All Hail Megatron #7 Review (SPOILERS)

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 1:40 am

Finally, some answers.

In terms of plot progression, this issue achieved more than the previous six combined, all the while maintaining some individual character focus. The amount of content in this issue should have been the standard for each issue of this year-long tale.

We know what happened to Prime. We know how it happened and why. We know how the Autobots ended up half dead on Cybertron. We get some explanation of why Cybertron is somewhat habitable. We understand why Ironhide is suspicious of Mirage. We know what happened to Sunhunter, but the fate of Hunter is yet to be revealed (probably in Maximum Dinobots). We know what the Swarm is, and how they came to be.

So we get some answers, which is nice, but after six issues of pussyfooting around, I find myself ....underwhelmed by those answers.

For example, the Autobots, led by the mighty Optimus Prime, fell to a textbook Sunbow-episode Decepticon surprise attack? Even if there is a traitor, how am I supposed to see that and not yawn? It's been done a million times before.

Maybe I'm being overly cynical in this regard. Maybe the seven months that have passed to get to this point have left me a bit bitter, with a higher threshold for entertainment.

It seems like Shane used this issue to appease the many complaints about how explanations were not forthcoming regarding how things didn't jive with previous continuity. That's fine. I'm happy that he did this. It's just that giving these answers scattered throughout the previous six issues, even as single lines of dialogue, would have been so much more effective in storytelling than clumping the answers together in a single issue seven months later. Questions like the fate of Sunhunter and Cybertron's atmosphere could have been answered in two or three panels of issue one.

Basically, the lack of attention to previous continuity has led to a sort of "catch up" strategy, which is forced.

One also has to wonder, seven issues in, if the title All Hail Megatron will be done justice, because thus far, I don't seen anything to hail Megs about. Guess it's coming.

Artwise, I found the back and forth between E.J. and Guido a bit jarring. The one constant positive thus far for me had been Guido's art and Hutchinson's covers. Seems like that is now in danger.

Anybody know who that crazy bot was that was building the Insecticons?

I give it a "B". Glad to see some answers, but was hoping for something a bit more epic, something a bit more "wow"-inducing. Hope Guido is back for the next issue.

BB Shockwave · Post by **BB Shockwave** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 10:33 am

Well, the trouble is... now it's "Mr Shockwave's exposition hour" all over again, in glorious DW "War and Peace" style...

Trouble is, I wonder... did Shane plan on a big reveal in issue 7? Comics are (supposedly) written months in advance before being printed. because if indeed he only turned the issue into an exposition-megafest because of the complaints... that reflects pretty bad on him as a writer.

A fellow Hungarian fan told me the crazy scientinst is G2 Deluge, apparently... Funny, I could have sworn it was Rook. (if Jhiaxus became one in IDW, it would have been only logical his toady would be a mad scientist too).

That said, I liked the new Insecticon origin. But the panel-reuse really bothered me there on that page. As well as TC's outburst. I cannot really imagine the IDW Megatron we get to know during 'ion' letting that remark go unpunished.

Metal Vendetta · Post by **Metal Vendetta** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 5:25 pm

Bilge.

Megs: I'll build a special portal that will transport the Autobots to Cybertron instead of just killing them. Oh, but I'll send Dirge and Deluge through first.

Prime: No, Megatron! I'll destroy this portal of yours, and smash myself up in the process, leaving the Autobots, er, stranded on Cybertron.

Autobots: Hurrah! Prime saved us! By, er, sacrificing his life and leaving us exactly where Megs wanted us. Y'know, on the inhostpitable planet with the Swarm on it. Except it's magically hospitable again. For some reason.

Most of these "answers" we already knew - the Autobots were ambushed, Megs ripped the Matrix out of Prime, Devastator smacked everybody up bigtime, yadda yadda yadda, but the "new" answers (Megatron built the Insecticons to create a Stargate to send the Autobots through?) are laughable to say the least.

Sorry, Thundercracker questioned Megatron? In front of others? And lived? Gah. Oh, and Ironhide's character development is that he's turned into a vengeful, malicious thug. Nice.

Yaya, I don't know what comic you were reading, but perhaps the lovely EJ Su art distracted you from the fact that the story is a turd in a washing machine - it's not going anywhere. End of issue #7 and the Autobots are still f***ed up and regrouping on Cybertron and the Decepticons are still gimping about on Earth blowing stuff up. The same situation we were in at the end of #1. There has been no plot progression from where we started.

The art is great, though. More EJ please. And there would be kudos for using Deluge if he hadn't been wasted as a "Hi-then-die" within a single issue.

This issue reads like McCarthy has read the AHM page on the wiki, gone through the list of discrepancies and decided to try and address some of them, but again the answers he gives us are just non-answers. He tells us the Decepticons stopped using facsimilies. He doesn't say why. He tells us Cybertron is habitable (just) but doesn't say why. These aren't answers, they're just observations. The stuff with Sunstreaker addresses his past but simply spoils any enjoyment I'm getting out of Maximum Dinobots, like Hot Rod showing up did. And the IDW AHM fanboys are out in full chorus: "You've been complaining there were no answers, now you've got your answers!" Yep, and boy were those answers rubbish.

Oh, and as seems to be the case with IDW series with "Megatron" in the title, we're still not being given any insights into his character or motivation, other than "I'll grab the Matrix from Prime, build a big space portal thing and try to dispose of the Autobots in the most stereotypically cartoon villain fashion I can muster." Maybe this is really Megaplex, and the Megatron from the 'ations is at home with his feet up, watching on a viewscreen and muttering "muppet" under his breath occasionally.

I can't believe I made a journey to pick this up specially today. Am I cross? Can you tell?

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 5:55 pm

Metal Vendetta wrote: Yaya, I don't know what comic you were reading, but perhaps the lovely EJ Su art distracted you from the fact that the story is a turd in a washing machine - it's not going anywhere.

Hey, I know where you're coming from.

I'm not saying the answers were good, just saying that there were answers to questions that have been on the mind of fans for seven months know.

Jack Cade · Post by **Jack Cade** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 6:05 pm

Haven't read it yet, but sounds like this confirms my feeling that all this tying it up to the -ations is a placating measure, and not planned from the outset. If that's the case, credit at least to IDW and McCarthy for not being so up themselves that they ignored their audience.

Metal Vendetta · Post by **Metal Vendetta** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 8:49 pm

True, I might have over-reacted a bit earlier, as it's a much better issue than, say, issues #1-6. but at the same time I just feel that it shows the lack of direction and thought put into the series. To infodump everything on us in #7 before the plot's even got properly underway yet either shows some woeful planning, or...well, I'm not sure what.

Anyway, I'll probably stick with it for the art if nothing else. Expect to see the same kind of rant next month when after eight issues we find out who the traitor is...Except that they've been under Bombshell's control the whole time.

sprunkner · Post by **sprunkner** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 9:06 pm

I couldn't read it all the way through. I tried. I was happy to see EJ's art and everything, but I couldn't do it. It was just too disgusting to watch IDW try to salvage their ****-storm.

I'm so disgusted with IDW. My Maximum Dinobots has never showed at my LCS to relieve the disgust, either.

A Sunbow-type atack. Even the beautiful shot of Megs ripping the Matrix from Prime's chest couldn't alleviate it. Devastator. Wow. Devastator is, in true Dreamwave fashion, the ultimate weapon. A bunch of continuity damage control. An ENTIRE ISSUE OF BACKSTORY SEVEN ISSUES INTO THE DAMN THING.

It's going to be a long, long time before I can really enjoy TF comics again after this series. They ruined what could have been the best story since G2 in Revelations, all for some weird corporate move to push through this new series that is so inexpertly written that I want a court-ordered writing workshop for anything Shane McCarthy ever puts out, again. Yes, this issue, as Yaya said, might get a B on its own, but in context with the rest of the series, it is a nail in the coffin.

What the hell is Chris Ryall thinking? Was he drunk when he came up with this idea? Did he call Pat Lee?

Every few years I have a comic-book wake-up call and cut down the titles I buy. I start reading other stuff instead of following continuity and I realize that no stories worth telling can ever exist with franchise characters. The best Marvel titles are things like X-Factor and The Initiative because they use characters Marvel doesn't have a big stake in, while Spider-Man can never live up to his potential because the editorial board is too busy yanking him around for damage control and promotional purposes.

Thanks for the wakeup call, IDW. I'm done.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 9:45 pm

Hmm.

Prime, Megatron, Matrix, Devastator.

It all sounds so familiar. And recent.

This is the comic adaptation of Revenge of the Fallen.

Ryall, you sly old dog. Fancy sneaking it out on the pretence that G1 isn't CGI.

Manchester Devil · Post by **Manchester Devil** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 10:29 pm

I didn't bother going to my LCS after work. Reading from what I read here and elsewhere, it's almost if as if McCarthy relucantly had to take Furman's stories into account at long last.

And frankly, it shows. And McCarthy doesn't give a s**t as long he gets to have the Decepticons prance around New York like a bunch of tossers.

If I had read this today, I would be wishing that McCarthy would get eaten by a Shark in a jiffy and Sprunker, I wouldn't be surprised if you ever get to the end of issue 12 you'll be wishing sandpaper torture on his granchildren.

In short: F**k off McCarthy and take this story and Drift with you into the stomach of the nearest shark!

Mr_Tigg · Post by **Mr_Tigg** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 11:48 pm

Manchester Devil wrote:
In short: F**k off McCarthy and take this story and Drift with you into the stomach of the nearest shark!

Woah! harsh! Bad a writer as McCarthy is, you can't blame the guy for wanting to have a crack at it. It's just a shame IDW are so utterly crud at hiring good writers.

I haven't read it yet. I'm in the same boat as Sprunker though, my enthusiasm for the series has all but died now.

Manchester Devil · Post by **Manchester Devil** » Fri Feb 06, 2009 12:13 am

Mr_Tigg wrote:
Manchester Devil wrote:
In short: F**k off McCarthy and take this story and Drift with you into the stomach of the nearest shark!
Woah! harsh! Bad a writer as McCarthy is, you can't blame the guy for wanting to have a crack at it. It's just a shame IDW are so utterly crud at hiring good writers.

Didn't McCarthy had a Batman story involving the Riddler that was subsequently retconned by DC's "One Year Later" according to his TFWiki page? Pre-AHM, I thought "Bit a pity the guy had his story retconned out of existence, let's see what he can do". Nowadays, I can see why!

Note to McCarthy: Can I have my money back for Focus, Spotlight: Blurr and half of AHM please?

stranger · Post by **stranger** » Fri Feb 06, 2009 9:00 am

I'd say the editors need to cop some of the flack (especially RE: Continuity). It's a little harsh to lay all the blame at McCarthy's door. Whatever shortcomings he has as a writer, I doubt it was his idea for this to unfold over 12 issues. IDW as a company has cocked this up.

That said, it all still sounds like I'm not missing anything. I haven't read an IDW comics for nearly 2 months now, something I couldn't have imagined 12 months ago...

BB Shockwave · Post by **BB Shockwave** » Fri Feb 06, 2009 3:39 pm

Manchester Devil wrote:
Mr_Tigg wrote:
Manchester Devil wrote:
In short: F**k off McCarthy and take this story and Drift with you into the stomach of the nearest shark!
Woah! harsh! Bad a writer as McCarthy is, you can't blame the guy for wanting to have a crack at it. It's just a shame IDW are so utterly crud at hiring good writers.
Didn't McCarthy had a Batman story involving the Riddler that was subsequently retconned by DC's "One Year Later" according to his TFWiki page? Pre-AHM, I thought "Bit a pity the guy had his story retconned out of existence, let's see what he can do". Nowadays, I can see why!

Note to McCarthy: Can I have my money back for Focus, Spotlight: Blurr and half of AHM please?

That story (I read it when I heard McCarthy would be writing TFs) had the Riddler being a sad unlucky mess, whom a Mathematics prof ('a la Good Will Hunting) tries to turn into a crossword-genius... something like that... Then when the Riddler finds out the guy used him for his own purposes... He beats him to death. Yeah, the Riddler. The guy who's so intellectual he hardly ever engaged Batman in physical fights, and has shown he is not a killer a lot of times before. Afterwards, he gets a new makeup, gets new henchmen(women) and starts the old bankrobbing again, only this time he has a backup plan and escapes in the end with the catch. Like that hadn't happened before (I remember in Batman TAS, the Riddler was one of the few villains who, in his first appearance, eluded the Bat at the end of the episode).

Thank goodness Paul Dini came back to the comics, and turned the Riddler back to his old scheming-but-sometimes-helpful self. Face it, the Riddler doesn't work as a cold-blooded killer. He's interesting because he is NOT that, he's just an egomaniac trying to match wits with the Batman.

After reading the comic, I was less enthusiastic about AHM. When the first previews hit store... I was not that surprised as most others...

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 6:10 am

7 months in and I'm still really enjoying the book. I can't put my finger on why, exactly, but I am.

Manchester Devil · Post by **Manchester Devil** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 4:27 pm

And here's another continuity plothole that Detour at the Allspark forum noticed: Is this Megatron, who has no problem with 3,000 Decepticons being horribily mulitated in the hope it would produce some half decent soldiers that turn into Earth based insects, the same Megatron who put a stop to Thunderwing's experiments because he was disgusted with them?

AAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

sprunkner · Post by **sprunkner** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 8:27 pm

Professor Smooth wrote:7 months in and I'm still really enjoying the book. I can't put my finger on why, exactly, but I am.

I posted this over on IDW, giving some reasons why I think it's enjoyable but doesn't work overall:

Okay, so I've made no secret of my disdain for the events surrounding AHM, etc, etc. But I tried, really tried, the other day, to sit down and read through the whole thing and give it a chance on its own merits.

First of all, why do I keep buying it? I plead art. Klaus's covers are frameable works of brilliance and Guido's interiors are amazing. I especially love that such a cartoony style has been paired with such insane madness as a downed Air Force One. It's like watching Sunbow run amok. Plus, the stretched-out nature of the story gives room for some really amazing visuals from Guido.

The story, though, is the most bizarrely told thing I've read in comics.

I would hate to plan a night out with Shane McCarthy. I imagine it going something like this. "We'll go to the pub--NO! We'll get PIZZA! Okay, pizza, and then we'll go to an acid jazz concert--NO! We'll LEAVE the concert to get MORE PIZZA? HOW ****IN' AWESOME IS THAT? No--wait. I'm feeling down. Can we just stay inside and talk, maybe watch a movie. Batman? NO! DOCUMENTARY."

This series goes in the weirdest directions. There's a human who appears to be in command of the refugees. Oh wait, he's dead. Off-screen. Let's put lots of humans in it. I'm tired of humans! No humans for at least two issues! Kup and Jazz are having a conversation about what's happened so far. Oh, they still are. No, WAIT--They still are! NO! It's time for an ENTIRE FLASHBACK ISSUE!

And what the hell is up with the way the guys in Versailles talk? "He is two years of age and already as strong as a man."

It's quite odd to me, really, and a little sad because Shane really does have visible talent. For one, he has a gift for dialogue. The conversation between Bumblebee and Wheeljack is pretty good. "Do you even have any of your old equipment?" The Decepticons blasting a VW bug apart is a nice moment, "Pity they're not the real thing." He's also throwing in a lot of interesting character moments, the most recent of which is when Ironhide beats Mirage, and previously, Skywarp and Bombshell's face-off. We can garner characterization for characters like Thundercracker from just a few choice lines.

But then he goes and undercuts his own strengths. For example, the first issue of this series has to be one of the most un-self-consciously cheesy comics ever written. Generic destruction of New York. Starscream's truly, truly awful dialogue in which he proclaims himself the master of "Fear! Terror!" and then sucks up to Megatron sounding like a Victorian lady whose just had her controversial houseguest arrive for tea. Then the jet pilot looks at a picture of his girlfriend and dies. "Ah, my weekly grab bag of cliches has arrived! I wonder how much I can squeeze into one issue!"

Then the next issue features some nice characterization from General Witwicky, and destruction that truly matters--aircraft carriers floating dead and Air Force One itself crashed on the ruined steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Really horrifying, breathtaking stuff. And then Frenzy disables the ground troops in a rather horrific scene, and though the humans are, of course, afflicted with humans-in-a-TF-story-disease, (even when they include Megan Fox, they're not as interesting as the robots) they seem to kind of be going somewhere, and there is almost a chance for genuine empathy before he kills the main one, then up and ignores them for two issues.

Where exactly is this series going? If Shane were to touch upon all his plot points (the Witwickys, the Autobots, the Decepticons and the people in the tunnel) for a page or two each issue, it would read a lot more like a real comic. Never mind good--it just needs to read like an actual comic with story point progression. (If he wanted to make it a good comic, he would ruthlessly cut cliches and have a lot less standing around talking.) I can easily see how this could fit into twelve issues, at least. As a matter of fact, I have a feeling the ending will be a bit anti-climactic, because Shane will get there and suddenly shout, "NO! We won't end it! Sequel series! Trilogy! No wait... What I really want to do is write GI Joe..."

Sunyavadin · Post by **Sunyavadin** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 12:28 pm

#7 may have actually DEEPENED my despair, ironically through giving me something to like.

It's far easier to simply unilaterally hate a series. But this one shows that he's capable of showing a degree of respect to continuity, and that there is a degree of understanding in his head of where he's going with the storyline, it's not just all made up on the spot.

I like the explanation of that little scene between the insecticons and the seekers last issue. NOW transformer racial prejudice makes more sense. And casts the insecticons in a somewhat creepier light too. Of course then he goes and spoils EVERYTHING with that terrible ambush scene. Even in the G1 cartoon you didn't get that sort of he-man-esque nonsense.

I don't know. I just feel cheated that now, as well as something to hate, I have something to LIKE. This is worse, since it means I now KNOW he can write half-decent stuff, and CHOOSES not to.

Post by **Best First** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 12:59 pm

I suspect its more an inability to distinguish - i doubt anyone would choose to write something bad.

However i agree - my reaction to this issue was one of confusion - it bits it certainly showed potential, in others it was cackhanded.

But either way its a massive continuity dump where before there was nothing - its jarring, even if its a lurch in the right direction. And then of course there are answers, but they are not neccessarily good ones - why are the 'bots on Cybertron? Because Megatron thinks he's Dr Evil.

I wonder if the plan was to try and lure new readers in with a really continuity free part 1 and then work it back into the ongoing plot in part 2 - if so its been managed really badly.

Or maybe this issue is a reaction to criticism.

if so its still been managed pretty badly.

As Smooth says in another topic - hobbies are supposed to be fun... i think TFs may be permenantly soured for me - i am at the point where i am so underwhelmed by how this series has been put out and the editorial response to criticism (and glad handing of those who stick up for it no matter what) that i actually find myself wanting it to be bad.

That's not right surely?

Of course it seems worse as what came before was, IMO, so strong. Now it feels like the IDW universe is broken and i don't trust the guys in charge to fix it.

Meh. Maybe its time for a new hobby.

Hot Shot · Post by **Hot Shot** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 2:01 pm

Best First wrote: As Smooth says in another topic - hobbies are supposed to be fun... i think TFs may be permenantly soured for me - i am at the point where i am so underwhelmed by how this series has been put out and the editorial response to criticism (and glad handing of those who stick up for it no matter what) that i actually find myself wanting it to be bad.

I felt more or less the same about the Bay movie. I believe the best thing to do is to find something else you like about Transformers and focus on that until the comics become more enjoyable. If that doesn't work, then it may be time to find another hobby until things work themselves out.

EDIT: Similar to what Professor Smooth said in the RotF topic.

Manchester Devil · Post by **Manchester Devil** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 4:23 pm

I'll be honest, I thought McCarthy's use of dialouge was pathetically cringe-worthy, that includes the bits people liked. But then I have no idea what IDW were thinking with their current "Let's squash Revelation into an ill-fitting format and then ignore Furman for the first half and then start info dumping at the start of the second half" stragety either.

I never understood the racial angle since since we're dealing with robots that can change their appearance - I mean honestly, how does that work here? Is it because the Insceticons turn into metal insects?

I can just imagine the likes of Eric Holmes and Chris Sarracini are sniggering behind McCarthy's back, knowing the man has produced a body of work that makes both look like Furman in comparsion. I have never been angry at a piece of official released fiction since Megaman X8's Copy Chip bollocks. Dire.

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 9:32 pm

I didn't like issue 7

the end

Mr_Tigg · Post by **Mr_Tigg** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 9:45 pm

Hot Shot wrote:
Best First wrote: As Smooth says in another topic - hobbies are supposed to be fun... i think TFs may be permenantly soured for me - i am at the point where i am so underwhelmed by how this series has been put out and the editorial response to criticism (and glad handing of those who stick up for it no matter what) that i actually find myself wanting it to be bad.
I felt more or less the same about the Bay movie. I believe the best thing to do is to find something else you like about Transformers and focus on that until the comics become more enjoyable. If that doesn't work, then it may be time to find another hobby until things work themselves out.

EDIT: Similar to what Professor Smooth said in the RotF topic.

I see TFs as being comparable to supporting a sports team. At the end of the day it's a hobby, but that doesn't stop you becoming overly passionate about how the brand is being nurtured.

Much like transformers, I support my football team through both the good times and the bad times, but that doesn't stop me being bitterly disappointed by the bad times, and I would know - I support Derby County.

IDW is similar, they're having a bad patch with this current regime, the management is seriously ballsing up and something needs to give soon. Personally I'm finding I just don't feel excited by transformers comics anymore. I use to get a buzz when the latest issue of the comic arrived, but instead these days I can't even find the motivation to go to the shop to have a flick through. I'm no gluton for the comic based punishment that is AHM.

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 11:23 pm

Best First wrote: As Smooth says in another topic - hobbies are supposed to be fun... i think TFs may be permenantly soured for me

This sentiment gets magnified when the comic is compared to some of the much stronger stuff being written out there in the comic world.

Even Marvel's more ancillary titles like the cosmic stuff, or heck, even their elseworld titles like Old Man Logan, 1985, and Marvels:Eye on the Camera , I find more satisfying.

This is the first time in history for me this feeling has happened. I don't blame McCarthy only. I found Simon's stuff mostly "B" grade too with the occassional gem. Sometime after Escalation and Stormbringer, I felt the wind get sucked out of the sails, so to speak.

Much like transformers, I support my football team through both the good times and the bad times, but that doesn't stop me being bitterly disappointed by the bad times, and I would know - I support Derby County.

That's true with me as well. I will continue to buy and support a TF comic in hopes of grander things.

I know the potential is there.

I used to think maybe I have just grown up, that maybe there's only so far you can take the Transformers as a comic. But then I remember "The Smelting Pool" or "Warrior School/Repeat Performance" from waaay back when I was barely a teen, and I say "no", it's not me.

It is possible to have a great TF comic still. It's just a matter of bringing the right people on board. It's about finding that right person who tackles mature themes and instills them into a transforming robot cast.

Why is it that back then, so long ago, Scrounge could melt away, literally before our teenage eyes, and it was acceptable, but now killing off a character is almost taboo? We've regressed. There's nothing at stake.

It's good to see IDW brining in more writing talent. It's like casting a fishing line. After all, Simon was a nobody and got the gig by chance. He gave it a shot, and became the shoe-in writer for Transformers for years to come, across three different companies, across two decades.

We need the next Simon. The comic needs some serious CPR, or it's going to flatline.

sprunkner · Post by **sprunkner** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 5:15 am

I don't think it fizzled in Devastation, Ya. I think it fizzled when Revelation got squashed. If Revelation had gotten the treatment AHM has, and if it had a more marketable name ("The Nemesis Prime Saga" "The Dead Universe Saga") then we wouldn't even be complaining about a downturn in Dev. In fact, with the near-crash, Reaper madness, death of Jimmy and Verity, and the army of Sunstreakers, I think Devastation had more madness, pound for pound, than the others.

Right now IDW seems to be cultivating a multi-writer approach, like the "Spidey Braintrust." It sounds like a good idea in theory. Lets hope it doesn't fizzle like ASM.

Mr_Tigg · Post by **Mr_Tigg** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 5:26 pm

I checked out AHM at the shops.

Agree with many of the sentiments put forward here already.

The positives are that it’s great to see E.J back on transformers. He’s on fine form here. The other positive is that, finally some answers are provided to the huge continuity gaps that exist between the AHM and –tions.
Beyond this, the problems start to rear their ugly heads and again there are way, way too many. Firstly some of the answers to the so-called ‘mysteries’ created in AHM so far are so horribly contrived it’s hard to take them seriously.

The reason behind Prime’s current condition is laughable. A little bit of misinformation leads them to walk headlong into an ambush, with no reinforcements to back them up. Its crazy when you consider this is apparently the same Prime who considered his options carefully when confronting Megatron in Escalation, as well as having the wit in the heat of battle to download his conscious into his truck.

It plays out like an episode of geewun. The unit that Prime takes into battle is made of the geewun rif-raff with no “big guns” involved at all. Where are the wreckers? Omega Supreme? Its another excuse to get the geewun brigade caught in another Mega-Dick Dastardley-Tron plot. To make matters worse, McCarthy in a few pages of bad writing manages to kill off all Prime’s crediblity as a tactical leader.

Also, again Devastator is far too big. He dwarfs everything else on the battlefield and looks a little bit on the ridiculous side. I would take Monstructor any day.

The next step in Dr.Megaevil’s plan is to chuck all the surviving autobots into a space bridge. Except at the last minute ‘heroic’ optimus makes a last ditch effort to save the day, sacrificing himself in the process. What a guy! No wonder all the other autobots are hopeless without him if Prime is really this tactically inept.

Finally we have Ironhide thugging up Mirage, which struck me as totally out of character for him.

You can’t help but wonder whether these haphazard continuity fillers were planned all a long, or whether they’re a response to huge amount of negativity that has surrounded this series. Either way, I’ve had my fill – it just doesn’t feel like a galaxy scale war anymore, there’s no sense of a battle across multiple worlds. Instead it’s all happening in the microcosmic world of the geewun inspired cast. It feels claustrophobic and lacking in vision, depth and scale compared to the Furman run, which showed multiple squads on different fronts, different planets, etc.

That’s not even taking into consideration the general slow pace and character assasination that’s taken place already. I was tempted to post this over at IDW, but I can’t be fagged to deal with the bitchiness that I’m sure my opinion would kick off.

Sunyavadin · Post by **Sunyavadin** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 10:32 am

A fair analysis.

Jack Cade · Post by **Jack Cade** » Sat Feb 14, 2009 12:48 am

Mr Tigg wrote:To make matters worse, McCarthy in a few pages of bad writing manages to kill off all Prime’s crediblity as a tactical leader.

Yes, once again a character's defining trait is communicated to us by someone else's account, rather than seeing it ourselves.

I do think, however, the Ironhide/Sunstreaker bit was decent. It's not how I like seeing those characters portrayed but I'm trying to be fair. If the whole Autobot part of this had been them on the move in some sort of race against time or dangerous journey, and involved all this backstabbing, ulterior motive, thuggery business, it could've been a fresh take on the characters.

Post by **Denyer** » Sat Feb 14, 2009 10:32 am

Manchester Devil wrote:And here's another continuity plothole that Detour at the Allspark forum noticed: Is this Megatron, who has no problem with 3,000 Decepticons being horribily mulitated in the hope it would produce some half decent soldiers that turn into Earth based insects, the same Megatron who put a stop to Thunderwing's experiments because he was disgusted with them?

Sharply observed.

Mr_Tigg · Post by **Mr_Tigg** » Sat Feb 14, 2009 11:17 am

Jack Cade wrote:
Mr Tigg wrote:To make matters worse, McCarthy in a few pages of bad writing manages to kill off all Prime’s crediblity as a tactical leader.
Yes, once again a character's defining trait is communicated to us by someone else's account, rather than seeing it ourselves.

I do think, however, the Ironhide/Sunstreaker bit was decent. It's not how I like seeing those characters portrayed but I'm trying to be fair. If the whole Autobot part of this had been them on the move in some sort of race against time or dangerous journey, and involved all this backstabbing, ulterior motive, thuggery business, it could've been a fresh take on the characters.

I did actually think the Sunstreaker bit was good as well, just as per usual was overwhelmed by the ratio of *****:good writing per issue in my analysis.

The Ironhide bit...hmm..I prefer Furman's rendition, where he was gruff and not too chatty, but had a calm, resolute nature about him.

McCarthy's Ironhide is like a petulant bully, all emotional and anger, thumping Mirage, arguing with other bots, etc. It's kinda like how McCarthy made the Riddler a murderer which (although I don't read Batman) is apparently very out-of-character for that particular villain. He's making Ironhide do things which I don't think suit the tone or the personality of the character.

No doubt when Prime comes back online it'll be all forgive and forget, and everyone will be chums again.

Manchester Devil · Post by **Manchester Devil** » Sat Feb 14, 2009 3:16 pm

Denyer wrote:
Manchester Devil wrote:And here's another continuity plothole that Detour at the Allspark forum noticed: Is this Megatron, who has no problem with 3,000 Decepticons being horribily mulitated in the hope it would produce some half decent soldiers that turn into Earth based insects, the same Megatron who put a stop to Thunderwing's experiments because he was disgusted with them?
Sharply observed.

Credit goes to Detour.

Mr Tigg wrote:McCarthy's Ironhide is like a petulant bully, all emotional and anger, thumping Mirage, arguing with other bots, etc. It's kinda like how McCarthy made the Riddler a murderer which (although I don't read Batman) is apparently very out-of-character for that particular villain. He's making Ironhide do things which I don't think suit the tone or the personality of the character.

Because hitting people for no good reason is against the rules and breaking the rules makes you look totally badass and doesn't make you a total thug at all!