Maximum Dinobots #5 Review (SPOILERS)

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 10:26 pm

Well, that was a real cluster [composite word including 'f*ck'], wasn't it?

**** really hit the fan this issue. Problem was, too much **** hit the fan.

From both a story standpoint as well as an artistic standpoint it was quite choatic. Seemed like from one page to the next everyone just seemed to be bashing the hell out of each other, and with much of the art indecipherable, it kind of added to the whole "acid trip" feel.

I enjoyed seeing Shockwave and Scorps go at it again (with the appropriate result this time

) and enjoyed seeing the Dinbots vs Shockwave Round 3. But there really were maybe one too many cooks.

I mean, Hot Rod just seemed to stand around most of the issue, mangled mouth agape. It was hard to believe this was the same competent Hot Rod seen in his spotlight and in Escalation/Devestation. The Dinobots, once again, can't make up their freakin mind what they want. Do we stay? Do we leave? Surprise! They stay.

It's official. I can't can't stand those [composite word including 'f*ck'] anymore. Espcecially as Roche's Swoop has now stripped the reward for worst looking Transformer from movie Megatron.

Sludge coming back to life didn't help matters. It wasn't really believable in the first place that a single sting from Scorps tail would have taken him out anyway, so in that sense, I'm glad he 'rebooted' It's just that, well, can't a character just stay dead for once? I mean Grimlock blows himself and Shockwave to hell, and two pages later they're locked up in Magnus' cell.

Despite the above complaints, I will say this. It was a rocky, crazy ride, but a story happened. It was haphazard, here and there, but in the end, the plot progressed and we had some conclusion. (AHM, I'm looking at you). Simon managed to tie up all the loose ends. Shockwave is back. Soundwave is back. Scorps on ice. Magnus made his return. Verity had plastic work done and looks nothing at all like Verity. (Not sure what the hell the Monsterbots purpose was in the story, though, except to say, "Hey, cool! Mosterbots".).

The art was a big letdown, as it was very difficult to decipher. To be honest, most of this series has suffered this problem, and I think it comes down to the coloring. It was very one-dimensional, making it difficult to discern a character from a similarly colored background.

So I'd give this issue a "B-". Not bad, maybe too over the top, but the story gets somewhere and moves this continuity forward.

Mr_Tigg · Post by **Mr_Tigg** » Fri Apr 17, 2009 4:04 pm

I thoroughly enjoyed this issue, even if it was a little bit cramped. Enjoyed getting to see Verity and co together again at the end. Also thought the art was smashing. I didn’t find it difficult to follow the fights at all to be honest, and I enjoyed the frantic action of it all.

Glad to see Shockwave back in the mix, hopefully McCarthy won’t re-write him as a loyal and highly inept Megatron lieutenant, like he was in the cartoon.

I think, considering the fact that this probably wasn’t the planned conclusion to Furman’s stories, he’s done a damn fine job of brining it all together. Really don’t think he couldv’e done much more with the nine issues he had left versus the multiple threads he had to tie up.

Ironic considering all the room McCarthy has had to play with on one story arc, especially as he has totally ballsed it up.

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Fri Apr 17, 2009 7:53 pm

there's more plot progression in a single issue of MD then there is in 10 issues of AHM

Hound · Post by **Hound** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 1:43 pm

I really enjoyed MD. I wish we could have had a 6th issue just to flesh it out a bit more. As Yaya mentioned, there appeared to be no real benefit to the Monsterbots showing up, Ultra Magnus could have filled that role easily.

Shockwave was awesome.

It all ties up perhaps a little too conveniently, but that's probably better than Furman laying the seeds for future stories for McArthy to **** over.

I do have to agree about the art, a little bit too much going on mixed with some samey colouring did make it hard to follow at times, but this is a minor complaint.

Sunyavadin · Post by **Sunyavadin** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 12:35 am

Really liked it.

Want to see more Furman stories with Shockers, he's had some really good ones overall through his spotlight and MD.

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 12:53 pm

Historically, it's almost as if Shockwave is the key to a good story.

I don't say that just because he's my fav, but the best Marvel stories, the best DW stories, and the best IDW stories tend to have Shockers as a sort of foundation for the ongoing events.

In other words, it's hard to [composite word including 'f*ck'] up story with Shockers, provided you stay true to his character.

The Last Autobot · Post by **The Last Autobot** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 4:11 pm

Yaya wrote:Historically, it's almost as if Shockwave is the key to a good story.

...the best DW stories...

Because he was responsible for eveeeerrryything?

Post by **Best First** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 8:40 pm

War & Peace was a bag of sh1t tho.

Jack Cade · Post by **Jack Cade** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 11:26 am

Yaya wrote:Historically, it's almost as if Shockwave is the key to a good story.

He's almost bound to have a positive impact, when written right, because he's a unique sort of villain. Self-dependent, rather than relying on incompetent minions; genuinely lacking in vanity and pomposity, unlike Megs and Starscream; meticulous, shrewd, secretive and deadly. What really works in Max Dinos is how he wasn't even angry with Skywatch for enslaving him - he just immediately worked out an escape plan. A villain who you can't distract with petty emotions is a scary villain.

Hound · Post by **Hound** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 12:40 pm

Jack Cade wrote:
Yaya wrote:Historically, it's almost as if Shockwave is the key to a good story.
He's almost bound to have a positive impact, when written right, because he's a unique sort of villain. Self-dependent, rather than relying on incompetent minions; genuinely lacking in vanity and pomposity, unlike Megs and Starscream; meticulous, shrewd, secretive and deadly. What really works in Max Dinos is how he wasn't even angry with Skywatch for enslaving him - he just immediately worked out an escape plan. A villain who you can't distract with petty emotions is a scary villain.

Perfectly summed up there

Legion · Post by **Legion** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 9:53 am

Hound wrote:
Jack Cade wrote:
Yaya wrote:Historically, it's almost as if Shockwave is the key to a good story.
He's almost bound to have a positive impact, when written right, because he's a unique sort of villain. Self-dependent, rather than relying on incompetent minions; genuinely lacking in vanity and pomposity, unlike Megs and Starscream; meticulous, shrewd, secretive and deadly. What really works in Max Dinos is how he wasn't even angry with Skywatch for enslaving him - he just immediately worked out an escape plan. A villain who you can't distract with petty emotions is a scary villain.
Perfectly summed up there

Plus he's cool.

BB Shockwave · Post by **BB Shockwave** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 10:52 am

Jack Cade wrote:
Yaya wrote:Historically, it's almost as if Shockwave is the key to a good story.
He's almost bound to have a positive impact, when written right, because he's a unique sort of villain. Self-dependent, rather than relying on incompetent minions; genuinely lacking in vanity and pomposity, unlike Megs and Starscream; meticulous, shrewd, secretive and deadly. What really works in Max Dinos is how he wasn't even angry with Skywatch for enslaving him - he just immediately worked out an escape plan. A villain who you can't distract with petty emotions is a scary villain.

Summed up perfectly why he's my favourite TF...

But in MD #5 he comes for the Dinos for... revenge?

Did he get a taste for emotions? (I have not had the chance to read the issue).

Jack Cade · Post by **Jack Cade** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 2:07 pm

He's faking the revenge bit for Skywatch. As soon as he gets the codes, he chucks Grimlock away and says, "Back to my plans."

BB Shockwave · Post by **BB Shockwave** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 7:46 am

Jack Cade wrote:He's faking the revenge bit for Skywatch. As soon as he gets the codes, he chucks Grimlock away and says, "Back to my plans."

I see... Glad to hear Shocky is still "on the level".

bumblemusprime · Post by **bumblemusprime** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 7:49 pm

Finally read it.

I liked it.

Don't remember much else.

It marked the end of my buying TF comics until the non McCarthy-stories in Coda. Maybe I'm just a little jaded.

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 11:03 am

I finally got a set of these book and read 'em all this evening. Wow. That's all I can say, really. The series reminded me why I like Transformers as something more than a shelf-display.