Comics you wish Transformers was like

Post by **Best First** » Mon Jul 26, 2010 5:23 pm

On the assumption that the ongoing is not 100% popular with people, and a lot of people here are fans of the whole comic thing, what titles do you think Costa and co could take some lessons from and what lessons could they take?

As per my recent ranting in the comics topic, i'd love to see a more Nikolai Dante like strip - fast paced, regular switching between epic and intimate, ambiguous characters who's presence lends an air of suspense rather than predictability, a sense of humour contrasting with the horror of war and characters undergoung genuine change in an organic and well reasoned manner and relationships that change as the characters do (whihc means, you know, establishing some).

Equally i look at Marvel's recent cosmic work and again its a good example, certainly across titles such as Gaurdians of the Galaxy and Nova, as to how you can do galaxy spanning storylines and create a sense of scale without losing the importance of the characters. Equally these books are great at referring to past events and doffing their cap to them without being slaved to them (some great recognition for Death's Head in Nove for example without once mentioning his name or detracting from the story).

Finally in terms of the size of the cast look at a book like Fables where characters rise and fall in prominance, moving effectively from the background to the fore and back again making it feel like everyone gets a fair shake of the stick, and showing how characters can exist in minor roles for a long time and then suddenly get their chance to shine (far more effective than an unheard of guy turning up with his shiney, shiney swords).

veritech · Post by **veritech** » Mon Jul 26, 2010 6:22 pm

I think that Transformers must be a very difficult concept to make work in terms of continuity and world building . . . especially in light of today's trend of decompression in comics.

Think about it, you only get 22-24 pages once per month to tell a good, star-spanning epic as well as focus on characters and supporting cast. Back in the 1980's, you compress it all into the first issue of a series and then go to town on focusing on individual characters while providing some back-story on the big picture.

Plus, each publisher is trying to start from the ground up . . . . attempting to make a 25 year old property seem new and fresh while paying homage to the classic characters long since established in the TF mythos.

That being said, IDW's TF's were doomed to fail. I will admit that I was digging Simon Furman's take on the TF mythology, but that was not selling books, I guess.

Jack Cade · Post by **Jack Cade** » Mon Jul 26, 2010 6:35 pm

Definitely, Fables, because it packs so many characters into an issue without any loss of focus. That's ensemble cast writing - Costa seems to be more all about writing a main character, a couple of sidekicks and some grunts.

Also what you said about characters falling and rising in prominence. Just what you need with TFs.

Not so sure about Dante - it's very much his show, and I find the action lacks drama, in that you can usually tell whether he's going to win or lose a battle from the way he steps up to the plate.

In some respects - but not all, dear god, no - I'd quite like to see Transformers work like Bleach, with massive battles, powers and weapons doing insane amounts of damage, and a huge cast all constantly hungry to fight each other.

Post by **Best First** » Mon Jul 26, 2010 8:57 pm

Fair point on it being Dante's show (altho we will hve to agree t disagree aboyt the drama) - although the rest of the stuff about pace, relationships etc i'd still like to see - especially on the pace front - i think the way stuff is packed into Dante strips is tip top.

Not familar with Bleach - go go google arm.

Jack Cade · Post by **Jack Cade** » Mon Jul 26, 2010 9:03 pm

Bleach = big dumb manga packed with beautiful people packing kickass swords constantly destroying entire rows of buildings just while pulling off a special move that another character easily shrugs off. Also full of terrible dialogue and very silly plot contrivances.

Hot Shot · Post by **Hot Shot** » Mon Jul 26, 2010 9:51 pm

Jack Cade wrote:Bleach = big dumb manga packed with beautiful people packing kickass swords constantly destroying entire rows of buildings just while pulling off a special move that another character easily shrugs off. Also full of terrible dialogue and very silly plot contrivances.

Don't forget the long, drawn-out story arcs padded with filler. Hey, IDW already does that!

veritech · Post by **veritech** » Tue Jul 27, 2010 3:28 am

In many ways, Furman's IDW stuff was alot like Claremont X-Men, at least in regards to how plot points are dropped, left to slow-burn and then come to a head years later . . .

Optimus Prime Rib · Post by **Optimus Prime Rib** » Tue Jul 27, 2010 6:16 am

I like Bleach and Im not ashamed to admit it.

Now I want them to make an Ichigo-Drift transformer like the Marvel/Star Wars Transformers

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Wed Jul 28, 2010 1:41 pm

Best First wrote: As per my recent ranting in the comics topic, i'd love to see a more Nikolai Dante like strip - fast paced, regular switching between epic and intimate, ambiguous characters who's presence lends an air of suspense rather than predictability, a sense of humour contrasting with the horror of war and characters undergoung genuine change in an organic and well reasoned manner and relationships that change as the characters do (whihc means, you know, establishing some)

Well, I think that sums up quite well what I'd like to see out of my TF comic. Can't think off the top of my head another comic that I'd like TF to emulate.

You'd think with a cast that large with myriad personalities, a story that isn't limited to locale, and the cool concept of transforming robots that writing a decent story with the above elements would not be too challenging for a writer of even average competence.

Apparently, I'm wrong.

Optimus Prime Rib · Post by **Optimus Prime Rib** » Wed Jul 28, 2010 2:16 pm

Id just like to see Marvel buy back the rights to Transformers.

bumblemusprime · Post by **bumblemusprime** » Wed Jul 28, 2010 3:41 pm

I just want to see what Rocherts could do with an ongoing.

Post by **Best First** » Wed Jul 28, 2010 4:52 pm

my worry is they would weave an absolute masterpiece but that half the plebs who like fighty robots wouldn't buy it because of the long words.

Although it is a risk i am willing to take!

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Wed Jul 28, 2010 6:03 pm

From the reaction on the IDW boards, I think even those fans are willing to let Rocherts run with it.

bumblemusprime · Post by **bumblemusprime** » Wed Jul 28, 2010 9:01 pm

Can we make it more like Nextwave?

"It's like Titanic, but the boat is floating
No it's not--the motherf*cking boat is exploding!"

Post by **Best First** » Wed Jul 28, 2010 10:30 pm

The Captain! HIS NAME IS THE CAPTAIN!!

Kinf Og The World · Post by **Kinf Og The World** » Sat Jul 31, 2010 5:55 am

TF Nextwave would be tip-flippin'-top.

I'd like Transformers to be like this comic I read when I was a kid that was dead exiting and full of big robots hitting each other and stuff. I think it was called The Transformers.

Is that a lot to ask?

Actually, would a Grant Morrison TF arch be too weird or too damn funky? I remember he was about to do this 'we are but playthings of the Gods' type thing with Zoids before he left it - after using up almost all of Godzilla, Alien, Aliens and the Terminator's bits and bobs. Which, as a kid, was all new and BRILL.

Actually, a TopTen type thing would be fun - but that's asking for a lot Moore than I think we'd get. Ever. I was looking forward to Zander Cannon from that approach, but... yeah.

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Comics you wish Transformers was like

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