Transformers Escalation #3 Review (SPOILERS)

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 3:34 am

Read it.

Solid issue, but read kinda short.

Nice little bits and pieces added to the overall story, such as the tension between Prowl and Ironhide, Prime's trust in Prowl, the concept of mass-displacement, more info on the human constructs, and the arrival of the new bots. However, the overall story seems to be moving a bit slow for my taste.

I particularly like the way Simon is taking well known concepts from the past, in this case "mass displacement", and putting a new spin on it. As he did with the Pretender and Headmaster technologies, Simon puts some newfound signficance on mass displacement, making it something not of the ordinary, but rather, something likely to be achieved with only the greatest of resources (in this case, Ore-13). I can't wait to see what Furman has in store for us with the concept of Micromasters.

I think Simon is doing the right thing focusing on the same cast, all the while adding a trickle of new characters to the mix. As Transformers fans, we want our cake and want to eat it too. In other words, we ask for character development, but demand to see new players enter the game all the time. Bob Budiansky can tell you all about what that does to the sanity of a Transformers comic writer. I think Simon has struck a nice balance here with the cast.

However, like the last two issues, I'm a little concerned about the overall pacing of the story. It may be treading a little bit in the 'slow' department for some fans.

Again, a solid issue, with some pacing problems. A "B-".

Shanti418 · Post by **Shanti418** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 12:59 pm

I haven't had any problem with the pacing. Compared to Infiltration, this is like a thrill ride. Besides, once you've got an Optimus Prime spouting Furman lines, there's no need to rush anyway. :P

Post by **snarl** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 4:37 pm

This was tight.

I predict a riot.

sprunkner · Post by **sprunkner** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 5:17 am

I liked it. And I thought Su's art was definitely looking good. Lots of transforming and robot action.

Shanti418 · Post by **Shanti418** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 6:08 am

Yeah, it was definitely good times. Thinking back on it, that was a damn fine issue.

Like that time Prowl's like, "Check out that energy signature on the gun blast" and then Prime's looking all bad ass and he's like, "Megatron," and you can just hear Cullen say it. That was sweet.

Scraplet · Post by **Scraplet** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 12:46 pm

Shanti418 wrote: Like that time Prowl's like, "Check out that energy signature on the gun blast" and then Prime's looking all bad ass and he's like, "Megatron," and you can just hear Cullen say it. That was sweet.

Funny you should mention how you hear the voices, because I realised while reading that I was hearing Megatron with his Beast Wars voice. Just seemed to suite this incarnation more.

I Love the new no-nonsense, badass Prime. Just the way he said the straight 'no' to Ironhide was ace!

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 2:04 pm

Developing very nicely. Interestingly there's as many humans in the story as at the height of the Budiansky era, but this time it's contributing to a much more satisfying whole.

Shanti418 wrote:I haven't had any problem with the pacing. Compared to Infiltration, this is like a thrill ride.

Completely agree.

veritech · Post by **veritech** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 4:36 pm

I think this is the first time that Megatron's plans for "world domination" actually made sense to me! It's actually a well thought out plan!

Blacksword · Post by **Blacksword** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 5:19 pm

I've been trying to figure out why these issues tend to feel so short, given that they are the standard 22 pages (I had to count to be sure). I love the direction the story's taking, Su's art is very classic in its look, and this is the best treatment of humans in a TF book that I can think of. But for some odd reason, the end of the issue seems to come very swiftly and abruptly. The plus is that the issues have for the most part been satisfying on their own, and haven't fallen into the trap of some decompressed stories (where each individual issue is rather unsatisfying, but read together its great)... I can't quite put my finger on it. But other than that no complaints here. It's made Dreamwave vanish... well like a bad dream.

Predabot · Post by **Predabot** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 5:54 pm

I'm not sure anybodys's noticed, but there's a NEW colourist on the job now!

And I rather like him, sure he aint no Josh, but so far he's a lot more consistant than Rauch. ^^

Could we interview John Rauch btw? I'd very much like to hear why he hasn't given the colouring on Transformers his all. If one compares his work on TF to his work on Ultimate FF, it's like night and day.