TRANSFORMERS ENERGON #19

Cover Date: January 2004
Story: Simon Furman
Pencils: Guido Guidi
Inks: Elaine To
Lettering: Ben Lee
Setting: Cybertron: Cyber City, East Energon Processor, The Southern Polar Peninsula. Mini-Con Sector: Village Six-Beta. Unknown Space - Unicron.

Plot Summary:
Ten years after the defeat of Unicron, Cybertron is at peace, as Autobot, Decepticon and Mini-Con live in peace. However, Optimus Prime is having trouble accepting this, believing that the threat of Unicron still exists. When confronted by the Autobot High Council's lack of concern towards these troubles, citing the current state of peace, Optimus wonders if there can truly be peace between the factions. Nearby, A Decepticon group led by Tidal Wave is assaulting an Energon processing facility when they are interrupted by Starscream, who wonders if this group of renegade Decepticons can combat against the current Autobot regime. Tidal Wave's comment that "there are others" announces the arrival of Scorponok, who immediately takes care of Starscream, sending him tumbling into the Energon processor. Before he does so, however, he manages to take Tidal Wave down with him, crushing his leg. Scorponok tells Cruellock to get Tidal Wave out, as the Decepticons head off towards an unknown destination. At Mini-Con village Six-Beta, Optimus tries to talk to Over-Run, but is stopped by two mysterious Transformers, who cause the Autobot leader great annoyance. Over-Run soon appears, introducing the two as Skyblast and Signal Flare, a race of Transformer call Omnicons that Over-Run has begun to develop and nurture. Optimus explains to Over-Run his problems concerning Unicron, to which Over-Run simply tells Prime to "ask the planet." At Unicron's powered down remains at the depths of known space, the Decepticons arrive and are greeted by the being known as "Alpha Quintesson", who reconstructs Tidal Wave in a new form, and gives them the mission to find Energon to repower Unicron. At the Southern Polar Peninsula, Optimus, Hot Shot and Ironhide approach an uplink platform that Over-Run has directed Prime to. As Hot Shot sends Ironhide off to scout (after enduring the young Autobot's hero worship), Optimus conncects with the uplink, seeing an ancient Transformer, along with the Decepticons inside Unicron, along with a more familiar presence…Megatron, trapped within Unicron's spark core, and wanting to get out. As the Decepticons depart, Alpha Quintesson turns to four shadow figures, the new Heralds of Unicron: Airazor, Cheetor, Rhinox and Terrorsaur! Alpha Quintesson gives them the mission of preventing Autobot resistance, and to "bring forth the apocalypse!"

Transformers/Humans Featured (in rough order of appearance):
Powerlinx Optimus Prime, Hot Shot, Battle Ravage, Divebomb, Cruellock, Insecticon, Starscream, Scorponok, Skyblast, Signal Flare, Over-Run, Unicron, Alpha-Quintesson, Ironhide, Airazor, Cheetor, Rhinox, Terrorsaur.

Other Notes:
Among the cameos in the splash page across page 2 and 3 are Thrust, Cyclonus, Red Alert and Scavenger, along with Energon Jetfire, Rodimus Prime and Prowl. The review of this issue on BWTF.com mentions three very interesting things about this issue: First, writer Simon Furman has said that the Omnicons are a new evolutionary branch of the Transformer race, and not simply upgraded Mini-Cons as many had feared. Second, the Energon factory that Starscream gets caught in takes materials and converts them to Energon pellets. Furman says that this will play a role in Starscream's resurrection. Last, Furman has said that the Terrorcons (Battle Ravage, Divebomb, Cruellock and Insecticon) will gain the ability to clone themselves, similar to how the Terrorcon characters are being portrayed in the cartoon. The High Council members, and the unknown Transformer Prime makes contact with when connected to the uplink, bear a similar appearance to the G1 character Alpha Trion. While Tidal Wave has gained his "Energon" colors in this issue, he has yet to get the "lightning" pattern that the toy has.

Review: This issue acts on two different levels: As a bridge between the Armada and Energon universes (separated by a ten year time span), and the set up for Energon's first story arc. The connection is made very well. While we do see a good handful of new characters from Energon (Skyblast, Signal Flare, Hot Shot in his Energon form), we get a good handful of Armada characters making background appearances (Thrust, Cyclonus, Red Alert). Perhaps the best idea was to keep Optimus Prime in his "Powerlinx" form, and not resort to getting him into his Energon body (At least in this issue.)

Another area that I think was great was Scorponok, the leader of the renegade "Terrorcon" Decepticons. Unlike Megatron, who has used stealth and cunning to get what he wants, Scorponok does what he wants however he wants to do it. Taking out Starscream (or so he thinks) is an immediate statement of this.

What I liked the most, though, was Ironhide. Having seen the first episode of Energon, I see that they have given him the role of "rebelling adolescent idolizing the big name guys" role previously held by Hot Shot. And while it is pretty much the same role he has here, I find myself liking the character more here than I do in the cartoon. (Maybe it's because I don't have to hear Matt Hill doing the voice…)

Another thing I especially liked was using the Armada beasts as Unicron's new heralds. One of my (many) complaints about Armada #18 was that they, with the exception of Rhinox, were not that heavily featured in the run, and that their purpose in the issue seemed little more than to be cannon fodder. However, giving them the roles previously held by Galvatron and his crew was an interesting surprise.

Overall, I would recommend this issue to everyone wanting to see a (sort of) resolution to the events of Armada, and to prepare themselves for a new and interesting story

Review by Bombshell