by Dave Scrimgeour and Kevin McCluskey Script- Simon Furman Art- Jeff Anderson Letters- Annie Halfacree Colours- Tony Jozwiak Editor- Ian Rimmer synopsisIronhide re-evaluates the Autobots' ill-fated attempt to rescue Jazz from the clutches of Galvatron, whilst freeing Megatron from under tons of rubble, in the hope that the Decepticon will lead them in their next attempt. Dave Right, so, ready to rock 'n 'roll. Maybe not quite. Anyway, it's issue 81 now, and it is last week’s featured artist doing the cover for this week, so in the end, we did get a slight bit more from Simpson. I like it, he really knows how to capture the power of these machines, and the damage they can cause. Plus, it has a nice blend of colours in it as well. Not so bright and overpowering this time. Kev Yeh, Will Simpson goes from last week’s interior, to cover artist this week, with this shocking cover. I’m pretty sure that upon seeing this in ‘86, I would’ve been dying to know how we got here, with Galvatron standing triumphant over the fallen Autobots. You're right though, the colours are a bit more muted here than they were on his interiors last issue. Dave It's a very dramatic looking pose, almost Shakespearean in appearance, but it shows the devastation about to occur. Kev Ah, good point. It does have a bit of a Shakespearean, Hamlet, look to it, doesn't it? Dave And we are back to the talents of Jeff Anderson again, who has a different look altogether to his artwork when compared to Will Simpson. From the very first panel you can see this, and I love the desert backdrop setting against a very red looking Ironhide, who really is the central focus and central character in this issue. Kev Definitely. And I honestly think this may be my pick for Furman’s most well written single Transformers issue. I love it all; the plot device, the prose, Ironhide’s narration, the reveal, it's all excellent stuff. And Anderson’s ability to make the robots act, and emote, was never more on display than it was here with Ironhide. He really manages to sell Ironhide as a broken, defeated, desperate Autobot. I mean, come on; how good is that image of a “bloody,” unconscious Ironhide, with Galvatron’s boot on his face? That’s a stunning image. Dave Totally. I love the simplicity of Anderson’s artwork, yet it is actually very compelling, visually. Like you said, that panel of Ironhide lying on the ground with Galvatron’s foot on his face shows a look of sheer anguish in a robot. Ironhide is essentially acting irrationally again, for a machine, and the way Furman brings us into the story with Ironhide's narration is such simple, yet effective, quick storytelling. It's amazing how easily he can keep the flow of the story going. Kev Yeah, this is an excellent set-up for another Furman recap, and the transition between the two panels of Ironhide as they go from the present, to his flashback, is superb. Dave Yep, and the first 3 panels go long range, to mid-range, to close-up of Ironhide, showing him deep in thought, Kev Yeh, it's very clever, and very effective. Of course, Jetfire is leading the Autobots straight into Galvatron’s trap here. Dave And the squabbling of the Autobots is a common theme throughout this story, as Jetfire and Ironhide are at odds with Hound here. I like those little interactions, it shows that the good guys are not completely in harmony with each other, and each have their own individual flaws. Kev Yeh, I also love Jetfire’s cattiness towards Magnus. “If he condescends to join us,.....” Ha, ha! Furman is really starting to set-up the inevitable clash between Galvatron and Ultra Magnus now. And what a clash it is when we get to it. It’s like long term booking in wrestling, building up to a big pay-per-view main event. Dave It's the two main heavy hitters getting ready to go at it, isn't it? Kev Totally. The “booking,” and the “build,” are superb here. Jetfire is in the right though, he probably should be suspicious of Magnus showing up so soon after Prime disappeared. Dave Absolutely. I like that line by Ironhide, "What do you mean no?! What sort of Autobot are you?” He has absolutely no regard for who Magnus is. Or even his status within the Autobot ranks. Kev No. He’s still completely unaware of who he is. And there's an element of them not caring either. The Earth Autobots are really starting to feel like outliers now. I suppose, it's been 4 million years since they were last involved in the war on their Cybertronian home turf. Dave Another Ironhide line I like, just showing how impetuous he can be, is "Suit yourself. If you're the standard Cybertron issue…” Talking like Magnus is quite literally just off the assembly line. Yet still, Magnus remains incredibly controlled and dignified, even when Ironhide is having a go at him. Kev Magnus is great here as the conflicted soldier, who knows he must follow his orders, despite his desire to help the Earth-based Autobots in their issues with Galvatron. Dave Conflicts of interests is most definitely a recurring theme in this. Kev Yep, definitely. I also like how Ironhide punches the word “comrades.” Just to twist the knife into the already guilty feeling Magnus. Letting him know exactly just how let down he feels by him. Dave Ironhide is certainly very disdainful towards Magnus, and it's this hotheaded behaviour which makes things go from bad to worse. Kev Absolutely. Tactically, without Prime to lead them, the Autobots are terrible. No formation, bunching together, then having to scatter to avoid Cyclonus and Scourge’s strafing attacks, it's a pretty awful display from them. And all of this is justification for Ironhide’s decision, and the reveal at the end of this issue. I also really like how Anderson changes the design on Ironhide’s flashback panels to look like they have been taken from a monitor in his memory banks. Dave I really like the panel on top left of page 5, with a brooding looking Ironhide, and the engulfing flame of the desert heat in the background. Then we get an onslaught of action straight from the next panel, as Mirage crashes into the ground suddenly. Kev I agree, that panel conveys a ton of emotion. Cyclonus and Scourge are like two cats playing with mice, they way they taunt the Autobots. I like that, “No takers?” panel of Scourge. Dave Those 3 pages of action are great, and I love the visuals. Just the choreography of the scene. It really is value for your money, given the limited number of pages to tell this story, and this is what Furman did so well with 'Dragon's Claws' too, short, little bursts of action. Kev Yeah, I think Furman writes that big, summer blockbuster, action movie style comic as well as anyone I can think of. Dave Yeah, he pulls that stuff out of the bag so well. Kev He really does, and I love how Anderson draws the Autobots with the oil, smeared across their faces, like they’ve had their noses bloodied. He also draws Galvatron with a fantastic shit-eating grin. Like he does in that panel of Galvatron laughing at the Autobots and their firepower. It’s great. Dave Yeah, that is a great panel of an evil smirking Galvatron, about to show these little ants how easily he can step on them. I actually feel that Anderson's artwork looks less fresh faced in his characters. I wonder if some of Simpson’s more grizzled looking characters has had an influence on his artwork in this issue. Kev Ah, that's an interesting point about them looking less fresh faced. That hadn't really occurred to me, but you're right. Dave Especially compared to the earlier issues we covered. Kev No, you're definitely right. The events of 'Target: 2006' have already aged these Autobots at least another 4 million years. Dave And there's some great colours in those panels throughout this set piece. Kev Yeh, I love the colours Jozwiak employs on the lasers on that last panel of page 9. "And laughed." I also like the sound of a “fracture rocket.” It sounds badass. Dave It really is setting up for the fall of Ironhide, as we see the Autobots, are so sure of themselves as they confront Galvatron on page 8. Kev Yep, their hubris comes back to haunt them here. They walk straight into Galvatron's trap. He’s conducting them like an orchestra. Dave Galvatron is really one for making those long villainous speeches, eh? Kev Ha, ha! Yeh, he loves the sound of his own voice, does old Galvatron, so he loves a good bad guy monologue. It's the same hubris that he uses against the Autobots, and it's something that he, himself, is susceptible to. Dave He is most definitely an egomaniac of the highest order. This is a display of sheer physical force coming up, as he taunts them into unloading all the firepower they have on him. Kev Yeh, I remember reading this at the time and being amazed at just how powerful, and invulnerable he seemed, and wondering how on earth the Autobots were ever going to defeat him. Dave The new and improved Decepticon leader; a force of nature. Kev Definitely. Especially if you consider Unicron a force of nature as well. Dave And the bottom panel of him laughing shows how arrogant he is. Kev Yeh, that panel of Galvatron laughing at the Autobots and their firepower is so good. It’s interesting that Ironhide states that Galvatron “relished every moment” of beating the “fuel” out of them. This speaks to a certain cruelty within Galvatron. Again, like a cat, playing with mice. Dave And it doesn't actually show him doing it one by one, or whatever method he used, it just cuts to the end of it. It’s a great panel, and it saves wasting any unnecessary time, I suppose. Kev Yeh, I think that's a great example of "less is more," as it allows the reader's mind to run wild, filling in those blanks, so to speak. Dave There is plenty of accompanying dialogue and narrative to fill in the blanks. Ironhide is shown in the following panels as both physically and emotionally defeated at this point. Kev He's crushed, isn't he? Almost literally so, beneath Galvatron's heel as well. Dave We see how the Autobots, at this stage, without a leader like Prime to guide them, are essentially lost, and not at all effective in working together, to take on this mammoth new enemy. Kev And it is this need of someone to lead, that results in that reveal. This is excellent circular storytelling here by Furman, as we end this issue at essentially the same point at which we started it. Now THAT, is a “Holy shit!” moment. I think you would’ve had to pick 9 year old Kev’s jaw off the floor after he read this for the first time, back in 1986. Dave That top panel on the final page, with him kneeling on the ground, is ace. The use of shadows around his face highlights his sullenness. It would have been such an impactful blow for the Autobots. This would have really built up the tension. “Which is why I am digging. Digging my own grave." A final testament to the broken mind of an Autobot. Kev Yeh, Anderson has made good use of shadows obscuring characters' faces throughout this issue, and his use of body language is spot on as well. Ironhide's slumped shoulders say it all as well. Dave His knack for portraying human emotions in robots is excellent. It is quite a stark contrast to Simpson's artwork. I am undecided as to which style I like better at this point. But both are excellent in their own portrayal. Kev Yeh, the UK stories were always a bit of a buffet for artists and their particular styles and flavours. Now, although I might have preferred that this issue ended on that reveal, this little epilogue is very well written, and it really sets up how another, seemingly much smaller plot point, is ultimately going to play a pivotal role in the outcome of this story. Dave Yeah, to round up this issue we have a 3 panel teaser of an epilogue, which just shows how things are going to get even worse. A hand smashing through the lid of a pod is a good way to end this issue. Kev Furman loved using an epilogue to tease you into buying the next issue. Clever stuff. Dave Yeah, it doesn't need much either. Just a small teaser, and then let your imagination run wild until next week's issue. I bet you that after we read that issue, we couldn't wait for next week's issue, as kids. Kev I certainly couldn't, no. Which is what makes what they do with the next issue even more infuriating and frustrating, in the best possible way. It's a superb exercise in delayed gratification. Dave How do you feel, with regards to your preference of artists so far? Anderson or Simpson? Kev Oooh! Now you're asking. I appreciate Simpson's style a whole lot more as an adult than I did as a kid, but I reckon Anderson just shades it for me. I like how his Transformers look, and feel, like solid objects. Who would you go for out of the two of them? Dave I do find Anderson's work very appealing, and it’s visually great, I agree. Probably Anderson, however if there are any more issues done by Simpson in this series, I might have to rethink that opinion. It would be an interesting one to find out who the readers prefer as well. Did you have this on order from R S McColls? Kev At this time, I certainly did. I used to get it delivered every week. Dave So, that's pretty that much that issue covered, any final thoughts? Kev Not really, no. Just to reiterate that I think that this issue is some of Furman's most technically accomplished work on the title. He's firing on all cylinders with this one, in my opinion. You got any final thoughts? Dave Just that it was another cracking issue. And again, the combination of Furman's excellent writing and Anderson's excellent drawings make it such an enjoyable read. This is the type of Transformers story that they should have told in the live action picture. Kev Yeh, I agree. I get that they had to update it for an audience that was 20 years removed from this, but this IS a summer blockbuster already. Oh well. (D) & (K) Next: "Wreck and Rule!"
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