All Hail Megatron #11 Review (SPOILERS)

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Wed May 20, 2009 9:20 pm

Good show, this issue.

Though I pretty much knew what was going to happen, the amazing artwork and some nice dialogue made it worthwhile.

It's refreshing when something actually happens.

In the end though, taking the series as a whole, there has really been nothing to separate this tale from the more generic Transformers tales of times past.

So yeah, this issue would have made a nice #5 of six issues.

How about that cheesy scene with Starscream yelling "All Hail Megatron!"? Cheeeeesewiiizzzz. Would have much preferred him saying nothing but simply ordering his troops into battle and giving Megs a nod.

Oh, and isn't it interesting how these giant advanced robots from space have to rely on a human-built nuclear bomb to wreck havoc on the planet? Seriously, what happened to TF tech? Stupid.

Anyway, Give it a "B". Flawed story, good art.

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Thu May 21, 2009 10:04 pm

so as it's got a B it's almost brillant?

ignoring the art. I haven't read one issue of AHM that I would rate above average, ie a C.

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Fri May 22, 2009 12:48 am

Impactor returns 2.0 wrote:so as it's got a B it's almost brillant?

ignoring the art. I haven't read one issue of AHM that I would rate above average, ie a C.

I think this issue was better than average as I thought the art was awesome.

Making it overall good.

Post by **snarl** » Fri May 22, 2009 8:50 am

Hmm.

I tend to score a comic on how it reads. I couldn't think of a comic off the top of my head where art has been a problem.

AHM, which I glance through at FP every now and then, does have good art.

But the story is ******* crap imo.

Mr_Tigg · Post by **Mr_Tigg** » Fri May 22, 2009 9:33 am

snarl wrote:Hmm.

I tend to score a comic on how it reads. I couldn't think of a comic off the top of my head where art has been a problem.

AHM, which I glance through at FP every now and then, does have good art.

But the story is ******* crap imo.

Heh heh, I follow the same procedure in FP myself!

Usually I flick through it, and shake my head in dispair.

A far cry from the Furman run where I would skip down in excitement at anticipation for the latest issue.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri May 22, 2009 9:42 am

Yaya wrote:Oh, and isn't it interesting how these giant advanced robots from space have to rely on a human-built nuclear bomb to wreck havoc on the planet? Seriously, what happened to TF tech? Stupid.

Wouldn't that be referred to as something like "using one's opponents' weaponry against them whilst simultaneously not employing a potentially greater amount of one's own resources to deliver the equivalent outcome."

Isn't it? A similar concept to using your opponent's strengths against him in some martial arts.

Not defending AHM (can't, as I haven't read it), just saying...

Metal Vendetta · Post by **Metal Vendetta** » Fri May 22, 2009 11:06 am

So let me get this straight...Megs and the Decepticons were just ordinary joes until the Rise of the Autobots when the 'Cons became psychotic warriors, leading Megs to deduce that he'd have to wipe them all out when the war was over? Is that the story now?

What happened to being a bunch of pit-fighters and former miners who staged an uprising in Kaon? Or is Origin out of continuity now?

I quite like the art, but the dialogue and the writing overall has been execrable. I'm hoping next issue everyone dies and we can start again.

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Fri May 22, 2009 11:49 am

Metal Vendetta wrote:So let me get this straight...Megs and the Decepticons were just ordinary joes until the Rise of the Autobots when the 'Cons became psychotic warriors, leading Megs to deduce that he'd have to wipe them all out when the war was over? Is that the story now?

What happened to being a bunch of pit-fighters and former miners who staged an uprising in Kaon? Or is Origin out of continuity now?

Weren't the Decepticons in Origin born out of him being disgruntled because THE MAN (read: the evil Autobot police state) were keeping him down?

That can sort of be reconciled can't it? Well, in no worse fashion than every other half-arsed attempt at continuity which is littering the book.

At least Dreamwave brought us the inexhaustible "Shockwave did it" gag.

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Fri May 22, 2009 1:45 pm

I am so confused now as to the origin of the Decepticons, it's infuriating.

I mean, before Megatron:Origin, I couldn't get War Within out of my mind. Then, after M:O, Shane goes off and starts to change everything beginning with Spotlight:Blurr (Zeta Prime?), and now this new explanation by Megs in AHM.

It's a total focking mess, it is.

Can anyone now give us a straight answer about this? I mean, if IDW is going to ignore M:O, then they should focking come out and say it to us so we can get things straight in our minds.

Mr_Tigg · Post by **Mr_Tigg** » Fri May 22, 2009 3:08 pm

Skimmed it at FP.

Thought it was pretty generic, boring and predictable.

What was up with the convo between SS and Megs? Didn't come across as a very 'Megatron' thing to say - like he's sowing seeds of doubt in his own ability.

Also disagree on the art front. Some of the line work is choppy with echoes of Spotlight Mirage. I just don't like Guido's aesthetic - yes he's the best at humans out of the tf artists, but as far as 'human' artists go he's pretty substandard (check out Hiroaki Samura's work for real talent at drawing humans in comics).

Also I don't think his TFs are as strong as Roche's, Don's or E.J's, and his tendency to stick to tired G1 designs and take inspirations from toys actually reduces the quality of their designs.

Overall IDW have successfully devolved the series. Congrats to them at putting me off TF comics.

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Fri May 22, 2009 3:23 pm

Mr_Tigg wrote:I just don't like Guido's aesthetic - yes he's the best at humans out of the tf artists, but as far as 'human' artists go he's pretty substandard (check out Hiroaki Samura's work for real talent at drawing humans in comics).

I don't read TF comics for humans.

They could all look like BF's avatar, it would suit me fine.

Mr_Tigg · Post by **Mr_Tigg** » Fri May 22, 2009 9:01 pm

Yaya wrote:
Mr_Tigg wrote:I just don't like Guido's aesthetic - yes he's the best at humans out of the tf artists, but as far as 'human' artists go he's pretty substandard (check out Hiroaki Samura's work for real talent at drawing humans in comics).
I don't read TF comics for humans.

They could all look like BF's avatar, it would suit me fine.

Fair point, but I read comics partially for the quality of the art, and GG isn't as good as EJ, Roche, or Don imo.

His tfs aren't that good either.

Well having said that, SL Galvatron was good (loved galvatron's design) as were his heart of steel designs, but his over reliance on the cartoon/toy aesthetics drags the art down further - if I wanted to read a comic about toys, I'd buy Toy Story comics...

Overall he frustrates me, due to inconsistencies in his style - from tf designs, humans - to the art veering in quality frame to frame. Some of the line art is horribly sloppy.

BB Shockwave · Post by **BB Shockwave** » Mon May 25, 2009 8:31 am

This was *****.

Megatron talking to Starscream at all after he tried to kill him, explaining things to him?

Watch Animated Endgame. After Megs has used up Starscream, in a totally G2-like manner (where he considers "retiring him"), he points his fusion cannon at him:

"Your usefullness to me has ended, Starscream." BOOOM.

That's how a really cunning, realistic Megatron should handle scheming subordinates. Not going on about "you are unfit for my new empire" stuff. That logic is flawed anyway - I mean - there are hundreds of advanced alien worlds, as the Reapers has shown, that pose a threat to the TFs. Megatron would have needed his warriors even after the Bots were gone.

And by the way, WHAT is in this Megatron to hail? He's a pompous gasbag who's proven wrong at every turn, and then pretends this too was part of his master plan. Just when he exclaims that nothing can surprise him, Deus Ex Omega falls from the sky. Nice going, Megs. I won't shed tears when Spike blows a hole in your head next issue.

Oh and Yaya - NEVER judge a comic totally by the art. Give the comics two grades - one for art, one for story.

AHM #11 is grade A (art), grade D (story). IMHO.

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Mon May 25, 2009 3:36 pm

BB Shockwave wrote:Oh and Yaya - NEVER judge a comic totally by the art. Give the comics two grades - one for art, one for story.

I didn't judge it by just the art.

My score takes both story and art into consideration, and I come up with an overall impression. Comic books are a visual medium, not prose story telling. So I feel the art deserves to be factored into the overall evaluation.

I thought the art was fantastic, and the story was just mediocre. I didn't think the story and dialogue was a "D", as you did. More like a "C".

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Tue May 26, 2009 9:28 pm

Did AHM switch inkers or colorists? It had a very different appearance than earlier issues, imo.

I didn't dislike issue 11, but it only took 4 minutes to read. I finished it during a commercial break for a TV program.

Post by **Best First** » Wed May 27, 2009 9:06 am

That was about 1% as clever as it thought it was.

Although i'm somewhat intrigud to see exactly how this finishes ploughing into a wall next month.

BB Shockwave · Post by **BB Shockwave** » Wed May 27, 2009 1:29 pm

Best First wrote:That was about 1% as clever as it thought it was.

Although i'm somewhat intrigud to see exactly how this finishes ploughing into a wall next month.

Anyone else thought WTF!?! at Universe Dropshot's sudden appearance?

I thought forced product placement ended with the Marvel G1 days...

Jack Cade · Post by **Jack Cade** » Wed May 27, 2009 6:52 pm

I can barely summon the energy to say anything about this. There's so much wrong with how this series is looking to limp across the finish line that even if there were some good moments in issue 11, they flashed by. The final battle is, so far, an almost non-violent scuffle, a good natured biff-up at best. Megs telling Prime to shut up was the harshest blow dealt by anyone. I almost expected Prime to reply, "Well, there's no need to be like that! If you weren't in the mood for gamely banter then you should have just said so."

And the Megs/Starscream dialogue was just a miserable attempt to salvage some sense of dignity or grand design for the protagonist and the series as a whole - a last ditch leap towards some great character insight.

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Wed May 27, 2009 9:17 pm

The series has been extended by a few issues, no? So it doesn't necessarily have to wrap up in the next issue.

Hound · Post by **Hound** » Wed May 27, 2009 9:29 pm

Professor Smooth wrote:The series has been extended by a few issues, no? So it doesn't necessarily have to wrap up in the next issue.

I can't see how that would make a difference.

From what I can tell, the extra issues are to tie up some backstory which should have been explained along the way, such as Kup's restoration and Sunstreaker betrayal/Hunters capture

Post by **snarl** » Wed May 27, 2009 10:20 pm

This is ****.

I cannot for the life of me see how anybody could rate this as a piece of storytelling...

Unless they have AIDS.

I swear to like this I'd had have to have been lobotomised...

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Thu May 28, 2009 8:28 am

Professor Smooth wrote:The series has been extended by a few issues, no? So it doesn't necessarily have to wrap up in the next issue.

If they do decide not to give it a definitive end, but rather to spill the main narrative over into the issues that are supposedly a coda, then that just strengthens my resolve not to buy them.

Would you sit through a three hour movie only to get to the end and be told "because it's going so well, we've decided to move the last act into another film. of course you'll have to buy another ticket."

Which ties in nicely to McCarthy's ludicrous "you don't judge an entire movie on its opening moments" response to people noticing the first issues were *****.

Post by **snarl** » Thu May 28, 2009 8:57 am

Mccarthy is a ******* moronic ****.

Aside from AHM being complete ****, people actually DO judge a ******* film on the beginning - clueless ****!

If it is **** you switch off!

First impressions are HUGE. Jesus ******* wept. What a ****.

Jack Cade · Post by **Jack Cade** » Thu May 28, 2009 1:00 pm

Awesome post, Snarl!

Professor Smooth wrote:The series has been extended by a few issues, no?

Don't be fooled, Professor! It's actually a new series, designed specifically for more crack-papering, but recently rebranded as a 'continuation' in order to save face. At least half of it will steadfastly fail to tack anything onto the end of the current plot - we've got characters who haven't even appeared in AHM (Galvatron, Cyclonus), dead characters (Sunstreaker), the distant past (Furman's story about Ironhide and Prime) and the not-so-distant past (Roche's sequel to his Spotlight: Kup) all coming under the umbrella of 'AHM issues 13-16'.

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Thu May 28, 2009 2:53 pm

Jack Cade wrote:we've got characters who haven't even appeared in AHM (Galvatron, Cyclonus), dead characters (Sunstreaker), the distant past (Furman's story about Ironhide and Prime) and the not-so-distant past (Roche's sequel to his Spotlight: Kup) all coming under the umbrella of 'AHM issues 13-16'.

I don't care what they call it, I think it's going to be a lot better than the disappointment that AHM has been.

I hope.....

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Fri May 29, 2009 9:01 am

Jack Cade wrote:Awesome post, Snarl!

Professor Smooth wrote:The series has been extended by a few issues, no?
Don't be fooled, Professor! It's actually a new series, designed specifically for more crack-papering, but recently rebranded as a 'continuation' in order to save face. At least half of it will steadfastly fail to tack anything onto the end of the current plot - we've got characters who haven't even appeared in AHM (Galvatron, Cyclonus), dead characters (Sunstreaker), the distant past (Furman's story about Ironhide and Prime) and the not-so-distant past (Roche's sequel to his Spotlight: Kup) all coming under the umbrella of 'AHM issues 13-16'.

Ah, thanks for that.

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All Hail Megatron #11 Review (SPOILERS)

Re: All Hail Megatron #11 Review (SPOILERS)