Astrobots #1

Well, it's been a couple of months since the end of IDW's Transformers run, and there hasn't been any news on a new publisher yet (even with Rise of the Beasts around the corner, and Earthspark being out), so I haven't had much to talk about here recently!

I've found this Transformers-like series that's just started, and it's even written by Simon Furman of Transformers fame, so this should tide me over for a few months.

If there's still no new comics from Transformers soon, I may just start doing some article/essay pieces on parts of the franchise or other related things that I have an interest in.

Until then, enjoy this new review/synopsis series!

Creator and Editor: Aaron Thomas 

Writer: Simon Furman

Artist and Letterer: Hector Trunnec

Producer: Esmond Zhou

Publisher: Whatnot Publishing 

Plot

Construction of Atlas City on Colony World-1 is complete, and the first contingent of human colonists are due to arrive within a day.

However, the city's leader, Atlas, is distracted due to a "gathering" of Astrobots, causing a riot, which have to be quelled. The Argus patrol take out the rioters, but soon realized that this was just a distraction for another attack to steal from an arsenal store for their rebellion

Outside the city, a lone Apollo-series bot approaches from the Dead Zone, to the surprise of the city guards, but he is allowed inside, where he is ambushed by the guards, who are shocked by how durable the older robot is, and he counters their attacks with relative ease.

The rebel leaders watch this, and think they can use the Apollo for their means. Meanwhile, a Senate meeting is disrupted with footage of the attack on the newcomer interests them.

Soon, Atlas barges in to see Argus, berating him for letting the senate find out about the Apollo bot before they could suppress him. Atlas contacts the Apollo, and invites him for a talk, being escorted by a large contingent of Argus units...

The colonist ship, Persephone, approaches Colony World-1, with Athenia being concerned by how smoothly their journey appears to have been...and wants to make some checks before they arrive on the planet with their passengers...

Characters

Apollo Unit 08

Chernos

Geomek

Vulkan

Athenia

Zenofanes

Consul Atlas

Tribune Kronoz

Senator Argus

Senator Stratica

Senator Eoz

Senator Solus

Senator Cypherion

Advocate Scylla

E-10

Tauran Type

Saturn Type

Scorpio Typse

Venusian Type

Argus Patrol

Wasp Drones 

City Guards

Red Horned Guards 

Random Astrobots

Humans (Flashback)

50,000 Persephone Colonists (Mentioned)

"Batch-33" (Mentioned)

Notes

• This series is based on the new toy line by Aaron Thomas and Esmond Zhou (toys available online, take a look!) The character designs in this comic are based on the toy models, and some seemingly new ones (potentially based on upcoming designs). The backstory of this comic is based on the one made for the toyline, and is a lot deeper than you may think for a new line. Here's a link to their facebook page with more information about it, and other stuff: here 
• So in brief, the back story is that humanity created the Astrobots, who feature sophisticated A.I. that essentially makes them sentient beings. An indeterminate amount of time in the past, and launched them into space to build up colony worlds for them to populate 
• The Astrobots of different models all look identical, but do seem to have some customization, such as some artwork of Vulkan having grabbing claws or drill arms. Based on a mention of a "Batch 33" we can probably assume there are 33 distinct types of Astrobot. The names of the models seem to be based on classical figures, such as gods, planets and constellations.
• I do apologise now for not knowing all the character or model names, but I couldn't find a lot of details on the background (so far). The character list will likely be better organized in future issues, when factions are formed etc.
• There is very clearly a conspiracy going on here. Apollo seems to be under the impression that there may be colonists amongst the Astrobots in Atlas city, but the Persephone is supposed to be the first colony ship to arrive, and Argus seems very concerned by him mentioning it when he arrives at the city...(Also I read something stating that the story is a conspiracy mystery series)
• Apollo-series bots are designed to self-deactivate after they fulfil their purpose...but why though? None of the others appear to have this quirk...
• The jet packs on the backs of some of the Argus Patrol bots are Wasp Drones, an add-one piece from the toy-line. Gotta love seeing play patterns in action :)