Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye #2 Review

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Yaya
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Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye #2 Review

Post by Yaya » Thu Feb 16, 2012 4:17 am

Easily, easily, one of the top five TF comics since IDW got the license.

With these two new series, it's like IDW finally stepped back and said, "yeah, five years is enough pussyfooting around, let's get this show on the road." And what I show it's turning out to be.

The characters. The characters! Every one of them is distinct and his own bot. Roberts is Furman 2.0. The tale he's weaving, the interactions he's crafting, really are quite genius. I mean, when I was reading Costa's issues, I had the urge to grab the pencil out of his hand and show him how to write a TF comic, despite a full lack of experience as a writer. Very frustrating. Here, I read Roberts work and I find myself saying "wow, I wish I could write like that". Isn't that how it should be?

Actually, I would go as far as to say that this issue is amongst the top issues of any comic out there right now. Anyone can pick this up and full out enjoy every bit of what's going on, despite having little if any knowledge of prior events or familiarity with the characters. That's impressive.

The humor, the wit, it's the best show yet of these, perhaps in the history of TF comics. At least, I'm hard pressed to come up with an issue that made me chuckle as much as this one has.

Fun. Fun. Fun. Milne does a very commendable job of following in line with Roche's work, yet adds just the right amount of Figueroa flare, particularly with the faces, where I find Nick lacking.

"A+". With these last two issues, Transformers moves to not only the upper echelon of TF comics to date, but ascends to rest with some of the best of comics out there currently. Wow. Never believed I would ever say that given the past two years.
"But the Costa story featuring Starscream? Fantastic! This guy is "The One", I just know it, just from these few pages. "--Yaya, who is never wrong.

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Post by bumblemusprime » Thu Feb 16, 2012 5:37 am

DAMMIT I FORGOT TO GO GET THIS TODAY!
Best First wrote:I didn't like it. They don't have mums, or dads, or children. And they turn into stuff. And they don't eat Monster Munch or watch Xena: Warrior Princess. Or do one big poo in the morning and another one in the afternoon. I bet they weren't even excited by and then subsequently disappointed by Star Wars Prequels. Or have a glass full of spare change near their beds. That they don't have.

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Post by Mr_Tigg » Thu Feb 16, 2012 4:55 pm

I concur wholeheartedly with Yaya.

Except on the art - Milne is doing a good job here - frankly some of his best work - but I still noticed a few sloppy errors here'n'there.

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Post by bumblemusprime » Fri Feb 17, 2012 2:20 pm

As before, more story packed into these pages than in the entirety of many creators' runs.

I've noticed that many of my favorite comics, the most rewarding ones, are text-heavy. You can't get through an issue of Invincible in three minutes. So while James' work is very text-heavy, I'd prefer he err on this side rather than giving us the terse five-minute read where many of the panels are minimally photoshopped from previous panels.
Best First wrote:I didn't like it. They don't have mums, or dads, or children. And they turn into stuff. And they don't eat Monster Munch or watch Xena: Warrior Princess. Or do one big poo in the morning and another one in the afternoon. I bet they weren't even excited by and then subsequently disappointed by Star Wars Prequels. Or have a glass full of spare change near their beds. That they don't have.

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Post by Hot Shot » Fri Feb 17, 2012 5:10 pm

The "Nineteen-Eighty-Four" thing made me facepalm a bit, but that's my only complaint.

Simply fantastic.
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Post by Shanti418 » Fri Feb 17, 2012 11:08 pm

Yeah, what's that about anyway? Is it going to be some sort of meta storyline?

Anyway, once more, totally awesome. Totally, totally awesome. Although I'm not looking forward to the "Alien" homage next issue, I imagine once I read it, that too will be awesome.

Skids sounded like Dr. Who post regenration, with all his "Oh, who am I? I'm a person that takes risks I see!" Which is what I imagine Roberts was going for. He's a theoretician! Was that his catch phrase, or is that, like Tailgate's alt-mode, something that was left on the table for later?
Best First wrote:I thought we could just meander between making well thought out points, being needlessly immature, provocative and generalist, then veer into caring about constructive debate and make a few valid points, act civil for a bit, then lower the tone again, then act offended when we get called on it, then dictate what it is and isn't worth debating, reinterpret a few of my own posts through a less offensive lens, then jaunt down whatever other path our seemingly volatile mood took us in.

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Post by bumblemusprime » Sat Feb 18, 2012 2:20 am

Shanti418 wrote:He's a theoretician!
So he fights the battle of Diageticons versus Exigesibots?
Best First wrote:I didn't like it. They don't have mums, or dads, or children. And they turn into stuff. And they don't eat Monster Munch or watch Xena: Warrior Princess. Or do one big poo in the morning and another one in the afternoon. I bet they weren't even excited by and then subsequently disappointed by Star Wars Prequels. Or have a glass full of spare change near their beds. That they don't have.

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Post by Sunyavadin » Sat Feb 18, 2012 2:29 pm

Hmmm, looking good from the preview.

Good thing I'm going to be going clothes shopping beforehand, must remember to pick up a spare pair of trousers just in case.
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When I picture Simon Furman's direct ancestor, squatting in dingy furs, singing songs about the glory of the Saxon tribe, I imagine him as the very first to gather his buddies around the campfire and say "There was this dude named Beowulf..."

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Post by Shanti418 » Sat Feb 18, 2012 6:43 pm

bumblemusprime wrote:
Shanti418 wrote:He's a theoretician!
So he fights the battle of Diageticons versus Exigesibots?
And instead of Energon, he runs on disciplinary power.
Best First wrote:I thought we could just meander between making well thought out points, being needlessly immature, provocative and generalist, then veer into caring about constructive debate and make a few valid points, act civil for a bit, then lower the tone again, then act offended when we get called on it, then dictate what it is and isn't worth debating, reinterpret a few of my own posts through a less offensive lens, then jaunt down whatever other path our seemingly volatile mood took us in.

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Post by bumblemusprime » Sun Feb 19, 2012 5:54 pm

Shanti418 wrote:
bumblemusprime wrote:
Shanti418 wrote:He's a theoretician!
So he fights the battle of Diageticons versus Exigesibots?
And instead of Energon, he runs on disciplinary power.
He is neither Autobot nor Decepticon, but the differánce.
Best First wrote:I didn't like it. They don't have mums, or dads, or children. And they turn into stuff. And they don't eat Monster Munch or watch Xena: Warrior Princess. Or do one big poo in the morning and another one in the afternoon. I bet they weren't even excited by and then subsequently disappointed by Star Wars Prequels. Or have a glass full of spare change near their beds. That they don't have.

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Post by Impactor returns 2.0 » Mon Feb 20, 2012 11:56 pm

Im loving this, its the humor thats really making it work for me.

The conversations have a fun vibe about them whilst carrying of the usual TF story. I was thinking if you strip the jokes out does it still work?
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Post by Yaya » Tue Feb 21, 2012 3:29 am

Good writers don't rely on plot to tell a good story. They rely on the characters and bolster even lame ass plots with them.
"But the Costa story featuring Starscream? Fantastic! This guy is "The One", I just know it, just from these few pages. "--Yaya, who is never wrong.

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Post by Hound » Tue Feb 21, 2012 7:04 am

Swerve <3
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Post by Impactor returns 2.0 » Wed Feb 22, 2012 12:06 am

Is it just me, or is Whirl really awesome?
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Post by Best First » Wed Feb 22, 2012 10:49 am

My only issue with Whirl is i think his continued freedom to roam as he likes rather strains credibility.
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Post by Kaylee » Sat Feb 25, 2012 10:41 am

That was absolutely sublime, I smiled from start to finish! The artwork is gorgeous, it reminds me of the best stuff from UK Marvel TF and the writing... dear God, I'm in love.

:up:. A thousand times :up:.

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