Combaticon

When it was announced ...what, almost a year ago?... that the Combaticons would be showing up in the upcoming comic Till All Are One, I was struck with excitement- and dread. I’m a lifelong Combaticon fan and any new Combaticon material has been few and far between. (Thank goodness for fanfic writers, you are wonderful <3) When they did finally appear in IDW, they were... not very impressive. Either sadistic thugs or bumbling oafs... and rarely ever depicted much like their G1 bios or the cartoon led me to believe they were like. All I could do when I saw they would appear in this new comic was hope for one thing. Please, PLEASE, don’t write them as cardboard cutout villains. That was all I asked. I didn’t expect much- I didn’t DARE to- but I hoped that at least they’d be semi-sympathetic. Not just dumb evil brutes. The Combaticons have always come across as the Decepticon version of the A-Team to me, very “us against the world, surviving despite the odds” and all I could do was hope Mairghread Scott bothered to at least read their bios. No more Onslaught as a dumb brute- he’s supposed to be a brilliant tactician, darn it. And Blast Off- my favorite. Often depicted as aloof and as cold as the space he flies in, but his old G1 bio hinted at a softer side underneath- the trademark loneliness that stood out to me as a kid, especially in a Decepticon. I never expected to see him treated as anything but cold, but again... I simply hoped he would at least not be the sadistic, out of character (in my opinion) tormentor he was depicted as in Spotlight Arcee. (Enjoying watching your victims squirm is NOT ALOOF. Vortex, yes. Blast Off, no.)

Then TAAO finally came out.

OMG. While I could nitpick a few things, overall- the Combaticons were AMAZING. Spot on. Scott DID read their bios, obviously, and has done something to do these characters justice. Ironically, justice even became a theme- and especially for Blast Off. BLAST OFF. My favorite antisocial, awkward, dedicated, professional, arrogant, aristocratic, aloof but secretly lonely little nobody space nerd who only I and a few other people really seemed to like and then all of a sudden he’s a major player in this new story line. And he’s not only semi-sympathetic, I can say after reading #4 he’s a freakin’ TRAGIC (anti)HERO!!!! *pauses to clutch heart* Speaking of hearts, mine was breaking by that page 19. Blast Off has definitely been shown to care about Onslaught. Is it romantic love? The love of a comrade and Commander you truly admire? I’m not sure. But he definitely cares. And it’s funny, there have been hints he cares all the way back through to the G1 cartoon. That scene where he admonishes Brawl to “control his baser instincts” and wait for Onslaught to come up with a “brilliant plan” because “he always does.” This admiration always struck me as a little odd for a guy who is supposedly a snob to anyone who can’t achieve space orbit on their own power- Ons is a TRUCK, after all. Yet he admired Ons even then. In the Generation 2 comic back in the 90s, Blast Off expressed concern when Onslaught was hunched over in pain in one panel. There have been hints there for a long time. I wonder if Scott noticed the same things I did, or if that inspiration came elsewhere. Either way, it’s been nice to have it confirmed.

I think it’s safe to say that it’s also confirmed that Blast Off is a secret softie. (I always kind of thought he might be... again, that whole loneliness thing, and how he so vehemently tries to deny that same loneliness. Why? He’s really a decent person at spark but doesn’t feel it “fits in” as a tough Decepticon warrior, maybe? He’s not good at expressing his real feelings?) So there he was, trying to be the sole voice of reason. Seeking justice, not revenge. Not very successfully, but he was trying. He always seemed like he’d be the one to look before he leapt, he’s just dealing with the likes of Vortex and Brawl- plus an enraged Onslaught who had given in to his darker, more vengeful side by that point.  I reaally hope the Combaticons are alright. They seemed to being led away in stasis locks/handcuffs, so that hopefully means they live. PLEASE TELL ME THEY LIVE. But who will get to them first? (Also ... I still find it hard to believe Swindle is really gone. He’s too good a character to leave hanging forever.... *fingers crossed he still comes back. Somehow. (Hope springs eternal here I guess.)) Every one of the (alive) Combaticons was a joy in this. I absolutely adored the interactions between each of them- the camaraderie and teasing and jabs at each other, but they stick together in the end. That’s what they’ve always done. It’s what Blast Off ultimately chose to do, too, even though he was filled with doubt by then. I really want to see them react to this- see how this affects Blast Off and Onslaught. Will BO forgive- not just how badly things ultimately went for them all but will he forgive himself as well- and will Onslaught forgive anyone? Or is Ons gripped in rage that won’t let go of him? Will BO still try to save him? Has Ons noticed what BO has tried to do? How are Brawl and Tex going to react to that taste of power, that rush of senses, and new consciousness- including Brawl getting hit hard by Swindle’s apparent death? Will they go to jail or will Starscream plan something more sinister for them? (Hello whiteout chamber/THE BOX.) Will Blast Off see Ironhide (likely) and the two Tankors again? (I liked that the Tankors were the ones to scoop BO off the ground at the end.) Will Vortex have access to his beloved sodagex in jail?? SO MANY QUESTIONS.