is the originality in the story?
Hopefully future artists will have a style that's more to your liking!
Ok, i'll be that guy....the artwork in this series is garbage...#yeahIsaidit
😂 The style isn't going to be to everyone's taste. Hope they have something that appeals to you more in the future!
Spark plugs sacrifice translate into trimming away the fight of this already train wreck. Prime ripping off devastators fingers and this stupid lettering remember the song, made me wanna vomit. It completely pissed me off..Then theres sorry ass cliff Jumper didnt kill star scream, and the failure to kill carla, Karly whatever her name is...I just stopped reading this trash,,,Unsubscribing to this...This nothing but terrible train wreck of trash comic
Sorry to hear that. Hopefully they can win you back with future stories.