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A re read of this issue reveals the error I pointed out to be (another one of the many) editing mistakes that the IDW run is rapidly becoming infamous for - Starscream in one flashback is shown arguing with Soundwave still in his MP F-15 Eagle body, and then a few pages later in another flashback, this time to issue 13, in his F-22 Raptor body while fighting Hot Rod (the error being that in that issue he had his MP Starscream body)
I read this latest issue and the character model changes just don't bother me. I can always tell who a character is supposed to be and that's what matters. I just don't care that the jet modes have randomly changed for the seekers or whatever. It's just artistic licence.
If there's any complaint about this issue it's that most of it is devoted to the bad guy (although it's not clear which) revealing the evil plot, which could have been condensed so more actually happened. The timeframe it gives doesn't feel like it matches the comics that came before, but instead seems to be based in reality. Did Ongoing #1 take place 14 months before Ongoing #15? Never felt like that as a reader.
Slightly petty continuity whining aside, the last page of this issue is a fantastic piece of art. We NEED a toy of that Starscream.
So #15 is the best issue we have had thus far, but the art still stinks, and there were still about 6-10 pages wasted on crud that could have been covered in about 1-2 pages tops.
Fills in the back story nicely, it is not the first time a TF has had a new body constructed from nothing...
Having Megatron give a little of his conciousness to each gun also is silly, and a very roundabout way of getting Bumblebee shot... it's almost like this plot point was quickly thought of after Costa had decided to have Bee shot... knee jerk backstory with plenty of "lucky coincidences" ftw.
I can see where they're going with it.
And it probably will involve grabbing a bunch of the guns so they've got a sizeable chunk of Megatron's spark, and then using it to bring him down just as his plan is about to come to fruition.
Or something.
Quote:
Originally Posted by i_amtrunks
Bring on 'Optimus Prime and The Deathly Hallows'.Quote:
Originally Posted by SharkyMcShark
So #16 was a bit of everything:
- Too much squishies talking
- Magnus not dealing with stuff
- Starscream being a git
- Megatron being insane
- Megatron being insane but stomping squishies (yay!)
- Thundercracker getting even more spotlight time
- resolution of an anti-cliffhanger
- very little robot-e-robot violence
- wasted pages and slow moving story
- inconsistent art
But overall, it actually was alright, not good, certainly not great, but alright. It seems Costa has a direction and an idea of how to move in that direction. Too bad it's taken so long to go nowhere to get to this point.
I've also been reading some of the movie prequel stuff, and speaking generally I wonder if IDW has been told its cool to really let the humans have it now? I mean sure we've had like... implicit off panel death before, but now three series runnng at the same time (ongoing, infestation, and the movie stuff) have humans being vaporised down to skeletons.
the guy's not improved since 1986... "consistency is not victory". You fail, Magnus.Quote:
Originally Posted by i_amtrunks
G1 Comic Magnus was pretty cool. Yeah sure, he constantly got nine colours of snot beat out of him again and again and again -- but that's because G1 comic Galvatron was a freakin' demi-god. For a relative "mere mortal," I think Ultra Magnus did okay. :)
SharkyMcShark: since this thread is about IDW's ongoing G1 and not their movieverse comics, I would have appreciated it if you'd spoiler tagged your comment about humans being vapourised to skeletons, as I'd read that post _before_ I picked up my DotM prequel comics yesterday (and only read it this morning). :( Perhaps if it were posted in a thread for the DotM prequel comics then I would have abstained from reading such a thread until I read the comics to avoid spoilers... but I walked into this thread about TF Ongoing, which I'm up to date on, and was inadvertantly exposed to a DotM prequel spoiler. :(
A spoiler warning and/or spoiler tags would be appreciated. Thank you.
Ah, but it's his consistency of not being able to deal with it that ensures victory. :pQuote:
Originally Posted by heroic_decepticon
Generic humans being offed isn't a spoiler and doesn't warrant two :(s.Quote:
Originally Posted by GoktimusPrime
... I'm not sure how that would work. Maybe if his UK love interest Cindy helped him, victory might be possible...Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul Agnew
Yeah I gotta agree #15 was pretty good mini megatron guns aside. But who was narrating it? It's been kind of bugging me, I was under the impression Shockwave was...Quote:
Originally Posted by i_amtrunks
#17 was probably the first unawful issue in a long time. Stuff actually happened! And even though Megatron no doubt has a plagiarism lawsuit on the way from Adrian Veight, at least he was interesting this issue. "Don't be an idiot, Prime. You'd only try to stop me and I'd probably accidentally kill you. And I can't have you dead yet" was the best speech bubble in a Transformers comic since Last Stand Of The Wreckers. And the ending was great - I don't know if it was a deliberate allusion to Marvel US #4, but it was awesome either way.
(That said, the random redesigns of characters is just getting stupid. Can you imagine if every subsequent issue of Justice League America had the characters drawn with completely different costumes and hair? Seriously, IDW needs to come up with specific models for each character and get each artist to draw that design in their own style, not just use the kewlest Jetfire or Jazz or Cliffjumper that comes to their heads in any given month.)
The designs as they were in that issue (Jazz and CJwith headlamp shoulders, Jetfire as a hulking B1-ish bomber, etc) are the designs that the first arc of Ongoing used, and I wish they'd stick with them instead of randomly going back to Sunbowish funland every now and then.
Having soundwave standing there was kind of dumb and annoyed me a bit, but the twist at the end was good.
Also on page 11 it looks like Magnus is doing something to Soundwave's foot with some kind of finger tool. What was going on there?
Also that Jazz design is about 10 times better than RtS Jazz.
EDIT: I mean in saying that I understand that Ongoing Jazz is like 95% Animated Freeway Jazz done in the style of Don's Ongoing bots, but I think my point still stands.
So, caught up on my Ongoing reading and well, it's almost to the point where it should be. Megatron SHOULD be vaporising puny humans for daring to strike him. None of this Constructicons being taken out by one man garbage.
I figured he was detecting/jamming Soundwave's transmissions, which I think were channeling the 'voices' to the people with those weapons.Quote:
Originally Posted by SharkyMcShark
YES! This is something I've whinged about before... the lack of consistent visual continuity in the character designs!! Gah! It reminds me of that scene from Kung Pow: Enter The Fist with Evil Betty... "Your shirt is red!" "Your shirt is blue!" :pQuote:
Originally Posted by SkyShadow
Kootchy-koo? :pQuote:
Originally Posted by SharkyMcShark
The latest issue, the last of this story arc, feels a bit anti-climatic and doesn't flow that nicely from the last issue. At the same time it feels really rushed with many characters having very brief appearances despite their importance to the plot.
I find it hard to reconcile the two major characters facing off in this issue as the same robots we saw do the same years ago in the second IDW series.
I do look forward to the upcoming story arcs trying to make this feel like a more unified continuity.
I purchased and read Transformers 20 today and was pretty happy with it. It's the Hot Rod and Wheelie show again as a prelude to the Chaos story and it also picks up the story from the Ironhide limited series. Problem is if you haven't actually read that Limited series you'll be a bit in the dark as the recap occurs between panels. Or that silent panel is meant to have exposition-heavy speech bubbles!
I really liked Guido's art in this issue helped by the nice colouring. There's a Hot Rod transforms panel that's the highlight for me art wise. The "movie-esque" designs of the ongoing are gone, with the mix of Cartoon/Classics designs seen in All Hail Megatron back again. This might upset you if you need consistency, but many I think would be happy to see that look again (like I am).
Story-wise this is still prelude stuff so it's kind of missable and not essential, but the stuff being set up does make me excited for the Chaos arc's promises of tying up loose ends and plot lines.
Also, special mention must be made of the member of the swarm that debuts here. Dont want to say too much for risk of spoilers, but Fansproject should be putting one of those together.
Haven't had a chance to buy #21 yet but I had a look at the #22 preview Kup posted and think it looks awesome
A Variable Voltage Harness! The Black Hole thing! Xaaron! Cybertronian apartheid!
The few flashbacks in that preview and better than the entire Megatron Origin limited series.
Transformers 21 was great. I love the way they're handling Bumblebee's leadership and the way he's dealing with his insecurities while still pushing ahead with the job at hand.
The part where he says "I never had a chance, did I?" to Prime was just so perfect for the storyline.
Every issue they put out convinces me more and more that the biggest problem iwth the Live Action Movies is that they aren't more like the IDW comics.
the past 4/5 issues have been building amazingly. I can't wait to grab #22 this arvo!!!
Nice, Just confirmed PZ at Parra still has some copies, might trek there this coming week once I feel better.:)
Hmmm reading Paulbot's comments... that would explain re: Ironhide in the ongoing, coz I only follow the ongoing and havent bought the limited series ones which is why it's got me confused. I bought also Heart of Darkness #4 (missed and searching #3) and I must say that this is really a different take on Galvy, not to mention that I really didnt like the art. It's like a grade schooler hired to do a pro comics.... :mad::mad:The covers were awesome, but inside, ugh.... glad it was only 4 issues.
Optimus Prime didn't really give Bumblebee much respect. It's interesting.Quote:
Originally Posted by bowspearer
Transformers 21 is all about getting the gang back together. It starts to reveal more of IDW Optimus Prime's character which is built upon more in the next issue. I liked the look Guidi gave all the Autobots, a mix between the early models from the ongoing and a more cartoony look. There's some really nice colouring too.
There's two stories in the issue. The first is slightly longer. The second focuses on the manipulative Prowl and sets up The Last Story On Earth, as well as putting a few other characters where they need to be. After several issues setting up the upcoming stories though there needs to be some more progression.
And then Transformers #22 comes along. Best Transformers comic I've read since LOTSW. No surprise that it's the same author. I mentioned in the acquisitions thread that the book is wordy. There's more to read in the issue than there has been in most other recent Transformers, and I love it. That James Robert is a fan, and a UK fan, comes through quite clearly in the choice of some of the characters and of course the VVH. [Those poor stubbies ;)].
But it's also because of the topics of discussion. There's not much action in this book, but it doesn't mean it's dull. There's a discussion between the Autobot High Command that's quite unique and where the stakes weren't what I expected. There's Prime interrogating Megatron which is just wonderful, and manages to be funny and depressing and surprising. And there's the flashbacks to an early Megatron interacting with familiar characters as we've never seen them before. The flashbacks may tie into Megatron Origin, but are much better than that whole series in my opinion.
Alex Milne's art is also really nice. He's got pre-war Cybertron, curious Autobots, holographic Autobots, a menacing but manacled Megatron, and a terrific montage of key events from the previous 100+ issues of the IDW saga.
I hope part two in #23 lives up to this issue. I strongly recommend buying this issue if you've previously given up on the ongoing series and giving it a go.
Dude, if you out ur name for a standing order on Transformers at PZ you won't miss another issue! Certainly worth it for the next coming months and 2012!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by liegeprime
I'll be dropping in tomorrow morning to grab #22, one for me and one for my library I think.
Definitely the best of the past 23 issues - thank you James Roberts for making IDW deserve my money again. This is a great read - so much so that I thought I'd already read a whole comic at page eleven and was then elated to realise I still had the second half to go. Even Alex Milne does a great job here - in his flashback scenes (particularly his generics) he seems to be channelling Geoff Senior (rather than his usual Pat Lee.) The highlight of an issue of highlights is Optimus's scene with Rodimus - the final frame of page 7 is priceless. A+
It's this the issue where Impactor is having lunch with Megatron? If it is then that's awesome! I was hoping for that issue to be good and not the usual IDW mediocrity.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sky Shadow
It's actually the next issue already. We 'reviewed' the Impactor and Megatron issue (#22) somewhere here on OTCA - weirdly I can't find it in a search though.Quote:
Originally Posted by kup
I think we reviewed it in the ongoing IDW thread rather than make a thread for every issue.
I've yet to read #23 but it seems that (surprise surprise) a new writer who has obviously read much of the previously released fiction can work it all in together in a much more coherant and enjoyable story with characters rather than the blow-ins who just wanted to write a mini focussing on a character or two and then get it shoe-horned into an ongoing.
Transformers 23. I think the Megatron issue was better but the pair of issues makes a great two parter. This was a bit more action focused which is really interesting. Megatron's issue and origin is rather non-violent, while Optimus Prime's is full of violence.
I like this story's take on the beginning of the Cybertron civil war. There's similarities to Exodus. I like that it is trying to tie in to Megatron: Origin even if I don't like that book.
But there's unanswered questions. I want to see more of that period. Perhaps one of the two new ongoings after Chaos will be set back in this era?
Damn! I missed out. I guess I will have to wait for the TPB.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sky Shadow
Transformers 24. Chaos begins and unfortunately it's a bit old school IDW. Not a lot happens in this issue really and there's a lot less to read than in the previous two parter. Livio Ramondelli's art is really nice. Unconventional for Transformers and some might hate it. Livio has some storytelling problems (often mostly because it's hard to tell who the robot in a panel is) but his renditions of the Sweeps are scary (first time in any G1 fiction I've ever thought that) and there's a great two page splash. It's helped by lovely paint-like colouring. In a way the art reminds me of the best G1 picture storybooks mixed with Animated expressionism. Still, so far the plot is not giving me what I wanted from the story and the lead up.
Unfortunate to hear as the past 3 issues have been a giant leap in quality of storytelling, in two issues we got more depth and understanding of two of the most (until this point) one dimensional characters in the IDW run. Not only that but it was starting to feel as though they were building to something pivotal not only in the near future, but also relating to the "in universe" past.Quote:
Originally Posted by Paulbot
But instead it looks as though Chaos is going down the trite "summer blockbuster" comic route, where there will be a big bad that shakes up the story and "things will never be the same again..." :rolleyes:
Cannot agree more, issue #24 is a massive step backwards after the best two "main story" issues since Furman parted ways at the end of Revelation.Quote:
Originally Posted by Paulbot
The story can be summed up very simply: "Oh! bad robots, we can't trust them, lets fight instead." Undoing everything that was built up to in the previous few issues.
And it is not like we don't all know the general idea of what is going to happen next... :rolleyes:
Art is different. I like it and dislike it at different points, it is not the best style for showing battle scenes, and this issue really tries to build up the main battle scene, so big mistake there. The next issue will shoot off on another angle, then 126 will continue this story. Could be very annoying to casual readers.
Still better than AHM and the first year of ongoing.
Transformers #25 feels like a return to the early issues of the ongoing. We're back to Earth, with only the briefest mentions of what's been happening in the past few issues with the Cybertron-bound Autobots. The focus is back on Autobots in disguise in a world where the humans fear them. The art is similar to Don's early work, but the robots are a bit more rounded.Quote:
Originally Posted by i_amtrunks
I was quite happy to see Streetwise finally making a substantial appearance after his surprise cameo in the first issue of the ongoing. There's hints that many threads from the previous (earth-based) issues of the series are going to lead towards a definite conclusion, and I do like that. If you haven't liked the Earth stories though you can probably wait two weeks until the next issue back on Cybertron.
The decision to alternate the issues is a bit odd, If you had to wait two months between issues it'd be too much. The current format does make the book two monthly comics, but I can't help feel it would have been better off to wrap up the Earth story first while the other Autobots were travelling to Cybertron.
Transformers #26 is the second part of Chaos and I think it's better than part one but still has flaws and we're no closer to knowing what Galvatron's plan is.
Part one seemed to be too light on plot, but part two feels like it speeds through too much plot too quickly. It's not helped by the art which, while moody and attractive, doesn't seem right for the epic battles I want to see. Instead you get a few panels only in which it's harder then it should be to work out who all those Autobots flying & driving off to battle are? (Harder when some of these haven't featured in the previous 25 issues at all, and the forces that landed on Cybertron in #24 seemed much smaller.)
Not sure about Silverbolt turning into his Universe 2.0 toy (joints and sound button included!) but there's at least another new look for a familiar character that looks really good.
Transformers #27 takes us back to Earth, and I'm thinking it would have been better for the three-parter to have happened while the other Autobots travelled to Cybertron. Because now we've got the situation where the big important stuff is happening on Cybertron and we cut back to rather mundane happenings on earth.
But there's good stuff in the book, starting with Cover B. Sure you could pick up a cover with Bumblebee and Ultra Magnus, but those guys have been and will be on many covers. No go for the alternative cover of Streetwise vs Brawl. I quite enjoyed the Streetwise and Prowl dynamic. I like seeing the two Autobot police cars as policemen, but I really like seeing Streetwise being treated as someone more than Defensor's leg.
It's easy to tune out though during the human scenes. The ongoing comics's never made the human soldier characters all that interesting. I'm quite ready for this storyline to be wrapped up and put aside for the Chaos storyline to proceed.