Spotlight: Cyclonus

sprunkner · Post by **sprunkner** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 4:37 pm

Underneath the COOLEST variant cover I've ever seen (seriously, get cover B even if it means buying two copies) is a mixed bot.

E.J.'s art has never looked better than with Kris Carter's colors. Vibrant as a green summer morning, lads and lasses. Check out the shots of Cyclonus walking into the eerily blue reactor, or Arcee's psychopathic half-face shading, or just the beautiful rendering of Optimus as he speaks to Jetfire and Fortress Maximus.

E.J. is in top form as usual, from his opening shot of the blasted landscape of Cybertron all the way through the Autobots' epic battle with the vampiric Cyclonus, complete with his usual action-pack of speed lines, smoking and battered robots, and as a bonus, the looming monstrous figure of Thunderwing. I wish I could get E.J. to redraw On The Edge of Extinction to see how well he could run for Senior's money.

(You listening, E.J.? I smell art exclusives.)

The story, though... it's pretty clear that the decision to squeeze Revelation into Spotlight comics was not the original plan. This feels like it's trying to be two comics: one epic saga called Revelation, and one spotlight for Cyclonus leading up to that epic saga. A few extra pages would have helped; it would have been no trouble to extend this comic to 48 pages and get some artistic help from Andrew Wildman or Don Figueroa.

And E.J.'s art gets hurt. The characteristic slow pace of the other 'ion books gave him room for bone-crunching widescreen action, like the Reaper showdown or the beautiful beautiful Prime vs. Megatron fight in Escalation. But here the fight with Cyclonus is crammed into three tiny-panelled pages, and what should have been a splash page plus, the shot of Thunderwing smacking the Autobots around, is squeezed into a half-page marred by giant sound effects. It's not that he doesn't deliver with what he has--but we all know how good he can be when he's got room.

Furman, now... this is a story he would have done in two issues at Marvel, three issues in the other 'ion sagas, and for some reason shoves into one here. I'm tempted to say it's not his fault, that it was forced but I don't know how much input he had into the editorial process. If he took this on eagerly, he took on too much.

His story gets as cramped here as E.J.'s art. Cyclonus is a bit of a hard character to follow--serving order but craving chaos? Or possibly serving order disguised as chaos while craving chaos disguised as order... maybe serving McDonald's while craving Burger King. (I've done that. It hurts.) Anyway, if this were a true Spotlight he might get enough time to clarify, but as it is, he's left a bit of an enigma with the additional focus on Sideswipe, Prime and Magnus. Although Sideswipe does emerge as a secondary star, with a much clearer motive and harping on his poor commander Hound. "I mean, one minute we're headed for earth, the next we're not. What could be wrong?"

Thirty-two pages is a lot to ask for a comic to be Spotlight and 'ion--an 'ion squeezed into four issues as well. If this were six Spotlights, or possibly four simply 'ion issues, or (my preference) four double-sized Spotlights with two artists each, it would work, but it's just too much story, kids.

Why does All Hail Megatron need twelve issues and Revelation only four? This is a story that demands room to breathe. It's a shame that so many events at once squeezed such a long-awaited climax out.

Manchester Devil · Post by **Manchester Devil** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 5:51 pm

I think Cyclonus craves for Nova Prime's new pan-cybertronian universal order to offset his chaotic nature. Seeing your home world as a wasteland after being away for so long in another, dead universe isn't going to make you a happy chappy.

I agree about your sentiments regarding AHM getting twelve issues compared to Revelation's four. That said, it crackles at a brisk, breakneck speed without losing momemtum

BTW, Straxus alongside Galvy and Nova.

Hot Shot · Post by **Hot Shot** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 6:45 pm

Manchester Devil wrote:BTW, Straxus alongside Galvy and Nova.

It's great to see Rook again, too.

Post by **snarl** » Sun Jun 22, 2008 11:29 am

That was shitting great.

Really harked back to the UK stuff, very fast paced, lots happening, interesting cast too.

Didn't think the fight felt cramped in just 3 pages. It was a punchy, explosive fight that under the circumstances was bound to end quickly, don't think it was lacking for not having been stretched over more pages. It was like the best parts of the fighting in Time Wars, quick and clean take downs.

Really dig Cyclonus' design.

The "four (five) horsemen" ready to walk in and start ******* **** up pose at the end was pretty cool too. Not a massive fan of Jhiaxus squatting through life, but all the others look well sound.

Did that little bike [composite word including 'f*ck'] buy it from Cyclonus' attack or is he just knocked out?

Nice colouring from the X-files creator, made me forget all about the gash in Grimlock.

Nemesis Prime as a re-tooled Energon Rodimus? Looking at his head, it's exactly the same as Universe nemisis prime, which I didn't know existed until 5 minutes ago.

Post by **Denyer** » Sun Jun 22, 2008 1:15 pm

sprunkner wrote: it's just too much story, kids.

Disagree. This is how much story needed to be in the three Earth arcs if the intention was to keep readers following issues rather than buying trades. It's fast, ties together plenty of elements and generally is Furman very much on form. He works well with restrictions, and I don't think an absence of splash pages is in any way a lack...

The issue pulls things together very adroitly. A large cast, but that's a benefit because Cyclonus isn't, in and of himself, all that interesting as a character... originally created as a stiff and personality-less servant by Unicron, given mileage by his rapport with Scourge in UK material, the notion of making him a racial supremacist and G2-Empire-esque type is an interesting twist but nothing we haven't seen before in some form.

So it's great to get the ongoing plot advanced at the same time, with sharp imagery to accompany events. (If we go back to EJ on an Earth arc, can we keep K on colours please?) We've got a reason, albeit vague as Cyc doesn't know either, for why the seemingly indestructible dead universe lot haven't taken over long ago. Sideswipe gets some panel time that builds him up as more characterful than some "the cause is everything" Autobots. And I particularly liked the Garrus-9 scene with Maximus/Jetfire and the phrase "the Monstructor six".

4/5

Post by **Best First** » Sun Jun 22, 2008 7:10 pm

Denyer wrote:
sprunkner wrote: it's just too much story, kids.
Disagree.

Agree - if every issue before now had had this kind of pace i think there would be a few more readers about.

I think there was a need for Infiltration to have a slower pace to it but since then there have been an opportunity for more to occur each issue than often has. Of course i think the breaks between series and unreliable release schedule has probably made this seem worse.

I though this did a blidning job of moving the story on also giving us decent insight into 'clonus - i espcially liked his reason for not wanting to activate Twing.

Also intrigued by the notion that Galvy is still somewhat special.

Art and colours on this issue were excellent - i love EJs stuff so much. Cyclonus running at the camera firing rockets from his waist was a particular favourite.

I have my doubts about AHM and the relative lengths of these series but regardless of that i think Furman has done as great job in creating an efficient action tale here. B+ as a departed friend would say.

Two complaints:
- would have been nice to have some visual acknowledgement (at least) of Road Rocket's fate - although we know
- Straxus don't need no nose!

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 9:24 am

Cyclonus seemed a bit of a supporting character in his own Spotlight but I did enjoy the pace of this issue. Seems those 'Revelations' will be coming thick and fast...

sprunkner wrote:
Why does All Hail Megatron need twelve issues and Revelation only four?

$$$$$$

Hound · Post by **Hound** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 10:37 pm

I have read through several times and can't see Straxus!

We have Nemesis Prime, Grindcore, Jhiaxus, Galvatron and Dezarus (sure looks like him anyway)

Manchester Devil · Post by **Manchester Devil** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 11:11 pm

Straxus is next to Galvatron, holding his trademark pickaxe on the bottom panel of page 22.

Hound · Post by **Hound** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 8:13 am

Manchester Devil wrote:Straxus is next to Galvatron, holding his trademark pickaxe on the bottom panel of page 22.

I swear that is Dezarus (Deathsaurus)

Post by **snarl** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 8:22 am

Haha, no way is that him!

Lay off that crack pipe

They should have just drawn his chuffing mask on - although I would expect that comes into play during battle, a la Jetfires mask.

So, with a couple of old "comic exclusive" characters already confirmed, what are our chances that Impactor turns up in this somewhere? We've got the Wreckers coming into the fray next issue after all...

It would be so sweet...

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Sun Jun 29, 2008 11:38 pm

I would explode !

Post by **Best First** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 9:17 am

I am willing to take that risk

Can't see it tho.

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 5:24 pm

Ok, just read this, as much as I enjoyed the issue, it didnt seem to focus on Cyclonus that much?

Predabot · Post by **Predabot** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 6:14 pm

DeathZaurus. Kicks. AAaSsZz!

Except of course the fact that he is a BREAST-master.. And that's just so, so... well...

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 6:48 pm

Whereas Straxus kicks his own ass.

sprunkner · Post by **sprunkner** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 2:43 am

Ass doesn't work that way!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 6:34 pm

It's not spelt that way either, but at least it's a change from that rubbish fake mockney he's been doing.

BB Shockwave · Post by **BB Shockwave** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 7:34 pm

According to the latest popularity polls, Straxus is ahead.

http://andyturnbull.deviantart.com/art/ ... s-26866373

Seriously, this issue was great. We get lots of characterization for Cyclonus, Sideswipe, Hound, even Magnus... while lots of background story threads advance. It's like the end days of Marvel US all over again (let's just hope that Gee-Axe-Us' presence doesn't indicates the same here).

And is it just me, or Magnus's little saying never works? Everyone chooses the hard way...

Btw, where is Rook? Didn't see him on the final pic...

And yeah, Road Rocket survived, he was seen in the Spotlight Sideswipe preview. Hope he makes it out alive...

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 9:00 pm

ill have to re-read it but I felt that was bugger all on Cyclonus, some profile at the begining, and then Cyc shooting up the shuttle ala TF:M.
Would have liked some more of the spotlight on Cyc himself. In fact there seemed to be more focus on everyone else bar Cyc, I learnt more about Hound in that issue than Cyc.

Post by **Best First** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 6:24 pm

Ah be fair - there was qite alot of insight into Cyclonus, who he is, who he wants to be, what he holds dear.

I thought that was pretty nicely done in terms of everything else going on.

Also i am replying to this thread as i feel basd that this piece of awesomeness has less responses than AHM....

Manchester Devil · Post by **Manchester Devil** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 7:17 pm

Mainly because Spotlight: Cyclonus is so damn brilliant, we are stunned by its, and Furman's, majesty. I mean it works on so many levels, individually, as part of a continuing subplot, as part of a working continuity (until AHM came along), as a character study, as part of a greater narrative.

I'll stop now.

Hot Shot · Post by **Hot Shot** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 7:36 pm

BB Shockwave wrote:Btw, where is Rook? Didn't see him on the final pic...

Sorry, I thought Grindcore was Rook. Straxus got a mouth, so I thought anything was possible...

Post by **Best First** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 7:49 pm

er... k then.

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 8:43 pm

I retract my previous statements - This issue does have a good insight into Cyc.

Youll have to forgive me,I just read every IDW comic in a sitting and so its a bit of a jumble in my head to be honest

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 8:44 pm

Best First wrote:Ah be fair - there was qite alot of insight into Cyclonus, who he is, who he wants to be, what he holds dear.

Yep. We learn what makes him tick, plus there's an actual arc for him.

He's meant to be doing a straightforward mission to activate the nega-core, but he takes a diversion because he loves Cybertron so much that he has to see what the bastards did to it.

He's so pissed off that he's going to take it out on whoever's nearest, and only stops when he realises he'll be in the **** if he doesn't do what he's meant to do then get home.

He's not really convinced by Nova Prime's plan, but is complying anyway. He really doesn't want to activate Thunderwing, but is prepared to when the Autobots force his hand. (Probably realising he could have gotten away with leaving TW if he hadn't taken his side-trip in the first place)

Sideswipe's comments about being who you are spark him to realise that he's lying about what he is, and that he probably doesn't belong in Nova Prime's new order.

Thus leaving his loyalty well and truly in the air.

That's more than enough for me. More characterisation than Mirage's spotlight, at the very least. More characterisation than the absolutely awesome Kup issue (which, let's face it, boiled down to "he's gone a bit mental" - revealed more about Springer, tbh).

[EDIT] Feel free to ignore. Handy Impy retraction!

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 8:59 pm

Best First wrote:
Also i am replying to this thread as i feel basd that this piece of awesomeness has less responses than AHM....

I chuckled when the AHM thread hit 2 pages. All we need is a so so comic and the traffic gets back up to speed in this place.

Dreamwave - all is forgiven!

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 9:04 pm

spiderfrommars wrote:Dreamwave - all is forgiven!

No it isn't.

Post by **Best First** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 9:41 pm

Dreamwave - all is derision?

Dave's right tho - there is much more to discuss when somethings a bit naff.

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 8:41 am

Out of interest, in this continuity, where do Cyc and Galvatron come from? are they just cybertron erm 'born' TF or are they re-formats of old TF like, erm, Unicron re-formats... I said the U word...

TransFans.co.uk

Spotlight: Cyclonus

Re: Spotlight: Cyclonus