TF Ongoing, what is it, #16? Review (SPOILERS)

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Thu Feb 10, 2011 9:21 pm

This issue makes the third somewhat competent issue in a row. Admittedly, I enjoyed this one.

For one, having seen Milne's past panel-cramped Pat Lee-ish work, I was concerned I would again get nauseous trying to decipher it. But this issue was the best from Milne I've ever seen, and the similarity to Don's work, including the angles and scale, was striking. Obviously, it was purposeful in keeping with Don, and he pulled it off. Stick with this, Alex. It works. Magnus looked kickass.

Another plus were the character interactions. Putting aside the ridiculous scenario of humans pwning Transformers repeatedly, and putting aside the ridiculous notion that somehow Earth holds a special place in the universe and so they must remain there, the character interactions were fun, especially between the trio of Brawn, Screamer, and Cracker. Not so sure about the believability of Brawn's wailing on Screamer so convincingly (then again, he is the Autobot' s 'second strongest'), but that's what I want to see in my Transformers comic. Bot on Bot action, with no human's around to interfere.

Plot-wise is, of course, where the utter failing of Costa's work has lied since day one. The story just gets sillier and sillier, something that tends to happen when you trap the Transformers on a giant mudball planet. Now, Megatron's back! For revenge! Look out humans!

Seriously, revenge? My, my, how far we've fallen from Simon's cool, collected version of Megatron. On the one hand, we're told Megatron has wised up, is back in control. So what does he do? He makes it his purpose to return to this backwater planet just because that's where a single human shot him in the face. Oh no, he's not interested anymore in the Autobots with whom he's waged war on for millenia. He wants them flesh bags to pay. Ultra Magnus, buddy, you're just gettin in the way.

You almost get the sense the thought process behind this was Costa thinking to himself "so you readers won't be convinced about the power of humans and their cocktail bombs, but by golly George, Megatron sure as hell will be!"

It's been said before, many a time, by many a fan, on many a TF message board. Do us all, and yourself, a favor IDW and get the Transformers the hell off Earth.

Give this issue an "A-". Probably the best issue since #4. Which was twelves issues ago. That's a year.

Post by **Best First** » Fri Feb 11, 2011 9:10 am

you're scoring systems drive me insane;

The art is good

there is some fighting, which i like

but the core precepts of the story are flawed and have been from the start

And the story in this issue layers stupidity on top of that

I give this an A-!!

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Fri Feb 11, 2011 4:47 pm

Yeah, I kind of give my final grade based on how much I enjoyed it vs. actual quality. I liked this issue, but can understand why others would still hate the overall premise enough to squash any chance of enjoying it.

I enjoyed it to this degree only because, with the practice of a year's time, I am now able to ignore the hulking giant elephant in the room, that being Earth and it's humans, when they're not shoved in my face.

The premise remains stupid, but the smaller things I have enjoyed the past few issues.

I'm finding myself more and more not holding Transformers to the same standards as I would, say, other comics or movies, and instead comparing it to what we've had recently. Which is misleading, but I guess somewhere, deep within the recesses of my being, I still love Transformers, even if said love is forced.

Post by **Best First** » Fri Feb 11, 2011 5:44 pm

you're love is brown and watery.

Mine is strong and shines like mithril and will not rest until the elephant in the room is dead.

godf*ckingdamnit

bumblemusprime · Post by **bumblemusprime** » Fri Feb 11, 2011 7:38 pm

Best First wrote:you're love is brown and watery.

Mine is strong and shines like mithril and will not rest until the elephant in the room is dead.

godf*ckingdamnit

Sigworthy.

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Sat Feb 12, 2011 6:13 pm

bumblemusprime wrote:
Best First wrote:you're love is brown and watery.

Mine is strong and shines like mithril and will not rest until the elephant in the room is dead.
Sigworthy.

Yes. Tis.

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Sat Feb 12, 2011 11:15 pm

Looking back at my reviews:

Transformers #16 A-
Transformers #15 A-
Transformers #14 C+
Transformers #13 C+
Transformers #12 C+
Transformers #11 B+
Transformers #10 B-
Transformers #9 C-
Transformers #8 F
Transformers #7 D
Transformers #6 B-
Transformers #5 C+
Transformers #4 A+
Transformers #3 B
Transformers #2 B+
Transformers #1 B

I think I've scored it pretty fairly, relatively speaking. The only "A" or better issue thus far as been #4. Which, after 16 issues, is woeful. And there's that streak from #7 to #14 where only one got even close to a "B".

Though the last few issues have been an improvement, 16 issues is more than enough to say it's time for Costa to go.

Post by **Best First** » Sun Feb 13, 2011 5:00 pm

nah - you're scale if off centre.

c should be average, yet issue one, which is chock full of stupid, gets a B for example.

A should be Preacher level entertainment. Issue 4 is not in that bucket.

Altho a bucket would be a good place for it given the amount of ill founded jacking off of it induced.

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Mon Feb 14, 2011 1:47 am

Yes, my scale is definitely different for Transformers. I pretty much base it in comparison to TF comics of the past. There's no way any of these TF comics could compare, in terms of quality, to say Monster or 20th Century Boys.

Metal Vendetta · Post by **Metal Vendetta** » Mon Feb 14, 2011 4:01 pm

First issue of the ongoing that I've bought in ages, and...er, well nothing appears to have happened since I last read the ongoing except Bumblebee's offline. Ultra Magnus is still buzzing around like a blue-arsed fly not knowing what the **** is going on, Thundercracker is hiding out in his room full of TVs and...eh, I just don't care any more. This whole arc has been a complete waste of time and money and I'm not even going to dignify it with further review.

Post by **Best First** » Mon Feb 14, 2011 8:07 pm

Yaya wrote:Yes, my scale is definitely different for Transformers. I pretty much base it in comparison to TF comics of the past. There's no way any of these TF comics could compare, in terms of quality, to say Monster or 20th Century Boys.

**** them, they don't compare well to Dark Wolverine for Christ's sake.

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Mon Feb 14, 2011 8:21 pm

How would you know? You've never read them.

Post by **Best First** » Mon Feb 14, 2011 9:09 pm

Sorry, i meant that ongoing doesn't even compare well to deeply average stuff like Dark Wolverine, let alone what i suspect are far better works.

Legion · Post by **Legion** » Mon Feb 14, 2011 10:02 pm

Yaya wrote:
Transformers #4 A+

Yaya wrote: I pretty much base it in comparison to TF comics of the past.

You are ******* kidding me?

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Tue Feb 15, 2011 12:52 am

Best First wrote:Sorry, i meant that ongoing doesn't even compare well to deeply average stuff like Dark Wolverine, let alone what i suspect are far better works.

Ah.

Yaya wrote:

Transformers #4 A+

Yaya wrote:
I pretty much base it in comparison to TF comics of the past.

You are ******* kidding me?

No, I would say, relative to the other crap IDW has put out, it was an "A+" issue. It gave us a detailed introspective view of a torn Decepticon who is unsure of his purpose with great artwork and strong dialogue. I thought, for a TF comic, it was great stuff and it's what I was hoping to see more of. Apparently, Costa just lucked out on that one.

Post by **Kaylee** » Tue Feb 15, 2011 9:12 am

I like Yaya's system of scoring issues relative to other issues, it adds a relativistic sense of philosophy and intrigue to my day

mostly because the grades have no consistent meaning, much like Exams in the UK

Legion · Post by **Legion** » Tue Feb 15, 2011 9:45 am

Although it pains me to say it, I have to agree with Besters!

presuming you translate this sentance;

Best First wrote:nah - you're scale if off centre.

into;

nah - your scale is off centre.

An 'all right' issue should score in the C bracket, a "jizz in my pants" issue would rate an A-/A/A+.

Issue 4, whilst being probably the better of the last year's issues, is actually only probably a C+/B-. That is, of course, still a wonderously high rating.

Also, it would mean that a fair number of issues would fall into the 'U' rating. Justifiably IMHO.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Feb 15, 2011 11:27 am

Finally!

Something I've been saying for years!

Yaya, It's better to go with an unambiguous numeric scoring system, like the rest of us use.

Yours is skewed to artificially (super)inflate the positive aspects.

Give it (the Yayascoring system) a 3/10. (That's an A- in Yayascoring)

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Tue Feb 15, 2011 3:06 pm

I give my final score based on how much I enjoyed the issue, which is dependent on my own personal tastes. It's better that way because, knowing my tastes, you will get a good feel about how you might feel about it.

If I score something an "A", and in the past you have not agreed with me, you likely will know ahead of time 'I'm not going to like this issue if Yaya does'.

It's like that BB Shockwave chap for me. When he scores something high, I know to stay the heck away, as we have polar opposite tastes. Not that my tastes are better than his, but everyone has their own idea of what's good.

And, as I said above, my scale for Transformers comics is far more lenient than it would be for other properties. I want to enjoy TF comics so badly, I find myself lowering my standards and expectations when I read them.

If I were to hold TF comics to the same standards I do other comics and other media, the only "A+" TF comics I have ever read, ever, was the "Warrior School/Repeat Performance" story. To this day, I think that story and art hold up well against the most celebrated comics out there, even now.

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Tue Feb 15, 2011 3:10 pm

Legion wrote: Issue 4, whilst being probably the better of the last year's issues, is actually only probably a C+/B-. That is, of course, still a wonderously high rating.

Really? Out of curiosity then, what TF comics would you give an "A"?

Legion · Post by **Legion** » Tue Feb 15, 2011 7:40 pm

Yaya wrote:
Legion wrote: Issue 4, whilst being probably the better of the last year's issues, is actually only probably a C+/B-. That is, of course, still a wonderously high rating.

Really? Out of curiosity then, what TF comics would you give an "A"?

Very few.

In all honestly, I don't know of off the top of my head as I don't really keep track of things in that way, but i'll strain the old brain cells and I'll say that at least one of the later issues of LSOTW gets an A (#5/#6 - i can't recall), as does maybe Escalation #4/#5? Hmmm... I can't recall what falls into what issue now. I think the Nightbeat spotlight's probably in that area too.

It's obviously all a bit subjective, but according to your scoring system, you've thoroughly enjoyed all of V2 (or whatever it's called) with the exception of #7 & #8. Whereas in my mind, it's been perhaps some of the weakest TF trite ever put to paper - odd moments of almost tolerable averageness, but that's all.

[edit to add 'almost' before 'tolerable']

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 1:42 am

Legion wrote: It's obviously all a bit subjective, but according to your scoring system, you've thoroughly enjoyed all of V2 (or whatever it's called) with the exception of #7 & #8.

Throughly enjoyed? Not true. I wouldn't consider anything below a "B+" really worthy of my time, which is where most of these issues have fallen. I'm very tired of banality, but at the same time, I don't believe it gives me the green light to go overboard on the criticisms simply because it's not my cup of tea.

I guess what I mean is, if I read Return to Cybertron today, issues that I truly loved with all my heart when I was a teenager, would I score them so high? Probably not. I think I'd likely be overcritical of them. Yet they mean so much to me. Likely, there were some thirty year-olds who read that story and chucked it in the trash as meaningless tripe. Also likely, there are some kids out there enjoying these comics, and I kind of try to put myself in their shoes and somehow vicariously determine whether there is something in there worth liking even at that level.

While I think IDW could do a whole lot better, I give them this. It's not as easy now to write good TF comics that are new and fresh given the backdrop of twenty-five plus years of previous TF storytelling.

Incidentally, I went back and looked at the "Yaya's Review" thread the Beefster so graciously created for me, and these were the issues that I gave an "A" or higher to:

Stormbringer #3 A
Stormbringer #2 A
Stormbringer #1 A
Escalation #5 A
Devestation #6 A
Revelations #1 Spotlight Cyclonus A+
Revelations #4 Spotlight Sideswipe A
Spotlight Shockwave A+
Spotlight Hot Rod A
Spotlight Kup A+
Sptolight Metroplex A+
All Hail Megatron #4 A
All Hail Megatron #8 A
Maximum Dinobots #4 A
Last Stand of the Wreckers #2 A
Last Stand of the Wreckers #5 A+
Last Stand of the Wreckers #4 A
Ironhide #1 A
Transformers #4 A+

So just nineteen issues out of the hundreds IDW has released to date would I consider to be great reads.

Interestingly, of these issues, half are from Simon, and four are from Roche. The rest: two from McCarthy, two from Costa, and one from Schimdt

Post by **snarl** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 9:33 am

No part of AHM is a great read. **** from start to finish

A for issue 4? Did you have your crack pipe out?

Legion · Post by **Legion** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 11:11 am

Yaya wrote:
Legion wrote: It's obviously all a bit subjective, but according to your scoring system, you've thoroughly enjoyed all of V2 (or whatever it's called) with the exception of #7 & #8.
Throughly enjoyed? Not true. I wouldn't consider anything below a "B+" really worthy of my time, which is where most of these issues have fallen. I'm very tired of banality, but at the same time, I don't believe it gives me the green light to go overboard on the criticisms simply because it's not my cup of tea.

So basically, you're saying "it's a crap issue, but out of fairness i'm going to bump up it's grading so i don't seem as critical as other's may like it" ?

Then what's the point of you giving it a rating? No reviewer's rating is impartial, if you think an issue's average, then rate it in the C bracket (the middle of the rating scale) - by your own reasoning you're making B+ the 'average' (or 'acceptable' range) when logically it should be the 'good, bordering on great' range.

Sorry Yaya, i just don't understand your logic.

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 3:02 pm

Legion wrote: So basically, you're saying "it's a crap issue, but out of fairness i'm going to bump up it's grading so i don't seem as critical as other's may like it" ?

No, what I'm saying is that I don't find a "B", or "just good", worth my time or money anymore, given the thousands of these kinds of TF and other comics out there. A "C" in my book is still average and a "B" is still just "good". Others may be less inclined to extend any leniency, and bash the hell out of it by giving an average comic a "D" or "F", because there was something so glaringly awful, the other aspects of the comic did not deserve consideration (art, dialogue, tone, etc). I can understand this.

I think when grading a comic, though, you have to give weight to more than just the story. You have to consider the visuals, the dialogue, the tone, etc. Sometimes, there is something top notch to take away from an issue, but the story is ****. I try to consider all aspects, to be fair.

Certainly, in my book, the story is the most important.

Metal Vendetta · Post by **Metal Vendetta** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 2:23 pm

I have to agree with Besty on this one - the A-grade issues have to contain something spectacular, for me it's that little intake of breath, almost like a gasp, when one turns the page and something amazing happens or is revealed.

So, looking back at the IDW run, I'd say the only issues that really merit an A are:

Infiltration #5
Stormbringer #3
Escalation #5
Devastation #6
Spotlight: Shockwave
Spotlight: Kup
Spotlight: Hardhead
Maximum Dinobots #4
Last Stand of the Wreckers #3
Last Stand of the Wreckers #5

Though I'd probably be generous, bend the rules and give an "A" to LSOTW as a whole.

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 3:13 pm

Metal Vendetta wrote:I have to agree with Besty on this one - the A-grade issues have to contain something spectacular, for me it's that little intake of breath, almost like a gasp, when one turns the page and something amazing happens or is revealed.

So, looking back at the IDW run, I'd say the only issues that really merit an A are:

Infiltration #5
Stormbringer #3
Escalation #5
Devastation #6
Spotlight: Shockwave
Spotlight: Kup
Spotlight: Hardhead
Maximum Dinobots #4
Last Stand of the Wreckers #3
Last Stand of the Wreckers #5

Though I'd probably be generous, bend the rules and give an "A" to LSOTW as a whole.

Enjoyed all of these.

Metal Vendetta · Post by **Metal Vendetta** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 6:54 pm

Yaya wrote:Enjoyed all of these.

TBH I'd like to pare the list down a bit more - I'm tempted to exclude anything from Infiltration, not because of story or art flaws but because I was always irked by what I felt to be sub-par colouring on that series.

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 1:53 am

Yeah, that coloring was probably the worst I've seen in a TF comic since, what what that guys name in Marvel? The guy who made the bots seems like they were dripping red or blue onto their fellow Transformers? Yamtov or something like that.

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 8:22 am

Nel Yomtov. Who after 80 issues still couldn't tell the difference between different Seekers or cassettes.

He got better though.