Spotlight: Metroplex

Jack Cade · Post by **Jack Cade** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 7:21 pm

The dark days could be behind us. Here's what I've posted elsewhere:

If this is the future of Transformers - an issue 0 for the ongoing, as it were - I'm on board. I'm not quite as excited as I was when I discovered Infiltration, but I did really enjoy this issue and it left me wanting to see more of the Throttlebots' adventures. What it reminded me of chiefly was the classic Marvel stories - perhaps because of (a) the brutal damage, and (b) the Autobots as brave, mouthy but ultimately ineffectual fighters. On the whole, I like that way of handling them far more than when they're all elite warriors, but it would still be nice to see a team of similar-looking robots distinguished by something other than their colours. Chase, Freeway, Wideload and Rollbar were all completely interchangeable in this tale. I can't remember their individual powers, but it would certainly have been nice to see Searchlight utilise his 'blinding light' ability in a desperate bid to throw Sixshot off.

The dialogue was crisp, and the last page in particular had me grinning, particular Goldbug's slightly deranged laughter and the subtle nod to Searchlight's melancholy disposition. Also loved 'Oh, fumes on an axle!' and Sixshot's little declaration being interrupted by Rollbar's assault. Beaut. Wonderful to see it fitting so neatly into the continuity as well.

One complaint not yet raised - and it's Searchlight again. Why does he have Rollbar's face? I can't recall him ever looking like that, not as a toy, nor in the Sunbow cartoon, nor in the original comics. And it's a shame when Don made him look so cool in Stormbringer. Bring back the all-blue face and get rid of that weird Mexican tash look!

And I'm still willing to believe that the colouring error on page 4 was a deliberate homage to the opening pages of 'The Cure', which this issue topped in every way.

8/10 from me.

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 11:04 pm

Loved this!

Where to begin? Really hard to find a flaw in this.

Whereas most spotlights have left me yawning by comic's end, this one had me smiling at the edge of my seat. I really enjoyed this. Dialogue, story, art, the use of more obscure characters. Everything was first class.

Could it be Schmidt is the guy I've been looking for? He showed respect for past material, referencing events from past spotlights, and opened up a very intriguing storyline that has me stoked. His dialogue was never superfluous and he added just the right amount of wit and humor to it.

Respect for the past events is what ties a continuity together. An understanding of what has occurred in the past to a character is what allows us to enjoy the journey that character will take in the future. Schmidt clearly understand this.

I know this a Metroplex spotlight, but I absolutely loved how Schmidt handles Sixshot here. Notice how Sixshot was up fighting after that first megahit from Metroplex's fist, when Searchlight, aghast, asks "You still function?", to which Sixshot answers "Of course. Am I not Sixshot?" That, my friends, is good writing. That is knowing a character. Most current writers would have had Sixshot down and out after such a hit. But he's the creme de la creme of Decepticon warriors. Schmidt understands this, and for the first time since IDW got the license, makes me believe that Sixshot is as bad as he's meant to be.

The art is the best I've seen from Matere. The coloring is fantastic here also.

As Jack points out above, there's something very Marvelesque here, invoking a feeling similar to the one I had when I first read the Shockwave spotlight.

If Schmidt can do this with a single issue, I'm chomping at the bit to see what he could do with an ongoing.

Give it an "A+". One of the better spotlight yet.

Sunyavadin · Post by **Sunyavadin** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 11:11 pm

I can't wait for this one.

bumblemusprime · Post by **bumblemusprime** » Fri Jul 03, 2009 1:50 am

This was like the few times we've seen good from Shane McCarthy, and like classic straight-up Furman. Loved it. Wasn't crazy about the art, but a few shots--mostly of Big Metro--were good.

Sunyavadin · Post by **Sunyavadin** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 12:54 am

I liked.
Well written, well paced, decent characterisation, well presented, overall a very nice one-off, which nicely ties in to the overarching plot.

BB Shockwave · Post by **BB Shockwave** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 10:59 pm

It was friggin ACE!

Never heard of the writer, but now I'll have to look up his past work. He knows his stuff, and respects continuity, but can also invent new things (as in, Goldbug is now NOT BB).

Sixshot was awesome, though. "Surrender. Give me the information about the lab. Die without pain. You don't want the alternative."

Metroplex had like, 6 lines, but had more character then any of the AHM bots...

Oh and - poor Searchlight's and Chase's heads were swapped, art-wise. I guess we can consider this a hommage, since in Marvel, their colors were always swapped...

Sunyavadin · Post by **Sunyavadin** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 3:32 am

Quite possibly intentional.

If so, I love these guys even more for their work on this spotlight.

Hound · Post by **Hound** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 2:54 pm

Best TF comic I have read in ages.

<3 Throttlebots

Post by **Best First** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 3:12 pm

yeah that was pretty neat, showed how you can respect continiuity without being restricted by it which is refreshing in the extreme after the last 12 months.

Only gripe was i'm not convinced that the T-bots should have survived - surely one shot from Sixy should be fatal for bot's of their stature?

Hope we get to find out what "it" is.

Sunyavadin · Post by **Sunyavadin** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 11:31 pm

Best First wrote: Only gripe was i'm not convinced that the T-bots should have survived - surely one shot from Sixy should be fatal for bot's of their stature?

He was playing with them.

Probably using the sixshot equivalent of nerf bullets.

Metal Vendetta · Post by **Metal Vendetta** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 7:55 pm

In contrast to AHM#12, I've enjoyed this one. It's got a sort of Marvel space-adventure feel to it and it's a satisfying tale. Would like to see more Metroplex down the line, and the Goldbug thing is kind of intriguing too.

Post by **snarl** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 11:46 am

I really liked this, for all the reasons that have been already mentioned. This writer knows his stuff, and that was like old shool marvel.