At long last I've finally located Micromasters #2.
I should have mentioned earlier that Dreamwave is once again doing
"multiple covers" for the Micromasters series. G1 Vol 3, by contrast,
is mercifully maintaining one cover per issue except for the odd
special promotion. Since I only buy one copy of each issue, I can't
comment on all the covers...
....but I can say that the variant of MM#2 I got was very clever. On a
wall, you can see the following:
An ad for "Kremzeek!" beverage, complete with Kremzeek's picture on
the can
A graffiti tag reading "Springer"
Posters which, while partly covered up, appear to read "Hooligan
Skateboards" (Hooligan was a G2 Jet)
Graffiti reading FIRRIB and FIBRIR
The central image is Micromasters looking at a poster for The Burn
Outs: No Brands, No Weapons, No Rules.
***
Last issue, two groups of defecting Micros had just met in the
WasteLands and come under attack by Deluxe Insecticons. The
Autobot-Micros had left Autobase too quickly to get weapons--so the
Deception Micros provide defence for them. Then Groundshaker (a
former large Autobot reconverted to Micro size) shows up with his
base. He offers them all an escort out of the Wastelands, but
Decepticon Roller Force refuses.
The Decepticon Micros, out on their own, run into Shockwave.=20
Barricade is less than impressed that Shockwave waited until the fight
was over to show up. Only one of the Mircos takes Shockwave up on his
offer to return to base. But after the others leave, Shockwave tosses
this poor Micromaster to the hidden Insecticons...in a spray of
Energon, crunch, slurp.
(Don't particularly like this ****trayal of Shockwave...I can't imagine
him feeding the ONE LOYAL micromaster to the Insecticons.)
IT is revealed that Groundshaker and Countdown and Bombshock were some
of the first Micros, downscaled from Larger TFs before the process was
streamlined and new mechs were brought online (most of the Micros.)=20
Groundshock takes the Bot Micros to Countdown, who tells them that an
Autobot's duty and mission is to protect the whole universe, rather
than focus on Cybertron's problems like the ruling Autobots are doing.
Big Daddy says that having left one leader, they don't want to get
hired by another quite yet, so Countdown asks them to please think
about it and lets them go.
They arrive in Little Iacon, to a "speakeasy" area where to get past
the bouncer, the Micros have to show a hidden logo of the combined
Bot/Con insignia with a "no" sign (circle with slash through.)
Inside: Con Motorhead is appalled that he killed Bot Crunch (last
issue) having not intended to strike that hard. In the speakeasy, bot
and con micros socialize freely.
A Con Micro tries to talk some Bots into joining him for a fuel
raiding gang; the Bot refuses, saying he's left that lifestyle (I
can't ID them without my MTMTE books)
Roller Force thanks Barricade for saving them
Two Micros (TripUp and Blackjack) almost get in a fight, but it's
postponed for a race between Big Daddy and Road Handler, who is the
reigning champ.
Road Handler has some lessons for Big Daddy: start thinking while
he's moving, etc. RH outsmarts Big Daddy and wins (the underlying
message here is that Big Daddy needs to start actively thinking about
what he's going to do. RH says "You made a stand at base, but ruined
it trying to use me to prove your point...that's what you should be
trying to stop, not do." Big Daddy replies that he's not taking
anyone's advice as gospel...he's making up his own mind, and if he
makes mistakes, at least they'll be HIS mistakes since he's thinking
on his own.
A bit of tension between Bots and Cons...
but then...a shuttle is returning to Cybertron. A Decepticon shuttle.
Containing the Con Micros that Countdown fought off planet...who are
bent on conquest.
***
I really like this series. The characterization is good and the
concept is pretty original for canon material (reminds me a little of
Crystal City in TLY MUSH). I've heard people saying the writing is
weak though...any opposing viewpoints?
I've also heard commentary that "not much happened" in this issue, but
I disagree....see above, there's a lot of points I had to list.=20
Though I hope they have enough to cover the battle between Bombshock
and Countdown, I for one am glad to see an issue that's less about
splashy combat scenes and more about characterization and plot.
--Fil
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