Bumblebee #1 Review (Spoilers)

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 10:29 pm

Ha.

That was actually quite fun.

Not at all what I was expecting, given the substandard Bumblebee story of AHM:Coda. In fact, it was so different, I am almost skeptical about whether the same person wrote both.

It begins with a very cheesy scene of the Autobots "clanking" their glasses together and tipping their hats to newly elected Bumblebee, sounding off with their "hurrah"s and such. Cheeeeese. Thereafter though, it was excellent.

Despite the predictability of the story, I think it was handled very well. It was wordy in a good way, and the dialogue was head and shoulders above the sampling of Cannon from Coda.

The art was absolutely beautiful, some of the best IDW has given us yet. Very Senior-like with a sort of E.J.-painted twist.

Nice focus on a short cast of characters who have on full display just how naive they are in the leadership department with Prime, Ironhide, Hot Rod, and Prowl out of the way. Actually thought this was the most charming aspect of the story.

A solid "A-" from both Cannon and Chee.

Good to see IDW seems to have righted the ship, as I have found both this and the ongoing to be very good. With LSOTW on the way, things are looking good, indeed.

Post by **snarl** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 12:30 am

Sounds like more of the sort of "Ye olde" LARE from Role Models fantasy wank **** that was prevalent in the Cliff Jumper short, has been prevalent in many of the issues from last 18 months worth of TF stuff and is indeed prevalent in the most gash offerings of the Mosaic stories...

It just feels to me like IDW is now catering for ***** that go around drinking "mead".

Post by **Best First** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 7:46 am

**** you Ben Affleck.

Jazz to moon base 2 · Post by **Jazz to moon base 2** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 4:55 am

noob question, what series does this one pick up after?

Post by **snarl** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 10:57 am

Ha, the funny thing is, IDW have made such a pissy biscuit of all their restarts that probably a lot of people dont know where they all fit in.

But anyawy - this is right bang at the start of their latest reboot, so basically there is some stuff that goes before it, but this is a new "jumping on point" for readers.

All the previous IDW stuff comes before this, but it looks like they're going to ignore it by and large, so gerab it and see what you think. I'm going to check it out in FP but I suspect I'll probably put it back on the shelf.

For the record, the series before this are:

Infiltration
Escalation
Devestation
Revelation
All Hail Megatron

That is basically the previous "ongoing" story. But it was split up into self contatined blocks of 6 stories (12 for AHM). IMO it was all handled pretty badly.

But then you've got loads of spotlights that all intermingle with those running stories, plus the Stormbringer mini series, which if I remember correctly ran alongsie the Infiltration sotry and was pretty good.

If anybody wants to put up where all the spotlights fit in with the ongoing stories, feel free.

Jazz to moon base 2 · Post by **Jazz to moon base 2** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 6:50 pm

yeahhh... I think I'll just keep reading them and figure it out for myself.

bumblemusprime · Post by **bumblemusprime** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 8:32 pm

Jazz,

Generally each volume of Spotlights fits between each "-ation" series. So:

1. Infiltration, then Spotlight vol. 1

2. Stormbringer & Escalation then Spotlight vol. 2

3. Devastation then Spotlight vol. 3

4. And I think Revelation actually IS Spotlight vol. 4.

Holy crap, this is really effing confusing.

All Hail Megatron is sold as a four-volume story in trade, but I believe vol.3 originally appeared as the Spotlights.

And they wondered why we just wanted an ongoing series.

Jazz to moon base 2 · Post by **Jazz to moon base 2** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 9:15 pm

From what I'm reading here, they did, you just couldn't tell what was "going-on." XD Thanks for the guide. I shall proceed to read in such an order.

Hound · Post by **Hound** » Sat Dec 26, 2009 12:35 am

I really enjoyed this.

I've not read any of the ongoing but the art alone was enough to draw me to this - it's beautiful.

The story is simple, but fun. The Autobots seem to be written well, especially Wheeljack who is a bit of a ****. Cliffjumper is back to being a mouthy ****, instead of a 'badass, master of all weapons'.

Really looking forward to the next issue.

BB Shockwave · Post by **BB Shockwave** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 9:35 am

This was again, utterly insipid.

First the notion that the Autobots are on the run from puny humans is... not very believable. Even Scorponok's headmasters didn't give much of a challange for Hot Rod, let alone less advanced Skywatch technology. Also, in the 'ion' series we saw that these Autobots are not afraid to hurt humans if they attack them.

Secondly, are all the Autobots stupid now? They just put on these badges, without Wheeljack analyzing them what they contain? And follow the orders of a general just like that? I would have believed an alliance, where BB would have spoken to the public or met with the president to explain the difference between Bots and Cons... but no.

Also, just where the heck did the Bot headquarters (which looks like the Ark) came from - I thought they arrived to Earth with Omega.

The only saving grace is the art and color, which indeed reminds me of the Marvel UK days.

C- , imho.