TF Views

Windblade #6
Beast Wars returns... Sorta. Overall, I felt there were some odd story choices in this issue, and the art was a little too cartoony for my tastes. But there is some interesting aspects going on. A lot of this issue takes place on the colony world of Eukaris, the beast mode planet. We see several familiar faces with Tigatron, Airazor, Blackarachnia (using her Animated form), Cheetor, Dinobot... as well as Sonar and Manta Ray. Not sure why they decided to have a McDonalds happy meal toy represent the Wave Walker tribe. I like the idea of there being 4 different tribes as it kinda puts them at odds with each other, a la Beast Wars, but the divisions seems a bit odd to me: Air, Water, Furry Land and Scaley Land? I get why they have the two different Land based tribes, but I think it'd have been more interesting if that was just one tribe and instead the fourth tribe was Fuzors.

Back on Cybertron, Windblade and Starscream are pissed at each other for making pals of colony world without the other. Not really sure why that matters. From the colonies perspective, their alliance is with Cybertron, not Starscream or Windblade personally. Seems like they just wanted an excuse for the two to go to Eukaris together. But thanks to Windblade being from Caminus (as they don't trust anyone from Cybertron) and some intel from Rattrap, she's already got the advantage over Starscream in opening talks with the Eukarisians. Until their Titan, Chela activates to eliminate the non-beasts. Unlike other Titans we've seen, Chela doesn't have a humanoid form, it's a giant robotic bird that doesn't really look like it could transform into anything. Also, unlike the other colony worlds, rather than using their Titan to establish a city, the Eukarisians apparently just buried Chela. Windblade tries to talk to Chela but Starscream shoots him in the brain, killing him. Blackarachnia doesn't seem broken up about it though, saying it was all part of a prophecy and necessary for their world to change.

Windblade #7
Talking with Metroplex, Windblade apologizes for not being able to save Chela but he assures her Chela wouldn't have allowed himself to be saved. Moving on the the next colony, Metroplex tells Windblade it is Tempo (unlike the other Titans, this one remained traveling in space rather than settling on a planet). Starscream and Windblade are immediately met by hostility when they arrive, but Elita One orders her troops to stand down, introducing herself as the captain of Carcer. Windblade is confused believing the Titan was named Tempo and Elita explains it was, but the crew changed the name and that they aren't originally of Tempo. She also explains many of her people have sacrificed their bodies in order to keep the Titan alive, and her throne is made up of parts of some of their greatest heroes to do so. Starscream decides to appeal to Elita by explaining with their help they can keep the peace and offers resources to keep Carcer going, but Elita doesn't buy it due to the brawl they witnessed between the combiners and nearly has Starscream executed for lying to her. Windblade manages to calm the situation but Elita warns Starscream if he lies on her ship again, she will kill him and tells them to return in 2 days. Windblade doesn't reveal it, but she knows Elita One she isn't telling the whole truth about the origins of their Titan either, as Metroplex told her there was also was a Titan known as Carcer. Weeks later, with Obsidian and Strika signing Carcer into the Council of Words, Onslaught, Blast Off, Vortex and Brawl decide they can't let Starscream forget about the past...

Decent enough issue but a bit lackluster for the final issue of Windblade Vol 2. But then they're pretty much turning the title into Till All Are One, so I guess it's not really an end. Nice to see Obsidian and Strika appear here, acting much the way they did in Beast Machines, the top generals under their leader. Also like the idea that at least one of the Titans stayed in ship form. It kinda sounds like the people of Carcer raided and took over Tempo. Or maybe used parts from one Titan to repair the other. And I'm guessing the Combaticons at the end will lead up to Bruticus making an appearance eventually.

Sparky Prime wrote:Nice to see Obsidian and Strika appear here, acting much the way they did in Beast Machines, the top generals under their leader.

Cool. I need to pick up the issue if those two are in it.