#razorbeast

Transformers: Mosaic #569 - "Answers"

Originally posted on December 31st, 2010

Story - Josh van Reyk Art - James Boykin Colours - Michele Degon Letters - HdE

deviantART | Seibertron | TFW2005 | BotTalk

wada sez: This strip by Mosaic project lead Josh van Reyk was originally published to cap off 2010. It serves to connect Transmetal 2 Prowl to the G1 character of the same name—seen in the background of the fifth panel in his The War Within design. As stated in the last panel, this strip leads directly into Prowl’s appearance in the final issue of The Gathering—though there’s a strange error, because in the actual comic, Prowl is actually asking a question: “Problem, Razorbeast?” See below for a high-resolution preview panel.

Dear Driver Delver,

The Vok’s infamous “Planet Buster” was more than just a simple superweapon. During the Vok’s stay on Earth, the enigmatic aliens initially moved the artificial moon into prehistoric Earth’s orbit to act as a blunt terraforming instrument: its gravitational influence caused increased tectonic activity, which made it easier for the Vok to seed the young world’s crust with abundant supplies of raw energon. More importantly, however, the artificial moon’s unprepossessing surface concealed a sophisticated suite of sensory instruments and a interconnected network of data spheres, each one a library of information relating to the project: at any given moment, the moon was scanning the world below and gathering raw data on the planet’s atmospheric conditions, the evolution of its flora and fauna, and the development of sapient life-forms.

When the Cybertronians carelessly blundered into the Vok’s careful laboratory, automated sensors aboard the moon turned a fragment of its attention to the aliens. Using scans of Optimus Primal’s biology, combined with ongoing observation of what the Transformers dubbed the “Beast Wars”, the moon gathered a great deal of data regarding their biology, history, and sociology. In time, its archives had gathered and processed all the necessary data required to forge and program a protoform from raw materials, then improve upon the base design to create genetically modified warriors whose sparks could crystallize into solid form to manifest supernatural telekinetic abilities—until the day moon’s frustrated creators put their contingency plan into play and wiped the slate clean.

Concept sketch of a skirmish against the Maximals and the upgraded Cassettes. An IDW adjacent version of the Transmetal events, though instead of Ravage, the Tripredacus Council sends a small unit of other cassettes, Laserbeak, Buzzsaw, Overkill and Slugfest, to deal with Megatron and any interfering Maximals on “Energoa”.

The idea I had in mind is along with retaining their old cassette forms, they could also Transform into Vehicon like vehicle modes. Overkill would Transform into a Tankor style tank, but would have dinosaur characteristics.

That old Beast Wars comic didn’t have much going for it by way of story, weak premise and WAY too many characters, but the illustrations were gorgeous and my boi Razorbeast stuck out as leading mech. If any character got salvaged from that half-ass comic I want it to be him, let him transition into other media! This character deserves to thrive in the fandom.

Transformers: Beast Wars #10 (Retailer Incentive Variant) (2021)