All Hail Megatron #2 Review

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 10:41 pm

Enjoyed this issue. Be forewarned if you did not like DW's stuff, though.

Yes, it was a bit thin on actual story progression, but if we recognize that we are still in the introductory phases of story development, there are things to really like here.

For one, the dialogue is much more to my liking than what I've seen in Transformers comics of late. No repetitive phrases, no sense of characters sounding and talking the same. Shane is making a real effort to distinguish one character from another, which I applaud. McDonough did this during the DW run, and took flak for ripping off the cartoon voice pattern, but I really didn't give a damn, the characters were unique in their persona. And that's what's most important.

I was so disappointed to see Soundwave as a 'talker' in his Spotlight. Thank goodness Shane brought us back to the cartoon Soundwave, a cold calculating bot of few words. I got a warm fuzzy feeling reading Soundwave's dialogue, as I could just hear his 'robotisized' voice pattern. Yes, I'm really going to love Soundwave in this series, me thinks.

Historically speaking, I loathe human interaction in my TF comics, but I was actually intrigued by the human interaction here. In particular, the mention of the Machination, as it provides us with some explanation of how it is the humans are in disbelief about giant robots when they have been present since Infiltration. And of course mention of the Machination shows a willingness by Shane to keep this sucker in continuity and in line with what Simon laid down before.

Whereas the first issue just had some annoying human moments, I didn't find this to be true here. It's a tough task to balance human vs. Transformer stage-time, and come up with something appealing to most fans. We'll see if Shane can pull it off as the story moves forward. I would hope that as the story progresses, more and more attention will be given to the Decepticon interaction, but I can understand what Shane is trying to do right now with the humans this early in the game.

Really loved Frenzy's intro, with his mad dash across Central Park. It will be important for Shane to give us something different from what's preceded with these characters that have existed for over twenty years. To make them seem fresh, it's going to take character moments like this one with Frenzy to make us really give a damn about these guys.

The art continues to be top notch stuff from Guido. I have no doubt IDW was trying to develop more of a cartoon-like vibe in this series, and no artist is better at emulating that style than Guido. His lines are so crisp and clean. If Guido maintains this kind of quality for all twelve issues, it's going to be nice.

It will be crucial these next two issues that the plot moves forward. I understand a foundation is being laid, but each issue must move things along to be worth buying in a non-TPD way and be worth the money spent.

Overall, I enjoyed it, and aside from a lack of overall plot progression, I wasn't disappointed as I was with issue #1.

Give it a "B-". Looking forward to more.

Post by **snarl** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 1:11 pm

It's just filler with pretty pictures.

I may pick up the TPB, but this is just the cartoon with added brightly coloured human death.

Manchester Devil · Post by **Manchester Devil** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 6:46 pm

It's a step up from the first issue but then again, so was the entirity of Megatron: Origin.

*What the? Shane mentioned the Machination? On the one hand: Bloody hell! Shane's homework went beyond the first season of the Sunbow cartoon. On the other though, that's yet another Furman conclusion spoiled.

*Speaking of the Machination, way to make New Yorkers and US Air Force pilots even dumber! I'm certain the mayor won't be sending McCarthy a postcard for this.

*Is it just me or is Soundwave more interesting when Furman writes him? Come to think, why is it since G2 was cancelled that Soundwave keeps getting different speech pattern attributed to him? If Furman has the guy speaking normally, he should be speaking normally. Not switching to cartoon speech when someone writes him.

*How did Astrotrain manage to change his garb whilst on tour? He was in EJ Su-togs in the last issue, yet he's in his old-skool kit here. "Magic. I, Shane McCarthy, don't need to explain anything."

*I see that Banzai-Tron's secret service had manage to get the gist of Gestalt tech before Nova Prime sent his boys in to free the Monstructor-Six. I admit to loving Devastator's bits are all internally built in but... why so bloody big?

*The art has gone from washed out to quite dark in places.

*The USAF pilot from the first issue can't tell the difference between Cats and Dogs. I hate to think what'll happen if his kids wanted a puppy or a kitten... and is Ravage slobbering?

*Would Colonel Witwicky's conduct toward the Federal Agent be tolerated in a real life attack of the giant, transforming robots?

Metal Vendetta · Post by **Metal Vendetta** » Mon Aug 25, 2008 9:17 pm

I've totally passed on this.

First time that I can remember that I haven't bought a TF comic.

I think turning 30 has affected me more than I thought.

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 5:33 pm

That wasn't actually awful.

Things actually happened. Well, developed. Well, started.

And at least there'll be no month-long argument about what Devastator's reacting to on the last page.

Plus it seems intent on further retconning Megatron Origin out of existence, so that's not a bad thing.

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 7:53 pm

Brendocon wrote: Plus it seems intent on further retconning Megatron Origin out of existence, so that's not a bad thing.

Shane has said that as far as he's concerned, Megatron Origin never happened. Though it's a blatant disrespect to what's come before, in this case, it's justified, me thinks.

Manchester Devil · Post by **Manchester Devil** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 10:37 pm

Can you really justify pretenting that something never happen no matter how bad it is (though I can imagine people wishing Optimus never commited suicide over a video game of all things)?

What if someone (let's say Eric Holmes for example) wanted to retcon AHM on the grounds it's a waste of everybodies time that got too long in the tooth by issue 4?

Who's betting that Shane will be waking up next to a stingray in his bed at the end of next month?

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 11:36 pm

Manchester Devil wrote:Can you really justify pretenting that something never happen no matter how bad it is (though I can imagine people wishing Optimus never commited suicide over a video game of all things)?

What if someone (let's say Eric Holmes for example) wanted to retcon AHM on the grounds it's a waste of everybodies time that got too long in the tooth by issue 4?

Who's betting that Shane will be waking up next to a stingray in his bed at the end of next month?

Would it suffice to say it happened, but was not in continuity?

Because I'm all for ignoring that particular take on Megatron, and the Decepticons, past.

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 7:52 am

I don't see people jumping through hoops to fit Hearts of Steel or The Gathering into IDW's main continuity. Little reason why Megatron Origin should be so different.

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 8:22 am

"ive never seen anything like it!"

Actually I have, I was about 8 years old and stopped watching...

Right, the first issue I enjoyed because it set the tone, limited speech, big bangs, and it was ok, but this issue, well, its just cartoon comic book.

The humans are thick as pig **** and behave like idiots, "scouting party - well show them", shouts one over enthuisastic soilder. Show them what, havent you been watching, they are 30 foot tall and can transform, they are imprevious to all your weapons and have advanced electronic counter measures. I except some comic license here and there but this is bordering stupid. Give the human race, or the yanks for that matter some credit!

So the machination have been writren off in one sentance by the CIA, thats nice to know...

What happened to the autobots from last issue, guess we have to wait to find out.

WHeres all this heading, yes, the Cons can kick the crap out of humans, we know. Megatron wants a little finesse from Frenzy, well, I think the script is in desperate need of it too.

I dont like where any of this is heading, and i have a feeling it will be heading down the pan untill Optimus is awoken by vector sigma using the matrix 2000 super retcon device. Theres simply no nead for humans to have such a massive part in a TF comic unless they are single characters with a plot purpose. We already know that humans are plebs compared to walking war machines, they form a much better backdrop when they are presented that way to the reader, from the perspective of a transformer.

The first issue i didnt mind, this is a travesty of saturday morning gunk with some human death chucked into try and make things seem improtant and shocking. its not.

I even thought the art was a bit week this iusse, some nice single panel shots of transformers but they lacked the dynamic nature of last issue.

And WTF was going on with ravage, he couldnt hunt down and kill one human with a molotov cocktail, I dont belive burning vodka does much to TF metal...

stranger · Post by **stranger** » Thu Aug 28, 2008 9:06 am

It's *****.

I've been trying to think of something constructive to say for a week, but failed. It feels like its being written by someone who just watched Cloverfield, Independance Day and a couple of G1 cartoons.

After 8 quid and two comics I should not be able to sum the plot up in one sentence: "The Decepticons are in New York blowing **** up, and the autobots are on Cybertron doing... nothing really". But hey - I can!

Epic waste of time and money.

Hound · Post by **Hound** » Thu Aug 28, 2008 12:45 pm

I thought it was ok - a big improvement on the first issue, but I guess my concerns mirror most of those above. It's just a glorified episode of the cartoon (so far at least).

The interaction between the human characters wasn't too bad, although there are far too many of them.

I liked the twist on Frenzy. The fact that Megatron thinks that it's a good plan to unleash him against a couple of tanks in Central Park shows just how small minded his plans have become compared to Inflitration etc though.

I don't like how Devestator is so freaking massive. It wasn't impressive when Dreamwave did it and it's less so now. Oooh look, he took down a bridge! w000ooott!1111one!

I think Soundwave sounds retarded written in his cartoon style. I also feel like it insults my intelligence as a reader (that actually pretty much sums up this series so far)

I think I would have felt a lot more satisfied had the first and 2nd issue been condensed into one.

Manchester Devil · Post by **Manchester Devil** » Thu Aug 28, 2008 10:02 pm

It's not just having the first two issues condensed into one that could help but also a complete overhaul of the dialogue and characterisation.

Why did Shane feel that regressing Megatron, Soundwave and Starscream back to what they were in the old cartoon? Why portray New Yorkers and the US military as complete morons when we're supposed to believe that the CIA had written off the Machination as a terrorist organisation? Surely people would've been suspicous of giant robots just walking about if Shane had intended the Machination to be proclaimed as such? Surely it would've been simplier for everybody (where applicable) to stick to the designs EJ Su done?

Ugh, re-reading the first two issues has made my brain hurt.

EDIT: Speaking of restructuring everything, wouldn't it help Shane if he had introduced the facsimile and Ore-13/Energon ideas to newcomers as supposed to just going "Ah sod it, I'll just spend 12 issues on the Decepticons kicking the s**t out of Humanity for s**ts and giggles and the Autobots stuck on Cybertron."

Post by **snarl** » Fri Aug 29, 2008 5:18 am

The dialog is just so jarring. SF may have his critics, and yeah, his "furmanisms", but I take that any day over some of the absolute **** spoken in Origins and AHM so far.

I mean...

How the [composite word including 'f*ck'] do you get work as a comics writer when you're producing **** to the standard of Origins?

Agree with everybody who says it's insulting their intelligence. I can understad a change in direction, what I cant get my ******* head round is why the editorial team have decided to dumb down, to change the writing style, the voices of established characters, so dramatically...

[composite word including 'f*ck'] it, in all honesty.

stranger · Post by **stranger** » Fri Aug 29, 2008 7:56 am

[quote="snarl"]

How the **** do you get work as a comics writer when you're producing **** to the standard of Origins?

quote]

Assuming you meant AHM and not Origins then this quote from the man himself should make you chuckle:

"I've never really found it *hard* (to write comic books), I think my mind just works that way. But then again, maybe I'm not finding it hard because I'm secretly **** at it. I hope not."

Oh, Shane...

Post by **snarl** » Fri Aug 29, 2008 1:02 pm

Nah, I did mean Origins, cause that was just plain silly bollocks.

There's the possibility that AHM is deliberately written the way it is, to pander to the sick ******* sons of bitches that enjoyed the cartoon.

A suspect tactic imo. Although looking at it from IDW's POV, sales have seen a consistent, steady decline.

I think that's down to most TF fans being thick as.

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Fri Aug 29, 2008 1:29 pm

snarl wrote:How the **** do you get work as a comics writer when you're producing **** to the standard of Origins?

You don't.

Basically.

Far as I know, Holmes hasn't been what you'd call overwhelmed with writing offers since that opening foray.

Legion · Post by **Legion** » Fri Aug 29, 2008 4:12 pm

I've said it before, but i'll say it again;
This is the death knell of Transformers comics, I tells ya.
As soon as we get a comic focused on cartoon fans, it all falls apart.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Aug 29, 2008 8:18 pm

Legion wrote:As soon as we get a comic focused on cartoon fans, it all falls apart.

Kinda makes you hark for the days when all they were trying to do was boost the toy sales.

Manchester Devil · Post by **Manchester Devil** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 12:36 am

Speaking of toys, where's my Wreckers gift set? But I'll be honest; at this rate, I'd rather read M:O than AH(n)M.

Legion · Post by **Legion** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 9:30 am

[engage rant mode]
Things that have irked me;
1. All of a sudden, Meg's plans seem to have downgraded to 'plot of the week' style randomness and the less said about his apparent lack of cohesive strategy the better, OK so obviously the whole 'stages' plan that the Decepticons normally abide by got blown out of the water in previous stories, but does that really call for this level of dumbness, I wouldn't have thought so, but hey ho.
2. Soundwave's character suddenly having been rewritten to pander to the cartoonists...
3. Devestator, all of a sudden the con's have mastered gestault tech...
4. Numerous con's apparently changing their alt-modes for no reason apart from to again pander to cartoonists...

This is just ******* pish of the highest order and I am disgusted by IDW if they think that
a) this is the way forward
b) it's actually any good
c) it's going to replace Furman's crafted work.
[/end rant mode]

Post by **Best First** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 1:01 pm

Best First's sombre AHM 2 review:

What i think saddens me most is that a few years ago i would have got all annoyed about this and wrote a rambling and occassionally incoherent dissection of it pointing out the vast list of reasons why its not much cop.

Now i just can't really be bothered. Its not very good. Yet there are still a bunch of morons out there who either a) think its great! or b) feel compelled to buy it cos its got a TF logo on the front. Ok, maybe they aren't morons, but people's who's idea of entertainment is so limp they will prop up stuff like this meaning the rest of us have to continue to suffer it.

Its not original, its not clever, its not interesting. £2.50 a month to feel depressed.

No ta.

Cancelled.

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 1:56 pm

Best First wrote:
Cancelled.

Ditto.

Post by **Best First** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 2:11 pm

So... what now?

Where do we go from here?

Hot Shot · Post by **Hot Shot** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 2:24 pm

Pouring sugar in McCarthy's gas tank?

Post by **Best First** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 2:38 pm

*ignores*

Ok, so i am wondering, who here thinks issues would have sold better if a) we didn't get the silly gaps and b) each new -ation had got a push as big as AHM?

Or do we just have to accept that the majority of TF fans don't like Simon's reinvention of the franchise?

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 3:10 pm

Best First wrote:
Ok, so i am wondering, who here thinks issues would have sold better if a) we didn't get the silly gaps and b) each new -ation had got a push as big as AHM?

I feel I've been a broken record about it, but its the gaps that have seen my enthusiasm dwindle, even though I've been very positive about the actual stories. But I've been picking up the new -ations having forgotten some of the stuff thats gone before, and momentum is clearly lost.

Best First wrote:Or do we just have to accept that the majority of TF fans don't like Simon's reinvention of the franchise?

I got the impression that other than the perceived decompression of the first arc (Infiltration), Furman's stuff had gone down well. Yes, there will always be some fans who want simple crash, bang, walloping, but are we expecting AHM to shift that many more copies in the long run?

And at what expense?

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 4:44 pm

I'm sticking with it till issue 6, on the grounds that if I bought up a random TPB on a whim I'd automatically be giving the series in question 6 issues grace.

That and I've already paid for it.

And, for its sins, it might actually be better than the current Angel series.

Best First wrote:Ok, so i am wondering, who here thinks issues would have sold better if a) we didn't get the silly gaps and b) each new -ation had got a push as big as AHM?

I think labelling it as an actual ongoing might have helped. Allowed casual fans to see what was going on.

Also making all the proper arcs four issues would probably have helped. Stormbringer and Revelation have been proper focussed and event filled, whereas the -ations weren't. Fewer issues = tighter focus... the spotlights have proven Furmo's able to actually wrap up a story within a tight number of pages, given adequate planning time.

You need only look at the plan for GI Joe to realise that IDW haven't really twigged that seperate concurrent minis just alienate the casual reader.

Some form of in-publication reading order would have helped. "I have no idea where this issue fits in, or where to start. Oh, hang on... the inside cover has a handy little diagram to assist me. Spiffing job, chaps. I now know I need to start with Infiltration. Wonderful. I wonder if this here comic shop is stocking the TPB."

Of course just having a single, sequentially numbered, ongoing would have been an equally efficient way of solving the problem.

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 6:06 pm

Best First wrote: Ok, so i am wondering, who here thinks issues would have sold better if a) we didn't get the silly gaps

I do. Big time.

Those six month gaps just didn't make sense. Was it for E.J.'s sake? Why did they do it?

All things said, there hasn't been a huge drop from where sales plateaued. Maybe a few thousand less. But I do agree, many of those would have stayed aboard without those gaps.

And I've said it here before (and was crucified for it), but Simon was writing for the damn trades. Yes, I know what he told me, I know what he said. But it was a crock of ****. This storyline was protracted. I don't know who told him to do it, whether it was his personal decision or not.

Pacing really hurt what Simon was doing more than anything. As somebody said above, cut each of those six arcs to four, get rid of the six month delays, and you've really got some great stuff there.

I mean, really, it doesn't help that the first story, Infiltration, seemed so drawn out.

Worse thing about it all? None of it was really bad. It could have been really tight, fun stuff.

The pacing was slow, the gaps made it seem even more so, and that lost fans.

Or do we just have to accept that the majority of TF fans don't like Simon's reinvention of the franchise?

No, but I do think if you rely too heavily on one writer, it's going to turn off some people.

Problem is, the alternatives ended up being just plain bad. I don't count Shane amongst these with just two issues, so the jury is still out for him, but the others? Ugh.

It's usually not the plot points that irk fans about Simon. It's his dialogue. It's why I called for someone else to somehow manage his dialogue. Some people like that dialogue, some people, like me, can't stand it. But what Simon had laid out in terms of his plots, were good, and I never considered dropping the titles because of this.

b) each new -ation had got a push as big as AHM?

Nope. Wouldn't have helped. If it didn't help the new guy, how would have helped ole Simon?

Anyway, regarding AHM, I'm giving Shane two more issues to show me what he's got. I waited six with Infiltration, the least I can do is give the new guy a chance. I mean, two issues into Megatron:Origin, I knew we were in trouble. With AHM, I'm still not sure.

Hound · Post by **Hound** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 8:07 pm

I agree there is a perceived pacing issue with Inflitration. It does read much better as a trade.

I think disagree that there is a pacing issue with the subsuquent arcs though. There could be perceived pacing issues as there were delays between issues.

If anything, I think the current squishing of the Revelation arc into 4 spotlights shows us that the pacing was pretty much spot on previously.

Ryall has gone on record several times as stating he would prefer people to buy the single issues and not wait for trades so it seems a pretty much unfounded statement to say that Furman was writing to a different agenda, especially when he tells you so himself!

The gaps between arcs didn't put me off, if anything it made my hungry for me, but then I am probably not the more 'casual' audience that IDW seem to be aiming for with the All Hail Megatron reboot. I'm the mug that will buy pretty much everything released with a Transformers label on it, but I won't be sticking by AHM if it doesn't pick up soon because I don't feel I should endorse a product that is (so far) massively inferior to anything I have purchased previously. Megatron Origins aside.

*edit* and Micromasters. Never forget the steaming pile of ***** that was. Never forget...