Last Stand of the Wreckers #3 Review (SPOILERS)

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Wed Mar 24, 2010 10:10 pm

It was okay. Primarily an issue of action, the story doesn't move forward much. Not that that's necessarily a bad thing midseries, but now that Nick and James have whetted my appetite with the whole Aequitas thing, I'm finding myself a tad bit impatient.

Nice references to prior continuity (the Reapers, Kup's rescue in his spotlight). Interesting take on the Jumpstarters relationship. Bringing Shockwave into the story can only be considered a good thing. There's a good mix of individual character focus here too, which is not an easy thing to do given the large cast. Seems like every bot has their own history and story to tell, and the writers are doing a nice job balancing that with the overall story arc.

My major gripe is mostly the art. It's cluttered and feels a bit rushed, and again I find the coloring quite monotone and lacking in the shading department. Difficult at times to tell whose arm is whose. No offense, but I'm really looking forward to Guido taking the reins for at least a bit, as I find his style a bit cleaner.

Verity is really an unwelcome distraction in this series. If I didn't find her annoying before, she certainly is now.

Give it a "B+". Good issue hampered by rushed-appearing art.

Post by **Best First** » Thu Mar 25, 2010 1:48 pm

That was super.

I wish i could make myself avoid the 5 page previews though as it makes the issues themselves seem that much shorter.

Having read the preview i was confident that Rotorstorm was going to be the one to buy it - which is a shame as he has been great (and i own the toy), but it's also a testament to the writers that i care about a guy who has had 2.5 issues to make an impression (altho again the toy thing probably helps).

As has been mentioned great use of previous continuity without being encumbered by it - i was especially pleased with the Guzzle development, i always thought that the sacrifice that was made to bring Kup back seemed to go away a little easily - not so!

The art styles blended more or less seamlessly, although that may have been the pace at which i was reading, which may also be why these issues feel short as holy heck i want to know what happens next, which again is a real trubte to this Jack Rocheberts chap.

Something else i really liked, the way the vicarious perception thing wasn't dragged out as some kind of secret - there are comics out there where this would be alluded to for months on end, here it's just dealt with matter of factly and then it's part of the plot.

Some of you may have seen a review where i compared ongoing issue 1 to Phantom Menance, this though - to also refer back to another post on Rotorstorm's fate - this is Serenity. And i do not offer much higher praise than that.

Anyway, i am off to read it again on the bog at work.

Post by **snarl** » Thu Mar 25, 2010 2:40 pm

I also enjoyed this muchly.

Pretty grim at times. Which is good.

Flicked through the ongoing at FP.

Gaaaah. shhhh.

Jack Cade · Post by **Jack Cade** » Thu Mar 25, 2010 8:13 pm

Apologies for copy and pasting from the other site but my hands are aching:

This was a wonderful issue, I thought - and more than that, I just get this strong feeling that this is how Transformers comics *should* be, whatever cast you're using. Action-packed, graphic shenanigans perpetrated by characters bursting with personality.

I know there's only meant to be one fatality in this issue but I can't help feeling we've seen the last of Twin Twist (except his head perhaps). Since issue 5's solicit starts on such a defeated note, I'm guessing next issue we'll lose both Jumpstarters, Ironfist and probably Guzzle or Pyro, if not both. I reckon you can count on Springer, Impactor, Perceptor and Kup making it to the final dash. Impactor'll be the last to bite it.

Good use of alt modes - I was afraid we weren't going to see any of them in this series, so it's good to see both Twin Twist and Guzzle getting a chance to use theirs usefully.

Whoever pointed out the chilling resonance this issue gives that "I see him.." line is issue 1 is bang on the money.

Only complaint: the Overlord conflict. Why didn't they start shooting? Before and after Rotorstorm's death? I know Transformer guns are notoriously rubbish, but Guzzle's seemed to be working fine! If Pyro and Ironfist are packing the same shells, they should've opened fire right away! Not to mention Rotorstorm taking the moment to tell Overlord: "Hey, you ain't so bad ..." What a nitwit.

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Thu Mar 25, 2010 9:12 pm

Admittedly, I read this issue when I was tired and angry after taking call at the ER, so the issue is probably better than what I graded it as (which was still "good").

But one thing I just wish they didn't do is make that announcement "somebody is going to die!". When it happened, my response was more "yeah, I knew it was going to be him" whereas I think had I not known it would have been "Whoa! Didn't see that coming.."

Jack Cade · Post by **Jack Cade** » Thu Mar 25, 2010 10:29 pm

I've been thinking a lot about this broadcasting of the deaths. I think it's very canny of Nick and James in this particular context. They know they have a fanbase out there who are genuinely jaded - by both comics and Transformers comics specifically. By emphasising and re-emphasising that most of these characters are going to die, they really do stir up the nest where otherwise we might all be saying, "Yeah, but no one will actually *die* - they'll just get injured and disappear for a while."

Also, don't know about you, Yaya, but the fact that they've already wrong-footed us re Impactor meant that I really wasn't sure about it being Rotorstorm. True, he'd had his moment to 'shine' in issue 2, and was the first one to get a profile - while the likes of Guzzle and Pyro still really need a standout moment and Ironfist is at the centre of a mystery. But on the other hand, starting with the recruits just seems so obvious - I thought they might go for killing one of the jumpstarters straight off the bat.

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Fri Mar 26, 2010 2:46 am

What's surprising to me is how the Wreckers are essentially getting pwned left and right.

It's like they went in all badass, and now they are getting their arses handed to them on a silver platter. They are suffering mental lapses and are in complete disarray. Roche and James even emphasize the point by showing us how their every move runs counter to the Wreckers Handbook of Kicking Ass and Taking Names (or whatever it's called). Didn't see that coming.

And when I don't see things coming, I tend to like it all the more. Which is why I'm against announcing character deaths, even if it's for drumming up more anticipation.

One thing is certainly clear. Nick Roche is the best thing to come out of IDW and the rightful heir to Budiansky and Furman. Let's hope he sticks around, because talents such as he do not often stay put but move on to bigger and brighter things.

Post by **Best First** » Fri Mar 26, 2010 7:18 am

Mate i think you need to stop robbing James Roberts of any credit!

Post by **snarl** » Fri Mar 26, 2010 9:19 am

I don't think we have much to worry about Re: Roberts & Roche, as they ARE TFs - they've been doing it for years, I've got copies of their stuff they did with ... Transmasters? ... I apologise if I got that wrong but they've been making fan releases for aaaaaaaaaaages.

But yeah, it is dead good.

And tbh with the Wreckers, they're taking on a pretty sizeable threat aren't they? And in terms of kill ration, they're well up, so... Its a realistic take for me.

The guide to ass kicking stuff - nice touch - I got the impression that was an idealised version written by that guy Ironfists...

One thing that is noticeable also is that all the timing is done in earth units - we've got no breems, etc.

It perfect makes sense. It just seems ... unusual.

Post by **Best First** » Fri Mar 26, 2010 9:41 am

Yeah - the guide was "Unofficial" and was written by Ironfist - so it's idealised - the contrast isn't that the Wreckers don't follow their own protocol, it's that Ironfist has an ideal that doesn't bear up to reality.

Someone on the IDW site pointed out that Impy steered the gang wrong in terms of the holding cells for the other bots.

Which poses some rather horrible questions.

Could it be that he wasn't actually released by Snare? Could it be that he actually won his 12th pit fight and faced the same choice Kick-Off (RIP) did? But made a very different choice?

Who do we reckon is next to cark it - all bets are off with this i think - i am half expecting Top Spin to just drop dead as Stalker finishes his treatment of Twin Twist.

I have spent all week waiting for issue 3, and now far from being satisfied i dearly want issue 4 - and it's bloody ages away.

Any thoughts on who or what Aquitas is?

Post by **snarl** » Fri Mar 26, 2010 12:43 pm

Impy is going to die saving Springer isn't he?

Or maybe somebody will die saving him?

the whole Aquitas mini reveal reminded me of Xaron and the Last Autobot from Marvel.

So I expect something similar.

Post by **snarl** » Fri Mar 26, 2010 12:46 pm

Aquitas - means truth / justice in latin / ancient greek.

So I think it's going to be some awesome force for good... or it might be some horribly twisted version of it.

As you can see, i'm hedging my bets. But I'm getting a bit of a mystic feel with it.

Post by **Best First** » Fri Mar 26, 2010 12:51 pm

One theory i have - which is pretty much based on bugger all - is that IronFirst will be the last man standing and it will be down to him carry forth the legacy of the Wreckers and build a new team.

Maybe.

or maybe not.

Or, like, probably not.

Is Dave reading this? Dave need's to be reading this. He's my wife now.

Jack Cade · Post by **Jack Cade** » Fri Mar 26, 2010 4:03 pm

I don't think it's quite 'all bets are off yet'. As good as it is, I think LSotW is following the standard Alistair MacLean beats. I might be wrong, but at the moment I wouldn't be surprised if the survivors aren't Springer, Perceptor, Kup and Verity. There were three survivors in 'Seven Samurai' and three out of eight of nine in 'Where Eagles Dare', so I think four out of eleven seems the right number.

There's a slim chance, I reckon, that one of the four newbies might survive, and at the moment my money would be on Pyro, because he's really had nothing to do yet and is such a wide-eyed innocent - whereas the narrative arcs of Guzzle and Ironfist look set to come to a head fairly soon.

But the Jumpstarters, Impactor and at least two more of the newbies are toast, sure as anything. I'd go for Twin Twist, Topspin, Guzzle and maybe Pyro buying it next issue, then Ironfist and Impactor going out in the final leg.

Of course, I like a good curveball ...

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Fri Mar 26, 2010 7:17 pm

You guys have some excellent ideas that would be cool if it happened.

But somehow, now that you have revealed these as possibilities, it wouldn't be so cool if it happened.

In other words.... SHUT UP!!!!!!

J/K

Mate i think you need to stop robbing James Roberts of any credit!

I did. I mentioned him every time this time.

Post by **Best First** » Sat Mar 27, 2010 8:11 am

i'd say singling out Roche as the righful heir to Furman probably does Roberts out of a bit of the spotlihgt chief!

The Last Autobot · Post by **The Last Autobot** » Sat Mar 27, 2010 1:25 pm

Kick Off is dead!

It would be nice if Kup dies saving Guzzle.

And it would be great if Aequitas is The Last Autobot/Xaaron/somebody like.

PS: When I read that Yaya gave this issue a "merely good/okay rating" I knew it would be great.

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Sat Mar 27, 2010 2:49 pm

Best First wrote:i'd say singling out Roche as the righful heir to Furman probably does Roberts out of a bit of the spotlihgt chief!

That part I meant. I was taking Roche's cumulative work since he's been at IDW. James played no part in the Shockwave or Kup spotlights, nor in that awesome half story about Prowl.

It will take more than a couple of great co-written issues for me to say James deserves to be mentioned up there with Roche. Not saying the guy isn't talented. Maybe he's actually better than Roche, but I can't really make that call until I see what he can do on his own.

PS: When I read that Yaya gave this issue a "merely good/okay rating" I knew it would be great.

So when I gave great reviews for #1 and #2, you thought they would suck? You wound me.

Jack Cade · Post by **Jack Cade** » Sun Mar 28, 2010 12:54 am

Yaya wrote:James played no part in the Shockwave or Kup spotlights, nor in that awesome half story about Prowl.

Actually, that's not true. Roberts is credited with a writing assist on the Prowl story.

Then there's his novel. Does unofficial work not count?

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Sun Mar 28, 2010 3:55 am

Jack Cade wrote:
Yaya wrote:James played no part in the Shockwave or Kup spotlights, nor in that awesome half story about Prowl.
Actually, that's not true. Roberts is credited with a writing assist on the Prowl story.

Hmm. Didn't know that. They never really mentioned it.

Just noticed on the Hutch cover that the light that's shining on Springer and Twin Twist has a hexagonal outline around it.....Shockwave. Nice touch.

LSTOW has been great so far, and can only get better by stories end. Yet I haven't heard any announcements to suggest Rocherts will be working on another project again, have you? I mean, clearly fan reaction has been overwhelmingly positive, despite weaker sales (which I will never understand). Makes me sad to think in two issues it will be over.

I really hope IDW can appreciate quality when they see it, and give these guys another mini. It's worked well and I think IDW needs to at least parallel the ongoing with a Rocherts project each month if possible.

If you look at G.I. Joe, they have like six different titles out. Give TF the same treatment. The only reason G.I. Joe has had the success and accolades it has received is because of Costa and Gage work.

Come to think of it, why start a Shockwave subplot with only two issues left? Hmmm.. Could be that there is a project coming up with Rocherts. As far as his handpicked crew, wouldn't it be a twist if they were the Dinobots?

And could somebody give me a timeline where LSTOW fits in with the ongoing ? Is LSOTW occuring during AHM or the ongoing? I think it's during the ongoing because of Magnus leaving at Prowl's behest, but I'm not sure.

Jack Cade · Post by **Jack Cade** » Sun Mar 28, 2010 5:00 pm

It's clearly during the ongoing. One of the weaker aspects of the plot is that Roche and Roberts have been forced to drag out Overlord's rule for 'three years', which is (a) an odd time measure in a different part of the galaxy and (b) a bit of a stretch in terms of Autobots and Decepticons not mounting a more aggressive response sooner, and Overlord not running out of prisoners.

The only reason for that three years is them having to set the original Garrus 9 seige during AHM, but then have the bulk of the action take place during the Ongoing. Stoopid three year gap.

Post by **Best First** » Sun Mar 28, 2010 5:53 pm

Yeah - the timescales kinda hop all over the shop - i noticed that even the scene where The Guzzmiester and co join up with Mag's ship was set 7 months ago, but it doesn't feel like that from them getting on baord to the shiznit hitting the fizinit.

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Sun Mar 28, 2010 10:53 pm

Best First wrote:Yeah - the timescales kinda hop all over the shop - i noticed that even the scene where The Guzzmiester and co join up with Mag's ship was set 7 months ago, but it doesn't feel like that from them getting on baord to the shiznit hitting the fizinit.

Teehehe. You talk like snarlznit.

Post by **Best First** » Mon Mar 29, 2010 5:49 am

You may refer to him as The Boz Boz

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 7:54 am

I might watch the Dirty Dozen tonight.

Seriously, it took me about two minutes to stop choking on my laughter long enough to turn the page after that line from Rotorstorm. Well, I thought it was funny.

Post by **Best First** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 2:19 pm

it would however have been cooler if the rest of his Crew had started shooting...

Destron · Post by **Destron** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 7:00 pm

I love how Roche and Roberts constantly succeed in convincing me that Transformers are indeed cool. Especially, greets for the way Overlord is being written - haven't seen for ages another TF villain interesting and charismatic enough for me to care about his fate.

Do you think we'll see the clash between Overlord and Megatron anytime near in the future?

Decepticon · Post by **Decepticon** » Thu Apr 08, 2010 4:26 pm

I love this series so far. From the projectile ammunition, it just feels like a good ol' dirty war book. I wouldn't even mind seeing Verity becoming a proper Headmaster [not the crappy kind in recent continuity, mind you.]

In the earlier issues, I could even picture some of the g1 music playing in the background as I read it.

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Thu Apr 08, 2010 8:33 pm

Its all good fun, but I do find it a bit muddy, as in its slightly hard to follow art wise.

So, Impy won all the fights, and was given a deal out of there.
He links up with the wreckers, who he brings back to the prison by dropping Aquitas name.

Overlord wants his prisoners to fight the best, which is good fun for him, and at the same time he gets... well, that im not sure of, he wants somthing from one of them, and only Impy could get that bot there. which bot he wants im not sure...

Perhaps its springer, I expect Impy will rebel against Overlord, and die trying/saving Springer or somthing...

BB Shockwave · Post by **BB Shockwave** » Wed Apr 21, 2010 12:55 pm

Overlord's aim is obviously to lure Megatron personally here, so he can defeat him in front of all the Bots and Cons, that'd make him instant leader material. Of course, he is also slightly nuts but it seems for 6-phasers that's a job requirement. What I don't get is, in the Ongoing everyone is pretty much saying Megatron is dead... So what, didn't Overlord get the news?

I bet Shockwave and Grimlock being released ties into the ongoing - Costa or whoever is writing that confirmed Shockwave will be appearing at the end of this year, I think.

I've too felt that it was a bit weird that after Overlord killed Rotorstorm the Wreckers just pile on him, instead of drawing their weapons... I guess like with Sixshot, traditional weapons cannot really harm the guy. Poor Rotorstorm, RIP. Though his death will be on the "most stupid ways to die" list, along with Topspin's death in Time Wars. You don't start joking with the guy who can destroy planets...

I'm also sad that there was no further continuation for Kick-Offs plot and he was killed off - the whole "prison fighter" thing, btw, is on his Tech Spec, and DW's MTMTE elaborated on it too, he had the makings of an interesting character. So would have been Treadshot, he too was killed off too soon. I hope we see some of the other Predators actually get some characterization too before they are killed off like Skyquake was.

The art had some weirdness - especially cramped panels where the Wreckers are being chased by the Cons. There are some pics with Cons and Bots shooting at each other from a few meters, and missing...