RID #21 Spoilers

[Yaya]

Potentially interesting issue that explores the relationship of Soundwave and Shockwave throughout IDW continuity. Flashback scenes to Maximum Dinobots, when the Decepticons were cannabilizing each other on that ridiculous asteroid, and that whole strange Galvatron/Swarm entity in, was it Heart of Darkness? I forget. Because I try to forget.

Anyway, I say potentially because whenever Soundwave and Shockwave are involved, things usually get interesting. I will say, for whatever reason, the RID issues featuring Ramondelli always seem to be the stronger issues for whatever reason. Seems like the dialogue is always better too. Strange.

Anyhoo, it's a set up for Dark Cybertron, where we get a hint of what it will be about. Essentially, looks like this story will feature Shockwave (of course) and the payoff for the whole Regenesis project he's been a part of since the early days of IDW. We get a taste of what power Shockwave now wields when Dreadwing is basically shot to ribbons, only to be miraculously revived by what Ore-13 (or some other mined Ore) has become.

Thought the best part of the story was the way Soundwave could not detect Shockwave's presence despite his keen senses. Nor could Ravage for that matter. Seems like with every IDW issue, Shockwave becomes just more and more of a badass. And by the looks of it, Jhiaxus has even become his bitch.

Shockwave has always been a great character, in Marvel, in Dreamwave. But I think IDW has taken our favorite cyclopian antagonist to another level, primarily because we have a very intriguing origin story, courtesy of Roberts. Shockers fears no one and is always ten steps ahead of everyone else. He beat the Dinobots all by himself. He turned Megatron into a spacebridge and created super-Energon. He was a Senator. He was a scientist. He was Optimus Prime's trusted ally. He was one of his worst enemies. What's he not done yet?

Shockwave doesn't always steal the show. But when he does, he drinks Dos Equirgon. Stay thirsty my friends.

[Best First]

Shockwave has always been a great character... in Dreamwave.

HERES MY ENTIRE PLAN OH NOES I HAVE FALLEN DOWN A HOLE

Yes DW Shockwave was subperb.

[Professor Smooth]

Shockwave has always been a great character... in Dreamwave.

HERES MY ENTIRE PLAN OH NOES I HAVE FALLEN DOWN A HOLE

Yes DW Shockwave was subperb.

...in comparison to pretty much everything else at DW, that IS superb...

[Yaya]

He didn't just fall down a hole. You make it sound lame. Humpy Shockty was pushed. After Ultra Magnus yanked his tube off. Then he fell down a hole.

[Best First]

And all the King's Horse and all the King's men couldn't convince me that this was a good story or anyone in it came off well.

[Hound]

Yeah I thought this was as bad as the usual ploddy, self-indulgent, worthy crud that Barber has been churning out.

It just doesn't go anywhere.

[Yaya]

I just hope Roberts imposes his will over Barber on this Dark Cybertron thing. I'm hard pressed to come up with anything I would call good from Barber. Maybe the annual.

[Metal Vendetta]

So, er, what happened at the end? They stand around and have a little chat and that's it? Bit of a letdown, surely. I may have to read it again because I'm somewhat tired out of my brain, but what was the big revelation in this issue? Soundwave loves Megatron but Shockwave doesn't?

I thought some parts of this issue showed promise and it's nice to have some time with the 'Cons for once - Needlenose in particular was great - but the whole thing seems like the set-up to, well, nothing much really. Not so much a showdown as just showing up. Ravage also seems a little...off, for some reason. Can't quite put my finger on it, but the way he talks isn't quite right. Also, this would have been the perfect opportunity to see the Universal killswitch from another angle, but not so much as a "So, I just nearly died in your arms right there, that was a bit weird, huh?"

It was mint when Soundwave fired his shoulder cannon though. I can't remember the last time he fired it, but it doesn't happen nearly often enough.

[Best First]

i was dissapointed Soundwave was, apart from his "interaction" with Dreadwing, a bit of a wimp. I can't help but hark back to Marvel UK Soundwave who was basically third to Megs and Shockwave in power but only chose to use it when he had too - i.e. he would have comfortably given Blitzwing a fourth mode.

I get the loyalty to Megs but this Soundwave was a bit too much of a martyr (which is also not how Furman pitched him in this continuity). I want the Soundwave from the end of Dinobot Hunt or Crisis of Command (best F You ever moment to Starscream).

Part of me thinks that is just my TMUK notsalgia but i suspect as usual it's just that the UK got it right first time out

And once again with this issue nice ideas just don't quite work - the colours of emotions stuff was a nice notion but the writing didn't have the flair to carry it off.

Like MV says nice to see the shoulder cannon in action, there has always seemed an odd reticence in TF fiction for characters to actually use their built in weaponry.

But also like MV says - the ending... was that it, or is there a part 2? Ugh. can't Roberts just write both titles and Barber story supervises RID and edits both?

[Optimus Prime Rib]

This issue was ********.
Look at MTMTE.
Now look at RID.
now back to MTMTE...

bull
****