Last Stand of the Wreckers #4 Review (SPOILERS)

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Wed Apr 21, 2010 11:12 pm

Fun times!

Rocherts have pressed the pedal to the metal from the word go with this series, and they'll be damned if you can find the brakes!

Before I go any further, I have a request. Nay, a demand. An IDW TF profiles book must happen, and I am insistent that all entries be written by Rocherts. How awesome was that character profile of Ironfist?

Anyway, I think we can all safely say now that Last Stand is the best TF miniseries IDW has produced to date.

Rocherts again knocks this sucker out of the park, writing a tale that pretty much has everything you'd ever want out of a TF comic in it (ala issues #1, #2 and #3). It displays a nice balance between intense storytelling and character building. Sprinkle in a dash of witty sarcasm, tongue-in-cheek humor, mystery, and intrigue and well, what's there not to love, really?

Ironfist is quickly becoming one of my favorite TF characters....and he didn't exist to me three months ago! That speaks volumes about the writers. They have done a masterful job of balancing character development and weaving it into a highly intense storyline where it doesn't even seem like there's a moment to breath.

The artwork was somewhat improved upon over the last few issues, though still a bit cluttered at times. But you know what? I'll take it. Give me a story this good, and I'd care less if Manny Galan made a return....maybe.

The only weak bit in this story was the whole "to turn on this mega-computer, you must kill yourself" bit. Very contrived and illogical, given it's a computer designed to mete out justice.

Give it an "A". Absolutely solid stuff.

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Thu Apr 22, 2010 1:20 am

Addendum: One of favorite moments in TF comic history is when Snare is trying to explain why he'd rather be put out of his mercy, but before he can complete his sentence, Impactor just says "Okay" and crushes his spark.

God, I loved that.

bumblemusprime · Post by **bumblemusprime** » Thu Apr 22, 2010 4:37 am

I thought the weak bit was the coloring. The computer thing did come out of nowhere.

Otherwise, well, let's just say I thought about this all month long and it did not disappoint.

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Thu Apr 22, 2010 1:26 pm

bumblemusprime wrote:I thought the weak bit was the coloring.

The coloring has been weak throughout the series. Just got tired of mentioning it.

Post by **snarl** » Thu Apr 22, 2010 3:24 pm

So you wait 4 weeks for your next bout of Operation Volcano related goodness, and an actual ******* Volcano stops you from getting it...

******* shitting volcano ****.

Post by **Best First** » Thu Apr 22, 2010 4:07 pm

See Alanis? See?

BB Shockwave · Post by **BB Shockwave** » Thu Apr 22, 2010 8:51 pm

I cannot recall when I have enjoyed a TF comic as much as this issue... Perhaps at Spotlight: Shockwave or Hardhead... Perhaps.

I too have only noticed now that there are two writers... assuming this is not like the McDonough-Mad Brick duo (just kidding!), who is Roberts and what was his previous work?

The characters are all extremely well fleshed out, in just a few issues I have started to know Ironfist, Pyro (who is very annoyingly 'superhero-wannabe' material, though) and Guzzle very well and now I consider them as much interesting as any old-timer Bot... The whole story is very interesting, with a lot of stunning twists and surprises, never slowing down, I can't wait for the next issue! Btw - is it 5-issues long or 6?

Also, us Marvel UK/US fans are in for a real treat, because...

SPOILERS!!!!

Pretty much every obscure one-shot Decepticon makes an appearance here in the Squadron X, from Target 2006's Macabre and Fang through the "Return to Cybertron"s Ferak and Crosscut to such guys like TRiton from "Peace" or Earthquake and Tornado from Furman's first ever TF story, "Enemy Within". They also got sweet re-designs. Oh and, Rack'n Ruin.

And mentions of a lot of UK trivia...

Just guessing, but I can pretty much foretell that Impactor simply killed all of Squadron X while they were shackled and helpless, this should be the reason he was incarcerated. And this is what Ironfist now knows, since Springer's testimony was in Equitas.

Snare's death was a really touching moment. Poor guy... Stalker on the other hand, was apparently a sadistic bastard who got what he deserved.

Also, I wonder whether the spark donation really killed off the Jumpstarters, or was their spark drawn into Equitas now? What does Equitas do, anyway - is it a computer that "reads the spark" of the accused and tells what's right or wrong? Sounds a bit odd.

One flaw I see in the story is, that seeing as it takes place during the Ongoing, Megatron has been (presumed) dead for 3 years. Did no-one tell Overlord he's wasting his time?

Apparently Grimlock has gone mad and left G9... perhaps we'll see some follow-up story about him or where Shockwave went.

Post by **snarl** » Fri Apr 23, 2010 3:00 pm

Good ******* ****.

******************

Quick comments:

I found the bit where they manage to switch the massive PC on a bit hard to follow, art wise.

Overall: TOPS.

Major ruckage next issue too, can hardly wait.

Post by **Best First** » Fri Apr 23, 2010 3:29 pm

Ready?

Ready.

Sublime.

As BB says i can't remember enjoying a TF comic this much in an age - the art was a bit rough in places, but when the story runs like this, incredible.

And Pyro's a dick!!

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Fri Apr 23, 2010 10:20 pm

Damm u volcano!!!

Right for the love of all things operation volcano, i need to read this now!!!

The Last Autobot · Post by **The Last Autobot** » Sat Apr 24, 2010 4:14 am

I dont see any problem with the spark activation in Aequitas, what Perceptor exactly said was:

"Without G9 Command´s Crew the only way of activating it is by spark donation"

Meaning most probably that Fortress Maximus and his people could somehow activate it w/o each time killing somebody but for others (as a failsafe) its impossible unless someone commits willingly suicide.

BB Shockwave · Post by **BB Shockwave** » Sun Apr 25, 2010 7:42 pm

James Roberts replied to my post on TFW2005 - thought I'd share it with you as it contains some info about their writing process and also confirms my suspicion that Ferak's robot mode is based on an even more obscure UK comic character...

Don't tell me - you thought it was just me writing it all along, and you've only now spotted Nick's name?

The collaborative thing works by the two of us basically kicking everything back and forth between us for weeks and months on end, having first stabs at scripts or scenes and then amending them in light of suggestions and constructive criticism from the other person. We are each the other one's sounding board, editor and niggling voice of reason.

And well done for spotting the deliberate resemblance between Ferak's robot mode and the unnamed 'Con from UK114. Nick and I decided that in the Marvel TF universe, Ferak used to be one of the members of the team that Rodimus & Co trounced.

On a more general note, I'm so pleased that the series is well-received and that the type of fans for whom it is written - all you guys - are enjoying the ride. Hold tight for issue 5

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Mon Apr 26, 2010 4:54 pm

that was by far the best issue for myself, I have found some of the previous issues characters to be, well, a bit soft (if a TF can be soft...) they are the Wreckers, and in some cases they act as if they dont know what they are doing. Ive always seen the the Wreckers as a special forces unit, ala, SAS etc... And I dont expect they ever show ineptitude in the same way.

Also, Overlord, whilst slightly interesting, I find to be a tad stereo-typical. Hes a con with a penchant for the Sadism. ALso, the art lets him down a fair bit aas I cant work out how big he is, and where do these Super-Powerfull robots come from ?

Anyhows, that just being over criticall, and its probably just me. the story took great strides in this issue, more so than any other, it felt more complete, and generally more interesting. I loved seeing all the old cons in there, im a stickler for the old G1 cybertronian TF!

Great stuff, shame theres only 5 issues, its so far been the most interesting TF comic ive read in ages!

Jack Cade · Post by **Jack Cade** » Sun May 02, 2010 2:25 pm

Lazy copy and pasting:

It's taken me far too long to get Wreckers #4. Sad to say that while it was still brilliant, it's probably the weakest issue so far for me. Both Nick and Guido seemed stretched on some pages - not able to give the panels their usual dedication. The twins' death was well done, but then it galls me that if they'd waited a few more moments, Twin Twist could have been saved. Seems like it would made more sense if Twin Twist was about to die, or was an utterly irreparable heap of parts at that point.

It also seems unfair that Impactor and Springer didn't get properly tortured - a lot of implied suffering, a few scratches, but nothing like what was done to poor Twin Twist. I think I could have accepted it more if Stalker was simply saving them for later, whereupon he would have given them exactly the same going over.

Final complaint: the pace. Not the pacing but the pace. It just seems to slow down a bit for this issue. Everyone feels a bit too comfortable nattering and arguing. Hard to put a finger on exactly why but I just didn't get that sense of high-octane, up-against-the-clock commando action I got from the end of #2 and #3. Maybe because, Gup and Guzzle aside, everyone pretty much stays in the same room they were in at the end of the last issue.

So them's the criticisms I have. Everything else was hunky dory. I'm very concerned that Guzzle will die saving Kup's life now, having decided from the events at the start of this issue that yes, he was worth it. Ironfist is fast becoming an extremely well developed and memorable character. The 'guilt computer' is a bold sci-fi idea. 'What really happened on Pova' is still a tantalising and exciting mystery. The cliffhanger is wonderful. Most of the art is still wonderful. The deaths of Snare and Stalker were appropriate and, each in their own way, impactful.

Has anyone mentioned the clever references to those Transformers kiddie books on Ironfist's profile? I think I used to have 'Autobots' Lightning Strike' and 'Decepticons at the Pole' on tape. Certainly the former, because I remember the voices being utterly menacing and bizarre.

The other tape I had was the one where Hot Rod is obsessing over getting 'bronze chrome wheeltrims'. Can anyone name it?

NeoSpringer · Post by **NeoSpringer** » Mon May 03, 2010 9:40 am

Jack Cade wrote: The other tape I had was the one where Hot Rod is obsessing over getting 'bronze chrome wheeltrims'. Can anyone name it?

Decepticon Hideout, I think. "Bronze chrome wheeltrims – a touch of real class!"

Anyway, onto the proper fiction. Having traipsed into London last Tuesday to pick this up having heard the previous week's volcano-delayed comics had arrived, only to find that everything had arrived except for IDW's stuff, finally picked this up at the weekend. Maybe it was the sheer weight of expectation, but on first read I was a bit disappointed – I felt there was far too much exposition and too many flashbacks instead of moving the story forward with action – but the more I read this issue the more I get from it in regards to character motivations at least. Sad to see the Jumpstarters go, but I think Stalker was on the verge of killing Twin Twist anyway with his endoscopic claw ("sounds fun doesn't it"), I don't think Kup and Guzzle would have got there in time. Wondering exactly what Prowl's machinations are too, and how much Perceptor knows about them and what will happen if the others find out that they're being used – Kup especially. I wouldn't be surprised if Springer and Impactor take out Overlord by the middle of next issue, allowing the last half of the story to be about the recriminations between the Wreckers as they found out who did what and who knows what.