Character discussion : This Week 'Shockwave'

[Denyer]

the explanation of them being Cybertron's former masters actually explained their actions in TF:TM a lot better than "They're sadistic and crazy".

And then there were wonderful plot points such as "an off-switch that works across vast interstellar distances" in FFoD. Or tormenting the Autobots' kid sidekick with—aargh!—scary nightmares... no, the Quintessons weren't comedy villains at all...

Crucifying a large number of the main cast and stringing them up on the ramparts, on the other hand, indicated that they might just mean business. The Quintessons were motivated by the impending destruction of their homeworld, and a twin strike at Earth and Cybertron would have secured them at least one base of operations to relocate to.

cartoon hate just becuase they didn't kill off characters and abided by 80s cartoon standards is rather silly...

Because? The comics were equally dire when there was no credible threat to characters. One medium just happened to rise above it more frequently than another.

There have been so many differant takes on Prime's origin that it's insane. You have the WW origin, the UK origin, the cartoon origin.

Why not merge the cartoon and UK origins together

"There have been so many different takes... so let's make another one. C'mon lads, one last time and for keeps. For god and country, and here's a foetus in a jar."

Which attitude has ensured that there are dozens of fan takes, too.

Furman's approach in WW is very much the Rodimus one—no ability needed, just a pat on the back from the matrix and accompanying power boost, then fumble around a bit—can you guess what it is yet?—and all of a sudden you have a leader. It's a US cinema approach to hero writing, which owes more to "if I had a lightsaber I'd automatically be a great Jedi" than working up to a position.

As already pointed out, the show is another fork of this theme: rebuild into a new body, new voice and none of the previous characterisation.

The UK and US origin are one and the same, since Budiansky didn't feel it necessary to flesh out either wild and propitious circumstances or "betrayed and wounded by the bad guy as a child" schtick. Op was a regular guy who rose to the challenge. Furman pasted on a bit of history about sport, but the basics—in the place at the time, tries to make a difference—are unchanged.

There are already consistent mergings of show and comic canon. Check out the Transmasters UK continuity sometime.

http://www.theunderbase.co.uk/

[ShadowSonic]

I don't see the appeal of Xaaron, he just seems so generic in terms of relatively everything. He coul deasily be replaced.

And Alpha Trion was old and had a beard, so what? Unicron, Wreck-Gar and Scourge have beards and nobody complains. I'll take a mysterious wiseman over some council dude.

What I meant was take elements of each Prime origin and mix it up. Have Prime start out as Orion Pax, get rebuilt into Prime (not become leader) following a sneak attack, then join the army, and then all the comic origin stuff.

The Quints had some good plans; Dweller in the Depths, Dark Awakening, FFoD wasn't that bad, Forever is a long time coming.

Merging stories isn't bad either, look at X-Men.

VC, The Oracle, can both easily replace the Matrix Flame

Anywho, let's start up another thread for this.

[Denyer]

Have Prime start out as Orion Pax, get rebuilt into Prime (not become leader) following a sneak attack, then join the army, and then all the comic origin stuff.

Congratulations, you're where TMUK were ten years ago.

look at X-Men.

Unfortunately I did just that as a teenager... if Transformers were X-Men, Scorponok would have been back from the dead inside of five issues.

VC, The Oracle, can both easily replace the Matrix Flame

Why? Are they somehow incompatible? Does the Oracle take a scart connection?

[Best First]

I don't see the appeal of Xaaron, he just seems so generic in terms of relatively everything. He coul deasily be replaced.

How is he generic, other than his appearance? He is the only surviving member of the council, the only remainder of the old regime. He is a small relativel weak transformer who managed to hold the Autobot resistance together when Prime and his warrior elite had left. He's been manipulative, sometimes saracastic and used himself as bait on at least one occassion we know of. Where is he generic?

And Alpha Trion was old and had a beard, so what? Unicron, Wreck-Gar and Scourge have beards and nobody complains.

people have, trust me...

I'll take a mysterious wiseman over some council dude.

Why? One screams plot device, other screams 'actual plot'

Have Prime start out as Orion Pax, get rebuilt into Prime (not become leader) following a sneak attack, then join the army, and then all the comic origin stuff.

and how does that in anyway add to the 'comic origin stuff'?

Merging stories isn't bad either, look at X-Men.

Yes, the cartoon remains massively inferior to the comics - good call.

Scorponok would have been back from the dead inside of five issues.

yay?

[Impactor returns 2.0]

cheers for the xarron heads up. to me one of his endearing qualitys was his weakness, on the outside he was looked up to, on the inside he knew the situation, and he felt it, the Autobots were losing, and Operation Volcanon was his big push, he knew how much of a difference it would make to thier war, and I use the the term 'thier' because xarron brought the spirit of a family to the resitance movement.
When OV fails, xarron doesnt give up, hes not genric in any sense, because genric would require him to be a big tough guy, to be honest. Impactor would have made more sense in the genric term.
big, strong, attitude, gonna save the day? (well probably) and a leader.
Xarron is noe of these, almost the opposite in every way, but it worked, and therfore you have to see Furmans ablity to take the unlikely and make it work as a story, thats why Xarron is great, and Impactor is loved. they wernt genric in any terms.
Its a shame we saw so lil of them, but to be honest, what we saw was gold.

Cartoon? - nuff said...

[ShadowSonic]

Possible in-jokes and plot changes:

- In the Target 2006 flashback that showed how Galvy and his crew came back, use the Chronosphere instead of that time generator thing. No real reason, just a homage/joke (like April in her yellow jumpsuit)

Also, in a more serious sense: Explain that both the Bots and Cons have each recently developed a protoype time device that's relatively untested (The aforementioned Chronosphere), that can be a decent explanation as to why they never used their devices more usefully (Like BW Megs did), becuase they're still untested prototypes that can only go back so far, and only work at certain times (proper "reality window" or something).

- Have Hot Rod and co find out about Galvatron's time trip via a spy who gives them his time-coordinates, and they use their own prototype Chronosphere to pursue him. This eliminates that plot hole with Unicron seeing what's happeneing and sending Hot Rod after Galvatron, becuase ifhe could do that and influence gys in the past, he would've influenced Shockwave to destory the Matrix when he had Prime.

- Drop some hints that the Galvatron we see is the Straxus clone (to ease the mess caused by the "Two Megatrons" storyline)

- Have it be explained that the Underbase was attracted to Earth not by coincidence, but the Time disturbances are somehow causing it to be lured there.

- Have Time Wars and the Underbase massacre happen concurrently, it'll be one big massacre with Super-Starscream and Galvatron, the Time storm can be accelerated by Starscream's rampage (to explain hwo it got so bad so fast).

- The story can end with the two being in the same place and maybe Galvy attacks Starscream in his madness (and gets blown away, he's isn't that strong). When Starscream absorbs all the Underbase, he explodes and the energy released seals the rift, Galvatrons' remains are sucked into the rift before it blows though, while Screamer's corpse falls to Earth. Also, make it seem like Shockwave got killed in this story, that makes everyone' shock at his return in the Decepticon Civil war more understandable.

- After Time Wars, NEVER HAVE ANOTHER TIME TRAVEL STORY WITH THESE GUYS! Also, Galvatron is not returned to his future, but his remains are stuck in the sealed rift

- To avoid further complications, skip the "Rhythms of Darkness" story bit in 2009, and just have Unicron retrieve Galvatron's reamins from the rift and ressurect him.

And for the record, the FOX X-Men series was great.

And as for me wanting to use VS (or the Oracle) instead of the Matrix Flame, it would just be a homage to BM, and the Matrix Flame was never referenced again so it's not like it was a truly super-important plot piece.

[Best First]

sorry, everything you are suggesting seems 'for the sake of it' to me - non of it would bring any qualative improvements to the plots as they are.

And Unicron couldn't manipulate those in the past, hence he had to manipulate someone in the future and get them to travel back.

Otherwise you would have the rather bigger plot hole of Hot Rod helping to not destroy Unicron.

[Impactor returns 2.0]

Possible in-jokes and plot changes:

- In the Target 2006 flashback that showed how Galvy and his crew came back, use the Chronosphere instead of that time generator thing. No real reason, just a homage/joke (like April in her yellow jumpsuit)

No because then it would bugger up fire in the sky. Galvy has a time jump device, hes all Uni future bad boy. hes pergotive.

Also, in a more serious sense: Explain that both the Bots and Cons have each recently developed a protoype time device that's relatively untested (The aforementioned Chronosphere), that can be a decent explanation as to why they never used their devices more usefully (Like BW Megs did), becuase they're still untested prototypes that can only go back so far, and only work at certain times (proper "reality window" or something).

Or go with the comics idea that just worked fine

- Have Hot Rod and co find out about Galvatron's time trip via a spy who gives them his time-coordinates, and they use their own prototype Chronosphere to pursue him. This eliminates that plot hole with Unicron seeing what's happeneing and sending Hot Rod after Galvatron, becuase ifhe could do that and influence gys in the past, he would've influenced Shockwave to destory the Matrix when he had Prime.

Ill let Rebis in on that one but its not quite true that way.
either way the comic had its time jump devices sorted out well enough. theres no need for anything else.

- Drop some hints that the Galvatron we see is the Straxus clone (to ease the mess caused by the "Two Megatrons" storyline)

Why?

- Have it be explained that the Underbase was attracted to Earth not by coincidence, but the Time disturbances are somehow causing it to be lured there.

Intersting, I might be wrong but was it heading for earth?

- Have Time Wars and the Underbase massacre happen concurrently, it'll be one big massacre with Super-Starscream and Galvatron, the Time storm can be accelerated by Starscream's rampage (to explain hwo it got so bad so fast).

Its explained, you have Optimus and ROddy, Galvy and Megatron. you dont need much more to make a point.

- After Time Wars, NEVER HAVE ANOTHER TIME TRAVEL STORY WITH THESE GUYS! Also, Galvatron is not returned to his future, but his remains are stuck in the sealed rift

Its fun though!

- To avoid further complications, skip the "Rhythms of Darkness" story bit in 2009, and just have Unicron retrieve Galvatron's reamins from the rift and ressurect him.

Or keep it as it is because it does work and why not?

And as for me wanting to use VS (or the Oracle) instead of the Matrix Flame, it would just be a homage to BM, and the Matrix Flame was never referenced again so it's not like it was a truly super-important plot piece.

I think the matrix flame was only there to show that the matrix was still around, the holder alive. when prime is taking to the limbo realm it gos out as his place in reality is gone and so is the flame. I dont belive its the same thing or can be related to an orcale or for instance VS

[ShadowSonic]

Dude, the series wouldn't be for fans only, it would be for anyone watching, even those who never watched a TF show before. Lots of nonsensical plot stuff should be discarded, lots of confusing stuff made not so confusing and lots of plot holes filled.

Stuff that wokred in the comics would have to be altered in the TV translation, just like how stuff was altered in the new TMNT cartoon.

Having one Galvatron and one Galvatron alone is a heckuva lot less messed up than what we got in the comic.

Merging storylines that were occuring at the same time and were awfully similar to begin with (Time Wars and Underbase) with some plot changes IS NOT A BAD THING, Furman's not infallible in storytelling.

There have to be compromises, revisions, and sacrifices made (some stories dumped entirely, and not just stuff written by Budiansky)

The comic explanation for time devices, what was it again? Having the time portals be prototypes isn't so out there, I mean given that TF tech hardly moved an inch in the 4 million year gap we're expected to believe time travel (never mentioned before) is suddenyl possible in 20 Earth years?

Yes, eliminating the "Unicron can influence people in the past" thing is helpful, it annoyed me then, it'd annoy me even more if it was televised. Have Hot Rod and co just do it on their own.

The Two Megs storyline screwed a lot of stuff up with Galvatron, and considering Galvatron went nuts (like Straxus was) shwoing hints that he was the MegaStarxus clone isn't hurting anything.

Yeah, Underbsae was heading to Earth just by coincidence, no real attached. Being attracted to the time disturbances is at least a reason.

Merging storylines (Underbase and Time Wars) can help a story. Why would Rodimus and Prime being together affect the timestorm, but not Rodimus and Hot Rod? Just say it was a combination of Starscream's power usage and the time anomalies.

The Rhythms of Darkness thing would be confusing to viewers unfamiliar with numerous alt-timelines, it's less confsuing to just have Unicron ressurect Galvatron rather than fetch a whole new one.

The Oracle and VC are also both connected tot he Creation Matrix, since they both are also interfaces to the Allspark along with the Creation Matrix. Incorporate all the good concepts from BW and BM into this too. It would be more than just a retelling of the G1 comics, but also the whole G1 unified story as a whole.

[Impactor returns 2.0]

sorry, again im a bit confused, i assume this is if we were to remake a new cartoon yes?

[Denyer]

There have to be compromises

There's a 535 page self-published fan novel on a bookshelf next to me that says otherwise.

Of course, I doubt that complexity would translate well to comics or screen.

some stories dumped entirely, and not just stuff written by Budiansky

It's actually impossible to dump Budiansky from the equation—he wrote most of the original character outlines. And then failed to stick to more than a few of them.

His first year or so of comics had some highlights.

we're expected to believe time travel (never mentioned before) is suddenyl possible in 20 Earth years?

I think it's more we're expected to believe the war has escalated to the point where each side is prepared to do bats**t insane things just to survive.

There's also the fact technological advances during the previous four million years had stalled due to lack of resources.

The Two Megs storyline screwed a lot of stuff up with Galvatron, and considering Galvatron went nuts (like Straxus was) shwoing hints that he was the MegaStarxus clone isn't hurting anything.

>> Insert theory about the US/UK reality not following its likely path because Time Wars erased the possibility of the movie events coming to pass from it. <<

Why would Rodimus and Prime being together affect the timestorm, but not Rodimus and Hot Rod?

The matrix. Optimus exists as part of the matrix Rodimus carries, even though Optimus doesn't—at that point—have the matrix himself, it having been fired off into space with his original body.

G1 unified story as a whole.

Why do people continue to tout this idea? What's the appeal? Lift from whatever sources you need to put together an effective story.

A plot shouldn't try to be all things to all people... we don't need Optimus shagging Marysueitron, laying Scorponok's Nintendo save-game files to rest, promoting his brother to City Commander and breaking down into floods of tears before remembering he's enough of a soldier to single-handedly take down a gestalt (a full five minutes after the rest of his forces have been taken down.)

Really, the continuities do perfectly well on their own merits. Most of them seem to need paring down, not further enmeshment.

[Guest]

Why would Rodimus and Prime being together affect the timestorm, but not Rodimus and Hot Rod?

Because Rodimus Prime used Optimus Prime as his mass-substitute. Oppy's return without Roddy's departure caused an excess, which in turn accelerated the timestorm which was originally caused by the continuing excess of Scourge & Cyclonus. Hot Rod was not involved.

Otherwise, the near-perpetual presence of both Galvatron and Megatron would have resulted in a timestorm back in 1986.

[Denyer]

Because Rodimus Prime used Optimus Prime as his mass-substitute.

Oops. Yup, I'm getting my stock explanations muddled—specifically, Op doesn't have the physical matrix at his end of the equation, therefore the "using the matrix as a stepping-stone" thing is one-side on Rodimus' part.

I'm somewhat skeptical about the mass substitute process; specifically—why does it latch onto individuals rather than simply mass? Anyone have a good theory?

[Impactor returns 2.0]

tech no - but it feels good
the very idea that 'time & space' has an issue with say megatron and galvatron because they have the same mind... suggests T&S is an entity.

what is limbo... err whats reality,

why does soundwave have a mouth sometimes.

go to the blaster thread...

[Bouncelot]

I don't see the appeal of Xaaron, he just seems so generic in terms of relatively everything. He coul deasily be replaced.

I know this point has probably been done to death, but I really really want to quote from the Obscure Transformers website's summary of Xaaron:

Emirate Xaaron is the KING of obscure characters.

He's seen it all, he's done it all. He's been drawn by Geoff Senior, Andy Wildman, Jose Delbo, Will Simpson, Jeff Anderson and quite a few others. He's faced off Zombies, Demons and mad renegade Autobots. He's ordered assassinations on Decepticon overlords, overseen the building a new generation of Autobots, gotten Optimus Prime into power and even gotten politicians to vote themselves OUT of power! He's seen Target:2006, the Time Wars, the Matrix Quest and has even BEEN Primus.

No obscure character ever had such a career, and yet managed to stay so damned obscure!

Perhaps most incredible of all Xaaron has done it all without becoming a combatant. He's been in the war, he's watched the war rage, but he knows his place is leading, not fighting. And lead he does. I think Xaaron accomplished more than Optimus Prime ever did!

All hail, Emirate Xaaron.

[Optimus Prime Rib]

I really want to read that book

[Denyer]

I really want to read that book

By far the most annoying thing about TMUK is tracking down stuff. Between limited print runs and sites that haemorrhage content, it's small wonder so few people have heard of them...

Were it a bandwidth thing, I'd simply hook them up with Brendan. I have 120Mb of backstory comics sitting around on disk, but getting in touch with individuals to get permission to rehost stuff seems to be a logistical nightmare, and no-one appeared to think about future availability several years ago. There's no central repository, so despite the good efforts of people such as Alex spreading the word, people have no point at which they can break into the series.

It's a similar situation with Eugenesis. James may be doing another print run—he was moving and/or had just had a kid last time I heard, so near future wasn't expected—but I can't honestly see that availability online would hobble demand for a paper copy. It's been reviewed by non-TF sites and met with interest every time it's mentioned. Again, hosting wouldn't be a problem.

By the way, does anyone know what happened to this?
http://www.turnandburnonline.com/tlodyssey/

So... yup, availability pretty much non-existent. Annoying as hell from the point of view of wanting to recommend quality fan fiction to others.

[BB Shockwave]

Dudes, seems I started a real discussion here...

Anyway, Shadowsonic,understand this: The fans ofthe old cartoon already had aseries of 100 ormore epsiodes, plus a comic series that was pretty much cartoon reloaded (we all know what I'm talking about).

All I want from the toonis stuff I mentioned, plus small cameoslike Sleezardo and that alien bounty-hunter shown briedly sittingat a tablein the bar in"Wanted: Galvatron Dead orAlive". Also, other small stuff. For example, Idon't care if Spike's hair is brown, or Ethan Zachary can be replaced by Chip Chase...

AS for the stuff you suggested, I actually wanted to leave UNicron out of Target 2006 at all, he perhaps gave hints to Hot Rod and co. tofind the time machine and later erased their memories.,but Uni works better if he's left in mystery.

But Galvatron(s) need to be. I intend to show the difference by having Galvatron II be in toy colors.

The Galvatron won't see through the Straxus clone's eyes,he sees what he would have seen as Megatron... but time is already messed up,so he sees stuff that doesn't actually happen. He jumps in front of Megs only to save his past self,not because he feels what Megs feels.

Rhytms of Darknessis great stuff... plus I want to involve the interesting idea from MTMTE that Monstructor is actually an avatar, a vessel for UNicron.

[Death's Head]

I really want to read that book

By far the most annoying thing about TMUK is tracking down stuff. Between limited print runs and sites that haemorrhage content, it's small wonder so few people have heard of them...

Were it a bandwidth thing, I'd simply hook them up with Brendan. I have 120Mb of backstory comics sitting around on disk, but getting in touch with individuals to get permission to rehost stuff seems to be a logistical nightmare, and no-one appeared to think about future availability several years ago. There's no central repository, so despite the good efforts of people such as Alex spreading the word, people have no point at which they can break into the series.

It's a similar situation with Eugenesis. James may be doing another print run—he was moving and/or had just had a kid last time I heard, so near future wasn't expected—but I can't honestly see that availability online would hobble demand for a paper copy. It's been reviewed by non-TF sites and met with interest every time it's mentioned. Again, hosting wouldn't be a problem.

By the way, does anyone know what happened to this?
http://www.turnandburnonline.com/tlodyssey/

So... yup, availability pretty much non-existent. Annoying as hell from the point of view of wanting to recommend quality fan fiction to others.

The nearest we have to a central repository is www.theunderbase.co.uk , a searchable database of TMUK stories that also links to online versions where possible.

As for the Last Odyssey - I'm sure that's finished and done. Email them and have a word, I know Andy and Ralph are very much still active in the group.

Part of the problem is that since the Internet became so integral to the group it's been harder and harder to keep track of everything, what with writers appearing and then disappearing and no one having a clue if they're coming back - they probably all think I've died some kind of lingering alcoholic death, I've been gone so long - whereas before, pretty much everything appeared in The Continued Generation 2 fanzine.

Basically, Stu, if you're up the job of hosting loads of old stuff pop along to either the Hub (most of the writers hang around there) or the Yahoo Group (which is the 'core' of the group) and ask around there. For older stories, the authors of whom may not be around now, I recomend asking Martin McVay, since he tends to be the guardian of all things continuity - some of that old stuff may have been thrown out now, or shifted into the 'Classic' TMUK Universe (like all the guff with Ginrai in the future, replaced instead by a post-movie future that eventually leads up to Beast Wars).

[ShadowSonic]

The reason I wanted to get rid of the multiple Galvatron thing is becuase it got rather convoluted even in the comics itself. Megatron on the ark in #77 says Galvatron is a stranger, but why would he say this if only the colors were differant? The only answer is to keep the "MegaStraxus" sublot going on. We can even hint at it earlier, like having shadowy scenes of the true Megatron back on Cybertron making plans, recruiting the Micromaster, Dreadwind and Darkwing, etc.

I mean, they got rid of the "multiple Shredders" plot in the new TMNT cartoon that was in the comics, why not for Galvatron by just saying it's the same one only ressurected? It makes sense and it won't confuse the audience any.

Merging Underbase and Time Wars isn't going to hurt anybody, it's just that I think it would be kind of ackward to have two similar stories happen back to back, when it could just happen all at once.

Yeah, leave Unicron out of Target 2006, just have Hot Rod an co find out about Galvatron's plan from Nautilus (the spy from "Galvatron: Dead or Alive") and use their own prototype time machine to follow him.

The new TMNT has done original stuff (The Big Brawl, the current multi-dimensions plot, Shredder an Utrom) and done good stories that are only loosely based on the comics (Turtles in Space, the Triceraton Invasion).

And I say again, get more writers than just Furman on this. Get Greg Johnson, Greg Weismen, Bob Forard and Larry DiTillio, Bob Skir, etc. Furman can be the story editor but that's all.

Have a few cartoon in-jokes (like the time machines being the chronosphere, have Grimlock pretend to be an idiot for a few minutes and then reveal it was just an act or a joke).

As for the voices, I want Clancy Brown to be Straxus, David Kaye to be Galvatron (face it, Welkers' Galavatron wouldn't fit the comic version, and no way would Lenard Nimoy do it) Micheal Kopsa to be Xaaron, Richard Newman to be the Last Autobot.

Who else?

[Impactor returns 2.0]

how can Unicron be left out of target 2006, the very name of it is because Galvatron makes a giant gun to blow unicron up with in, 2006...

I dunno it all works fine so why change it?

[ShadowSonic]

In Target 2006 we find out that Unicron hypnotized Hot Rod and co to go after Galvatron, we also saw he could influcne the minds of characters in the past (he influenced the Autobots to built Autobot City where it would be in the future). If he could do that then why didn't he just influence past characters to do stuff for helpful to him (Shockwvae destroying the Matrix when he had it). Better to leave his direct influence out of the story (leave the backstory of how he's why Galvatron came back) and just have Hot Rod and co find out on their own and follow Galvy back.

No, not all of Furmans' stuff worked out, things will have to be chnaged, cut out, etc. Just like how some stuff in the Mirage comics was cut out and altered in the new TMNT cartoon.

See this as less of a Furman-mania trip and more as something for TFs.

[Impactor returns 2.0]

Well I dont see it that way - T2006 works fine for me.

Im not sure what turtles has to do with things either. just because they made changes, they probably had to.

I dont actually see Unicron as influencing what characters did I think its more he makes subtle sugestions.

[ShadowSonic]

No, he influenced them directly.

The new TMNT made changes to acceptable past stories to make them fit together better, to try for something new and make the series be it's own thing but based off of the old comics. That's how I see this (theoretical) cartoon: Something based off of the comics, written by new writers, similar storylines, but willing to make chnages to do it's own thing.

There'd be no point in watching the show if it was a literal adaptation, you could just read the comics. This should appeal to more than just fanboys...

[Impactor returns 2.0]

Not really, that the same as saying, no point in making Lord of the Rings as you can read the book.
Sure LoTR is an 'adapation' but thats because film is a different medium, I wouldnt change Target 2006.

It works perfectly well, its very written, not sure about these so called flaws either.

I just dont see the point in adding in things that dont need to be there when the story works eitherway.

all that is questioned are minor points that could be touched up to make smooth, but adding new plot devices and changing the point to an entire script.

[ShadowSonic]

There's difference, Lord of the Rings was a book, no illustrations or anything. With comics you see the stuff they do and how they look while the book left it more to imagination.

No TV adaptation of a series ever just does a direct copying of the original story, not the Japanese, not Americans, nobody. It wouldn't be any fun for the writers to do that becuase it would just be plagarism and they wouldn't really be doing their jobs, and no, Furman wouldn't write each and every episode, unless it was a "one episode a month" series.

[Impactor returns 2.0]

like I said its adapted, film is another format to pictures. furman wrote the comic, you use that as your basis, then u need to add more dialouge, so u get s cript writter in. plus its now actually moving so u need a director etc..

But the point is - if you were gonna make somthing new. go make somthing utterly new. dont plagurise the comic in places.

If your gonna adapt the comic to the film then do so but do it faithfully because its good enough to do so.

[ShadowSonic]

Dude, as I sai. The cartoon would be based on the comics and use the storylines, but they might change some of them to make other original stuff. Nobody but fanboys would watch it if it was just a word-for-word adaptation of the comic in every way. Go watch those cartoons I used as references and you'll see what I mean.

[Yaya]

Getting back on topic...

Shockwave is my favorite character for one main reason. His uniqueness. From his cold, calculating logic, to his cycloptic visual system, to his gun arm, to his ability to transform not into a car, truck, or plane, but a kick-ass fifty foot space gun, Shockers is unique and thats why I love the guy.

Best Moment: Putting Megs into a fifty foot smoldering hole in the ground after blasting him in space gun mode, then having Megs beg for his life.
Honorable Mention: Using the Predacons to again get the better of Megs.
Honorable Mention II: Yet again, handing Megs his ass in DW continuity.
Honorable Mention III: Taking over the whole of Cybertron after fooling the Autobots, Magnus included, that he had good intentions, then ripping the Matrix from Primes chasis, and kidnapping Alpha Trion. Not a bad resume.

Worst Moment: Getting fried by Circuit Breaker. Electricity or not, she's still a lowly human.

[Best First]

Why do people continue to tout this idea? What's the appeal? Lift from whatever sources you need to put together an effective story.

A plot shouldn't try to be all things to all people... we don't need Optimus shagging Marysueitron, laying Scorponok's Nintendo save-game files to rest, promoting his brother to City Commander and breaking down into floods of tears before remembering he's enough of a soldier to single-handedly take down a gestalt (a full five minutes after the rest of his forces have been taken down.)

Preach on brother.