IDW Transformers ongoing [spoilers]

[GoktimusPrime]

True, but if you believe something is correct (such as that China is the Republic of China) you will continue with that mistake until someone corrects you.

If someone asked me on the street what China's official name was I would like to think I would answer correctly. Republic of China does not sound right somehow, but I can understand how someone simply made an error and it simply not made aware of it.

Yeah but if you're writing as a professional for a publication, then it pays to do some basic research -- which is ridiculously easy now in the age of Google. The author would've been better off just saying "China" rather than trying to sound clever and calling it the "Republic of China" then massively screwing it up. :/

But I never knew Taiwan was known as the Republic of China.

But now I know...

And knowing's half the battle!

Spider-Man: "What's the other half?"
Duke: "Violence."
- Mego Twisted Theatre

[snazzbot 101]

Yeah but if you're writing as a professional for a publication, then it pays to do some basic research -- which is ridiculously easy now in the age of Google. The author would've been better off just saying "China" rather than trying to sound clever and calling it the "Republic of China" then massively screwing it up. :/


And knowing's half the battle!

Spider-Man: "What's the other half?"
Duke: "Violence."
- Mego Twisted Theatre

That's the response I was hoping for!

You talk of research but if you believe what you think is TRUE than you run with it until you're proven wrong - it's human nature. No doubt Editorial should have picked that up, but in the comics industry nowadays you surely don't believe Editor actually look at words do you?

(Unless it's clear they wont all fit in a trade)

[heroic_decepticon]

Gok, remembering our discussion about how Americans (at least those we have been in contact with) are not so aquatinted with geography and thinks that American is the whole world, you wouldn't seriously expect Mike Costa (one of the lousier TF writers, if-not-the-lousiest) to actually know that fine a detail.

I think its a little pedantic to pick up that mistake he made, easy enough and easily confusing. Yes, he should have done research or the editing team should. However, the most appalling thing is (not that I've read #12) that there is nothing of merit to talk about, there is nothing contentious or remotely interesting to discuss, other than the writer making this silly mistake. That is sad, for the writer. I think he should quit before he is fired.

Oh, at least that bare-chested Spike issue had something for people to discuss and fight over.

[i_amtrunks]

I think he should quit before he is fired.

But it seems writing pointless and stretched out maxi series, and more or less ignoring the previous written fiction are two qualifiers for being an IDW Transformers writer!

A problem I have had with the past 12 issues is not just the lack of momentum, or decent writing, and not even the way 12 issues have barely covered about 4 issues of material, but how boring the art has been as well. It's technically very good, but the washed out look is getting boring fast.

[SharkyMcShark]

I'm with Gok on this. The PRC and the ROC are two entirely different things and its very lazy editting not to have picked up on it - but then lazy editting is something I've come to expect from IDW.

The first 12 issues have suffered from too many changes in tack to be honest. It started in the vain of AHM/Revelations - large large cast of characters all of which get very little time except for a few central bots. Then we swtiched to an Infiltration/Escalation style small cast of Autobots (Ratchet, OP, Bee, Cliffjumper and Jetfire). Now they've switched back to something of a middle ground, with those and now Brawn, Red Alert and Silverstreak getting a lot of time to have a whinge back at base.

Specifically on the second arc, while I feel that the concept of having different fragments of the Decepticons form their own factions is something that can work really really well if done right (a la War Within Dark Ages), here it's too simple.

[heroic_decepticon]

But it seems writing pointless and stretched out maxi series, and more or less ignoring the previous written fiction are two qualifiers for being an IDW Transformers writer!

[bear in mind I'm saying the below only having read the first ongoing trade paperback; quite unlikely I will buy the second and suffer through more crass]

That much is true. I can't understand why IDW apparently hires writers at random. First Shane McC, then now Mike Costa, who's a friend of someone and someone who knows someone at IDW...
"hey, we happen to want to produce a TF ongoing comic book. Would you like to write it because you are a friend of a friend, etc, even though you know jack shit about the characters and TFs in particular?"....
"Sure, why not? Who doesn't want to make a quick buck"...
"Here you are fans, Transformers Ongoing = (more crass down your throat)".

If Furman is no longer top dog because his books does not sell, I can't see how IDW can justify that these jokers' writing can sell better than Furman. Even Marvel which I think is suffering from writing lows takes more pride in its production than IDW's TFs. Looking back, Ongoing is at the very most no better than the Pat Lee Dreamwave stuff and at worst even lousier than the worst Dreamwave stuff.

[GoktimusPrime]

Yeah, Dreamwave's TF stuff was actually getting good before they went under. They did suffer from all kinds of weird errors though, like numerous typos and the occasional transparent speech bubble.

[Paulbot]

However, the most appalling thing is (not that I've read #12) that there is nothing of merit to talk about, there is nothing contentious or remotely interesting to discuss

Well there's this

Best bit of the issue: Cosmos gets his moment to shine.

I can't think of any other appearance (outside the cartoon) where Cosmos gets to fulfill his dual functions of communications and reconnaissance. It's always nice to see one of your first TF toys get some in print love.

[i_amtrunks]

Cosomos was one of only two halfway decently done things in the whole maxi, TC getting some spotlight was also handled well, the leader shift to Bee was a good idea, poorly executed.

The weapon used at the end of #12 (intentionally vague for spoiler reasons) sure better be explained (quickly), the damage it causes is ridiculously over the top.

[SharkyMcShark]

The only issue they'd have to explain it in the foreseeable future is issue 14 - 13 is about Rodimus in space, and 15 is about Megatron returning to earth.