Transformers Monstrosity #1 Released, introduces Bulkhead to the IDW Transformers Comics Universe

It makes me joyful to see Bulkhead there. And he's head of an engineering guild, too!

Up and available for purchase on ComiXology, for 99 cents. Its a part of the weekend long Autocracy sale! Metzen and Dille are back on writing duties with Livio returning for art. So, set your expectations accordingly.

For the uninitiated, this is a digital-first mini-series, like Autocracy before it. Should be 12 issues, 10 pages a pop. Will be available in a trade paperback some time after all the issues have been released digitally.

Onward! **SPOILERS**



Following the events of Autocracy, Megatron is defeated, the Decepticons are scattered, and Optimus, the Matrix Bearer, is working to unite the people of Cybertron.

Acting on intel from Swindle, the Dynobots ambush a couple of hi-then-dies making a shipment from Kaon to Iacon, either energon or credits. The Dynobots are looking to use the score to help them get off-world, but the haul winds up being much less than Swindle had led them to believe. Frustrated, Grimlock and co. make off with the goods and head back to their safe-house... after making a quick stop to strangle/threaten Swindle.

Inside Metroplex, Optimus is holding the inaugural meeting of the "Grand Convocation" -- a gathering of the various factions spread across Cybertron, held in an attempt to unite these groups and move their society forward under a united front. Dai Atlas, as Leader of the Circle of Light is largely opposed to the notion, at least under the leadership of a former "enforcer" for Zeta Prime. At the same time, he is none-to-happy that Optimus has also become the Matrix Bearer. In spite of Prime's pleas, Dai Atlas is ready to abandon talks when the leader of the Engineers Guild, Bulkhead steps in to vouch for Optimus, feeling that he's earned his new position as Prime. Dai Atlas acquiesces, for now.

In Deep Space, aboard Astrotrain, Scorponok boasts that he has claimed leadership of the Decepticons, to his audience of Starscream, and the heavily damaged Megatron; whom the two are transporting to his, "final" destination.

After the "Grand Convocation" meetings close for the day, Prime is surprised by a visit from Alpha Trion. Who congratulates Optimus for, in spite of being built primarily for combat, appears to be handling himself well in the political arena. Prime quietly confesses doubts over whether he is worthy of carrying the Matrix. Alpha Trion states that that is a question that can only be answered in time.

As Starscream opens Astrotrain's air lock, Scorponok scoops Megatron up in his arms and after the requisite, "I... still... function..." is shot into space for dead. His body is quickly caught in the gravity of a nearby planet and plummets to the surface of, "The Death-World Junkion." His descent quickly catches the attention of the natives, sensing this to be the case, Megatron rises from his impact crater with the declaration, "Let's do this."

So.

Dynobots want off-world. Bad. Apparently, the longer they stay, the longer they jeapordize everyone on Cybertron.

At this point in the time-line, Dai Atlas and the Circle of Light are still on Cybertron.

Bulkhead is now, finally, retroactively G1. Shows up in basically his Prime design with black shoulder pads.

Scorponok makes his first chronological appearance and the requisite power-play for leadership. MUCH LESS ...verbose than his recent up-at-bat in Regeneration One. Mercifully.

Junkion.

Wreck-Gar. He talks like Wheelie.

...and looks to be part of the weekend long Autocracy sale.

I grabbed it. Not a bad read, but I'm wondering how tightly it'll fit into the current IDW comic history.

Whatever the case, the scary thing is that this is a Mike Costa Ongoing issue condensed into this few pages.

Interesting mash of Animated Movie and Dreamwave plotline vibes from this

Not bad. Some neat stuff in there.

Ok, time for a Generations Bulkhead toy.

No need that's pretty much the First Edition Prime Bulkhead right there.

Love that Bulk is part of the IDW Continuity now. And cool seeing the Dynobots in Cybertronian form.

Wow, pointless TFTM fanwank right out the door this time...

Overall, it wasn't bad. I kind of wish the Dynobots weren't being dragged into it, though, I'm getting tired of them after all the focus they've been getting recently.

God, ALREADY with the TFTM fanwank? Ugh...

Cool that Bulkhead's in (that was fast), though. Totally putting FE Bulk with my Classics/Generations/IDW/whatever guys now.

You know with Waspinator and Lugnut cameos alongside with Sky-byte and Bulkhead having speaking roles it's nice to see that IDW is figuring out that outher Transformers fiction existed outside of G1.

This will be my first and last post in this thread. I enjoyed Autocracy but will be waiting for the TPB. Hopefully it's worth it! Enjoy the read guys, I'll see you in 6 months.

Oh, by the way: can anyone identify the guy with the spiky head crests sitting next to Xaaron in the Convocation? I did the wiki page, and I'm pretty sure I recognise the design, but I can't work out who. Same with those two Junkions with Wreck-Gar.

Alright, just read it. I thought it was waaay more interesting than Autocracy #1; hopefully they keep this up. And hopefully they control themselves a little with the shameless TFTM fanwank. Seriously guys.

It's not as bad as the HMS games.

Once it goes to those levels of '86 movie fanwank I'm jumping ship.

Walky's FOC drinking game (take a drink every time the game references TFTM) is an excellent way to kill yourself.

I think it's really on the exact same level - and I could definitely do without them. As much as I love the games, the amount of 86 movie references (can you even call them references when they're almost frame by frame recreations?) needs to stop.

It's not smart, it's not fun. It's not even 'hey, I got that reference!' anymore, it's just blatantly reusing existing fiction just to appeal to hardcore fans - but stands in the way of the story.

You CAN handle it correctly - like Whirl quoting Prime in issue 12 of MTMTE, or some of the casual nods in Animated, like Wreck-Gar pulling out his G1 bike mode from the trash.

It probably doesn't help that I never saw the 86 movie as a kid, and as an adult, I'm just not so impressed with it (although I appreciate all the things it introduced that are now staple in Transformers lore, like the Matrix, Unicron, Galvatron etc.).




As for the comic: interested to see where this leads. Artwise, I'm never too impressed with Livio's designs of newly introduced bots: Zeta Prime was a wreck, and I think Bulkhead could have used some restyling to fit better, rather than painting Prime Bulkhead with a bit less detail. But besides that, and what I feel are some obvious flaws in perspective and forms, I'm really glad this guy has a job on the comics: there's nobody who uses a similar style, and I truly appreciate that IDW gives room for that.

If it's like Autocracy, it will probably just be a fun quick read, nothing too special..but let's do it.

Honestly none of the High Moon games' TFTM references made my eyes roll as much as the Hot Rod sequence in Autocracy #12. That was just painful.

Just wait till Megatron starts dancing with the Junkions to Weird Al because 1986 MOVIE YOU GUYZ!

If that happens, the writers will have... dared to be stupid amirite amirite

Also, MEGATRON MUST BE STOPPED ONE SHALL STAND ONE SHALL FALL

For me, the breaking point with the HMS games was when they started using TFTM quotes that make zero sense out of context. "First we crack the shell, then we crack the nuts inside" refers very specifically to breaking into a building to kill people inside it, you can't just have Rumble running around shouting it randomly...

The Prime/Hot Rod/Megatron sequence was groan-worthy, but at least it actually made sense...

Yeah the worst examples are when they don't even make sense.

"Megatron must be stopped NO MATTER THE COST"

"We're gonna kill these 3 kids."

"Aw shit cost's too high, forget about it."

It's nice to see Bulkhead being included into the comics. Since Hasbro and IDW are working together on a story for these 30th Anniversary Generations figures, maybe this could lead to a Generations Bulkhead figure?...maybe?...

Dear god, that would be awful...and yet, strangely compelling!
One shall stand / one shall fall..easily the most overused line the last couple of years. Amazing how fast they ran that into the ground.
I disagree, I always saw it as Rumble cracking open the outer armor of his enemy, then destroy the precious innards. What was more annoying to me, was that he said it in BOTH games.
Exactly.

The guy is pretty much Prime Bulkhead - if they had plans to tie this to a Generations toy, I'm sure they would have gone with a different design. Don't get your hopes up.

I love that Bulkhead has become a full-on universe-crossing member of the Transformers family now.

Wow, spoiler right in the title. Nice.

I'm glad. I don't read the comics, but I do like Bulkhead. I liked him since his debut. He's a refreshing character with a LOT of soul, which has been sorely lacking in many facets of the Transformers Multiverse.

A lot of people seem to not like him (I remember people being pissy he was included in the lineup of Prime rather than Ironhide) but I honestly think he'd rank in the top 10 Transformers characters (not toys, but actual characters) in the 30 yrs of TF history. Hasbro really took their time fleshing out and building a very likable character who can also kick major butt, which is sorely needed now that Prime has been stripped down to a monotone moody little POS like he was in the movies.

Yes... now all we need is a Classics/Generations-style figure!

I don't think we've yet approached Dreamwave levels of Dinobot over-exposure yet. ...but this roller coaster is still going, so we'll see.

Perhaps him would do in a toy-style G1 by Generations line. As happened with Lugnut, when him dragged out of TFA in TF G1 2010 line.

I think so! (с)

Techniclly wasnt Bulkhead introduced in spotlight : Blurr? Hehe

Great. Now I have to buy another Bulkhead for my G1 collection. Thanks Obama.

Points awarded for making Bulkhead an engineering lead/tech like Animated.

Points deducted for using his Prime design.

With a few tweaks to the aesthetics I think the TFP character design does work better for a neo geewun styled Bulkhead then the TFA character design would.

I don't see that happening in this upcoming Gen line, unless they re-release the TFP FE mold in one of it's Voyager waves. And even then, I don't really see that happening either...It'd be awesome if it did, cause I want a chance at picking that figure up at a normal retail price. But probably not a likely thing to happen.

TFP Bulkhead looks like crap.

Ya should have used a body like a cross between Big Red and TFA Bulkhead, IDW.

Man, that art is just REALLY bad.

I'm going to have to buy this issue just for including Bulkhead. Bulky has been was one of my favorite characters in TFA and in TFP I only really like him and Ratchet at all.

Nice to see the Transformers universe expanding; hopefully Bulkhead will keep a large role in Transformers fiction going forward.

....Maybe I was wrong about Bulkhead, I'm he can't help being part of a crappy shop with lackluster action.

Perhaps IDW will do the character some justice.

Learn to spell.

And I can't stand GEEWUN.

So Bulkhead breaks even? lol

Bulkhead is easily my favorite character from Animated and Prime. He's like the awesome big brother I wish I could be.

Anyone else feeling like Autocracy and now Monstrosity is another continuity like the rest of IDW Transformers? I know it isn't. But it always feels like it is supposed to be something different. I'm not feeling like reading something that adds to what I read before. Somehow even War Within feels more like in the same continuity with IDW, although it was by DW, than this.

I didn't think Bulkhead would come so soon.

He's a nice amaglmation of the TFA and Prime version.

It's better that he's mostly Animated in personality, but I'd have a cross between TFA Bulkhead and Big Red for the design.

I thought he was already in the Blurr spotlight as well didn't it even say his name?

No, Blurr's limo was just based on Animated Bulkhead's vehicle mode.

Ow, cool.


Now I can have an alibi on why I display my FE Bulkhead with my Classics.