Bruticus

[Kaylee]

Something I've never quite been able to grasp- why on Earth does Bruticus, particularly in the TV show, sound like he's got a dreadful hangover? He sounds like an inebriate trying to get his head around a Sudoku at 3 in the morning!

The guy's obviously meant to be not-right-clever-like but still...

Or is it possible he genuinely has a drinking problem, in which case I should be more supportive of him?

[/bored G1 related post]

[man-with-the-dogs]

Something I've never quite been able to grasp- why on Earth does Bruticus, particularly in the TV show, sound like he's got a dreadful hangover? He sounds like an inebriate trying to get his head around a Sudoku at 3 in the morning!

The guy's obviously meant to be not-right-clever-like but still...

Or is it possible he genuinely has a drinking problem, in which case I should be more supportive of him?

[/bored G1 related post]

He's a drunk. That's why he changed his name to "Ruination".

[Best First]

ha ha! Nice one.

I've nebver been keen on the idea of 'dumb' transformers to be honest, doesn't make much sense to me.

[BB Shockwave]

Well it's understandable in the case of Gestalts, as explained in various media, the merging of 5 or six minds is only possible if they have some common instinct/interest, otherwise the individual minds are simplified down to a child-like state (see Devastator). Specifically though Bruticus isn't dumb, he just prefers to follow orders instead of thinking on his own.

[Guest]

Well it's understandable in the case of Gestalts, as explained in various media, the merging of 5 or six minds is only possible if they have some common instinct/interest, otherwise the individual minds are simplified down to a child-like state (see Devastator).

Yeah, but don't the Constructicons have a common interest in, umm... construction, or something? Also, destruction.

Seems all Devestator did in the cartoon that was 'constructive' was put the "cherry on the cake" , so to speak.

Hardly a convincing example of that reasoning.

[BB Shockwave]

Seems all Devestator did in the cartoon that was 'constructive' was put the "cherry on the cake" , so to speak.

Hardly a convincing example of that reasoning.

Well, you'll also have to remember Devastator was pretty much just a prototype gestalt, first of its kind, hence the reduced intelligence. In Marvel UK, Soundwave states in Devastation derby that further training made the Constructicons function better now opposed to the "Destroy autobot... not that autobot" fiasco last time.

You're right though, a better example for my point would have been Menasor. He's hampered by all the limbs hating Motormaster and mentally resisting his orders, thus the 5 minds do not unite that well.

I guess the overall slowness of the gestalts also goes back to the fact that now an unified mind is using the neural systems of 5/6 different bodies which would naturally differ from each other, thus I bet electric impulses are slowed down at the 'joints'.

I'm curious that since in IDW Monstructor is the Prototype, maybe the Constructicons (whom we haven't seen apart from the (myself not considered canon) Megs origin) will truly form the most sophisticated Gestalt of them all. Would be nice to see Devastator as an actual threat after his many humiliating defeats in the cartoon.

[Metal Vendetta]

Personally I much prefer the Constructicons as a group rather than a gestalt. Stories like T2006 and In The National Interest really worked because of the Constructicons working together as individuals rather than as Devastator. I'd be happy for the IDWverse versions to keep their individuality, but to work for Megatron.

[sprunkner]

Well it's understandable in the case of Gestalts, as explained in various media, the merging of 5 or six minds is only possible if they have some common instinct/interest, otherwise the individual minds are simplified down to a child-like state (see Devastator). Specifically though Bruticus isn't dumb, he just prefers to follow orders instead of thinking on his own.

Didn't you read Worlds Apart? "Using the positive rather than negative aspects of both minds, we can become one united entity. A force for truth and justice! And that's really what being a Headmaster is all about!"

Says it all.

[Kaylee]

Particularly since none of the Autobot combiners seem to have the same problems- Computron, Superion, Defensor all seem to function as normal transformers despite their composition. In contrast Devestator is about as clever as a monkey, Menasor spends all his time throwing hissy fits and Bruticus has a frenchman living in his head. About the only vaguely sane con combiner seemed to be Abominus, and he didn't say or do very much.

Maybe it's an anger management problem?

[Metal Vendetta]

Predaking never seemed to suffer from that...he was all "I am Predaking, the greatest hunter in the galaxy, and you, little robot, are my prey."

Then Megs went and tore him a new one, of course.

[Kaylee]

Quite right- Predaking was far superior

In fact I seem to remember he's about the only gestalt capable of doing anything vaguely useful. The others are either morons, defeated really easily or mysteriously missing when it suits the plot.

[Best First]

i just love the idea that when you hook 6 computers up it makes them dafter...

[Metal Vendetta]

In fact I seem to remember he's about the only gestalt capable of doing anything vaguely useful. The others are either morons, defeated really easily or mysteriously missing when it suits the plot.

It always annoyed me that the combiners only ever seemed to show up when the opposite side also conveniently had a combiner team there too. Conversely, I liked the way the Japanese Headmasters series often pitched combiners against all sorts of different opponents instead of the standard Menasor/Superion, Defensor/Bruticus and Computron/Abominus face-offs.

[Kaylee]

i just love the idea that when you hook 6 computers up it makes them dafter..

It's great, isn't it? By the same reasoning, presumably seloptaping two bazookas together will produce a spud-gun.

It always annoyed me that the combiners only ever seemed to show up when the opposite side also conveniently had a combiner team there too. Conversely, I liked the way the Japanese Headmasters series often pitched combiners against all sorts of different opponents instead of the standard Menasor/Superion, Defensor/Bruticus and Computron/Abominus face-offs.

TBH it wasn't just the combiners- it was any big, important fact which should really influence every battle but wasn't part of the day-to-day story, such as Omega Supreme. He should have been in virtually every battle, being the most powerful weapon the bots had, but mysteriously was always... away... on a mission... or sleeping. Just because it would upset the status-quo dynamic of the battles/stories.

[Metal Vendetta]

TBH it wasn't just the combiners- it was any big, important fact which should really influence every battle but wasn't part of the day-to-day story, such as Omega Supreme. He should have been in virtually every battle, being the most powerful weapon the bots had, but mysteriously was always... away... on a mission... or sleeping. Just because it would upset the status-quo dynamic of the battles/stories.

I think the one thing the IDWverse comics have shown so far is that Furman isn't afraid to upset the status quo, what with exploding arks and Sunstreaker headmaster clones, Monstructor being the first and only combiner etc. etc. Hopefully we'll see more of this approach as the series progresses and more and more powerful weapons and bots are deployed by each side. I mean - to stray back to the orignal topic - IDW Bruticus is going to have to be absolutely hard as nails, otherwise why would Megatron deploy him at all?

[Kaylee]

TBH it wasn't just the combiners- it was any big, important fact which should really influence every battle but wasn't part of the day-to-day story, such as Omega Supreme. He should have been in virtually every battle, being the most powerful weapon the bots had, but mysteriously was always... away... on a mission... or sleeping. Just because it would upset the status-quo dynamic of the battles/stories.

I think the one thing the IDWverse comics have shown so far is that Furman isn't afraid to upset the status quo, what with exploding arks and Sunstreaker headmaster clones, Monstructor being the first and only combiner etc. etc. Hopefully we'll see more of this approach as the series progresses and more and more powerful weapons and bots are deployed by each side. I mean - to stray back to the orignal topic - IDW Bruticus is going to have to be absolutely hard as nails, otherwise why would Megatron deploy him at all?

{Meanwhile, at Castle Furman}



Simon: I shall write a new and awesome story! Bruticus will be a new character! Status quos will be upset! This will be new, adult story telling with a fresh twi... eh... the hell with it... {scribbles} Galvatron... rent asunder... something becoming Godlike for some reason...

[Metal Vendetta]

{scribbles} dead universe...NEW Galvatron, more powerful than ever before and indestructable...{scribbles}...Magnificence...

hee hee hee

[Kaylee]

and then, to show his playful side, a black and white strip entitled 'Bruticus' Night on the Tiles'

[sprunkner]

Bruticus has a frenchman living in his head.

I'm picturing Bruticus staggering down a freeway, crushing cars. "All I need from yeww, is all yer luuuv."

[Best First]

sniff, thats all any of us need...

[Guest]

Megatron's love?

Now, steady on! I like the feel of cold steel in my hand as much as the next triggerhappy individual, but this is bordering on fanfic.

On topic: Piranhicon (however it's spelt!) hasn't been mentioned yet.

Then again...

[BB Shockwave]

Quite right- Predaking was far superior

In fact I seem to remember he's about the only gestalt capable of doing anything vaguely useful. The others are either morons, defeated really easily or mysteriously missing when it suits the plot.

Piranacon is pretty potent too. He performed quite well in his appearances, after all, how many TFs went toe-to-toe with Galvatron and got out alive?

I have to disagree about the Autobots. Superion is quite perfect, I admit, but Defensor wasn't that top-notch in Dark Ages. And Computron is simply incredibly slow, because he calculates every step he takes...

Predaking is the best gestalt, not just because of the toy but according to his description and tech specs. "No weaknesses" (well except for his face being suspectible to damage from wood)...

[Hound]

Quite right- Predaking was far superior

In fact I seem to remember he's about the only gestalt capable of doing anything vaguely useful. The others are either morons, defeated really easily or mysteriously missing when it suits the plot.

Piranacon is pretty potent too. He performed quite well in his appearances, after all, how many TFs went toe-to-toe with Galvatron and got out alive?

I have to disagree about the Autobots. Superion is quite perfect, I admit, but Defensor wasn't that top-notch in Dark Ages. And Computron is simply incredibly slow, because he calculates every step he takes...

Predaking is the best gestalt, not just because of the toy but according to his description and tech specs. "No weaknesses" (well except for his face being suspectible to damage from wood)...

Computron is retarded then, he should in theory have x5 the processing power!

[Guest]

Computron is retarded then, he should in theory have x5 the processing power!

Maybe the theory for combining minds runs along the lines of electrical resistors in parallel. That is, instead of being the sum of the parts, like resistors in series, the result is the reciprocal of the sum of the reciprocals of the individual parts.

Or, given that that would make each gestalt somewhere between less than x1 and x1/n, depending on the individuals' differences, maybe it's something else entirely...

[Kaylee]

Surely a gestalt's standing, physically, intellectually and emotionally, can only be increased by including Blot somewhere?



Look at him, the loveable scamp!

[Best First]

Yes! He's not even anything is he? Brilliant.

We need a spotlight.... Blotlight. Yesss.

[Kaylee]

Ah Blotlight. Surely a novel so awesome it would rival God himself!

The designers just got bored by the time Blot came along I think.

"So what shall we make this one?"
"Dunno. Don't care either."
{scribbles a stickman with a crayon} "How about this?"
"Yeah whatever..."

And thus the Messiah was born!

[Best First]

In this mode...

he has arms, legs and a head.

And in this mode he has arms, legs and a head.

BUT THEY ARE DIFFERENT ARMS, LEGS AND A HEAD.

This product was bought to you by the E. Holmes school of awesome grondbreaking ideas that you are going to love because they are kewl.

[Kaylee]

And then Arnie showed up. With Batman.

Why?

Because we'd be stupid NOT to do this!

[Legion]

Yes! He's not even anything is he? Brilliant.

We need a spotlight.... Blotlight. Yesss.

Well, if we're not getting a Spotlight:Guzzle then i demand we get a Spotlight:Blot instead!!