Bottalk Reviews

Creators : Dan Watters (Writer), Andrei Bressan (Artist), Adriano Lucas (Colorist), Rus Wooton (Letterer). Story : Tomax and Xamot are showing Cobra Commander around their newly acquired M.A.R.S. Corporation and what they can do with it when they come across Destro and a fight breaks out.  Outside, Scrap-Iron, Chameleon and Mercer take on the Crimson Guard.  During their fight, Destro and the Twins talk about the future, all the while Cobra Commander looks on.  Finally, the Overkill system is activated but Destro keeps it from killing the Twins.  He proposes they work together, under Cobra, because of the changes the world is going to see.  They agree.  Later, Destro and Astoria Carlton-Ritz are eating dinner while Destro launches a missile to take out the Overkill system. Later, Destro and distant cousin Darklon are at their ancestral tomb and Darklon apologizes for selling M.A.R.S. but Destro says the Evader Driver needs to wear a family mask, like the first Destro did and gives him

Creators : Kelly Thomas (Writer), Marco Ferrari (Artist), Lee Loughridge (Colorist), Rus Wooton (Letterer) Story : Scarlett, Jinx, and Storm Shadow have possession of the sword and Storm Shadow uses it to defeat a foe but then they see Cobra arrive and take cover. They ponder how to escape (with only two parachutes)  but Cobra Commander can detect the Energon the sword gives off and they get fired upon.  Scarlett gets injured and pushes Jinx out of the building (with the parachute) and jumps after her. The three split up to rendezvous later and Scarlett is able to touch base with Snow Job.  She decides to stay in to help Jinx.  Back at the Arashikage stronghold, Storm Shadow presents the sword to the Hard Master who gives it back and Storm Shadow raises it while the clan cheers on, surprising both Jinx and Scarlett.  Writing : Another good solid issue.  We start out with some good action and getting the trio to engage Cobra a bit was fun.  It was also good to see Snow Job and that Scar

Is it More Than Meets The Eye Time? You bet! With Robert Kirkman’s Void Rivals having launched Skybound’s Energon Universe, noted writer/artist rolled-into-one Daniel Warren Johnson takes the reins on the linchpin of this initiative, the flagship Transformers comic series! Well, he maintains the reins on the writing of this series at least, as does Mike Spicer on colors. Jorge Corona has taken over regular penciling duties with a style all his own. However, this thirteenth issue sees Jason Howard step in to pencil a sort of one-off story. We last saw Starscream gravely wounded and thrown to his death by Soundwave. As he lies in disarray, here we get an origin tale for the treacherous Seeker that plays out in his memories. Starscream’s origin? That’s what I said. The being known as “Starscream” is born here, as we flashback to his more idealistic and youthful days on Cybertron. Then known as “Ulchtar” (a nice deep-cut reference to a pre-production name for the character), he pals around

Creators : Dan Watters (writer), Andrei Bressan (artist), Adriano Lucas (colorist), Rus Wooton (letterer) Story : Tomax and Xamot are meeting with Artyom Darklon, willing to buy MARS since Destro hasn't been seen in 8 days.  However, they are disappointed to discover that the Battle Android Troopers aren't able to live up to their expectations.  Meanwhile, Destro has been reading over many confidential U.S. government files and is making his next move.  Destro makes an appearance at a party hosted by Astoria Carlton-Ritz (The Girl Who Loved Powerglide), who tries to run from Destro but he and Scrap-Iron are able to stop her.  It ends up, Astoria is much more shrewd than she appears and tells Destro about Project Overkill, an AI system meant to defend the world.  It was Overkill that attacked the arms show (though it was Astoria who tried to kill Destro).  Back at M.A.R.S. Industries, Tomax and Xamot welcome Cobra Commander.  Writing :  This issue really takes what we thought w

Prepare for battle? You bet! With Robert Kirkman’s Void Rivals having launched Skybound’s Energon Universe, noted writer/artist rolled-into-one Daniel Warren Johnson takes the reins on the linchpin of this initiative, the flagship Transformers comic series! Well, he maintains the reins on the writing of this series at least, as does Mike Spicer on colors. Jorge Corona has taken over regular penciling duties with a style all his own. In this twelfth issue, the Autobots’ rescue mission has gone horribly awry as Ultra Magnus abandoned them in the middle of a fight! Can Optimus Prime turn things around against Devastator and stop Shockwave’s plan to transfer Earth’s energy resources to Cybertron, which is now hovering over Earth via space bridge? Fighty fight? This issue is indeed mostly a long fight scene, which is only fitting for the conclusion of the second arc. The main drama happens late in the issue where Optimus faces a choice that will define his relationship with his Autobots and

Creators : Kelly Thompson (Writer), Marco Ferrari (Artist), Lee Loughridge (Colorist), Rus Wooton (Letterer) Story : During the corporate raid, Jinx and Scarlett exchange some code phrases.  Storm Shadow leads the rest of the clan to another floor looking for their weapon while Jinx and Scarlett are able to finally catch up as they make their way to a different floor.  Jinx believes that maybe the Arashikage could be an ally against the new threat: Cobra.  They eventually find the treasure and some Cobra troops.  Shadow joins in and he is able to retrieve the sword.   Writing :  We get a good "catch up" issue here.  Scarlett and Jinx finally get their moments to tell each other what's going on.  The main meta-plot going on right now doesn't move too much though, some hints are put throughout these issues along with leaving on a good cliffhanger. Art : This issue does have many cool fight scenes but we also get a page or two of Jinx and Scarlett just standing around a

Creators : Dan Watters (Writer), Andrea Milana (Artist), Adriano Lucas (Colorist), Rus Wooton (Letterer) Story : At Destro's ancestral shrine, he is attacked by the assassin sent to kill him and his arrogance quickly diminishes as his assailant proves to be resourceful.  She is able to disable his weapons and comms and call in drones that end up shooting down his Despoiler craft.  Back at M.A.R.S. HQ, Mercer and Scrap-Iron discuss how advanced the weapons they retrieved from the attack are and how Tomax and Xamot probably don't have the technology to produce something that advanced, hinting at a third party.  We get a flashback to the first Destro to wear a mask, during the reign of Oliver Cromwell (as this Destro provided weapons to all parties involved).  Meanwhile, Destro survives his crash and makes his way to a U.S. Air Force base in Scotland where he ends up speaking with General Flagg.  Writing : While the overall story didn't move too far along, with the bulk of the

Void Rivals has better things to do tonight than die! It does and it continues here with issue # 12! Void Rivals is Robert Kirkman and Lorenzo De Felici’s sci-fi comic that tells the tale of two crumbling planets linked by a “Sacred Ring” (it’s not Halo), their peoples at war for generations. When a member of each culture are stranded together, the two find they must put aside their differences if they want to survive. This story takes place in the so-called “Energon Universe”, Skybound Entertainment’s initiative to relaunch properties like Transformers and G.I. Joe within a shared universe that also happens to include the original characters and setting of Void Rivals. In this twelfth issue, Darak and Solila reach a crossroads as they find their paths must now diverge. Who gets the giant green sword-wielding robot in the separation? We also check in with all our other players, including Skuxxoid and Proximus as the second arc comes to a close. We’ve reached the second trade cut-off po

Prepare for battle? Uh sure! With Robert Kirkman’s Void Rivals having launched Skybound’s Energon Universe, noted writer/artist rolled-into-one Daniel Warren Johnson takes the reins on the linchpin of this initiative, the flagship Transformers comic series! Well, he maintains the reins on the writing of this series at least, as does Mike Spicer on colors. Jorge Corona has taken over regular penciling duties with a style that barely misses a step from DWJ’s previous efforts. In this eleventh issue, the Autobots mount a rescue mission to save Jazz and Cliffjumper from Shockwave’s torture, but not everyone’s on the same page when it comes to engaging the enemy! Why, who’s got a problem with slagging ‘Cons?? Jeez, where do I start? Optimus wants to take the “high road”, Elita One wants to take out their enemies once and for all, Carly just wants to be useful, and Beachcomber doesn’t want to do anything at all! The good guys are all over the map in this issue about agreeing what is necessa