Drift

[SilverDragon]

Considering how much the fandom loves the Generations Drift toy, I started thinking about how Drift could be improved. The character, that is.

Without the toy, Drift was to IDW what Scrappy-Doo was to Scooby-Doo, i.e. the one character that nearly everyone hated. Considering how much he's actually done within the comics (not much), this hate seems rather out of proportion. In my view, what's really to blame for Drift's unpopularity is a combination of IDW hype backlash, Drift not actually doing much despite what IDW have said, appearing in AHM (and so becoming the figurehead for the bad things about it), and the whole 'bad fancharacter' aspects.

(Some may claim Drift to be a Mary Sue, or the male equivalent, Marty Stu. I direct those people to IDW Spike, who is much more of a Marty Stu than Drift ever was)

How do we rescue Drift from the Scrappy heap? I think the answer's simple: give him things to do. A character is not improved by not doing anything with them, and Drift has done nothing outside of AHM and his spotlight (the Robot Heroes book doesn't count). In the ongoing, Drift has appeared twice, both times as a background character. This hardly endears him to the audience, and so he isn't improving.

Drift's redemption may come in the upcoming miniseries exploring his origins, but I don't think there's much in his backstory that needs expanding on, unless it turns out that there IS. If he's to really improve, he needs to be able to contribute to the ongoing, considering that's where the plot is.

[Sky Shadow]

Considering how much the fandom loves the Generations Drift toy, I started thinking about how Drift could be improved. The character, that is.

Kill him.

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"We all know that sometimes when cartoon characters die, they're back again the very next week. That's why I'm presenting this sworn affidavit that Drift will never, ever, ever return!"

[SharkyMcShark]

i.e. the one character that nearly everyone hated.

Not true. It's my experience having talked to other fans both online and in person that it's the very vocal minority that hate him. Most people don't mind him, or acknowledge that he's not done enough to warrant the amount of hate he gets.

[Gutsman Heavy]

Put him in a wreckers book and kill him, just look at Rotorstorm!

[Sky Shadow]

How do we rescue Drift from the Scrappy heap? I think the answer's simple: give him things to do. A character is not improved by not doing anything with them, and Drift has done nothing outside of AHM and his spotlight (the Robot Heroes book doesn't count). In the ongoing, Drift has appeared twice, both times as a background character. This hardly endears him to the audience, and so he isn't improving.

I'm pretty sure there's a rhetorical fallacy in there:

--

IDW [Punches SKY SHADOW in the shoulder several times.]

SKY SHADOW: Stop that!

SILVERDRAGON: Hmm... you sure don't seem to like being punched in the shoulder. I think I see the problem - you haven't been punched enough.

IDW [Punches SKY SHADOW some more.]

SKY SHADOW: Ow! Seriously, stop it. No, I just don't like being punched.

SILVERDRAGON: I get it. The punching is too subtle.

IDW [Punches SKY SHADOW harder.]

SKY SHADOW: #@*%! SilverDragon! I said I don't like being punched. There's nothing good about being punched. At all.

SILVERDRAGON: Ah. So we have to bring the punching to the forefront so you can like it more. IDW?

IDW [Punches SKY SHADOW in the face. SKY SHADOW is knocked out.]

SILVERDRAGON: Yes, that's much better.

[SharkyMcShark]

So essentially what you're saying is that the character has no redeeming features whatsoever, no potential to bring anything new to the table, and any and all use of him in any imaginable story arc (that doesn't involve his immediate death) is a slap in the face to you as a fan?

[Sky Shadow]

So essentially what you're saying is that the character has no redeeming features whatsoever, no potential to bring anything new to the table, and any and all use of him in any imaginable story arc (that doesn't involve his immediate death) is a slap in the face to you as a fan?

I agree with everything above except for the slap in the face bit.

[griffin]

Try to restrain yourself Skyshadow... I think everyone knows how negatively you feel about Drift. This is a topic asking about ways to improve the character. Anything derogatory towards the character is off-topic.

[liegeprime]

How do we rescue Drift from the Scrappy heap? I think the answer's simple: give him things to do.

Send him in the kitchen and chop up some onions, were also low on carrot slices and celery stick. He might as well put them 3 swords to good use.

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

Well for a start, we could look at his change from Decepticon to Autobot. hopefully nothing too cheesey in the old horror stories stakes. I would be pleased with the a ideological shift in thinking via some speech that was made by a commanding officer/Megatron which has 2 ways of being interpretted and Drift thinks to himself, that's not what I think. Or something like that.

I agree that he hasn't done much, but sadly all he did do was stand around looking like a tool and being the stereotyped shallow 'cool, calm, collected arse kicking guy' which is what irritated me the most for some reason. I think he should've had a bit more input into a story earlier as there wasn'tt anything to support his character at all.

To summarise: An origin story.