Comic Review: Monstrosity IDW digital release

[i_amtrunks]

Thanks to the "Monstrosity" sale, the new digital only series has had issue 1 released. It is a direct continuation of Autocracy, which did receive a print release as a collection a few months after the final release.

This is the regathering issue, where we see where the two big players are after their "final" confrontation in Autocracy. We see Prime trying to deal with fractured Cybertronian politics while Megatron has his decepticons looking after him in true decepticon fashion.

A couple of little nods to to fiction past, but with some twists in it. Nice to see Alpha Trion with his face rag and Bumblebee talking, I know he does in RiD too but after so much silent Bee in other media, it's great to have him talking whenever he does.

Worth the $1 it costs digitally, the art remains the same as Autocracy, so if you didn't like it then, you'll not like it anymore now.

[Spitcurlboy]

Bulkhead is G1 now, knew when i put prime bulkhead with my classics it would pay off

[i_amtrunks]

Issue two is out And worth every one of the 99 cents.

No prime, this is a decepticon focused issue. We get Scorponok and the terrorcons as well as dinobots that are hinted to having a similar affliction to their "Prime/FoC" counterparts.

We get to see Megatron showcasing his power and drive again, it is brutal. His time on junkion reveals it was indeed Megatron who was on the cover of issue 1.

The rating this issue really pops on the iPad, I am not sure that it will look as good in print form, but it is far better than what I have since seen on the online preview pages.

My only concern is that these prehistory issues seem to want to contradict what we already know has happened as we have been told or shown in the -tion, ongoing and current series. I'll continue to believe that autocracy was a parallel universe style story, same with monstrosity until we are definitively shown that they tie in well together.

[Spitcurlboy]

yeah, there seems to be some parrells to what we already know but there are distinct difference too

[BigTransformerTrev]

I loved Autocracy and am loving the two issues I have downloaded of Monstrosity so far (got an iPhone 5 today and it was the first thing I did ;) ). Considering how big Scorponok is, Hun-Grrr (or Hun-GAr now for some damn reason) must be bloody huge! Would say more but 'spoilers' and all :)

[Sharky]

I loved Autocracy and am loving the two issues I have downloaded of Monstrosity so far (got an iPhone 5 today and it was the first thing I did ;) ). Considering how big Scorponok is, Hun-Grrr (or Hun-GAr now for some damn reason) must be bloody huge! Would say more but 'spoilers' and all :)

well this is a review thread, if your in here you most likley have read the issue already so speak your mind :P

[BigTransformerTrev]

well this is a review thread, if your in here you most likley have read the issue already so speak your mind :P

Well alrighty then :) ...


In issue one you see Scorponok pick up a barely conscious Megatron in one claw before he throws him out of Astrotrains airlock. So Scorponok is pretty damn big, as someone in the crowd says in issue two. But also in Issue two when Hun-Grrr (bugger the new spelling) confronts Scorponok while in two-headed dragon mode, he is at least as tall as Scorponok and takes up nearly the whole panel. The proportions are akin to a human standing in front of a full grown rhino! So if Scorp can pick up big ol' Megatron in one claw (thus huge) and Scorp looks like he could come up to Hun-Grrr's waist at best if Hun-Grrr went to robot mode - then Hun-Grrr must be fricken massive!

[BigTransformerTrev]

Just read the latest issue (No 3). While it was quite good and moved the story along well, nothing major happened in this issue of particular note. It's nice to see a Quintession make an appearance, I always liked them as bad guys in the TF universe, though of course hated (even before the Primus storyline came along) the idea of them being the TF creators in the original cartoon.


I do like the portrayl of Junkion in this series. About the only cringe-worthy scene in the animated movie (besides everything Wheelie did) was them all having a dance with the Junkions and Dinobots. To see Junkion portrayed as a world of desolation and death filled with psychotic combatants made of scrap is a great 'grown-up' take on what used to be the comic relief in Season 3. Can't wait for the next issue!

[BigTransformerTrev]

Latest Issue: No 4

Still really enjoying thier portrayl of Junkion, making me kinda wish now that the next High Moon Studio's game happens in space so they can visit it, rather than just heading straight to 1984.

Sharkticons on Junkion? Well, no reason they couldn't be I suppose and it's great to see them finally make an appearance, as well as actually appearing dangerous for once. Love how Meg's kills a bunch, but is last seen sinking into the depths with half a dozen attached to him.

Interesting to see how they have portrayed Grimlock having a FoC'esque Transformation where he loses control. Not really much of a Transformation though, he just hunches over, grows jagged spines on his back and starts going "KILL YOU ALLLLL". It feels kind of shoehorned in to be honest, and doesn't really jive with things like Spotlight: Shockwave. Interested to see where they can take it in the few issues they have left.

Still really enjoying this series, though this issue was a little weaker than the last few IMO.

[BigTransformerTrev]

Issue 5 & 6:


Issue 5:
*A pretty weak explaination to how Megatron escaped the Sharkticons "The wretches pulled me down and released me". Hopefully the Quintessons comment about it being 'interesting' means there will be further explaination down the line.
*The great exodus has begun. Doesn't really jive with the whole 'Thunderwing ruined Cybertron' storyline set up years ago. Though it does work with the Drift mini-series of Dai Atlas and so on leaving, as well as the 'Robots in Disguise' series as right now it is just the neutrals leaving, leaving the Autobot/Decepticon war behind them.

Issue 6:
*Back story to how Grimlock and the rest got their bestial alt-modes which is kinda interesting. a 6th Dynobot that died?! Hmmmm, not sure how the fanboys will react to that. Overall though this is a nice explaination of what Grim & co got up to and what made them such a tight-knit yet 'hostile to everyone else' team.
*The ending - finding a GIANT Trypticon - FRIGGIN YES!!! It's been bugging me in IDW how the few times we've seen Trypticon he's been not much bigger than Omega Supreme (He was like that in the old Marvel comics too). In this he looks on par with Metroplex as it should be, much like WFC and the G1 cartoon. Can't wait to see what happens with one of my fav characters/toys next!

[i_amtrunks]

Like the different reason for the Dynobots aggression based alt modes, was fearful of a Prime based reason.

Interesting to see "naturally forming Energon" that was primal or tainted, either path offers interesting options for storytelling.

Big reveal of Trypticon was cool, he looks huge, I love that it was a science team with bugger all weaponry that seem to be the focus for the next 2-3 issues, something different. Also enjoyed the introduction of Kup, been missing him in the current timeline stories, wish he hadn't been sacrificed so badly in such a terrible crossover.
Strangely no Megatron or actual Dinobots this issue, neither were really missed. It'd be nice not to see Megs until the final issue to leave some things hanging.

[BigTransformerTrev]

Issue 7:

Mainly storyline setting up for the next issue. Delves into Trypticons history the tiniest bit. Very Tolkin-esque, there is an underground lake of treasure (energon) but it is guarded by a huge fierce dragon that currently slumbers.

Highlight of the issue was Megatron fighting the Terrorcons. I think the way Megatron defeated them was well done, I would have been annoyed if he had managed to hand their robot-arses to them in his underpowered state, and I didn't see the twist coming, ripping out the Quintessons green spark and using it to power himself. Raises a whole new question - do Quintessons have sparks? And if so, does that mean they are related to the TF's or is it that all robotic lifeforms have their soul/lifeforce exist in this manner?

[i_amtrunks]

Raises a whole new question - do Quintessons have sparks? And if so, does that mean they are related to the TF's or is it that all robotic lifeforms have their soul/lifeforce exist in this manner?

Big question that will likely be glossed over.

I liked that Megatron barely struggled with them even when almost empty on fuel, it was only their numbers that gave them a sliver of hope of victory. Nice gladiatorial style fight, but over too quickly. One of the drawbacks of the shortened format. Still loving Ramondelli's art though, he has captured Junkion beautifully.

[BigTransformerTrev]

Big question that will likely be glossed over.

I liked that Megatron barely struggled with them even when almost empty on fuel, it was only their numbers that gave them a sliver of hope of victory. Nice gladiatorial style fight, but over too quickly. One of the drawbacks of the shortened format. Still loving Ramondelli's art though, he has captured Junkion beautifully.

Yeah sadly this is true. Though with the ever expanding IDW TF universe it may not (hopefully) be the last we see of the Quintessons so it may be expanded on one day.

Complete agreement about the fight in regards to it was over too quickly. Good fight though!

I have not been a fan of Ramondelli's artwork - EXCEPT in the two digital release comics. Didn't like it in 'Chaos' and haven't liked it in other various issues, but for Autocracy and Monstrosity it seems to fit perfectly and is a visual joy, the grittiness of it is just right. In RID though I am definitely not a fan.

[i_amtrunks]

Issue is a paint by numbers setup issue ready for the big fights to come in the final third of this series.

Art too washed out this time for me, everything was so bleak. Also having trouble seeing the Monstrosity Shockwave being the one and same as RiD. Also not a fan of Soundwaves method of acknowledging a joke.

[BigTransformerTrev]

Also not a fan of Soundwaves method of acknowledging a joke.

I dunno: "Humor Detected: Conclusion: Amusing" - it made me laugh :D. And if anyone was going to have a shared sense of humor it would be the relatively humorless Shockwave and Soundwave. I cant see Soundwave laughing at Ruckus backfiring through his tailpipe ;)

I liked the use of Grimlocks alt-form more than I thought I would. Though it begs the question that if all the Dinobots are afflicted, why is it only Grimlock that keeps getting set off? You think Slag at least would go nuts at least once as well.

Once again, nice to see Trypticon get his proper scale rather than being just one step bigger than Omega Supreme. But as trunks said, a lot of this issue was setting up for bigger fights to come.

[i_amtrunks]

Another beautifully illustrated issue. The use of light and dark is more powerful than any colour.

I'm using some intel from RiD here, but should Trypticon be such a big deal considering that he was bested by a Titan, and Titans have been killed by normal transformer weapons?

Megatrons return was short and brutal like all confrontations in Monstrosity, the big downside of this series, all these big brutal battles are bite sized and not given the true weight they deserve.

Easily worth the $1 price.

[BigTransformerTrev]

I was kinda dissapointed that they dropped a building on Trypticon and that was it! Didn't see him injure even a single Autobot.

With 1. Meg's back and having kicked Scorponok's arse, 2. Trypticon defeated, 3. the Dynobots and 4. the Circle of Light having taken off into space, makes you wonder what is going to be in the last two issues. After all, those were really the four main plot lines.

[BigTransformerTrev]

With 1. Meg's back and having kicked Scorponok's arse, 2. Trypticon defeated, 3. the Dynobots and 4. the Circle of Light having taken off into space, makes you wonder what is going to be in the last two issues. After all, those were really the four main plot lines.


Ah, now I see. Trypticon wakes up, stomps on Prime and then promptly eats him, Megatron & Grimlock. How did I not see that coming :rolleyes::D;):p



Still cool though!

[i_amtrunks]

Good ending, very much a second of three ending, where the heroes are at a low after ending part one on a high.

Like the tie in with the fiction we have had in MtMtE. Good work from the IDW editors to get some more consistency between current era and historical stories.

[BigTransformerTrev]

Interesting twist: After he and Grimlock bust up Trypticon from the inside, after the Autobots leave Megatron uses the spark he took from the Quintesson to repower Trypticon.

I wonder if that is how they explain that Trypticon is so much more powerful here than in the cameo's he has later on. Before he was powered by almost limitless reserves of the tainted primal energon, now just by a stolen spark.

Grimlock & Meg's in the belly of the beast was well done, and a nice portayl of Grimlock being stubborn, while Megatron is just as brutal but a long-view thinker as well. Kinda a cop out that Optimus was such a major character in the previous issues and in this last one all he does is lie there dying, not even a word.

Still, very much enjoyed this series overall :)

[Paulbot]

Interesting twist: After he and Grimlock bust up Trypticon from the inside, after the Autobots leave Megatron uses the spark he took from the Quintesson to repower Trypticon.
Oh that's what he was doing on that page.

[i_amtrunks]

I enjoyed the twist, prefer Trypticon as a thinking creation.

Wonder if that means we will see him at all in the present stories at some point? I imagine he is out of service dur to power issues but still around somewhere.

[Paulbot]

Trypticon appeared in a cameo in one of the Spotlights, Blaster's if I recall correctly, in a flashback to an important battle... but it didn't have much in common with Monstrosity's version. It had more in common with Dreamwave's War Within version as I recall.

[BigTransformerTrev]

Trypticon appeared in a cameo in one of the Spotlights, Blaster's if I recall correctly, in a flashback to an important battle... but it didn't have much in common with Monstrosity's version. It had more in common with Dreamwave's War Within version as I recall.

He was also in a flashback which showed him, Optimus, Megs & Omega firing at an off-panel Thunderwing. In that shot he was only about a head taller than Omega, rather than his (in my opinion much more appropriate) massive Monstrosity form.

[Paulbot]

I prefer the Omega sized version, as in the Marvel comics, over the Metroplex sized version of the cartoon. I think the smaller version allows the character to be used more as a challenging but not impossible threat.

[VodooCaMo]

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/cmx-images-prod/Item/39167/DIG003639_2._SX312_QL80_TTD_.jpg

Art - 10/10
Story - 10/10
Characters - 10/10


A great series, easily my favourite transformers comic series. 12 issues in total.

You have the great G1 monsters in modern art style of the marvel type IDW type.

Scorponok, Hun Gurr and all especially OVERLORD pit the battles out here.