THE TRANSFORMERS: COMICS, BOOKS AND MANGA

CLUB AND CONVENTION TRANSFORMERS COMICS

Visitations (script reading)
Reviewed by Blackjack

"Whaddya, nuts? Silverbolt, they're repaints. Screw 'em with a Phillips head." Well, it might've been higher if I had access to the recording of the voice actors, but the script is pretty loaded with meta-references, like a bad fanfic. There are some moments that'll make you chuckle like 'Brawn is DEAD!' and the characters talking amongst themselves to establish the scene. 'Just establishing our names with the audience!' "Convenient overhanging boulders!' 'Thank you, mr. Exposition' and the like. Basically the new characters come across a plot device, but this new extradimensional character Antagony arrives, blows the hell out of everybody before being defeated. Pretty straightforward. It's tongue-in-cheek, and I can't really decide whether to like it or not, but it's worth checking out the script if you have some time to kill.


Everybody is voiced by their regular voice actors. Packrat and Vice Grip are voiced by Scott McNeil, Onyx Primal is voiced by Gary Chalk, Fractyl is voiced by Doug Parker and Antagony is voiced by Susan Blu.

This story is set in Season Two of Beast Wars, but like 'Critical Mass' it's out of continuity.

Despite its tongue-in-cheek script, fourth wall breaking and not really taking itself seriously, 'Visitations', or at least some parts of it, would be featured in the Reaching the Omega Point storyline. While Onyx, Fractyl, Vice Grip and Packrat are not seen again in Omega Point, Antagony's arrival and capture would be a plot point. Apelinq's arrival (the shadowy figure) would also be a part of the storyline.

Apelinq, Fractyl and Packrat would later appear in the Wreckers storyline. Apelinq would find his way back from the past after fighting Shokaract, while presumably Fractyl and Packrat are part of the crew that Primal Prime salvaged off-screen during the unresolved end of 'Primeval Dawn'.

Packrat's portrayal is based on Ed Norton, the Honeymooners character played by Art Carney. Onyx Primal is inspired by Jackie Gleason.

Packrat's "wild bean vines" line is a reference to a Beast Wars episode where Rhinox ate too much wild beans and became infected.

Beast Wars is referred as a 'science fiction series' by Packrat.

The device is called 'plot device' and 'McGuffin' by various characters.

Fractyl calls the audience 'transfans', and Vice Grip takes that opportunity to turn to the audience and shout 'Brawn is dead!' after the then-often-debated issue of whether Brawn died or not in the 1986 movie. What follows is a long awkward silence.

Packrat compares them to 'red shirts in Star Trek', because they aren't recurring characters.

Rattrap has a low opinion on what he calls 'repaints'.

After the Predacons are driven off, the term 'episode' is used multiple times.

Antagony threatens the Maximals by saying that the BS&P will not save them.

There is an in-joke with Megatron's catchphrase 'Yeees' in that Scott McNeil, in character as Rattrap, forces the other voice actors to pay up because Megatron says it on the second line.

When Antagony introduces herself as their worst enemy, Megatron mistakes her for Raksha, real-life G1 Megatron fanatic who hates BW Megatron with all her heart and soul.

Antagony located Megatron via Ben Yee's website, prompting Megatron to kill Ben Yee/Wonko the Sane. Megatron can break through the Fourth Wall.

In addition to all of the above, the script calls for fourth-wall breaking, with BW scriptwriter Larry DiTillio bashing 3H Enterprises at one point.

Megatron calls Optimus' idealistic world a 'ratings winner'.

Waspinator apparently has a warranty, which has expired the week prior to BotCon.


Well, the whole thing is OOC, and all the fourth wall breaking and stuff. But this isn't serious fiction, mate.

In his other appearances, Fractyl is a scientist, not a fighter.

Onyx Primal's toy is a Predacon, but here he is portrayed as a Maximal.