IDW Comics Marathon

[Professor Smooth]

I figured I'd get in on the fun. I'm gonna read these in as close to publishing order as possible (lest I start with Megatron: Origin). I've only read most of these books once, and usually with massive gaps in between piles of issues. So I'm anxious to see how it turns out as a single story.

Also, if at all possible, I'm going to be drinking heavily during the entire process!

[Best First]

The only thing i'd start with Meg's: Origin is wiping.

[spiderfrommars]

Also, if at all possible, I'm going to be drinking heavily during the entire process!

Glad to see you're taking precautions.

[Hook2]

The only thing i'd start with Meg's: Origin is wiping.

Reading that in order gets REAL depressing right around AHM #1 and 2.

[Professor Smooth]

Tonight's reviews are brought to you by a combination of Kirin Beer (movie Yakuzas' beer of choice) and Suntory Kin Mugi, which translates to "Golden Wheat")

I just finished up Infiltration. What an amazing series. If I wanted to get a non-fan into Transformers, this is absolutely the series I would have them. From the start to finish, it's fantastic!

Because we all know what's ahead, let's start with the humans. Verity, Jimmy, and Hunter. Maybe the best humans we've ever had. While they're all competent, at the very least, they serve at least some purpose to the whole series. Jimmy's a mechanic who has a connection to Verity (albeit an online one) and Hunter's a UFO guy. However, their main purpose is to give the Transformers the WOW factor that we might miss out on if the story was JUST giant robots. Great humans. I like these people, right off the bat.

I love that the Decepticons seem to have a goal, rather than just being generically "evil." The whole war seems to be one of strategy. It's not just an ideological pissing contest between Prime and Megatron. The interaction between the Autobots and Decepticons is a bit of a new approach, but I think it works pretty well.

The characters, so far, are very well defined. We've got a pretty good grip on Prowl and Ratchet, especially. The interplay between Megatron and Starscream was nicely done and, frankly, necessary. As I said before, this series is GREAT for introducing new readers, but having Starscream's eventual betrayal of Megatron come as some sort of surprise would be rather silly (and obvious) in regards to long-time fans.

This entire 7 issue series was a set-up for what would come later, but it's very enjoyable. For new fans, it's nearly flawless. For older fans, it's a good read and gives a feel for the status quo and overall tone of the new IDW Universe.

Other notes:

I'd forgotten that the Machination was introduced this early.

The creepy smiles on all the Autobot holomatter projections are a nice touch.

The obviously Gundam-inspired legs for the Autobots is kind of jarring, but the art in this series is really nice. Not simple. Not overly complicated. Great GREAT comic book artwork.

Looking forward to continuing the series. Which I will do...now.

[Professor Smooth]

The next stop on my reading list was STORMBRINGER. This series featured the return of one of my favorite TF artists, Don Figueroa (which, apparently, is a word that the spell-checker recognizes).

...

This series is kind of a mess. The artwork, while gorgeous, doesn't do a great job of telling a consistent story from panel to panel. For some reason, I kept thinking that a lot of the stuff happening in the present was happening in the past. The links to Infiltration felt...just a bit forced.

Prime! There's STUFF going down on Earth!

What's an Earth?

Uh... Planet? Sol system? Got some 'Bots there? SIEGE MODE!

Oh, I see. Let me just engage in an epic confrontation with an unspeakably powerful evil from Cybertron's past first.

It was nice to re-establish that the WRECKERS are around in IDW continuity. This series also establishes that the combiners (or at least their component bots) are around. I felt this series got combiner happy, but it IS cool that that the cast of the IDW Universe was upped by about 50 characters in these four issues.

While Infiltration was the series I'd happily give to people to try to bring new fans into the world of the Transformers, Stormbringer is DEFINITELY not something I'd show to anybody except the most seasoned Transformers faithful. It's not a bad series. There's a lot that can be spawned from it. However, at the end of the day, with IDW's continuity being as new as it is, it's too much, too soon.

Seriously, though, I want posters of nearly every panel in this entire four-issue mini. Maybe the best work of Don's career, up until this point. And the covers? WOW!

[Hook2]

I've always felt that Stormbringer would make an awesome animated flick if handled right!! That showdown with Prime at the end? Amazing. That was when I realized how hardcore Idw Prime was!

[Professor Smooth]

Feeling a bit tipsy here, guys...

Spotlight Shockwave:

IDW has, thus far, done a STELLAR job of building on the mythos for new fans and keeping the story progressing at a pace that keeps the faithful happy. There's one question (hinted at in Infiltration) that had not yet been answered: What about the Dinobots?

And, for those of us who were reading a whole lot of Shockwave...er, DREAMwave, WHERE IS SHOCKWAVE? And, more importantly, did he do it?

Spotlight Shockwave answers both of those questions. It gives us something very reminiscent of the Marvel G1 comics while keeping it fresh for the new readers. It's quick, to the point, and a LOT of fun. This book definitely gave me my three bucks worth.

The artwork is, again, excellent comic book artwork. It sets up a LOT to be played with in the future. It also keeps Shockwave out of the picture for awhile, so we can be pretty sure that his scheming won't be revealed to be the driving force between the main "...ation" books.

More great stuff from IDW!

[Professor Smooth]

Spotlight Nightbeat:

I have seriously had, perhaps, a bit too much to drink. How do I know? I'm almost out of booze. Booze that I purchased for the sole purpose of doing these reviews. Still, that's what 24 hour convenience stores are for.

Spotlight Nightbeat:

Nice change of pace here. We're back in space, but it's a small and almost personal story. Once again, there is a lot of world building going on here. We've got the ol' fan favorite Nightbeat given an introduction that should satisfy new readers. The "water-like portals" are introduced here. As is the whole "Dead Universe," concept. I believe this is also the first mention of Gorlam Prime and "the first ARK.". I know that stuff will become important later, so it's kind of surprising to see it first hinted at in Spotlight: Nightbeat, a skippable book (to non fans) if ever there was one.

Once more, the art is really nice comic-style art. It's a bit more stylized than previous IDW books, but (aside from the shot of Prime near the end of the book) it looks quite nice and fits with the rest of the series.

I really appreciate how books like this rapidly expand the Transformers (IDW) Universe while the main "...ation" books are all you REALLY need to follow. It's amazing what a great job IDW did at the start attracting new readers and keeping the faithful happy.

...I'm not sure I'd read this book until now. I may actually have skipped (or at least just skimmed) it previously.

[bumblemusprime]

Hahaha! I knew someone was going to do this. Now we must all wait with bated breath for Yaya's inevitable Dreamwave reread...

That wink was because Yaya wouldn't really do it... would he?

EJ's art goes a long way in Infiltration toward making the TFs seem very, very alien and scary. When Megs looks down at Verity as though she's a cockroach... hell, I will just refer you to my review from back in early 2008 rather than repeat all the things I think about the first three IDW trades:

http://www.intergalacticmedicineshow.co ... rticle=009

[Professor Smooth]

Spotlight: Hot Rod

Yay, the movie characters are here!

This was just a really well put-together story. It managed past and present quite well. Hot Rod's character is established quite well. The Dealer/Doubledealer thing is handled in a very convincing way. Even long-time fans didn't know what to expect while reading. Maybe Dealer was seduced by the Decepticons after his capture? Nope. He was a double-agent from the very start. Nice twist on a little-used character.

Once again, this Spotlight is used for a bit of world building and does so very well. FAR better, I think, than some random exposition being added the "..ation" books.

The art, once again, does an excellent job telling the story. It was a bit more stylized than readers are used to, but worked out to magnificent effect. Special note should be made of James Raiz' cover. Maybe the most spectacular image of Hot Rod ever published...at least in English.

Okay. That's it for the side-story stuff. It's time to get back into the think of things with TRANSFORMERS: ESCALATION! ...and perhaps some more booze.

[bumblemusprime]

Weren't the first five spotlights all out before Escalation? In the immortal words of the talking tomato, "I'm confused."

[Professor Smooth]

Weren't the first five spotlights all out before Escalation? In the immortal words of the talking tomato, "I'm confused."

According to TFArchive, it was only three. With Spotlight: Sixshot, Ultra Magnus, and Kup coming out during the Escalation run.

[DJ_Convoy]

Good idea- but I may bow out when we get to AHM.

[bumblemusprime]

Good idea- but I may bow out when we get to AHM.

I actually like a few things about AHM (plugs another review that will explain such a loaded statement: http://www.intergalacticmedicineshow.co ... rticle=032 ).

The worst thing about AHM is that it displaced Revelation. Once you take that away, it's better-than-average Dreamwave. The Ongoing is full of bad ideas written badly. AHM was a good idea, though, and portions of it were on the right track. We've never had an issue of the Ongoing that got that A+ reaction AHM #8 from even jaded fans.

[Professor Smooth]

Quick note:

Just finished Escalation #1: WOW! It's everything a sequel should be!

[bumblemusprime]

Escalation was the very best TF story in the IDW run (pre Wreckers) and beats every post-1993 story.

[spiderfrommars]

I liked Infiltration.

I liked Escalation even more.

But those early Spotlights I treasured (apart from the Sixshot one, though it wasn't as bad as some made out).

[DJ_Convoy]

Good idea- but I may bow out when we get to AHM.

I actually like a few things about AHM (plugs another review that will explain such a loaded statement: http://www.intergalacticmedicineshow.co ... rticle=032 ).

The worst thing about AHM is that it displaced Revelation. Once you take that away, it's better-than-average Dreamwave. The Ongoing is full of bad ideas written badly. AHM was a good idea, though, and portions of it were on the right track. We've never had an issue of the Ongoing that got that A+ reaction AHM #8 from even jaded fans.

Better than average Dreamwave is a good way to sum it up. Definitely a lot of the problem is that it was replacing something superior, and I freely admit to having a hard time judging it on it's own merits.

And the attitude that came when it didn't quite add up with what had gone before. Hard to forget.

[DJ_Convoy]

And yes, Escalation was very good, indeed.

[Professor Smooth]

So far, Escalation is full of lines that I just can't help wanted to say out loud.

Prowl: Ironhide. You and...need to have words.

[Professor Smooth]

"We appear to have an American F-22 Raptor, being shot at by some kind of rally vehicle. And a police patrol car, also American. Under attack for a SPACE SHUTTLE?"

I...do not understand.

[Professor Smooth]

By the end of Escalation #5, anybody who bought the Spotlights thinking they might not have any impact on the "main" story would have been dissuaded of such notions. Meanwhile, anybody who hadn't bought them would only have missed back-story. It's amazing how self-contained the main story is, even with all the minis and spotlights up to this point.

[Professor Smooth]

WOW! Escalation was GREAT!

Major robot/robot fighting. The humans did their thing quite well. A whole LOT of the stuff from Spotlights/Stormbringer was made relevant. Plenty of interesting sub-plots advance their way into the mainline. Characters are fleshed out and all of the main characters are interesting/deep enough to be emotionally invested in.

The artwork is, once again, stellar. Even after copious amounts of booze, I have no problem following what's going on.

Simply a GREAT Transformers story. Made better by the feeling that it's but a small part of a MUCH larger picture. Something that REALLY appeals to me about this approach is that, when bigger things start to happen, it won't feel forced. Far too often the main characters will defeat the "greatest enemy they've ever faced," only to have some new, unknown, and much more powerful foe appear later. At this state in the IDW continuity, exponentially more powerful characters may already exist and it will be natural for them to appear at some point.

[Hook2]

Good idea- but I may bow out when we get to AHM.

I actually like a few things about AHM (plugs another review that will explain such a loaded statement: http://www.intergalacticmedicineshow.co ... rticle=032 ).

The worst thing about AHM is that it displaced Revelation. Once you take that away, it's better-than-average Dreamwave. The Ongoing is full of bad ideas written badly. AHM was a good idea, though, and portions of it were on the right track. We've never had an issue of the Ongoing that got that A+ reaction AHM #8 from even jaded fans.

Better than average Dreamwave is a good way to sum it up. Definitely a lot of the problem is that it was replacing something superior, and I freely admit to having a hard time judging it on it's own merits.

And the attitude that came when it didn't quite add up with what had gone before. Hard to forget.

The main 12 issue arc of AHM was kind of the Dreamwave story we never got, with Megs focusing on earth and the sunbow designs. I've always believed that one of the biggest reasons AHM was so ill received was the fact that it was literally like buying a comic book for 2 years and then picking up an issue one day to discover that everything before had just been dumped. And this after Simon had to shoehorn what you just know was meant to be an epic into four Spotlights.

So the forced conclusion to a continuity many of us really loved, the squashing of our fav universe, got AHM bad points from the go.

The second thing which guaranteed AHM eternal ire was what happened AFTER it's end. First of all, the coda's. What a mess. Right out of the gate Mike Costa and the editorial staff retcon what for me was the best thing about AHM, and that's Starscream's character development. It was like it never happened!! Then they "forgot" certain things about the dead universe crew...it was all plummeting so fast you could almost feel it. Then came the crash. Ongoing #1. You see, this comic was only possible after AHM crushed the continuity. And I think we tend to associate the series with the snowball to hell that it got started over at Idw, since it was the first of their two reboots.

Oh, and it introduced Spike. Who takes out Megatron with a shot from Shockers" gun...which was for me incredibly disappointing after the way megs was built up during the --ations.

But it is doubtful that Shane McCarthy ever meant that character to become the franchise killer of a douche bag he is today.

So I just have to ask. Does anyone on these boards have any idea how it came about that Idw dumped S Furman and then let McCarthy and Costa do their thing?

[DJ_Convoy]

IDW spent a lot of money on the relaunch, and it wasn't getting the numbers that they thought it could, I suppose. I dunno.

Simon prolly doesn't work cheap.

[Yaya]

Don't tempt me on the DW reread, Sprunk. Come to think of it, it is on my list of things to do.

Actually would rather go back like Smooth is doing and read the older IDW stuff. I remember thinking that it was good, but not great, and hoping for better with IDW's move to bring in new writers.

I know. Be careful what you wish for.

[bumblemusprime]

Optimus and Megatron's fight in Escalation was the best fight they've ever had in comics.

Come to think of it, all their comic fights were pretty anticlimactic. After US#2, they never really had a slugfest. Even in G2, Prime was begging Megs to work with him while Megatron was blowing holes through Prime.

If IDW handed me the TF book tomorrow, I would immediately call EJ Su and tell him he was drawing another Megs/Prime fight, and this one was gonna run twenty pages.

A Dreamwave reread would actually be fun, much like wallowing in mud is fun if you don't think about what is really in the mud. It would also be a good chance to argue with you, which always warms my heart. But methinks one of these three reread threads has to go to bed first.

Or not. Maybe we need four reread threads at once.

[Hook2]

Optimus and Megatron's fight in Escalation was the best fight they've ever had in comics.

Come to think of it, all their comic fights were pretty anticlimactic. After US#2, they never really had a slugfest. Even in G2, Prime was begging Megs to work with him while Megatron was blowing holes through Prime.

If IDW handed me the TF book tomorrow, I would immediately call EJ Su and tell him he was drawing another Megs/Prime fight, and this one was gonna run twenty pages.

A Dreamwave reread would actually be fun, much like wallowing in mud is fun if you don't think about what is really in the mud. It would also be a good chance to argue with you, which always warms my heart. But methinks one of these three reread threads has to go to bed first.

Or not. Maybe we need four reread threads at once.

I've been a TFs nut since 1984 and IMO that battle in issue 5 of Escalation is indeed the greatest between Prime and Megatron. A shame we went from that to not even seeing it on page. I still can't believe we go from a scrap like the one in Escalation to the absence of one in ongoing # 18 and everyone is fine with it.

The level of interest and excitement I experienced while buying and reading through the first three series(and Spotlights) from Idw were huge. A shame they started screwing it up so fast.

[Professor Smooth]

Spotlight Sixshot:

With the introduction of the Terrorcons, I think we've seen all of the major Decepticon (future) combiner groups save Devastator. Oh, and we're introduced to Sixshot. I'd be inclined to complain about his "I'm so awesome; look at me!" characterization, but really DOES seem to be in-character for Sixshot (going all the way back to his tech spec), so I can accept it.

I dug the Reapers. At first, I thought they were going to be your typical, "KILL EVERYTHING BECAUSE WE CAN AND WE'RE EEEEEEEVIL!" guys, but their plan to destroy areas of conflict does kind of make sense in a twisted sort of way. Especially when you consider that more have died fighting over that world, perhaps, than actually lived on it.

There was some SERIOUS "Dreamwave Crouch" going on at times, though. Sixshot presenting himself to the Reapers, perhaps, being the most blatant.

Again, 2.99 worth of fun. Not the best of the series, not the worst. Robbie Ruffulo shows that, when allowed to draw his way, he can use his art to tell a story. Leaps and bounds ahead of his work on Micromasters.