The Irresistable Rise of Si Furman

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 3:09 pm

I've said it before but I'm amazed - simply amazed - at how much Furman has achieved at IDW in so short a time. Its a continuity that doesn't make me even miss Marvel, bubbling with fleshed out characters, intriguing mysteries, dense histories and a myriad of exciting possibilities.

Its obvious Dreamwave fell at the very first hurdle by going with art and ego-led stories written by other people. But even though I'm a fan of Furman and liked the stuff he did in War Within and Armada, I knew it was far from his best. Its as if he was straitjacketed by the rules of their agenda.

The likes of the Spotlights and Stormbringer, and the great cross-referencing between them and the new G1 titles seem to show a writer reinvigorated once and for all. Beast Wars was ace too. I'm sort of surprised, and very pleased.

What about you?

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 3:59 pm

It has the feel of Ultimate Transformers, which is nice.

Not overly keen on Infiltration, but Stormbringer (or at least the first three issues) and Spotlight are wonderful.

I think it's helped by having a finite set of characters already in existence. Whereas the Marvel comics were somebody trying to tell a story whilst having a parade of new characters thrown at them from an external source, this time out everything exists already... people know what works, people know what doesn't... characters and concepts can be picked and chosen as required by the circumstance, rather than by which toys are about to come out.

As per the Ultimate Marvelverse - it's a great big case of "right, let's take what we already know and reinvent it as if we were starting from scratch."

Good contrast with the Dreamwave stuff is this:

War & Peace had the Cybertronian Council or whatever. The main entry criteria being "are you a year 2 Autobot car?" - it seemed like they were intent on introducing all the characters in approximately the same order, just for the sake of keeping them together.

Whereas that bit in Stormbringer or whatever with the floating heads of scientists? The criteria for inclusion there seemed to be "are you a scientist?" - something that's actually sensible and makes use of the fact that all the characters for use are predefined before the story is laid out.

Like the fact that not all the X-Men have appeared in UXM yet - those that have been brought in have been brought in when needed. If the story doesn't call for them, or the writer doesn't see a need for them, they're not there. Simple as. The creative team knows the character exists, and they'll bring them in when the story demands it. Not just for "OMG cool look - it's Sunfire!!1" purposes.

War & Peace was a great big pile of "throw in as many characters as possible - quickly! and mash it up with lots of plot ideas lifted from classic stories!". Infiltration used only the amount of characters it really needed to in order to tell one particular story and portray the situation as it is. Stormbringer re-envisioned the notion of Pretenders to something a bit more practical now that it's freed of the need to shift toys - as a way of expanding on the situation on Earth to show there are similar units on other planets. Shockwave spotlight gave us a reinterpreted story in flashback using only the necessary characters... and in a way that we know it's only been told because it'll be relevant. It's like pacing!

It's good stuff.

I hated the bloody Dreamwave G1 stuff... did I ever mention that?

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 12:37 am

I think for the most part, Simon has done a good job of handling things. Not to say he has been infallible, but he has shown flashes of the brilliance that made him the legend he is, and it's nice to know he still has it.

Have I enjoyed IDW more than DW thus far? Well, I think it's still too early, for me anyway. Here's how I see the works of these two companies thus far:

DW
Prime Directive "B-", though I was hard up for anything TF-related
War and Peace "A", probably my favorite work out of DW
War Within: "B"
War Within: the Dark Ages: "C-", weak ending, hated the Fallen
War Within: The Age of Wrath: "B"
Tranformers Ongoing Sunstorm Saga: "A-", liked it
Transformers Ongoing Insecticon Story: "C", was okay
Transformers Ongoing Return of Megatron: "A+", strong finish
Micromasters: "D-" Some of the worst TF-related garbage
More Than Meets the Eye: "A+", a dream come true

IDW
Infiltration: "B", solid start, but pacing was too slow, much better as TPB
Stormbringer: "B+", strong start with weaker finish
Shockwave Spotlight: "A+", one of the greatest TF comics in ages
Nightbeat Spotlight: "B"
Hearts of Steel: "C-", lamest ending ever, ruined something good
Beast Wars: The Gathering: "C+", not a BW fan

I judge a comic by how I felt the first or second time I've read it, not after sitting down and analyzing every bit of it. I think with that approach, I convince myself most things are garbage.

I would say I enjoy both overall.

Blacksword · Post by **Blacksword** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 5:21 am

Overall I'm becoming rather fond of the IDW material. I was a bit skeptical of Infiltration when it started but it finished well, and does its job.

And that would be laying a foundation. Dreamwave had no plan to start, just a quick cash in on the TF name, then they hired Mick/McWhat's his name who created a bloated overly complicated plot all in one fell swoop, completely out of nowhere. At this point Furman is carefully constucting his overall plot and characters, adding one piece at a time answering a few questions and opening up more with each addition. With only a few issues things are well started, with the story gradually becoming more complex, but remaining comprehensible. Read as a whole Infiltration is extemely solid and gets better with each issue. Stormbringer and the one shots have all tied in neatly to plot points from Infiltration and have been events with a purpose developing the plot, not just showpieces. I'm genuinely interested in seeing where this is going, rather than just sticking around because I want to see how it ends after being suckered in with false hopes like DW.

IDW has produced a worthy addition to the Transformers franchise, which is a first since the G2 comic and Beast Wars.

Post by **Best First** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 8:49 am

Yaya wrote: Transformers Ongoing Insecticon Story: "B", was pretty good

i concur with Unca Blackie.

IDW Good.
DW Pointless.

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 12:37 pm

Best First wrote:
Yaya wrote: Transformers Ongoing Insecticon Story: "B", was pretty good

Okay, yeah, it was more a "C" comic.

Post by **Best First** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 12:53 pm

if you mean as in Crap, i agree.

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 12:54 am

Bring me their heads, but Megatron is mine.

Killed DW flat, right there.

Legion · Post by **Legion** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 9:20 am

Professor Smooth wrote:Bring me their heads, but Megatron is mine.

Killed DW flat, right there.

I found it was the "Hello boys" line that killed it for me.
"Hello boys?" wtf?

Post by **Best First** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 9:48 am

yeah, that certainly did for me in terms of Prime Directive, but it got worse from there on in. I was initially optimisitic about war and peace but it ended up a car wreck.

HOWEVER, as much as i derive satisfaction from pointing out to my lessars just how poo stain the DW g1 output was, this is not the purpose of this topic.

I suggest we get back to Dave's initial point, which i more or less concur with - This is the best TF comics have been in 15 years, there is, of course, still things that could be tighter and things that could be better but there is, to me, a sense that TFs is actually in good hands and heading in a well though out direction, something that wasn't even teh case under Marvel when we had either Simon shoe horning things (as good as they mostly were) between the less quality US offereings (RTC excepting) and then, wen he took over the US stuff (and was arguably doing his bets stuff so far) the constant threat of the axe, whihc of course also hoverred over g2.

The thing is, i have always, always wanted to see a continuation of Marvel g1/g2 (i really don't buy into alignment, which to me was a botched effort) - for me that was wherethe most interesting stories had been told, where the characters had had teh most development,, where the notion of war was given the consequence it deserevd - sure there was some crap in there, but at its peaks it bested the cartoon by some way and was still ripe with future story telling possibilities.

When DW went for the reboot i was skeptical but tried to keep an open mind... it didn't last long before it was obvious that they didn't know the potential of what they had and i continued to long for that continuation of the marvel combined (as much as it can be...) US/UK continuity.

And then along come IDW. And now i find i can live with Marvel not being continued, because i think the rasons for the reboot make sense - the reboot is being treated as an opportunity to do something genuinly coherent and well thought out, rather than just as an editorial exercise to grab new readers and gloss overcontinuity issues - to me its clear that IDW spent a good deal of time before Infiltration making sure this was going to be done right (hence perhaps the long wait between them aquiring the licence and our first full series) and have taken the approach of trying to tel a good story that sells itself, rather than trying to use the licence and cheap fan appeal gimmicks to sell stuff for them.

This, folks, is it.

Hopefully...

Legion · Post by **Legion** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 9:53 am

Best First wrote:When DW went for the reboot

reboot, what reboot? I thought they were doing a continuation of the cartoon series?...

Best First wrote: HOWEVER, as much as i derive satisfaction from pointing out to my lessars just how poo stain the DW g1 output was, this is not the purpose of this topic.

oops.

inflatable dalek · Post by **inflatable dalek** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 2:02 pm

Legion wrote:
Best First wrote:When DW went for the reboot
reboot, what reboot? I thought they were doing a continuation of the cartoon series?...

Initially there was some confussion as to where the DW stuff did/didn't fit- I remember at the time there was all sorts of wacky theories about how Prime Directive could fit before the Movie in the cartooniverse, or even post G2 in the Marvelverse (I found that one a bit of a stretch. Even if all the dead characters had been fixed there's not a lot they could have done for Spike. Or San Fransisco for that matter...). It was only Megs line in a latter issue about never having been back to Cybertron that first put it in a new continuity.

Quiet sensibly IDW have said right from the start: This is new, the focus is on humans to start with, like it or lump it.

sprunkner · Post by **sprunkner** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 12:44 am

Best First wrote:The thing is, i have always, always wanted to see a continuation of Marvel g1/g2 (i really don't buy into alignment, which to me was a botched effort) - for me that was wherethe most interesting stories had been told, where the characters had had teh most development,, where the notion of war was given the consequence it deserevd - sure there was some crap in there, but at its peaks it bested the cartoon by some way and was still ripe with future story telling possibilities.

I think I got my start on this forum bitching about this very topic.

IDW is great. I've never looked forward to TF comics so much. Maybe we'll get lucky and see San Francisco destroyed for a third time.

Although there are some stories from back in the Marvel days I wouldn't mind seeing get the "Ultimate" treatment. Stormbringer was kind of the shot at Pretenders/Headmasters. I'd like to see Nucleon, as weird as it sounds-- the idea of self-sustaining fuel that's unstable is ripe for possibilities.

Post by **Best First** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 9:06 am

i am proper psyched about escalation....

Post by **Denyer** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 10:42 pm

Legion wrote:I found it was the "Hello boys" line that killed it for me.
"Hello boys?" wtf?

It was going to be "Hello boys, look at the tits I've been drawn with on the trade paperback cover" but Hasbro weren't keen.

Haven't missed Marvel in a long time, really -- enjoy some of the fanfic that it's spawned more than many of the original stories.

The only thing I'd like with IDW is for Furman to be a bit more forward with consequences -- destruction, fatalities, etc. On the other hand, forcing things would make the war having continued for so long unrealistic. Eh, it works.

Shanti418 · Post by **Shanti418** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 1:43 am

As much as I loved G1, I also thought it had a good ending. Everything was nice and tied up in a bow.

Now G2, G2 was the ****. That was awesome. I would still put G2 above anything IDW has done so far. THe idea of the Autos and Deceps being passed by in Transformer time while they're busy fighting on Earth always appealed to me (I suppose that's why there's a place in my heart for War and Peace, although said place is run down and has shoddy plumbing). Plus, there was that grittiness, even from Prime, that you don't really see anywhere else. I mean, seriously, as cool as G1 was, Prime was a big whiner with stomach cramps virtually from the second he stuck Hi-Q in his grill. Prime in IDW is cool so far. He seems to be detached (like get those f***** humans out of here), but he also seems kinda bland thus far. Of course, he's barely been scratched upon, so I imagine it'll get better.

That was another thing that pissed me off about DW: You spend all this time dealing with all this Sunstorm/Insecticon crap, you're like, "Gimmie some Optimus Prime," they're like, "DECEMBER IS OPTIMUS PRIME MONTH", and then they ******* go bankrupt on your ass. I'm like, nice going cocktease.

BB Shockwave · Post by **BB Shockwave** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 9:46 am

But then, I have a feeling at least we missed the wedding of OP and Elita thanks to said bankrupcy...

Post by **Best First** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 12:03 pm

Although Pat Lee did draw some scenes, which we can exclusively reveal at Transfans:

The Ceremony:

The wedding night:

Hound · Post by **Hound** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 12:59 pm