What we have here is yet another case of me snatching up a book judged solely by it's cover. The Autobots and Bruce Springsteen? 100 cents, here you go! I'm of the proper age where I played with the generation one toys and watched the original cartoon on weekday afternoons (Of the Transformers, not The Boss. I don't think Bruce got his own action figure line.), though I'm not exactly a die hard fan of either property. I couldn't pass up on a story titled "Rock and Roll-Out!"
The issue begins with some wonderfully ponderous pomp and circumstance, welcoming Jetfire into the ranks of the heroic Autobots in something called "The Rite of the Autobrand" where he receives his trademark Autobot symbol, Optimus Prime gives some grave speeches and Jetfire receives a golden oilcan which Prime tells him 'Within it mingle the donated fuels of your new Autobot brethren. Your acceptance of it symbolizes your becoming one with us!" Needless to say, this is getting really weird.
The majority of the story concerns the resurrection of a quintet of Autobots (Grapple, Hoist, Smokescreen, Skids and Tracks, for those playing at home) being shown the ropes by official earth tour guide, Bumblebee.
There's a lot of good bits in this plot, particularly how they disguise themselves among earthlings in their vehicle forms in day to day doings. First, they need to cover up that pesky Autobot symbol, which seems a bit odd considering the solemn rites that took place a few pages earlier. And since cars and trucks can't be seen driving around by themselves, despite what any mediocre Pixar film might tell you, each Autobot has a mannequin of a driver that springs out from the driver's side seat cushions. Bumblebee also reminds the new recruits that, since cars don't talk aloud on this planet, they have to use their inter-autobot radios. Hilarity ensues when they try to fill up at a gas station, loiter in the parking lot at a burger joint, and don't realize they have to pay a parking fee at a concert. How droll!
So where does Mr. Springsteen fit into all this folderol, you may ask? Well, it seems those dastardly Decepticons are creating a mighty power source called energon cubes and they know "a tremendous release of sonic energy" will be released soon that will help them siphon energy to create more of said cubes. As it turns out, the "sonic energy" will be provided by a huge concert given by none other than Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band! Wait, scratch that, I of course meant to say "Brick Springstern and the Tenth Avenue Band". Whether mighty Marvel didn't get permission, or wasn't given it, I have no clue, but at any rate we get to hear Bruce, er, Brick, that is, warble such chart toppers as "Dancing in the Night", "Born to Ride" and "Born in America". I wonder how many copies of this comic Bruce has been asked to sign at concerts.
Oh, and at a few points there are some humans interacting at an oil rig or something, but much like the Michael Bay films, who cares?
Needless to say, the Decepticons crash the concert, which apparently is attended by 80,000 people (!?), to harvest all that sweet, sweet, sonic energy, and the Autobots have to defy Optimus Prime's orders and get involved to save the day. Because, in the immortal actions of Brick Springstern, "The show must go on!" Until next time, catch you by the spinner rack!
Also: What?...
Also: A Gobots ad in a Transformers comic? Blasphemy!
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