Comic review - Transformers: Deviations

[GoktimusPrime]

Picked this comic up today. WTH did I just read?
The concept and front cover blurb got me really excited. The idea of having an alternate universe where Optimus Prime doesn't die in TFTM. Unfortunately, the actual execution of this comic can only optimistically compared with a steaming pile of Bantha Poodoo.

It has all the trademarks of a bad fanfic and reminds me of precisely why I don't read fanfics! So many of the characters are just out-of-character that it's not even funny. Ultra Magnus is an unnecessarily harsh butthole. Unicron's line of, "Don't push your luck." What? Since when did Unicron: a) start using contractions, and b) start speaking in idioms?!? He's never done this in any Transformers continuity ever. It's as if the writer just wanted Unicron to say something funny, so this line was inserted. Unicron isn't meant to be funny! Giving him a smart alec quip diminishes him as a big menacing character. Not even Optimus Prime would ever say something like that (because he's meant to sound authoritative and stoic). Hot Rod is also far more reckless that he normally would be. It's as if the one event -- Optimus Prime not dying -- suddenly changed everyone's personas. Making them even shallower one dimensional caricatures than they already were in the original movie.

The story itself feels like something that a 10 year old just made up on the spot...
"Imagine that Kup stops Hot Rod and Optimus Prime doesn't die. So then he kills Megatron, and then Starscream goes back to Cybertron. And then they kick out all the Decepticons who got hurt in the fight. And then Starscream becomes the leader, and now Unicron's attacking Cybertron! Starscream talks to Unicron and Unicron makes him and his friends heaps stronger! And they can combine now! YEEAAAAH!"

Please tell me that this was written by a 10 year old. I refuse to believe that it was written by an adult. Unless that adult is Stephanie Meyer (Twilight Saga), because yeah, this comic really feels more like it was written in really bad prose (just like Twilight!). And the artwork here really isn't Figueroa's best work. It feels like he's regressed back to his bad-old-days at DW when he was attempting to emulate Pat Lee's style. Everyone's hands aren't drawn properly, and all their fingers are super-chunky (which would make it impossible for them to manipulate tools, weapons, keyboards etc.). I kid you not, but I would actually prefer watching a Michael Bay TF film over reading this comic. Both suck just as bad in story-telling, but at least the Bay films look good. This comic has equally sucky story but with lack lustre art. Gah.

Deviations #1 isn't worth the paper that it's printed on. Avoid. Or at least just browse-read it at your local comic book store and put it back on the shelf, but don't waste your money buying it (as I did).

I do think that the core concept of Deviations is interesting. Growing up reading the original G1 Marvel Comics, I always wished that Marvel had done a story on Transformers in their "What If--?" series. I hope that future issues do a better job (they couldn't possibly do worse, could they? You know if someone's comparing your work with Michael Bay that the standard is already pret-ty low), and hopefully expand beyond just the G1 cartoon universe. It's a good concept that has every potential to be done well.

[BruiseLee]

I love a good What If or Elseworld type story when executed well. Unfortunately this had had so much going for it but did not deliver. If Kup were to review it he would say "I knew you had potential lad...NOT!".

[i_amtrunks]

Flogging a dead horse, but after reading the new Potter play script, I feel a bit better about this deviation. At least it's not just transformers that gets the turd of a fanfic treatment!

[UltimateGalvatron]

I just read this.
It isn't the best, but I don't hate it.

Ultra Magnus seems overly douchey too me, and everyone seems to hate Hot Rod for attempting to help, even though they are Autobots.

They seem to force down our throats that 'this isn't the real one' with Hot Rod 'receiving visions' and the such.

I want a Megascream Maximus figure though...