Transformers/Humans Featured (in rough order of appearance):
Powerlinx Optimus Prime, Hot Shot, Battle Ravage, Divebomb, Cruellock, Insecticon,
Starscream, Scorponok, Skyblast, Signal Flare, Over-Run, Unicron, Alpha-Quintesson,
Ironhide, Airazor, Cheetor, Rhinox, Terrorsaur.
Other Notes:
Among the cameos in the splash page across page 2 and 3 are Thrust, Cyclonus, Red Alert and Scavenger, along with Energon Jetfire, Rodimus Prime and Prowl. The review of this issue on BWTF.com mentions three very interesting things about this issue: First, writer Simon Furman has said that the Omnicons are a new evolutionary branch of the Transformer race, and not simply upgraded Mini-Cons as many had feared. Second, the Energon factory that Starscream gets caught in takes materials and converts them to Energon pellets. Furman says that this will play a role in Starscream's resurrection. Last, Furman has said that the Terrorcons (Battle Ravage, Divebomb, Cruellock and Insecticon) will gain the ability to clone themselves, similar to how the Terrorcon characters are being portrayed in the cartoon. The High Council members, and the unknown Transformer Prime makes contact with when connected to the uplink, bear a similar appearance to the G1 character Alpha Trion. While Tidal Wave has gained his "Energon" colors in this issue, he has yet to get the "lightning" pattern that the toy has.
Review: This issue acts on two different levels: As a bridge between the Armada and Energon universes (separated by a ten year time span), and the set up for Energon's first story arc. The connection is made very well. While we do see a good handful of new characters from Energon (Skyblast, Signal Flare, Hot Shot in his Energon form), we get a good handful of Armada characters making background appearances (Thrust, Cyclonus, Red Alert). Perhaps the best idea was to keep Optimus Prime in his "Powerlinx" form, and not resort to getting him into his Energon body (At least in this issue.)
Another area that I think was great was Scorponok, the leader of the renegade "Terrorcon" Decepticons. Unlike Megatron, who has used stealth and cunning to get what he wants, Scorponok does what he wants however he wants to do it. Taking out Starscream (or so he thinks) is an immediate statement of this.
What I liked the most, though, was Ironhide. Having seen the first episode of Energon, I see that they have given him the role of "rebelling adolescent idolizing the big name guys" role previously held by Hot Shot. And while it is pretty much the same role he has here, I find myself liking the character more here than I do in the cartoon. (Maybe it's because I don't have to hear Matt Hill doing the voice…)
Another thing I especially liked was using the Armada beasts as Unicron's new heralds. One of my (many) complaints about Armada #18 was that they, with the exception of Rhinox, were not that heavily featured in the run, and that their purpose in the issue seemed little more than to be cannon fodder. However, giving them the roles previously held by Galvatron and his crew was an interesting surprise.
Overall, I would recommend this issue to everyone wanting to see a (sort of) resolution to the events of Armada, and to prepare themselves for a new and interesting story
Review by Bombshell