MICROMASTERS #3:

“Recipe For Hate”

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

Plot Summary

Shockwave’s War Room, Decepticon HQ

Shockwave and Skystalker bring each other up to date on current events, and then explains why he met with the Race Track patrol in the wastelands: He was aware of Countdown’s return, and attempted to place the Race Track patrol in a situation in which he can find out where he is. Although they didn’t go, they were in contact with the Hot Rod patrol, who did go off with Groundshaker. Shockwave concludes that it is only a matter of time before Countdown is theirs.

Little Iacon

As the Hot Rod patrol get into an argument with Road Hugger, The Deluxe Insecticons swoop down from the sky again. They snatch Road Hugger, drop him and then fly away. Trip-Up notices that they have Decepticon insignias, and comes to the conclusion that the Race Track patrol set them up.

The Wastelands: Countdown’s Base

Groundshaker is getting frustrated by Countdown’s indifference towards the situation that they put the Hot Rod patrol in. Countdown tries to explain himself, only to get into an argument with his friend. Countdown finally explains to Groundshaker the reasons behind the new direction for their mission: on Paradron, he found a golden disk that prophesized their creation and their race's eventual destiny to travel the universe, something that he knows cannot fall into Decepticon hands.

Outside Little Iacon

Venom discusses with the Race Track patrol the situation: they were ordered by Shockwave to get the Hot Rod patrol. They offer to give them some Energon and a lengthy stay in a stasis chamber if they agree to help. Barricade does so, although Blaze Master protests. For his trouble, he is blasted by Barrage.

Onboard Skystalker’s Shuttle

Onboard Skystalker’s shuttle, Skyhopper bemoans the fact that they have to take orders from Shockwave, believing that he, like Megatron and Starscream before him, were unaware of the big picture. He asks what they need Shockave for if they've got all they need to rule over the Decepticons.

Revealing a secret stash of explosives, Skyhopper answers simply, “We don’t.”

Autobase: Iacon

The Hot Rod patrol returns to Iacon, intent on asking the Autobots for help. Unfortunately, they run across Sidetrack and Sunrunner, who aren’t exactly willing to help them. As they leave, Stakeout approaches the Hot Rod patrol, telling them that he managed to smuggle some weapons for them. Taking the weapons, Big Daddy realizes that there is only one person who can help them.

En Route To Decepticon HQ

As the Deluxe Insecticons lead the Race Track patrol to Decepticon HQ, Barricade tells Motorhead that he’s doing what he thinks is best for the team by going along with the Decepticons.

Shockwave’s Lab: Decepticon HQ

Blitzwing and Shockwave discuss the recent changes to Blitzwing’s form. Shockwave says that the process is a natural state of development for him and nothing of note. He changes the subject by saying that the information given to them by Skystalker is of great importance. He orders Blitzwing to guard over him as he prepares to recharge. Unfortunately, Skyhopper and Skystalker arrive at that moment and quickly dispatch the two thanks to their weakened power levels.

Later as the Race Track patrol arrive, Venom tells them that they’ve been summoned by Shockwave. The group arrives to find Skystalker and Skyhopper preparing for one final attack.

Interesting Facts/Notes: The golden disk mentioned by Countdown is most likely a reference to the Golden Disk from Beast Wars. The passcode Big Daddy attempts to use to gain entrance into Iacon contains the numbers “19-84”, the year that the Transformers franchise began. Groundshaker refers to the transmission that Countdown sent requesting his reassignment, which was mentioned in his More Than Meets The Eye profile. Blitzwing’s physical transformations are supposed to be a result of Shockwave’s tampering, as explained in “War and Peace” (See below for an explanation as to why that cannot be true.)

Review

This issue finally sees the events of the past two issues finally come to the point where they start to pay off, as we learn that Shockwave has a plan to get Countdown and the artifact that he carries, something that he thinks will tip things in the Decepticon’s favor. We also see that things are not all peaches and cream in the Decepticon ranks, as Skystalker and Skyhopper try to off Shockwave and install themselves as the new Decepticon leaders.

One thing I didn’t particularly like character wise was the fact that the entire series up till this point has made such a big deal about the Hot Rod patrol. I honestly would have liked to see the Autobot Micromasters team up to take on their enemies, but I suppose that would have been detrimental to the whole aspect the series was attempting to build about them.

Another thing that disappointed me was, not surprisingly, was the artwork. Granted, it’s better here than in the previous two issues, but it’s still nothing to write home about.

Also, this issue proved to me that Dreamwave needs to pay more attention to continuity, as once again that they have given Blitzwing another backstory, which really contradicts War and Peace for the same reasons that I mentioned in Micromasters #1 in regards to the general appearances of the characters in general. How can they have alternate modes of vehicles that won’t exist for about four million more years?

Anyways, this issue was released a month ago at the time of this writing, with no real indication that the final issue will be released anytime soon. Hopefully, the folks at Dreamwave are working to make that issue make the previous three work, because it’s going to take a miracle for this series to be saved. And I really hope they do, because by this time, I’ve become quite fond of the series.

Review by Bombshell