MICROMASTERS #1:

“Destined For Nothing”

Cover Date: June 2004
Story: James “Brad Mick” McDonough and Adam Patyk
Pencils: Rob Ruffolo
Inks: Erik Sander
Lettering: Ben Lee

Plot Summary

Beta Quadrant

The Micromaster Hot Rod and Monster Trucks patrols do battle with the Micromaster Race Track patrol as they attempt to rescue Roadbuster. The battle comes to a sudden halt, however, when one of the Micromasters goes down. As both sides look on in horror, Big Daddy rallies the other Autobot Micromasters to drag Roadbuster away. As they do, Big Daddy notices something approaching Cybertron.

Iacon: Autobase

Countdown and Goundshaker return from the failed Operation: Containment mission and are greeted by the Jumpstarters, who are surprised that Optimus is not with them. The two Micromasters pass without comment, heading for the command center.

At the command center, Ultra Magnus and Fortress Maximus discuss the situation as the Micromasters arrive. Once everyone is brought back up to speed as to the situation, Countdown proposes that the Autobots divert more resources to fighting the Decepticons off Cybertron. Maximus disagrees, saying that their resources are stretched pretty thin as it is. Groundshaker loses his temper over how the Autobot co-commanders are treating the situation, and although Countdown disagrees with how Groundshaker made his point, he does agree that Magnus and Maximus are unable to help.

They leave without comment, coming across the Hot Rod patrol, also heading towards the command center. Big Daddy goes off against Magnus about how the mission they were on led to the death of their comrade. Magnus retaliates by saying that their duty comes before anything else. He then orders the Hot Rod patrol to go check their weapons at the armory.

Decepticon Headquarters

The Race Track patrol returns to Decepticon Headquarters in time to see Blitzwing and Octane abusing Greasepit. Taking offense to the situation, Barricade gets in Octane’s face, then heads off to find Shockwave.

Inside the command center, Shockwave discusses the situation with Scorponok and Ratbat as the Race Track patrol enter. Barricade questions why they aren’t getting their share of the Energon they helped to steal. Shockwave tells him that because of their more energy efficient nature, they are not required to have it as much as the other Decepticons. Barricade takes offense to this, and the Race Track patrol leaves in a huff.

Autobase Armory

As he puts his weapon away, Big Daddy is accosted by Sidetrack and Sunrunner, who get on him about almost losing Roadbuster. The three get into an argument that soon grows to include the entire Micromasters assembled in the area until Big Daddy breaks them up, saying that they shouldn’t be fighting a battle they didn’t begin. He then declares that he is leaving. The rest of the Hot Rod patrol leaves with him.

The Wastelands

As the Hot Rod patrol arrives at the Wastelands, they come across the Race Track patrol. As the two groups begin to argue, they are assaulted from above by the Deluxe Insecticons!

Interesting Facts/Notes: Countdown and Groundshaker’s adventures are discussed in more detail by Jetfire in Issue #5 of the Generation One ongoing series. Countdown and Groundshaker track Skystalker to Paradron, the planet that Sandstorm and other Autobots colonized in the Season Three episode “Fight or Flee”.

Review

I seem to recall that this series got a lot of press prior to the release of the first issue. The fact that each issue would be getting multiple cover variants seemed to tell me that they were trying to get their money’s worth with this series. Putting out a series with multiple covers seems to be Dreamwave’s attempt to get money out of the fans.

It’s a good thing, too. Because from what this issue proves, the series isn’t going to be getting by on any of its other qualities.

For starters, there’s the fact that the entire storyline, while interesting, has already been told. In fact, they devoted a whole other comic, not to mention a toy line and cartoon series, about the same concept. I’m not saying that it isn’t good, because it is. I just wish it wasn’t so recently stated.

Of course, if you’ve bought a Dreamwave comic in the past two years, it most likely wasn’t because of the story. And unfortunately, Micromasters doesn’t exactly deliver in that department, either. Rob Ruffolo, whose done work on most of Dreamwave’s work, gets his first major art assignment with this series. Hopefully, it’ll end up being the last time, too as this issue should prove to anyone that he should not be put near pen and paper ever again.

The art fluctuates widely between great to mediocre to just plain crap all over the course of series. And the thing that bothers me most is that for a story that takes place during the “War Within” era of the Dreamwave continuity, a large amount of the characters already have their Earth modes already. In fact, of all the characters featured in this issue who have appeared in the previous three “War Within” series, Ratbat is the only one to still be in his War Within mode. Supposedly, we’re to believe that this is because Shockwave has begun to adapt the citizens of Cybertron to Earth modes, except that Earth at this point in time is still populated by dinosaurs. It just doesn’t add up.

Frankly, if you’re the type who can ignore a large amount of convoluted plot holes, confusing art errors and general sloppiness, you should be able to enjoy this issue. (And the series in general.) If not, there are certainly better uses for your five bucks.

Review by Bombshell