All Hail Megatron #8 Review (SPOILERS)

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 4:30 am

Huh.

Maybe I'll keep those kid gloves on a little longer.

This issue was exactly the kind of thing I've been hoping to see in a TF comic.

As the story moves along, the stakes are raised and the tone has become more serious. Just the way I like my TF comics.

The dialogue was some of the best yet from McCarthy, but really what makes this issue stand out from the rest is that as the story moves along, there are finally consequences. Grim consequences.

I can say we officially have our first moment where a character dies and I actually felt it meant something since IDW acquired the license. And it makes perfect sense in the face of what Simon laid down beforehand. Fans will be up in arms about it, but too bad. Shane takes a chance, and IMO, delivers the goods.

This is the kind of storytelling I want to see, where lives are at stake, where war actually has consequences, and things don't always go according to plan. Where the good guys aren't always good, and the bad guys aren't all bad. Where humans are described as "coming apart very easily".

Starscream, evil SOB that he is, really shines in this issue. Guido's incredible art adds to Screamers presence. It's always nice to see some sort of intelligence behind the guy, that there's a reason he's Number Two.

Where has this all been?

A solid "A" in my book, the most I've enjoyed a TF comic in a long time.

sprunkner · Post by **sprunkner** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 5:21 pm

I read this in the store and was also quite impressed--though whoever's pitching in on inks muddied up Guido's inks. I'm especially impressed because part of AHM is trading on some of Simon's stories, thus restoring what appeared to be previously broken links to earlier continuities.

I'm also seeing exactly why this series failed. The mandate to release the book during EVENT time in summer, and release it with a one-year-earlier timeline, and release it so it would be friendly to new fans, resulted in six issues of Decepticons smashing things and Autobots puttering around talking about the Matrix and carefully avoiding the mention of previous continuity... basically six of the worst, weirdest and most badly structured comics in existence, even when there were hints of something good.

I predict that 1-6 could have been about two issues in the original treatment, and 7-12 about four, if they hadn't had the double mandate of "new reader-friendly!" and "ignore continuity as long as you can!"

Jack Cade · Post by **Jack Cade** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 6:57 pm

The question I daren't ask on the IDW forums:

.....

Did we win?

sprunkner · Post by **sprunkner** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 8:26 pm

Jack Cade · Post by **Jack Cade** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 8:31 pm

Might they have changed tack because of all our pertinent criticisms?

Sunyavadin · Post by **Sunyavadin** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 9:36 pm

I've got to say, even I may well have to accept that they're FINALLY doing things right with this series.

I totally concur that this should have been a 6-parter.

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 9:45 pm

I think if IDW ended today, and all was said and done, I would remember with great fondness three issues.

Spotlight:Shockwave
Spotlight: Kup
AHM #8

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 10:32 am

Jack Cade wrote:Might they have changed tack because of all our pertinent criticisms?

Of course not. It was always always always always scheduled to play out like this, and we're heretics for not having faith from the very beginning.

Genuinely interested to know exactly what dates the scripts for recent issues started/finished, though. Just to see how it links up with the completely unwarranted criticism from the rabidly unfair and perpetually disgruntled corners of the fandom, of course.

I've not read #8 yet, but based on past form, I somehow expect my definition of an "A" to vary massively from Yaya's.

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 10:45 am

cliched fan wank for me. it simply doesn't work.
average.

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 3:10 pm

Brendocon wrote: I've not read #8 yet, but based on past form, I somehow expect my definition of an "A" to vary massively from Yaya's.

I think Transfans folks find my reviews very useful.

If I give it an "A", you're not going to like it. A "C", and you'll love it.

See? Useful.

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 3:51 pm

Ah, but there have been instances where you've given comics that are truly awful a D.

And following your logic, if you give it a B, we'll agree regardless.

See? You see how inherently full of wrong you are?

sprunkner · Post by **sprunkner** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 5:43 am

Yaya wrote:I think if IDW ended today, and all was said and done, I would remember with great fondness three issues.

Spotlight:Shockwave
Spotlight: Kup
AHM #8

You're a silly, silly man, not least for leaving out Escalation 5, Spotlight: Hot Rod, Spotlight: Hardhead, Infiltration 6, Devastation 6, and about a billion others I can think of.

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 5:30 pm

sprunkner wrote:
Yaya wrote:I think if IDW ended today, and all was said and done, I would remember with great fondness three issues.

Spotlight:Shockwave
Spotlight: Kup
AHM #8
You're a silly, silly man, not least for leaving out Escalation 5, Spotlight: Hot Rod, Spotlight: Hardhead, Infiltration 6, Devastation 6, and about a billion others I can think of.

Didn't say those issues weren't good. Just that those three I found to be most memorable.

And I really didn't like Infiltration #6. Five issues of slow burn just to see Megatron punch a whole in Screamer? Very AHM-esque, that was.

But the others you mention were good. You left out the first three issues of Stormbringer, and the last issue of Revelations.

sprunkner · Post by **sprunkner** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 10:20 pm

So why aren't you doing the reviews for the site? It certainly needs them, and I can barely get the ones I get paid for in on time.

I agree with you about Infiltration. I thought Infiltration and Stormbringer were both too flawed to start out a story. However, #6 still gets an A for me because it is the only time, sans movie, that Megatron actually gave Starscream what he deserved for constant treachery. If only Screamers had stayed dead.

And I really thought all of Escalation was an A. If Simon had been able to weave Escalation, Stormbringer, and Infiltration into the first twelve issues of an ongoing, it would have been much stronger. Plus some of the Spotlights, as backup stories.

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Sun Mar 15, 2009 3:28 am

sprunkner wrote:So why aren't you doing the reviews for the site? It certainly needs them, and I can barely get the ones I get paid for in on time.

For one, I think my reviews don't usually jive with the majority opinion, and therefore, wouldn't be too helpful, especially to the younger crowds who might be more forgiving and accepting of a stories weakness.

But more importantly, don't really want to make that kind of effort.

Post by **Best First** » Sun Mar 15, 2009 8:31 am

Er...

just read it.

I'm confused.

Because it was really good.

I even quite liked Drift FFS.

And that final panal is darker as all heck, something this series has failed on up til now.

Conversely if you were one of the people the first half of this series was going to bring in i imagine there could be a lot of WTF right now.

Did we win? As it were. F4ck it - either yes, we did, or IDWs editorial policy is ruddy bizarre. That's really the word isn't it? 6 issues of More Than Meets The Eye genericness, issues you could slot into any continuitity, any time and then suddenly a switch gets flicked and bang it's a continuity overload.

Now i am more than willing to accept that maybe IDW's editing is bizarre, but between that and this being a response to (some spot on) criticism i can't conjure another scenario. Can anyone else?

Don't get me wrong, i still think some things are a bit of a mess, but this issue feels like a spectaculatr leap in the right direction.

Still a bit under whelmed by the Swarm and Drift's final comments were rather over exposiiony but - Jeezus - that final panal.

Pleasently suprised.

And then a bit miffed when i think why i am suprised.

But still...overall a lurch to where we should be going.

...

...

...

Ah crap i agree with Yaya don't i?

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Sun Mar 15, 2009 11:32 am

Best First wrote:Ah crap i agree with Yaya don't i?

You suck.

I actually really want to read this now. Why is there no post on Sundays dagnabit?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Mar 15, 2009 1:02 pm

Brendocon wrote:Why is there no post on Sundays dagnabit?

There is. It's just that they call it Monday. In Australia.

Jack Cade · Post by **Jack Cade** » Sun Mar 15, 2009 1:45 pm

Pretty much agree with Best First. Thought this was a solid issue with some exciting moments - I'd be a little bit worried still if this had been the first McCarthy issue, but against everything up to here it's a massive jump in quality.

Still some issues though, some of which are almost irreversible damage: the random alt-mode/body changes. Sunstreaker's is not only pointless and a bit ugly - this issue seems to imply it was done *before* he was separated from Hunter. Get your priorities straight, mate.

Too many Autobots - Wheeljack, Hot Rod, Blaster and possibly others I'm forgetting are all consigned to wordless, blink-and-you'll-miss-'em appearances here and seem to have nothing to offer the overall dynamic. In Wheeljack's case, not much of a dip in celebrity, but to see Hot Rod and Blaster treated like this after Furman did such a good job with them is still depressing.

Then there's the promise of Spike turning up again in the next issue - oh, joy.

So a way still to go to get back on the rails but some really, really positive signs.

Manchester Devil · Post by **Manchester Devil** » Sun Mar 15, 2009 1:45 pm

I've only read the synopsis for this issue on TFWiki and the realisation of the traitor thing just comes across as extremely tacky.

"I was experiemented on by a group of humans who were under the command of a rogue decepticon. Therefore, as I soon as I am back to my old self, I shall betray my comrades under the condition that every human on some unimportant planet is killed.
Nevermind the fact I don't take a blind bit of notice of access codes or the fact a human who has suffered the same fate as me helped me get my head back from said rogue decepticon and is now an outcast to his kind."

When did the Cons get their mitts on those oh-so-important access codes if it nothing to do with the traitor? Congrats McCarthy, you've came with something that's dumber than Megaman X's attitude in X7, muppet.

I would imagine I would be really angry with this issue if I had read it.

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Sun Mar 15, 2009 3:46 pm

Now i am more than willing to accept that maybe IDW's editing is bizarre, but between that and this being a response to (some spot on) criticism i can't conjure another scenario. Can anyone else?

No, I think you're pretty much on the money.

The reason being, if you look at the Hutch cover, it's a bunch of human fists in the in air.

Which had nothing to do with the issues content.

Which to me means something else was originally intended to be within those pages, but adjustments were likely made.

Then there's the promise of Spike turning up again in the next issue - oh, joy.

Yeah, if there's any better way of truly sucking the wind out of the sails than bringing stupid humans back into play, I'd like to know about it.

If Shane really is trying to perform damage control, it's a shame he has to go back and tie up the whole Spike et al. human crap.

Post by **Best First** » Sun Mar 15, 2009 4:40 pm

Yeah, but if the claim is "this is what was planned all along" then they have to tie up threads don't they?

Or if indeed it was planned all along then you would expect them to.

Either way i would be suprised if it is not revisited.

Suprised and happy

Just kill him casually off panal or something. That would be neat-o.

In terms of pacing again though its a strand that just hasn't appeared in the last 2 issues - not that i am particularly keen to see the humans back but chunks of story just dissapear for a while - its not a great approach.

This does kind of sh*t on Max Dinos though doesn't it? So maybe it really just is that IDWs editorial approach is bizarre.

Agree with Jack's comment about characters phasing in and out. I think to be fair the art should take some of the blame for this.

By the way - the Reflector bit was a bit odd wasn't it?

Also i thought BB's line seemed a bit out of character.

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Sun Mar 15, 2009 5:12 pm

I think the Reflector bit was meant to be odd.

I think that was the point of having Starscream just kind of stare at him with that "WTF" look on his face, in a kind of "oh, how the mighty are falling" kind of way.

The Bumblebee bit, yeah, that's not something Bee would say. Cliffjumper, yeah, but not Bee.

Jack Cade · Post by **Jack Cade** » Sun Mar 15, 2009 6:52 pm

Hmm. It's probably a good gauge of how much AHM has put me off TF comics that when Ramjet was 'killed' in a one-off spotlight with no bearing on the plot, I was shocked. It hurt. But when the same is done to Sunstreaker, one of my favourite characters and one whom the plot has revolved around now for quite a while, my response is: phew, at least the scene was quite well written.

Metal Vendetta · Post by **Metal Vendetta** » Sun Mar 15, 2009 11:02 pm

I'm mostly with Besty and Yaya on this one - it's a fairly soild issue (a few plotholes aside, which I would forgive Furman, so...) and had this been, say AHM#2, I don't think there would be half as many complaints about the series. Some nice action, and the Ironhide scene aside, I thought Kup was great as the Autobot commander. Still a bit fazed by the geography of it all - whereabouts are the Autobots on Cybertron? Where are they going? Where's Prime and Mirage? When did they get chance to lay all those bombs? Where did they get the bombs from?

But apart from minor quibbles, some good stuff for us to get our teeth into. The implication that Drift might be a former 'Con is interesting and explains the Hasbro mandate that he should be a new character, it would also explain BB's indifference to him. I'd like to see the Wreckers and Blaster being used a bit more (Perceptor can't be the only one who can fire that gun, surely) but I'm hoping that there will be more moments for them to shine down the road.

Poor, poor Hunter. I hope he gets the chance to kick some arse in return - there must be a Sunny clone body knocking about somewhere, right? Hopefully as his bit of the story develops we'll see some more of the Decepticons too. No doubt Starscream's inevitable treachery will shine a little light on what's going on there as well. I'm curious to find out who his partner in crime is...I really hope it's Sound rather than Shockwave, 'cause a Megs V Shocky throwdown has pretty much been done to death, but Starscream and Soundwave allied against Megatron could be a brilliant direction to take.

Er, yeah. Not bad, hope they can keep this up. Not crazy about the Witwickys but fingers crossed Shane has a plan that involves them getting randomly slaughtered like all the other human characters

sprunkner · Post by **sprunkner** » Sun Mar 15, 2009 11:18 pm

Best Not First; I Was In The Queue Before Him wrote:Now i am more than willing to accept that maybe IDW's editing is bizarre, but between that and this being a response to (some spot on) criticism i can't conjure another scenario. Can anyone else?

I really think someone, Hasbro or Chris or both, mandated that the series be 1) reader friendly and 2) released six months earlier than it should have been. As a result, the first six issues were unable to do anything other than say, "Yeah, here's the idea: Megatron is smashing stuff and the Autobots are f9cked. Also, you don't need to know anything else to read this!"

I would actually put my money on Hasbro. Someone looked at the sales figures and said, "We need sales Viagra."

Manchester Angel wrote:"I was experiemented on by a group of humans who were under the command of a rogue decepticon. Therefore, as I soon as I am back to my old self, I shall betray my comrades under the condition that every human on some unimportant planet is killed." Nevermind the fact I don't take a blind bit of notice of access codes or the fact a human who has suffered the same fate as me helped me get my head back from said rogue decepticon and is now an outcast to his kind."

Hmm.

Thing is, I don't see Scorponok as being the guy behind the Machination, except insofar as tech was concerned. It was humans who snooped around, stole Sunstreaker, bonded him, and it was a human he was bonded to who occasionally shut him up.

The Autobots in the IDW have generally been portrayed as pretty accepting of collateral damage. Add to that the general self-obsession of Sunstreaker, and it's a stretch, but not too much of one, to see him wanting revenge on the humans.

Oh, by the way, I'm killing the sprunkner ID. I'm going to use Chrissy's old bumblemusprime handle. You can speculate as to reasons why.

bumblemusprime · Post by **bumblemusprime** » Sun Mar 15, 2009 11:19 pm

like so.

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Sun Mar 15, 2009 11:21 pm

Metal Vendetta wrote:I'm curious to find out who his partner in crime is...I really hope it's Sound rather than Shockwave, 'cause a Megs V Shocky throwdown has pretty much been done to death, but Starscream and Soundwave allied against Megatron could be a brilliant direction to take.

My guess is its Scourge.

He hasn't been seen to date, and he was, out of the blue, mentioned by Starscream a few issues back.

So, going with Scourge.

Destron · Post by **Destron** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 12:37 am

My guess is it'll eventually turn out that Sunstreaker isn't really dead. Remember the way Prime managed to survive Unicron Saga at the time of Marvel run? I bet they're going to make use of the same trick here.

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 2:37 am

Destron wrote:My guess is it'll eventually turn out that Sunstreaker isn't really dead. Remember the way Prime managed to survive Unicron Saga at the time of Marvel run? I bet they're going to make use of the same trick here.

Hope not. Can't a character stay dead, as in "Scrounge dead"?

However, in this instance, it actually seems feasible. Didn't Rachet say Hunter was more machine than human?

Something tells me Hunter is going to "download" Streaker into a clone, recreating him.