I would actualy prefer if someone took the Bay Movies (or first movie only) and used them as a stepping stone. I always hoped IDW would take the movie backdrop with its unique designs and ideas and make their own story. Instead they have just produced meaning less side stories with paper thin characters and lots of pointless homages to G1.

As for the rest of the Franchise I have to wonder evolve to where? Everyone recalls the great success of Dreamwaves TF series, but that was part of an 80's nostalgia boom, and they were the first TF comics in years. And strangest off all (after the first series) they actualy started exploring some new ideas while keeping a healthy fistfull of nostalgia. Since then there have been several atempts to re-boot or redefine the modern G1 universe, but I can't help but feel it's getting rather tiresome. Sure having the classic G1 characters on the cover is probably a big draw for the casual G1 comic fan, but I find it's all getting a bit repetetive. Stuff like LSOTW is good because it features largely neglected characters (even if the mainstream don't seem to like it) and I understand where people who like Animated are comming from too (even though I really, really dislike the designs) as far as offering something a bit fresh to the Transformers universe goes.

It seems to me that the writters at IDW are only willing to take baby steps diverging from the G1 (or Bay movie) legacy just a bit, I can't help but think for me their comics would be a lot better if someone actualy did something totaly new, I mean isn't that how we got Beast Wars?