Grimlock ♥ Ultra Magnus

I  got this from Netgalley, but read this in original comic form.  So reread.   (I can't find the paper issue number three, which is why I read this from Netgalley.)  The reason I took away one half a star is that I thought this was going to be Dynobot-centric - as it mostly about the Dynobots.   Eh, not so much.   Much of the story is centered on the Dynobots, but given the initial ads for this, not as much as I had hoped.   It's a good story, and it encompasses all the factions - Autobots, Dynobots, Decepticons bots that will presumably become NAILs later on, as well as Dai Atlas, and through him the Knights of Cyberton.   

Power struggles in both the Decepticon and Autobot factions are played out, as Dai Atlas invites distrust of the new Prime, without really meaning to.   He doesn't help, although not out of any ill will.   Dai Atlas simply doesn't trust that the new Prime - Optimus - has the strength needed to lead, and to bring peace to Cybertron.   It's fair, I think, because Prime makes mistakes in this graphic novel, and stumbles, as he learns how to be a leader.   However, he also has the best interest of Cybertron at heart.   Given that the Matrix chooses someone to become a Prime, someone who may not have experience in leadership, but who it deems worthy... I can't really fault Prime.   He agonizes over his missteps, and he tries to deal justice with a fair hand.   He tries not to fight if possible, but is willing to raise arms in defense of Cybertornians.   He *is* worthy.   

The Decepticons, on the other hand, cut each other down.   Scorponok unseats Megatron and leaves him for scrap on Junkion.   They squabble, they backstab each other, and while there are occasional elements of honor shown - Megatron respecting the dead of those who fought for him, and refusing to let his Decepticons go into battle when he's sure they'll die for example - it's not a pretty picture of this faction.   Not at all.

Between all this, the energon supplies are at a low point.    The world is not able to sustain it's inhabitants, and this is simply causing more and more tension.   Add that to the political going ons, and peace is unsustainable.   

However, the Monstrosity in the title - who it refers to is debatable.   A Quintesson on Junkion tells Megatron he has to become monstrous to survive that world, and Prime calls him a monster in the end.   The Dynobots are portrayed as monstrous, and even Grimlock reminds the readers of this.   More than once he says he has a monster in him, as does the rest of his team.   They're dangerous and trying to get off world to protect everyone else from their monsters.    Trypticon is monstrous, and is called on it moire than once.   I would argue that Megatron learns to be more monstrous than before on Junkion, and that this is a tale of redemption for the Dynobots - they go from having a monster in them to starting to be able to control that monster, and becoming as honorable as they had been before their last mission under Nominus.   

Trypticon?   Trypticon is just a tragedy.   He's been infected by the same energon that has turned the Dynobots into the monsters they see in themselves.   It's raw energon that Prime hopes to use to restore the world, at least until he sees what it's done to the Dynobots.   (Think Hulk-like rage.   Their savage/beast modes are explained by their medic, Skar, who was using adaptable alt-modes to fight creatures who were savage, and dragon like - and who were infected by that same raw energon.)   Trypticon has been feeing off it for Primus knows how long.  I see him as neutral, as rage given form, who lashed out and devours everything.   He tramples on Autobots and Decepticons alike. 

All in all?   There are just too many subplots, and themes, to go over in one review.   This is a highly complex graphic novel that not only gives insight into Cybertron's past, but sheds light on the IDW version of the Dynobots.   It's got brilliant art, and I loved the writing even more the second time around.  I loved the graphic novel in general the second time around.   Highly suggested.