Enfilade
2004-08-16 04:02:14 UTC
This review contains SPOILERS
The background story, explained in text, is that initially,
Micromasters were designed as an energy saving measure. Several
larger Autobots and Decepticons, such as Countdown and Bombshock, were
downsized. However, the risk and energy required made the process
inefficient. As a result, Shockwave suggested a bold idea: that the
Autobots and Decepticons pool their meager remaining resources, build
the Micromasters, and allow them to choose their own allegiances.
Using Vector Sigma, the Micromasters were created and segregated in a
small city where they were to learn about life on Cybertron before
they had to decide their sides. Of course, both Autobots and
Decepticons corrupted the process by attempting to influence those
they'd earmarked as future troops and slowly the Micromaster city
became the ghetto of Little Iacon.
The comic begins a few years after the Micromasters were segregated
into sides. Some of them are still struggling with the idea that
their friends in the ghetto have now become their enemies on the
opposing faction. They are also annoyed at having to risk their own
lives for the larger Transformers who seem to do little for them. And
most of all, since the Autobots and Decepticons didn't allow the
Micromasters much true choice at all, the addition of these new robots
evenly to each faction means the war continues, as stalemated as ever.
So, Issue 1. It opens with Autobot micromasters risking their lives
to rescue inactivated large Transformers, as Decepticon Micros attempt
to stop them. One of the Autobots, Crunch, is killed--to the shock of
both his teammates and the Decepticon Micros, who'd never actually
intended their strike to do THAT much damage. Big Daddy in particular
is tired of fighting for the Autobots, who he doesn't like, against
the Decepticons, who he doesnt' hate, and particularly of fighting the
Decepticon Micros who he feels more in common with than the Autobots.
Countdown returns to Cybertron, seeking reinforcements to contain
Skystalker, who had just wiped out nearly the entire population of
Paradron. Ultra Magnus and Fortress Maximus tell Countdown that they
can't afford to give him reinforcements. Countdown and Groundshaker
try to argue that the Autobots have a responsibility to the universe
to contain both the expanding Decepticons and other threats to peace
and order, but they get nowhere.
A furious Big Daddy wants to know why he and his team were ordered by
Magnus to go retrieve the big Autobots, resulting in Crunch's death.
Magnus tells them to shut up and do their jobs. Big Daddy argues that
it isn't fair that the Autobots' lives are considered more important
than the lives of fellow Micromasters (ie, Crunch). Magnus slams him
down. Big Daddy's anger is seething. Magnus wishes he had handled the
situation better.
Meanwhile, the Decepticon Micros also head home, with Motorhead in bad
shape. He's dying and needs fuel, but Octane won't share. (He does
survive though) The Race Track Patrol goes to tell Shockwave that,
after their energon retrieval mission has succeeded, they weren't
being given their share of the energon. Shockwave tells them to file
a complaint, but the Patrol isn't buying--they're tired of risking
their lives to bring energon back to the inefficient "guzzlers," for
no reward. The Patrol is also thinking of rebellion.
The Autobot Micros are fighting between Groundhog, who is very loyal
to the Autobots, and Sidetrack. Big Daddy stops the fight. He is
tired of being told what to do by the guzzlers, and has decided to
leave. Some of the others follow him to Little Iacon...where they
meet the Decepticon Roller Force. The two groups prepare to fight but
quickly realize they have much in common--then their reunion is
interrupted by the arrival of the Deluxe Insecticons! (to be
continued...)
Comments, questions, debate?
--Enfilade
The background story, explained in text, is that initially,
Micromasters were designed as an energy saving measure. Several
larger Autobots and Decepticons, such as Countdown and Bombshock, were
downsized. However, the risk and energy required made the process
inefficient. As a result, Shockwave suggested a bold idea: that the
Autobots and Decepticons pool their meager remaining resources, build
the Micromasters, and allow them to choose their own allegiances.
Using Vector Sigma, the Micromasters were created and segregated in a
small city where they were to learn about life on Cybertron before
they had to decide their sides. Of course, both Autobots and
Decepticons corrupted the process by attempting to influence those
they'd earmarked as future troops and slowly the Micromaster city
became the ghetto of Little Iacon.
The comic begins a few years after the Micromasters were segregated
into sides. Some of them are still struggling with the idea that
their friends in the ghetto have now become their enemies on the
opposing faction. They are also annoyed at having to risk their own
lives for the larger Transformers who seem to do little for them. And
most of all, since the Autobots and Decepticons didn't allow the
Micromasters much true choice at all, the addition of these new robots
evenly to each faction means the war continues, as stalemated as ever.
So, Issue 1. It opens with Autobot micromasters risking their lives
to rescue inactivated large Transformers, as Decepticon Micros attempt
to stop them. One of the Autobots, Crunch, is killed--to the shock of
both his teammates and the Decepticon Micros, who'd never actually
intended their strike to do THAT much damage. Big Daddy in particular
is tired of fighting for the Autobots, who he doesn't like, against
the Decepticons, who he doesnt' hate, and particularly of fighting the
Decepticon Micros who he feels more in common with than the Autobots.
Countdown returns to Cybertron, seeking reinforcements to contain
Skystalker, who had just wiped out nearly the entire population of
Paradron. Ultra Magnus and Fortress Maximus tell Countdown that they
can't afford to give him reinforcements. Countdown and Groundshaker
try to argue that the Autobots have a responsibility to the universe
to contain both the expanding Decepticons and other threats to peace
and order, but they get nowhere.
A furious Big Daddy wants to know why he and his team were ordered by
Magnus to go retrieve the big Autobots, resulting in Crunch's death.
Magnus tells them to shut up and do their jobs. Big Daddy argues that
it isn't fair that the Autobots' lives are considered more important
than the lives of fellow Micromasters (ie, Crunch). Magnus slams him
down. Big Daddy's anger is seething. Magnus wishes he had handled the
situation better.
Meanwhile, the Decepticon Micros also head home, with Motorhead in bad
shape. He's dying and needs fuel, but Octane won't share. (He does
survive though) The Race Track Patrol goes to tell Shockwave that,
after their energon retrieval mission has succeeded, they weren't
being given their share of the energon. Shockwave tells them to file
a complaint, but the Patrol isn't buying--they're tired of risking
their lives to bring energon back to the inefficient "guzzlers," for
no reward. The Patrol is also thinking of rebellion.
The Autobot Micros are fighting between Groundhog, who is very loyal
to the Autobots, and Sidetrack. Big Daddy stops the fight. He is
tired of being told what to do by the guzzlers, and has decided to
leave. Some of the others follow him to Little Iacon...where they
meet the Decepticon Roller Force. The two groups prepare to fight but
quickly realize they have much in common--then their reunion is
interrupted by the arrival of the Deluxe Insecticons! (to be
continued...)
Comments, questions, debate?
--Enfilade