IDW Transformers ongoing [spoilers]

[Paulbot]

Yes we've seen a lot of this comic book in online previews, but it is on sale now. What did people think?

I enjoyed this issue and think the previews showing things out of context hurt the book

The good
*robots in disguise theme is done well
*human reaction to the TFs is believable (and it's not that G1 cartoon everyone's friends)
*the colouring is quite beautiful
*Don's art is still pretty great
*the battle spread seen in early previews is not an actual event (so lots of chars aren't suddenly back from the dead)
*unexpected cameos
*the Decepticon threat is mostly out of sight

The bad
*the teeth... yes they are annoying but can easily be overlooked
*humanoid bodies... a bit too humanoid in some cases
*an odd time shift towards the end when it jumped to flashbacks
*random Autobots... characters who weren't seen in AHM appear on Earth now or are name-checked
*Prime's angst is a bit familiar, and not really groundbreaking or newspaper worthy

I'm looking forward to issue 2.

[Gutsman Heavy]

I liked it, I would have liked it more if it weren't for the spoilers, thanks IDW!

I like the new art style, its what the movies should have looked like IMO. The teeth are weird...

Sad to see Ironhide get snuffed, I hope Hot Rod doesn't become leader. Disappointed to see Drift again (bloody Mary-Sues) but at least he just stood there, but I'm still scarred after his Spotlight and really want him gone!

[heroic_decepticon]

flicked through this quickly at the comic shop. Didn't quite like the art direction.

Agree with Gutsman, I don't see the point in Drift (I mean why create a new character, and even grant him a Spotlight, when there are literally hundreds of existing G1 transformers to choose from).

[Sky Shadow]

Some good stuff here - the story's not too bad and the art's fine if you keep squinting until all the characters just look like blurry blocks of colour. So, it looks like this storyline is going to be about what life is like for the Autobots without Optimus Prime. WTH? Wasn't that what they did in All Hail Megatron? The IDW story immediately before this one? And the letters page claims "Hopefully, you found this issue accessible and fun, too". What exactly was fun about twenty-four pages of angst?

[SMHFConvoy]

24 pages of angst? Sign me up! ;-) Makes you wonder what was so wrong with Furman's direction to spend the last two years re-inventing the series...

[heroic_decepticon]

So, it looks like this storyline is going to be about what life is like for the Autobots without Optimus Prime. WTH? Wasn't that what they did in All Hail Megatron? The IDW story immediately before this one?

this life without Prime thing is seriously over done. Makes me think they still have not stepped out of the shadow of G1 Marvel (post Game Over Optimus Prime stories) and Marvel UK (Prey).

[griffin]

Yeah, that plot sounds a bit too unoriginal to be interesting.

SPOILERS AHEAD

I'd prefer to have Optimus hanging around, following the loss of a close friend (Ironhide), but to have self doubt about him and his actions, prompting a select few close to him to guide him (their leader) through the tough time, and eventually become stronger in the long run (a secondary story arc that could go 6-12 issues).
We get to see the strengths and weaknesses of a character's personality and how they grow as a 'person' through a tragedy, inspiring others around them in the process. Not to mention highlighting divisions between those supportive of Optimus, and those who question the reliability of a leader with self-doubt, to the point of advocating for a change of leadership.

[FFN]

Anybody read ongoing issue 10 yet?

I'm getting tired of how the art style keeps changing. YEP, the art style changed AGAIN. This is the fourth such change since Don stopped drawing this book.

[Sharky]

Anybody read ongoing issue 10 yet?

I'm getting tired of how the art style keeps changing. YEP, the art style changed AGAIN. This is the forth such change since Don stopped drawing this book.

i read it.... didnt notice it too much but then that could be after effect of blocking bad art out..




spoilery below






what i didnt like was onslaught... he appears to be a bumbling idiot... instead of a military stategist...

and for some reason they rely on swindle for plans and everything.......

and not to mention the autobots staying in car mode...

[griffin]

Issue 11 came out this week, and sets up a bizzare situation for what we know of Decepticons... and it bugs me.
These are warriors who take what they want, not work for it.

We have the Combaticons 'working' for Energon, supplied by Nth Korea, and now we have the Predacons appearing to be defending China's territory, like mercenaries.

I remember seeing some Decepticons barely surviving on some baren planet in an earlier issue, but these ones on Earth shouldn't be content with working for humans. They should be taking and destroying.

Is this what happens to the Decepticons when there is no real Leadership/Dictatorship controlling the troops? Or maybe this is their way of infiltrating Human super-powers without setting off a nuclear war or military strike.

I'm hoping it leads up to something worthwhile in the 12th issue, as it should be the final issue in the second story arc of the Ongoing comic.