Quick Review of IDW's Transformers: Infiltration #0 Spoilers

veritech · Post by **veritech** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 11:47 pm

I'm really surprised that no one has posted about this yet, but the #0 preview issue came out last week in the US. While the story is very short, it really seems like IDW has some good things in store for the TF's.

In all actuality, IDW's version of G1 (Featuring Simon Furman) in getting back to basics . . . as in all the way back. The TF's are truly robots in disguise and their very existence on earth is fodder for conspiracy theorists. In this preview, you do not get a full panel shot of any TF in robot mode.

I am going to agree with Furman's modern 2000's take on G1. We live in a culture ripe with conspiracy theories and sightings. People tend to be cynical and distrustful in many ways . . . more than 20 years ago when G1 debuted. It really didn't make sense to pigeon-hole the TF's with a 1980's, Speilberg "Gee Whiz!" origin that was present in Marvels initial TF offering in 1984. The young humans in this new series are less likely to be gawking in awe of the majestic Optimus Prime. Instead, they will be blogging on the internet; trying to solve the puzzle of the mysterious mechs that may be infiltrating the planet.

So, all in all, I really am excited to see what IDW and Furman will do with the Transformers.

Post by **Denyer** » Wed Oct 26, 2005 1:45 am

veritech wrote:I'm really surprised that no one has posted about this yet, but the #0 preview issue came out last week in the US.

Mostly UK/European board... I'm still waiting for the paper copy myself, though I did review a full-issue preview that got mailed out to people at the end of August.

http://www.transfans.net/phpBB2/viewtop ... 4027#59452

IDW are doing a cracking job so far IMO.

edit: Oh, and from the scans used in this review here...

http://www.allspark.com/forums/index.ph ... 4819&st=40

...the colours on paper are more reasonably toned.

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Wed Oct 26, 2005 10:20 am

I heard the UK release date was put back. When can we expect it?

veritech wrote:It really didn't make sense to pigeon-hole the TF's with a 1980's, Speilberg "Gee Whiz!" origin that was present in Marvels initial TF offering in 1984.

Sadly it sounds like the new movie will be taking this approach.

Post by **Denyer** » Wed Oct 26, 2005 5:17 pm

OneShallStand's getting them Thursday, and I imagine other places similar. (They've also got subscription prices up now, which means I don't have to bother with my crap local comics shop... though I might take a trip next week just to see if they got stuff in.)

KingMob · Post by **KingMob** » Wed Oct 26, 2005 8:22 pm

Denyer's right, it's out in the UK; I got mine today. It should be on the shelves tomorrow.

Scraplet · Post by **Scraplet** » Wed Oct 26, 2005 8:23 pm

spiderfrommars wrote:I heard the UK release date was put back. When can we expect it?

My local comic shops, including forbidden planet, haven't a clue when its gonna turn up (the local independent has been told it may be 2 months!). However, I got copies from reedcomics.com a couple of days ago. So they have them already if you're struggling.

Edit: in light of what Mob just said, my local retailers are obviously full of S***

Or they don't like me

Their loss -I bought all four varients off reed comics

KingMob · Post by **KingMob** » Wed Oct 26, 2005 8:29 pm

I got mine from an indie store; he's shelving the copies tomorrow. I'm afraid I don't know if FP will/will not have it, but it would be unusual for them not to considering their main competition here are now stocked up.

Predabot · Post by **Predabot** » Wed Oct 26, 2005 9:16 pm

Denyer wrote:Oh, and from the scans used in this review here...

http://www.allspark.com/forums/index.ph ... 4819&st=40

...the colours on paper are more reasonably toned.

Are you absolutely certain? Cause that crazy magma-toning is one of the things that's been bugging me. That, and the fact that I haven't acctually seen it mentioned or noticed by anyone else... It's been quite enervating really.

I've seen the issue too, and that version had the crazy-tones on a few pages. As for the story, well it's the preview-issue, so not that much happened really, except for the last few panels I suppose. It seem promising, but as I haven't seen the transformers in transforming action (I've seen Su's concepts of how he's going to do the transformations, wich I really, really liked)

I can't say that I have truly yet been won over by the art. The writing was slightly intriguing, can't really say anything more about it yet.

Scraplet wrote:I bought all four varients off reed comics

Jeezus man.. You're either loaded or hard-core as max. (Not neccessarily bad things..) Wich one was your favorite by the way?

And does anyone know if that Ed McGuinness (I think??) Shockers-cover is supposed to be for #1? And has there been any modifications to it, from the version we saw a few months ago?

Scraplet · Post by **Scraplet** » Wed Oct 26, 2005 9:24 pm

Predabot wrote:I can't say that I have truly yet been won over by the art.

Not even the Thundercracker double page?

I just keep going back and looking at that!

Predabot · Post by **Predabot** » Wed Oct 26, 2005 9:27 pm

Scraplet wrote:Not even the Thundercracker double page?

I just keep going back and looking at that!

I thougth that was Screamers? I guess it can't have been tho... since he was giving orders per info-link or somethin'?

Scraplet · Post by **Scraplet** » Wed Oct 26, 2005 9:33 pm

Predabot wrote:
Scraplet wrote:Not even the Thundercracker double page?

I just keep going back and looking at that!
I thougth that was Screamers? I guess it can't have been tho... since he was giving orders per info-link or somethin'?

It was the blue colour and the sonic boom that gave him away

Yeah, screamers is givin the orders.
BTW, I liked the close up art on Starscream's eye. Cool.

KingMob · Post by **KingMob** » Thu Oct 27, 2005 6:34 am

Predabot wrote:Jeezus man.. You're either loaded or hard-core as max. (Not neccessarily bad things..) Wich one was your favorite by the way?

And does anyone know if that Ed McGuinness (I think??) Shockers-cover is supposed to be for #1? And has there been any modifications to it, from the version we saw a few months ago?

It's a variant for #0. One of the special ones. No changes as far as I can see from the advert in the back of #0, although I didn't commit the details of the net image to memory, I'm afraid.
The issue is selling for £0.75 up here. I've seen single Marvel comics priced at £2.99 before. Buying 4 doesn't require one to be loaded.

Scraplet · Post by **Scraplet** » Thu Oct 27, 2005 4:18 pm

Predabot wrote:
Scraplet wrote:I bought all four varients off reed comics
Jeezus man.. You're either loaded or hard-core as max. (Not neccessarily bad things..) Wich one was your favorite by the way?

I only got the four standard varients, not the rare (expensive) ones. I'm not that hardcore. I might be if I had more cash

I worked out less than £5 including postage for all four, I think....

'Cos I'm worth it

Isn't the Shockwave cover the retailer-incentive, whereby the retailer gets a single copy for every 100 ordered, or something?

Darth Aux · Post by **Darth Aux** » Thu Oct 27, 2005 9:28 pm

Spoilers??

It was ok, I like the new look Ratchet, I like the new look Prowl, I like the fact that thundercracker is an F22 (and most proably the other seekers). Not sure kicking off with such a large human element was a great idea though.

I got the Megs, Sondwave and Screamer cover and the Autobot cars covers at 95p plus a 5% discount off.

6 covers though hmmm, not liking that. Wouldn't mind if there was a different spiffy center spread pic in there for each variant.

Wasn't to bad though. I picked up the Fallen Star Digest tpb today too (Is it any good? Haven't read it yet)

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Fri Oct 28, 2005 8:01 am

Darth Aux wrote: I picked up the Fallen Star Digest tpb today too (Is it any good? Haven't read it yet)

Let us know what you think.

Metal Vendetta · Post by **Metal Vendetta** » Fri Oct 28, 2005 11:39 am

65p an issue at Orbital

Got all four.

Not a bad preview issue. It's believable, The "robots in disguise" thing comes across nicely (I particularly like Ratchet's concealed guns) and the characters seem fairly realistic at least. It's good that Hunter has some prior knowledge of Cybertronians as well, nice irony that he was heading out into the desert to find them in the first place.

Darth Aux · Post by **Darth Aux** » Fri Oct 28, 2005 8:36 pm

spiderfrommars wrote:
Darth Aux wrote: I picked up the Fallen Star Digest tpb today too (Is it any good? Haven't read it yet)
Let us know what you think.

Enjoying it so far

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Sun Oct 30, 2005 10:21 am

What stories are in it?

I really enjoy the little stories from that era. Good for a quick fix!

Hound · Post by **Hound** » Sun Oct 30, 2005 4:33 pm

Issue 0 was really enjoyable considering you didn't really see any Transformers in it. Verity and Hunter seem ok as far as human sidekicks go!

The new look Ratchet is awesome, and if Hasbro is seriously thinking of doing a more modern g1 for it's next series, they should take note from this design.

I'm really looking forward to issue 1. Shame its so far off really. Surely all momentum from launching 0 will have gone by then??

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 6:55 pm

Got mine today...

One thing I find fascinating is that its not exactly radically different to how Dreamwave's take started out, but its infinitely more successful in its execution because a) the human characters are more believable, likeable and well rounded, b) there's much better dialogue and c) the art is serving the story rather than the other way round (theres no grandstanding here). Best of all there's focus, purpose and mystery. I'm enjoying the new angle.

My appetite is definitely whetted. Soon, I hope, it will be sated!

veritech · Post by **veritech** » Tue Nov 01, 2005 8:59 pm

Didn't Dreamwave try to start with a modified Marvel origin as its basis? It was like they tried to keep the origin vague to keep both the cartoon and comics fans happy. In doing so, they created a whole new chronology that was never fleshed out very well. Furman tried to make some sense with his War Within series, I guess.

Post by **Denyer** » Tue Nov 01, 2005 11:31 pm

Predabot wrote:Are you absolutely certain?

Yes. Got an issue in hand now.

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 9:36 am

What vehicle makes are Runabout, Runamuck and Ratchet based on?

KingMob · Post by **KingMob** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 9:52 am

spiderfrommars wrote:What vehicle makes are Runabout, Runamuck and Ratchet based on?

Chevy Camaro's, apparently. I have no clue, but that's what I've been told.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/ ... age006.jpg
Runabout?

Actually, looking again at the comic, first page esp...that looks correct.
The bonnet/hood seems to ID it clearly.

Ratchet...Ford? Merc? Van type rather than box type...

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 11:07 am

KingMob wrote:
Chevy Camaro's, apparently. I have no clue, but that's what I've been told.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/ ... age006.jpg
Runabout?

Actually, looking again at the comic, first page esp...that looks correct.
The bonnet/hood seems to ID it clearly.

Yep, that looks right.

What were they before?

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 11:14 am

I want to know when we're going to meet Fred and Velma.

And the dog.

KingMob · Post by **KingMob** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 12:09 pm

spiderfrommars wrote:What were they before?

The big file of stuff says...Lotus Esprit and Pontiac Trans Am.

Different cars entirely, it would appear.

...like, zoinks, spidey. Writing a review? Would like to read the transfans take on the issue...

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 12:56 pm

KingMob wrote:
...like, zoinks, spidey. Writing a review?

Might be.

I do remember the old RM and RB being different makes to each other, so its interesting if they're both the same here.

And Brend... glad I'm not the only one who thought he looked like Shaggy!

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 1:09 pm

spiderfrommars wrote:And Brend... glad I'm not the only one who thought he looked like Shaggy!

The van certainly didn't help matters!

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 2:08 pm

I'm happy to report that after extensive research (oh, ok, I just googled it) O'Nion is a real surname.

TransFans.co.uk

Quick Review of IDW's Transformers: Infiltration #0 Spoilers

Re: Quick Review of IDW's Transformers: Infiltration #0 Spoi

Re: Quick Review of IDW's Transformers: Infiltration #0 Spoi