BotTalk Reviews

Creators : Joshua Williamson (writer), Tom Reilly (artist), Jordie Bellaire (colorist), Rus Wooton (letterer) Story : Picking right up after last issue, Rock 'n Roll is down and the Joes are cornered but Duke comes in on a Cobra F.A.N.G. to help out.  Despite a valiant fight, Cobra is able to head off with the Shard/Energon Tech, though Duke is able to recognize Mercer. Cobra Commander sends in his elite "Valkyries" to finish the job (who kill any wounded) and remote detonates the laser guns so they aren't captured (upsetting Destro as he didn't know that feature was built in).   In the hospital, we find out Stalker and Cover Girl have pretty serious injuries, Rock 'n Roll is dead and Clutch is missing in the rubble.  General Hawk introduces Guerrero La Caza aka Risk, a CIA operative (seen last issue) to the team, upsetting Duke and they get into a fight.  Back at Springfield, Destro would like some more answers about the origin  of the Energon Tech but Cobra...

Time to break out Starscream’s Brigade? 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 and returns to them after a two-issue absence. In this fifteenth issue, Arcee and Beachcomber depart on a quest, Cliffjumper links up with the Autobot Resistance roaming the chunk of Cybertron he’s stranded on, and Soundwave and Starscream’s factions go to war! What kinda quest? What kinda war? A MAGNUS Quest, a CIVIL war! Arcee and Beachcomber are off with Spike and Carly to locate Ultra Magnus and bring him back. Meanwhile, the two Decepticon factions are about to clash head-to-head. Also, Optimus Prime tries to help humanity recover fr...

Void Rivals has The Touch! It does and it continues here with issue # 14! 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 fourteenth issue, Darak and Solila continue their separate journeys and come closer to learning the secrets behind the conspiracy that keeps their peoples apart. Also, the Skuxxoid continues being depressed and Hot Rod shows up on the trail of his buddy Springer! Depressed Skuxxoid, eh? Yeah, what’s the deal with that? What is Kirkman doi...

The infamous scene of the monster throwing little Maria into the lake plays out.  As the villagers search for the monster Henry discovers it.  They briefly struggle, with the monster victorious.  Taking refuge at an old windmill the monster tosses Henry to the ground.  The enraged villagers set fire to it and the monster seemingly dies in the inferno.   Maria's death is beautifully illustrated this issue.  The Monster smiling and flowers fluttering as she falls.  Great sequence.  The final ending that plays out here is lifted from the 1931 James Whale film, not the novel.  In the novel Henry searches for the monster after the death of his fiancé.  Their final encounter is in an arctic wasteland.  I have no problem with the movie ending being played out here.  Overall this is a fine adaption of Frankenstein that honours both the novel and the most famous incarnation of it put to film.   eight out of ten.

Creators : Larry Hama (Writer), Chris Mooneyham (Artist), Francesco Segala (Colorist), Sabrina Del Grosso (Flatter), Pat Brosseau (Letterer) Story : The battle for Springfield rages on with Cobra forces leading  Serpentor-Khan's forces into a trap.  The Dreadnoks and the Joe Ninja Force bring the Baroness to the hospital so he can be healed, with Zartan pretending to be Cobra Commander.  Meanwhile, Serpentor-Khan arrives, changing the tide of the battle and the Cobra forces retreat.  Just as Serpentor-Khan believes he has the upper hand, Destro's forces arrive. Writing : This is a fast-paced battle issue. All the action takes place in Springfield and it's a back and forth between a ground battle, air battle, and the commanding forces figuring out what to do. I felt that it flowed really well and even though the perspective changed to different areas, the pace never let up.  I also enjoyed that the story didn't switch to the Joe's command team at the Pit, as I fe...

Creators : Joshua Williamson, Tom Reilly, Jordie Bellaire Story :  Duke is leading the G.I. Joe team on some training exercises - Clutch, Stalker, Cover Girl, Rock 'n Roll and the Baroness, while giving a bit of background on each.  The Baroness does struggle working with the crew and Duke feels they are not ready yet. In Springfield, Destro shows off his newest gun to Cobra Commander who is very impressed with it.  In Abu Dhabi, G.I. Joe agent Risk (the one missing a part of his left pinkie) beats up some people and tells them not to sell to M.A.R.S. Industries.  Back at the Pit, Hawk and Duke talk it over on what it means to be a leader and what the team needs. They then get their first mission; to retrieve a piece of Cybertronian tech while at the same time Cobra is going after it.  While the Joes are retrieving the tech, they come under attack by Cobra forces, who seem to have them outgunned and out-technologized with their new laser rifles.   Writing ...

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 fourteenth issue sees Jason Howard step in to pencil the second part of a Starscream-centric tale. More Starscream origin stuff? Yes! We see how Megatron molded Starscream into the cruel murderer he is today! And in the present, we see how the Starscream of today has been molded by his injuries and some nosy humans into… half the ‘bot he used to be! The M.A.R.S. salvage squad from last issue has fused Starscream’s upper half with a H.I.S.S. tank, resulting in a true Transformers/G.I. Joe crossover! Much of the issue is spent es...